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Those who work with wood should have a basic knowledge of wood anatomy and chemistry so they can understand how different anatomical and chemical features influence wood properties and, in turn, how these properties contribute to different treatments and final wood utilization. However, little attempt has been made to map global research trends in wood anatomy and chemistry. This paper presents a bibliometric review of research trends in wood anatomy and chemistry to determine research trends and gaps in these research areas. A total of 183 publications on wood anatomy and chemistry from 1974 to 2023 were reviewed. The analysis was done with the VOSviewer software (version 1.6.13). The analysis focused on the bibliographic coupling of countries, co-authorship of authors, citation of documents, and co-occurrence of keywords, which were presented as network visualization maps. The findings revealed that the wood anatomy and chemistry publication trends, although not completely gradient, have been upwards since 2000. Countries including Germany, the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Brazil, the Netherlands, China, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the Czech Republic, Canada, Australia, Chile, Finland, France, Sweden, and Japan had a great impact on this research area. It also became evident that African countries lag in this area of research. Only one data source - Scopus - was used. It has a wide coverage of publications from diverse areas and provides researchers with information on the most important academic literature in any specific scientific domain. Therefore, the representation of publications presented in this study is limited to only the Scopus data source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study outlines a method of utilizing the finite element method and a simple mathematical model to predict the behavior of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beams strengthened with composite sheets. The numerical models were created using the Abaqus 2017 software. The LVL was considered as a linearly elastic or elastic–plastic material, factoring in Hill’s yield criterion. The composites were simulated as linearly elastic–ideally plastic materials. The mathematical models were predicated on the methodology of transformed cross-section. The theoretical and numerical outcomes were juxtaposed with previous empirical investigations. The comparison encompassed load-bearing capacity, stiffness, and deformation under peak force. Furthermore, presentations of normal stress maps in the LVL and composite have been illustrated. The derived maps were juxtaposed with the delineations of failure modes. An adequate correlation was identified between the theoretical, numerical, and empirical values in the case of beams reinforced with aramid, glass, and carbon sheets. The relative deviation varied from several to multiple percentages. This technique is not applicable for evaluating load-bearing capacity and deformation when only dealing with sheets with low elongation of rupture. This is a consequence of their premature failure. The proposed models may be utilized by researchers and engineers in the design of reinforcements for timber structures.

As towering wooden edifices (≥8 stories) become a rapidly expanding and promising field, they provide substantial environmental and economic advantages throughout their entire lifespans, leading to their increasing popularity, especially in the European context. Similar to various other construction forms, spatial efficiency is a vital design criterion in timber buildings to guarantee the viability of a project. Currently, there is no thorough study on spatial efficiency in these towers in Europe, which is home to the majority of the world’s timber towers. This paper examined data from 56 cases to improve comprehension of the planning factors affecting space efficiency in these buildings. The main findings showed that the average space efficiency across the analyzed examples was documented at 82%, with deviations spanning from 70% to 90%, the average core area to gross floor area (GFA) ratio was determined to be 11%, ranging from 4% to 21%, and no substantial difference was noted in the impact of core arrangements on space efficiency, and parallel findings were observed for forms and construction materials. This article aspires to provide architectural designers with essential perspectives, assisting and directing them in the conception and realization of upcoming ventures both across Europe and internationally in this domain.

Within the search for alternative sustainable materials for future transport applications, wood veneer laminates are promising, cost-effective candidates. Finite element simulations of progressive damage are needed to ensure the safe and reliable use of wood veneers while exploring their full potential. In this study, highly efficient finite element models simulate the mechanical response of quasi-isotropic [90/45/0/−45]s beech veneer laminates subjected to compact tension and a range of open-hole tension tests. Genetic algorithms (GA) were coupled with these simulations to calibrate the optimal input parameters and to account for the inherent uncertainties in the mechanical properties of wooden materials. The results show that the continuum damage mechanistic simulations can efficiently estimate progressive damage both qualitatively and quantitatively with errors of less than 4%. Variability can be assessedthrough the relatively limited number of 400 finite element simulations as compared to more data-intensive algorithms utilised for uncertainty quantification.

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.

The thermo-mechanical behavior of polyurethane adhesive joints in wood structures is a crucial aspect that needs to be understood to ensure the durability and safety of timber structures, especially in seismic regions. As mass timber, particularly cross-laminated timber, continues to gain popularity as a building material, it is important to pay special attention to the behavior of connections between the timber elements. The use of flexible polyurethane adhesives presents a promising alternative to conventional mechanical connections in seismic-resistant timber structures. This research highlights the potential of polyurethane-based joints at elevated service temperature, offers a promising alternative to traditional wood joints, and suggests viability for post-fire restoration of wood structures. The response at the interface between wood and polyurethane under flexural stresses is also evaluated, underscoring the broader application possibilities of flexible adhesives in wood construction for mechanical and physical improvements.

Wood is a material whose properties vary depending on different conditions, being particularly vulnerable to changes induced by high temperatures. When exposed to a fire situation, the wood properties suffer degradation, causing a char layer formation. Despite ensuring the protection of the inner core of the wood, the char layer reduces its resistant section. The evaluation of wood behavior under fire conditions is possible through experimental tests, simplified analytical models, and numerical models. To overcome difficulties in the development of experimental tests and in the approximations made to analytical methods, numerical models allow the evaluation of the fire resistance in a parametric way. First, this study will present a numerical model validated with an experimental test, using the finite element method. The validation of the results is based on the evolution of the temperature field, the char layer formation on the wooden elements, and its residual section, as well as the application of the thermal insulation criterion. The second part of the study evaluates the influence of geometric parameters, associated with different wooden constructive models with gypsum board exposed to fire. Different numerical tests are presented to evaluate the thermal and transient analysis of different wooden constructive elements with gypsum board. This type of constructive element presents cavities, making the numerical analysis in the study complex when approaching real models. The methodology applied allowed us to conclude that, at the same time, a smaller distance between wooden centers, a greater dimension of the wooden beam in height and width, as well as a greater thickness of gypsum board guarantee a better performance of the constructive wooden model.

Stabilising the natural colour of wood species exposed to light in indoor conditions is a challenge that could be better addressed based on a deeper understanding of the occurring phenomena and influencing factors. This paper investigates comparatively the light-induced colour changes for three hardwood species, namely, European maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.), European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and European walnut (Juglans regia L.), as well as the influence of finishing with three types of clear, colourless waterborne lacquers: acrylic-polyurethane (F1), acrylic (F2) and polyurethane (F3) on their colour stability. Colour measurements in the CIELab system in conjunction with an artificial accelerated ageing test under the action of UV-VIS radiation, simulating natural light passing through window glass, and two types of test samples were employed to highlight the influence and contributions of the wood substrate and of the coating films to the global colour modifications. Coating films applied on 1 mm clear glass slides were employed as a sort of “detachable” finish for this purpose. Direct exposure to UV-VIS light caused visible colour changes for both uncoated and coated wood surfaces, the values of the calculated colour differences (ΔE) after a 72 h exposure being dependant on both the wood species and the coating material. Excepting two situations for walnut, statistically significantly higher colour differences were obtained for the uncoated samples: maple (9.36 units), ash (8.39 units), walnut (6.20 units), compared to the coated ones: maple (4.92–5.71 units), ash (2.25–3.94 units), walnut (4.74–7.70 units). The wood substrates underlying the coating films were found to bring the maximum contribution to the overall colour changes in the clear coated surfaces, while the coating films employed in this research demonstrated a fairly good colour stability to UV-VIS light exposure, with maximum colour changes (∆E) up to only 1.30 units. Overall, the wood species and the type of coating were found as influencing factors in interaction with the light-induced colour changes in wood surfaces in indoor conditions.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are utilized as a promising alternative to commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) where hard carbons (HCs) are anticipated to be the first commercially available anode material for SIBs. Among various hard carbon precursors, the wood accounts for more than 30% of the global land cover, making it one of the most abundant sources of biomass materials on the planet. In addition to superior renewability, sustainability and biodegradability, wood and its derivatives still possess some unique advantages such as anisotropic graded porous structure, good mechanical stability and biocompatibility. The purpose of this review is to present a comprehensive overview of the development of research on wood and wood-derived HCs anodes. The basic structural and chemical properties of wood and wood-derived materials are indeed reviewed, as is the performance of wood-derived HCs in SIBs to provide an in-depth comprehension and guidance for the preparation of high-performance wood-based SIBs.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation and purification is a promising solar energy conversion technology to produce clean water or solve water scarcity. Although wood-based photothermal materials have attracted particular interest in solar water purification and desalination due to their rapid water supply and great heat localization, challenges exist given their complicated processing methods and relatively poor stability. Herein, we propose a facile approach for fabricating a bilayered wood-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (wood-PEDOT:PSS) hydrogel interfacial evaporator by direct drop-casting and dry-annealing. Benefiting from the unique combined merits of the wood-PEDOT:PSS hydrogel evaporator, i.e., excellent light absorption (~99.9%) and efficient photothermal conversion of nanofibrous PEDOT:PSS and the strong hydrophilicity and fast water transport from wood, the as-fabricated bilayered wood-PEDOT:PSS hydrogel evaporator demonstrates a remarkably high evaporation rate (~1.47 kg m−2 h−1) and high energy efficiency (~75.76%) at 1 kW m−2. We further demonstrate the practical applications of such an evaporator for sewage purification and desalination, showing outstanding performance stability and partial salt barrier capability against a continuous 10-day test in simulated seawater and an ultrahigh ion removal rate of 99.9% for metal ion-containing sewage. The design and fabrication of such novel, efficient wood-based interfacial evaporators pave the way for large-scale applications in solar water purification.

The present work analyses the absorption coefficient of sound waves and the speed of sound propagation in thermally modified wood. The high resistance to weathering, fungi, and better dimensional stability, and therefore the broad physical properties of this material, are well known. However, the literature lacks numerous analyses of its acoustic characteristics. During the study, high-density species, such as oak, red oak, and beech were used, in contrast to pine. Pine wood during this test was characterised by a most rapid increase in the sound absorption coefficient value, in the range of 1000–6300 Hz, and reached the highest value from all wood species. Among all species, the highest value of the examined parameter was obtained for beech wood and pine wood, which were 0.213 (at frequency 3 kHz) and 0.183 (at 6.3 kHz), respectively. The sound velocity decreased for all species only in the tangential direction.

To further enhance the performance of wood products, improved tools are needed to study in situ cellular scale phenomena like mechanical deformations and moisture swelling. Micro-X-ray computed tomography (μXCT) using brilliant synchrotron light sources now has the spatial and temporal resolution for real-time visualization of phenomena in three-dimensional cellular structures. However, the tradeoff for speed includes the loss of intensity contrast between different types of materials within the imaged structure, such as cell wall and air in wood. This loss of contrast prevents traditional histogram-based segmentation methods from being used effectively. A new convolutional neural network (CNN) approach was therefore developed to segment fast μXCT images of wood into cell wall and air volumes. The fast μXCT and segmentation were demonstrated in the study of moisture swelling in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) earlywood and latewood cellular structures conditioned at 0%, 33%, 75%, and 95% relative humidity (RH). The CNN segmentation results had a mean intersection over union (IoU) metric accuracy of 96%. Initial analysis of the swelling in the latewood revealed cell walls swelled about 25% when conditioned from 0% to 95% RH. Additionally, the widths of ray cell lumina in the transverse plane of latewood could be observed to increase at higher RH. The segmentation method presented here will facilitate future quantitative analyses in in situ μXCT studies of wood and other similar cellular materials.

Light oil/water/heavy oil triphase mixtures are common in industrial wastewater, while nearly all separation materials with superwettability can only separate biphase mixtures of light oil/water or/and heavy oil/water. Here, a balsa wood slice with superhydrophilic/superoleophilic property in air was fabricated by a blade-cutting and ethanol-treating process. Therefore, the slice could be dually prewetted with both water and oil and thus showed underwater superoleophobic and underoil superhydrophobic properties without any further chemical modification. Such a slice showed underoil superhydrophobicity in nonbasic environment while transition into underoil superhydrophilicity under basic condition. Combining with the porous structure possessed by wood designed to transport liquids, this superwettability of the treated wood slice could be leveraged in the continuous separation of light oil/water/heavy oil triphase mixtures only driven by gravity with a high permeation flux and separation efficiency. After each separation, the slice was easily recovered by washing with acidic solution, and it could be recycled up to 15 times without any loss of pH responsibility. During repeated cycling separation, the slice exhibited excellent separation stability.

The use of energy-saving materials is an effective strategy for decreasing energy consumption and carbon emission. Wood is a type of biomass material with a natural hierarchical structure, which results in its high thermal insulation. It has been widely used in construction. However, developing wood-based materials without flammability and dimensional instability is still a challenge. Herein, we developed a wood/polyimide composite aerogel with a well-preserved hierarchical pore structure and dense hydrogen bonds inside, resulting in its excellent chemical compatibility and strong interfacial interactions between its two components. This novel wood-based composite was fabricated by removing most hemicellulose and lignin from natural wood, followed by the fast impregnation using an ‘in situ gel’ process. The introduction of polyimide into delignified wood substantially improved its mechanical properties, with the compression resistance being improved by over five times. Notably, the thermal conductivity coefficient of the developed composite was approximately half that of natural wood. Furthermore, the composite exhibited excellent fire-retardancy, hydrophobicity, thermal insulation, and mechanical properties. This study provides a novel method for wood modification, which not only aids interfacial compatibility between wood and polyimide but also retains the properties of the two components. The developed composite can effectively reduce energy consumption, making it promising for practical and complex thermal insulation applications.

In the world of cultural heritage, a wide range of artefacts and buildings are made of wood and, therefore, are subjected to moisture-induced stress and strain cycles, owing to environmental fluctuations. Simultaneous action of moisture and mechanical loads lead to a mechanosorptive effect on wood. Therefore, an increase in time-dependent creep, due to mechanical loads, is observed. The assessment of these complex phenomena entails the use of advance and interdisciplinary approaches. Consequently, this article reviews experimental and mathematical methods to study these degradation mechanisms in wooden artefacts and timber elements in heritage buildings. The paper presents the results of a six-step descriptive literature review, providing an overall picture of the ongoing research. Experimental techniques need to be improved so that they are in line with the conservation principles. The combination of experiments and simulations is a reliable predictive approach for better assessing the potential risk damages due to temperature, humidity cycles, and mechanical loads in complex structures. Thus, advanced numerical simulations and mathematical modelling include climate data and experimental measurements. This work also provides an overview of research performed on different categories of cultural heritage characterised by multi-layer structures. The mechanical response to wood–moisture relation is affected by the level of complexity of these structures. Finally, the use of realistic models is limited by knowledge about the material properties and the behaviour of complex structures over time. In addition, research gaps, limitations, and possible future research directions are also provided. This review may represent a starting point for future research on the thermo-hygro-mechanical behaviour of wood heritage.

As the focus of architecture, furniture, and other fields, wood has attracted extensive attention for its many advantages, such as environmental friendliness and excellent mechanical properties. Inspired by the wetting model of natural lotus leaves, researchers prepared superhydrophobic coatings with strong mechanical properties and good durability on the modified wood surface. The prepared superhydrophobic coating has achieved functions such as oil-water separation and self-cleaning. At present, some methods such as the sol-gel method, the etching method, graft copolymerization, and the layer-by-layer self-assembly method can be used to prepare superhydrophobic surfaces, which are widely used in biology, the textile industry, national defense, the military industry, and many other fields. However, most methods for preparing superhydrophobic coatings on wood surfaces are limited by reaction conditions and process control, with low coating preparation efficiency and insufficiently fine nanostructures. The sol-gel process is suitable for large-scale industrial production due to its simple preparation method, easy process control, and low cost. In this paper, the research progress on wood superhydrophobic coatings is summarized. Taking the sol-gel method with silicide as an example, the preparation methods of superhydrophobic coatings on wood surfaces under different acid-base catalysis processes are discussed in detail. The latest progress in the preparation of superhydrophobic coatings by the sol-gel method at home and abroad is reviewed, and the future development of superhydrophobic surfaces is prospected.

Listeria monocytogenes is a significant concern in cheese production. It has been assumed by some that wood surfaces pose a greater risk for pathogen contamination during cheese production. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of the microbiota obtained from wooden boards used in cheese ripening on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes. Bacterial communities from the surface of wooden boards obtained from cheese-ripening facilities were inoculated into tryptic soy broth (TSB) and incubated at 11 °C for 48 h. These communities (108 CFU/mL stationary phase cells) were co-incubated with 104–105 CFU/mL L. monocytogenes 2203 at 11 °C for up to eight days. At various times, samples were removed, diluted in sterile saline and plated on modified Oxford agar. Bacterial communities from each of the five boards from three different facilities significantly inhibited growth of L. monocytogenes in vitro, compared to growth of L. monocytogenes 2203 alone. Using 16S rRNA analysis, we identified sequences belonging to the genera Carnobacterium, Leuconostoc and Staphylococcus as the most abundant in the communities grown in TSB. Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Staphylococcus equorum isolated from the most inhibitory community significantly inhibited growth of L. monocytogenes in TSB at 11 °C, compared to growth of L. monocytogenes 2203 alone. These findings suggest that some members of the complex microbial communities on wooden boards in cheese aging facilities might inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes.

In this study some mechanical properties of PVC-Wood fibre composite were investigated. The wood fibre was gotten from a mahogany tree. The sample was moulded and shaped at a temperature of 150oC using a hadraulic hot press and pressure of 3bar for 5mins and the mechanical properties were studied base on varying the wood fibre contents from 0% to 50%. The hardness test carried out using the durometer hardness tester show a decrease in the hardness of the composite as the wood fibre is varied from 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% 40% and 50% and the impact strength of the composite decreases as well in that order. The tensile strength conducted using the Mensato Tensometer show a decrease at 10% wood fibre, while an increase in the wood fibre to 20% show an increase in the tensile strength on further addition of the wood fibre a decrease is noticed. This decrease in tensile strength decreases the strain of the PVC-wood fibre composite and hence increasing the modulus of elasticity of the PVC-wood fibre composite as the wood fibre is been added.

To date, the share of research, teaching materials, and practices related to the use of timber in bridge projects in Finland are quite limited compared to other materials, such as concrete. This article, which also includes a structural design example for dimensioning a girder bridge, focuses on the status, applications and prospects of wood use in bridge construction, reflecting the Finnish professionals’ point of view. Key findings highlighted that: (1) the ideal use of wood would be in private road bridges and light traffic bridges; (2) while the use of wood in the bridge was assessed to be advantageous in terms of ecology, aesthetics, and environmental friendliness, it was reported to be disadvantageous in terms of long-term durability and connection details; (3) concrete and steel, whose prices fluctuate, could gradually be replaced by wood, a renewable material; (4) timber-concrete composite bridges were expected to become widespread in the future; (5) cross-laminated timber (CLT) could open up an opportunity for bridge decks; and (6) service limit state is often decisive for the dimensioning of wooden bridges. It is recommended to implement large-scale public projects for the wooden bridges by creating sustainable business models that will be supported both legitimately and economically by the local government. In this sense, close cooperation between authorities and other key market stakeholders is crucial.

Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins (FLAs) play an important role in plant development and adaptation to the environment. However, the roles of FLAs in wood formation remain poorly understood. Here, we identified a total of 50 PtrFLA genes in poplar. They were classified into four groups: A to D, among which group A was the largest group with 28 members clustered into four branches. Most PtrFLAs of group A were dominantly expressed in developing xylem based on microarray and RT-qPCR data. The roles of PtrFLA40 and PtrFLA45 in group A were investigated via the Cas9/gRNA-induced mutation lines. Loss of PtrFLA40 and PtrFLA45 increased stem length and diameter in ptrfla40ptrfla45 double mutants, but not in ptrfla40 or ptrfla45 single mutants. Further, our findings indicated that the ptrfla40ptrfla45 mutants enlarged the cell size of xylem fibers and vessels, suggesting a negative modulation in stem xylem cell size. In addition, wood lignin content in the ptrfla40fla45 mutants was increased by nearly 9%, and the lignin biosynthesis-related genes were significantly up-regulated in the ptrfla40fla45 mutants, in agreement with the increase in wood lignin content. Overall, Cas9/gRNA-mediated mutations in PtrFLA40 and PtrFLA45 reveal redundant roles in modulating wood cell size and secondary cell wall (SCW) synthesis in poplar.

The possible influence of anatomical sections of wood on mold growth was investigated by means of a laboratory experiment. The selected fungi, Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., and Alternaria sp. were inoculated by spraying on the surface of wood specimens prepared from pine (Pinus sylvestris) and spruce (Picea abies). The incubation was carried out under stable environmental conditions (temperature of 22 °C, relative humidity of 75, 87, and 95%) over three months. Mold growth was evaluated based on regular microscopic and macroscopic observations. The recorded mold coverage fractions and the qualitative indicators of mold development were later expressed by a dimensionless mold index. The differences in mold growth in the anatomical sections of wood were found to be relatively insignificant. In contrast, comparison of measured data with other experimental studies showed large differences, especially in the initial growth phase. The discrepancy is probably related to differences among the experimental protocols. It is concluded that laboratory mold growth studies would be improved if a common standardized methodology was developed and followed.

This research bridges the gap between the quasi-static and high-strain-rate loading regimes in cross-laminated timber (CLT) by investigating two areas that have remained unstudied or elusive, i.e., rolling shear failure of CLT under impulsive, blast-like loading and intermediate strain rates in CLT. To study the conditions that would promote shear modes of failure, a novel, highly adaptable center-point testing system and methodology were developed that permitted the application of impulsive loading to undamaged CLT panels in a highly controlled and repeatable manner. The loading condition and low span-to-depth ratio (6.40 ≤ L:h ≤ 6.55) CLT were selected to encourage the development of shear modes of failure. Changes to the rotational rigidity at the boundary conditions allowed for the empirical simulation of realistic boundary conditions. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and load cell data were used to identify failure modes following loss in resistance in the specimens. Overall, the experiment was successful in consistently eliciting shear modes of failure and providing damage characterization in impulsively loaded CLT. Shear modes of failure resulted in the dramatic loss of resistance in all specimens tested. Strain-rate enhancement in the dynamic apparent flexural stiffness of CLT of 1.3 to 7.2 times was observed. Lower levels of damage were observed in specimens with higher levels of boundary-condition rotational rigidity.

The substrate of solar cells with high haze, transparent, flexible, green and low coatings will be needed in the future. This paper reports a method for ultraviolet-assisted delignification of wood in an alkaline solution environment to improve the transmittance of “transparent wood”. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction image (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and transmittance-haze and chemical composition analysis were used to explore the mechanisms underlying the effect of ultraviolet-assisted lignin modification on the optical properties of “transparent wood”. The results show that UV-assisted delignification accelerates the rate of removal of lignin and chromogenic groups, which in turn improves the optical properties of the “transparent wood”, with UV-assisted lignin modification for 2 h increasing the light transmission of the “transparent wood” by 20%. UV-assisted delignification for 4 h and impregnation resulted in “transparent wood” with a transparency of 71% and a haze of 90%. This report provides a rapid and easy method to prepare high-quality “transparent wood”. The “transparent wood” with high transmittance and high haze is a potential candidate for transparent solar substrates. Meanwhile, this method is enlightening for high quality, fast and green preparation of other derived functional materials based on lignin wood.

The paper investigates the effects of roller pressing on the hardness, roughness, and elastic modulus of wooden workpieces. For research purposes, a roller pressing device based on purely mechanical processing was designed and developed. Four different levels of pressing force have been applied to eight different types of wood: cherry, fir, alder, linden, beech, walnut, oak, and ash. The obtained results indicate that the proposed processing method can significantly improve the hardness, elastic modulus, and surface quality of wooden workpieces. The ash sample exhibited the largest relative increase in hardness (175.9%), while the most significant relative increase in the elastic modulus (66.73%) was measured on the linden sample. The largest relative decrease in surface roughness (54.75%) was achieved on the alder sample. For all types of wood except for fir, in which case an increase in pressing force did not produce the desired reduction of roughness, correlation coefficients indicate a strong relationship between the pressing force as an input variable and the elastic modulus, hardness, and roughness as output variables.

The mold infection of wood reduces the quality of its surface and potentially endangers human health. One category of the most popular mold inhibitors on the market is water-soluble fungicides. However, easy leaching due to ionic forms is a problem, which reduces the effectiveness of their antimicrobial action, as well as causing environmental pollution. Interestingly, nanometer-sized sterilizing agents present strong permeability and highly fungicidal behavior, and they are not easily leached, due to the unique nanoscale effect, and they have become alternative candidates as marketable anti-mold agents for wood protection. In this study, we first designed and explored a nanoscale alloy (nano silver–copper alloy, nano-AgCu) to treat wood surfaces for mold growth resistance. The results showed that three molds, i.e., Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum and Trichoderma viride, mainly grew on the surface of wood within a depth of 100 μm; and that the nano-AgCu alloy with a particle size of ~15 nm presented improved retention and anti-mold efficiency at a nanomaterial concentration on the wood surface. Its leaching rate increased non-linearly with the increase in nano-AgCu retention and then it showed a gradually decreasing trend. When the concentration reached 1000 mg/L, the nano-AgCu alloy uniformly distributed on the wood surface in a monodispersed state and exhibited a lower retention of 0.342 g/m2, with an anti-mold efficiency of more than 75% and a leaching rate of only 7.678%. Such results positioned 1000 mg/L as the toxic threshold concentration of nano-AgCu against the three molds. This study can provide a scientific basis for the analysis of the anti-mold mechanisms of nano-AgCu alloy on wood surfaces and guide the application of nano-metal alloy materials in the field of wood antimicrobials.

To counter a perceived increase in multi-piece fracturing of wood baseball bats, Major League Baseball implemented standards to regulate the quality of wood used in the making of professional-grade baseball bats. These specifications included a minimum density as a function of wood species and a standard related to slope of grain (SoG). Following the implementation of these specifications in 2008, there was a 65% reduction in the multi-piece failure rate. It is hypothesized that a further reduction in the breakage rate can be realized through the implementation of regulations on allowable bat profiles. In the current work, a parametric study was conducted to develop a quantitative understanding of the relationship between bat durability (i.e., resistance to breaking), SoG, and bat profile, thereby obtaining data to support or refute the hypothesis. Finite element models of the bat/ball impact of four different popular bat profiles were created using LS-DYNA software. Similarities and differences between bat profiles impacted at two relatively vulnerable axial locations are presented and discussed. Lastly, the respective bat durabilities for all of the profiles were compared using a probability analysis that considers the SoG, impact location, impact velocity, and it predicts an in-service bat durability.

This review describes methods and results of studying the mechanical properties of wood at all scales: from nano- to macro-scale. The connection between the mechanical properties of material and its structure at all these levels is explored. It is shown that the existing size effects in the mechanical properties of wood, in a range of the characteristic sizes of the structure of about six orders of magnitude, correspond to the empirical Hall-Petch relation. This “law” was revealed more than 60 years ago in metals and alloys and later in other materials. The nature, as well as the particular type of the size dependences in different classes of materials can vary, but the general trend, “the smaller the stronger”, remains true both for wood and for other cellulose-containing materials. The possible mechanisms of the size effects in wood are being discussed. The correlations between the mechanical and thermophysical properties of wood are described. Several examples are used to demonstrate the possibility to forecast the macromechanical properties of wood by means of contactless thermographic express methods based on measuring temperature diffusivity. The research technique for dendrochronological and dendroclimatological studies by means of the analysis of microhardness and Young’s modulus radial dependences in annual growth rings is described.

Effective prevention of mould growth indoors is still an important topic considering that mould growth is frequently observed in buildings, it causes serious health hazards and can irreversibly damage infected objects. Several studies have been conducted and mould growth models developed. Despite that, some potentially important aspects such as water damage and spore contamination have received only little attention. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the initial moisture content of wood and spore contamination on mould development indoors. The mould tests were performed in constant temperature (10, 20 and 30 °C) and relative humidity (91% and 97%) conditions. The results show that wetting of wood specimens prior to the test significantly accelerates mould growth at a temperature of 10 °C. For the other temperatures, the effect was insignificant. Similar results were obtained for the test involving dry (conditioned at RH 50%) and conditioned specimens (RH 91% or RH 97%). The results regarding initial spore contamination show that significantly longer periods are required for mould to develop without spore contamination at 10 °C and 20 °C, while at 30 °C the effect is relatively small.

Discharge of untreated industrial wastewater containing heavy metals such as Pb2+ is hazardous to the environment due to their high toxicity. This study reports on the adsorption, desorption, and kinetic study on Pb2+ removal from aqueous solutions using wood/Nano-manganese oxide composite (WB-NMO). The optimum pH, contact time and temperature for adsorption were found to be 5.0, 4 h and 333 K, respectively. Pseudo-second-order kinetics best described the adsorption process with an initial sorption rate of 4.0 mg g min-1, and a half-adsorption time t1/2 of 31.6 min. Best fit for adsorption isotherm was obtained with the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 213 mg/g for an initial metal concentration of 60 mg/L. Both intra-particle diffusion and film diffusion contribute to the rate-determining step. Desorption experiments with 0.5 mol/L HCl, inferred the reusability of the composite. Adsorption experiment of Pb2+ from industrial wastewater confirmed that the prepared WB-NMO is a promising candidate for wastewater treatment. The WB-NMO demonstrated high Pb2+ removal efficiency and is considered as a promising alternative and reusable composite for lead removal from contaminated effluents.

Additive manufacturing or 3D printing has the potential to displace some of the current manufacturing techniques and is particularly attractive if local renewable waste resources can be used. In this study, rice husk, and wood powders were compounded in polylactic acid (PLA) by twin screw extrusion to produce filaments for fused-deposition modeling 3D printing. The biomasses were characterized in terms of physical features (e.g., particle size, density) and chemical compositions (e.g., solid state nuclear magnetic resonance, ash content). The two biomasses were found to have a different impact on the rheological behavior of the compounds and the extrusion process overall stability. When comparing the complex viscosity of neat PLA to the biomass/PLA compounds, the integration of wood powder increased the complex viscosity of the compound, whereas the integration of rice husk powder decreased it. This significant difference in rheological behavior was attributed to the higher specific surface area (and chemical reactivity) of the rice husk particles and the presence of silica in rice husks compared to the wood powder. Color variations were also observed. Despite the biomass filler and rheological behavior differences, the mechanical properties of the 3D printed samples were similar and predominantly affected by the printing direction.

The numerical simulation of fire propagation requires capturing the coupling between wood pyrolysis, which leads to the production of various gaseous species, and the combustion of these species in the flame, which produces the energy that sustains the pyrolysis process. Experimental and numerical works of the fire community are targeted towards improving the description of the pyrolysis process to better predict the rate of production and the chemical nature of the pyrolysis gases. We know that wood pyrolysis leads to the production of a large variety of chemical species: water, methane, propane, carbon monoxide and dioxide, phenol, cresol, hydrogen, etc. With the idea of being able to capitalize on such developments to study more accurately the physics of fire propagation, we have developed a numerical framework that couples a detailed three-dimensional pyrolysis model and fireFoam. In this article, we illustrate the capability of the simulation tool by treating the combustion of a wood log. Wood is considered to be composed of three phases (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin), each undergoing parallel degradation processes leading to the production of methane and hydrogen. We chose to simplify the gas mixture for this first proof of concept of the coupling of a multi-species pyrolysis process and a flame. In the flame, we consider two separate finite-rate combustion reactions for methane and hydrogen. The flame evolves during the simulation according to the concentration of the two gaseous species produced from the material. It appears that introducing different pyrolysis species impacts the temperature and behavior of the flame.

The goal of this research was to synthesize activated nitrogen-doped nanocarbons with high specific surface area and adjustable pore size distribution using wood charcoal as a raw material. The resulting carbon materials were tested for possible application as oxygen reduction reaction catalysts in alkaline media. Activated carbons were obtained using a thermochemical activation method with NaOH. Nitrogen was introduced into activated carbons using dicyandiamide solution. It was demonstrated that the content of introduced nitrogen depends on oxygen content in the structure of the activated carbon. The oxygen reduction reaction activity of the activated and nitrogen-doped carbon material was comparable with a commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst. Electrocatalytic properties of the synthesized N-doped wood-derived carbon catalysts may be associated with the highly developed surface area, specific ratio of micro- and mesopores, as well as the high percentage of pyridinic nitrogen.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing, or additive manufacturing, is a group of innovative technologies that are increasingly employed for the production of 3D objects in different fields, including pharmaceutics, engineering, agri-food and medicines. The most processed materials by 3D printing techniques (e.g., fused deposition modelling, FDM; selective laser sintering, SLS; stereolithography, SLA) are polymeric materials since they offer chemical resistance, are low cost and have easy processability. However, one main drawback of using these materials alone (e.g., polylactic acid, PLA) in the manufacturing process is related to the poor mechanical and tensile properties of the final product. To overcome these limitations, fillers can be added to the polymeric matrix during the manufacturing to act as reinforcing agents. These include inorganic or organic materials such as glass, carbon fibers, silicon, ceramic or metals. One emerging approach is the employment of natural polymers (polysaccharides and proteins) as reinforcing agents, which are extracted from plants or obtained from biomasses or agricultural/industrial wastes. The advantages of using these natural materials as fillers for 3D printing are related to their availability together with the possibility of producing printed specimens with a smaller environmental impact and higher biodegradability. Therefore, they represent a “green option” for 3D printing processing, and many studies have been published in the last year to evaluate their ability to improve the mechanical properties of 3D printed objects. The present review provides an overview of the recent literature regarding natural polymers as reinforcing agents for 3D printing.

Pyrolysis is a key process in all stages of wood burning from ignition to extinction. Understanding each stage is crucial to tackle wildfires and assess the fire safety of timber buildings. A model of appropriate complexity of wood pyrolysis and oxidation is missing, which limits the understanding of fires fuelled by wood. Progress towards this aim has been slow in recent years, as the role of chemical kinetics is still debated. Three predominant theories hypothesis that chemistry is either infinitely fast (de Ris), a function of char depth (Atreya), or a function of heat flux (Suuberg). This paper proposes a novel multi-scale model of wood pyrolysis and oxidation for predicting the charring of timber. The chemical kinetics sub-model was previously validated at the microscale (mg-samples). We favourably compare the complete model against a large range of mesoscale experiments (g-samples) found in the literature of different moisture contents (0–30%), heat fluxes (0–60 kW/m2), oxygen concentrations (0–21%), grain directions (parallel/perpendicular), and combinations thereof. The model was then used to calculate the transient Damköhler number of wood at different depths and heat fluxes. This analysis showed that chemistry and heat transfer are both important at all heat fluxes and stages of burning relevant to fire, which unifies the three theories by Suuberg, Atreya, and de Ris. We argue that the model is of currently appropriate complexity to predict the charring of timber. These findings improve our understanding of wood pyrolysis and the modelling of timber burning across scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dry rot fungus Serpula lacrymans is the most destructive fungal agent of wood building materials in Europe, Russia, North America, and Japan. The identification of this wood-deteriorating agent and the discrimination of different fungal isolates is very important for the control of buildings in general and for the preservation of cultural heritage in particular. The objective of the study was to develop a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) method coupled with a partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) for the sample preparation and identification of S. lacrymans. Five distinct S. lacrymans strains were analysed and compared to two strains of unrelated fungal species. Different methods of mycelial growth, sample preparation, and FTIR spectral data normalisation were compared. FTIR analysis of a harvested mycelium grown on the surface of a polyether sulfone microfiltration membrane deposited on a malt extract agar medium, followed by vector normalization and PLS-DA statistical analysis, resulted in 100% correct attribution at phylum, species, and strain level, regardless of the type of standardization used. This study confirms the applicability of FTIR spectroscopy for the identification of S. lacrymans and the discrimination of different strains belonging to this species.

Ionic liquids represent a class of highly tunable organic compounds responsible for many applications in the domain of wood-based materials. It has often been emphasized that the use of ionic liquids derives from their high affinity for lignocellulose and their good penetration ability into wood structures. This paper discusses the sorption ability of different types of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids with lateral alkyl chains, ranging from ethyl to hexyl into spruce and beech wood, as a function of their cation molecular mass, anion type (chloride, tetrafluoroborate, acetate), and intrinsic properties (surface tension and kinematic viscosity) at room temperature. All the studied ionic liquids present high relative uptake values at the equilibrium, ranging from 11.2% to 69.7%. The bulk diffusion coefficients of the ionic liquids into the wood range from 2 × 10−3 to 28 × 10−3 mm2/min, being higher in the longitudinal direction for both types of wood. The value of the diffusion coefficients for 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride is only 25% lower than that for water, despite the obvious differences in viscosity and surface tension, demonstrating a good penetration ability and the potential for wood industry-related applications (as impregnation compound carriers and preservatives).

Under constant temperature conditions, air relative humidity variations affect hygroscopic objects, such as wood, modifying their moisture content and provoking, at low values, damages and fractures. The parameters (amplitude, counts, and energy) derived from the acoustic emission non-destructive technique are calibrated with respect to equilibrium moisture content values using 14 samplings of Pinus sylvestris. The experimental procedure uses multi-technique approaches involving a universal testing machine, digital image correlation, and acoustic emissions, and notes that the three parameters of acoustic emission strictly depend on the equilibrium moisture content. For a better interpretation, a statistical approach is applied to model the equilibrium moisture content variations radially and longitudinally. Amplitude, counts, and energy are calibrated as a function of the equilibrium moisture content, indicating that all three parameters are necessary to have an integral vision of the conservation of a wooden material. Moreover, the shape of the macro-fractures that occur at the surface can be associated with the level of moisture or dryness of the sample. Finally, the proposed method can be used in situ because, through acoustic emission monitoring, it is possible to quantify the fingerprint of the state of conservation of a material.

This article deals with a new original analytical solution of deformation, force and stress states in wood screw joints up to the limit values of pulling out/breaking the screw. The screws are under tension. The wood-to-screw interaction is effectively simplified by introducing several physical model variants using a tangential elastic non-linear foundation. The experimental verification of the proposed models using pull-out tests (i.e., pulling out screws from dry spruce wood in laboratory conditions) confirms the correctness of the proposed models of the elastic linear/non-linear foundation. The validity of the model is also analytically and experimentally verified in the biomechanical model of pulling out screws from the femur of a bovine/human cadaver, which confirms and expands the validity of newly designed screw joint models outside the timber structure area.

Arbutus unedo spirit is a valuable product in Mediterranean countries. This spirit is usually marketed in Portugal without wood ageing. This work aims to characterize the ageing effect on the Arbutus unedo spirit, for three and six months with oak wood (Quercus robur L.) submitted to different toasting levels, based on its chemical composition and its sensory properties. For this purpose, several parameters were analysed: acidity, pH, dry extract, and volatile compounds (methanol, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate and fusel alcohols). The volatile compounds were identified by GC-MS and quantified by GC-FID. Sensory analysis was performed by a trained panel, who have profiled this beverage, as well as the changes acquired during ageing. Spectroscopic techniques, namely FTIR–ATR, were applied to discriminate the different beverages produced. The results highlighted an increase in Arbutus unedo spirit’s quality with the wood contact, mainly based on the sensory attributes. Additionally, they showed that the best beverages were produced using oak wood with medium toasting levels during three months of ageing.

Wood from field-grown poplars with different genotypes and varying lignin content (17.4 wt % to 30.0 wt %) were subjected to one-pot 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl catalyzed oxidation and high-pressure homogenization in order to investigate nanofibrillation following simultaneous delignification and cellulose oxidation. When comparing low and high lignin wood it was found that the high lignin wood was more easily fibrillated as indicated by a higher nanofibril yield (68% and 45%) and suspension viscosity (27 and 15 mPa·s). The nanofibrils were monodisperse with diameter ranging between 1.2 and 2.0 nm as measured using atomic force microscopy. Slightly less cellulose oxidation (0.44 and 0.68 mmol·g−1) together with a reduced process yield (36% and 44%) was also found which showed that the removal of a larger amount of lignin increased the efficiency of the homogenization step despite slightly reduced oxidation of the nanofibril surfaces. The surface area of oxidized high lignin wood was also higher than low lignin wood (114 m2·g−1 and 76 m2·g−1) which implicates porosity as a factor that can influence cellulose nanofibril isolation from wood in a beneficial manner.

Given the importance of wood as a building material for hundreds of years, it is often necessary to increase the resilience of existing wood elements. Due to their notable adaptability and high mechanical capacities, materials composed of polymers that have been reinforced with fibers represent a good alternative to traditional reinforcement systems. This study looks at the compressive behavior of prismatic wild pinewood test pieces confined with three types of fabric—one of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and two of basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) featuring two very different grammages. The reinforced pieces attain at least 96% greater resistance than the unreinforced pieces (FC300), reaching as much as 133% more resistance in the case of the pieces reinforced with FB600; however, the ductility of the reinforced pieces is much lower than that of the unreinforced, by approximately one-sixth and one-quarter, respectively. The study also allowed us to conclude that there is no relationship between the mechanical capacity of the reinforcement and the ultimate strength of the test piece tested, but there is a strong relationship between the rigidity of the reinforcement and modulus of elasticity and the ultimate strain of the reinforced pieces.

The article presents the impact of sawdust conditioning from coniferous trees with a pulsed electric field (PEF) on the characteristics of the combustion heat. The study used four variants of electric field parameters, i.e., (I) 300 discharges with an electric field intensity of 25 kV·cm−1, (II) 150 discharges with an electric field intensity of 25 kV·cm−1, (III) 300 discharges with an electric field intensity of 30 kV·cm−1, (IV) 150 discharges with an electric field intensity of 30 kV·cm−1. It should be noted that the interval between successive discharges was 10 sec and it was constant for each variant of the experiment. A change in the characteristics of the heat of combustion was found under the influence of a pulsed electric field on sawdust from coniferous trees in each period of the measurement. The highest temperatures were achieved by the interaction of a pulsed electric field with a discharge pulse of 30 kV·cm−1 and the number of discharge cycles amounting to 300, whereas significantly lower temperature values were recorded with the discharge electric field intensity of 25 kV·cm−1. It was found that the longest times from the moment of ignition to reaching the maximum temperature were obtained for the material after the influence of PEF with an electric field intensity of 30 kV·cm−1 and the number of pulses 300 (IV combination), while the shortest time of the analyzed interval was stated for the first combination of the experiment (electric field intensity 25 kV·cm−1 and a number of pulses 150). The use of a pulsed electric field allows modeling the combustion time of a homogeneous material, which enables the improvement of the process control possibilities, and is also important information for the design of devices intended for biomass combustion.

Living vegetation volume (LVV), one of the most difficult tree parameters to calculate, is among the most important factors that indicates the biological characteristics and ecological functions of the crown. Obtaining precise LVV estimates is, however, challenging task because the irregularities of many crown shapes are difficult to capture using standard forestry field equipment. Terrestrial light detection and ranging (T-LiDAR) can be used to record the three-dimensional structures of trees. The primary branches of Larix olgensis and Quercus mongolica in the Qingyuan Experimental Station of Forest Ecology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) were taken as the research objects. A new rapid LVV estimation method called the filling method was proposed in this paper based on a T-LiDAR point cloud. In the proposed method, the branch point clouds are divided into leaf points and wood points. We used RiSCAN PRO 1.64 to manually separate the leaf points and wood points under careful visual inspection, and calculated that leaf points and wood points accounted for 91% and 9% of the number of the point clouds of branches. Then, the equation LVV = V1N (where N is the number of leaf points, and V1 is cube size) is used to calculate LVV. When the laser transmission frequency is 300,000 points/second and the point cloud is diluted to 30% using the octree method, the point cloud can be replaced by a cube (V1) of 6.11 cm3 to fill the branch space. The results showed that good performance for this approach, the measuring accuracy for L. olgensis and Q. mongolica at the levels of α = 0.05 and α = 0.01, respectively (94.35%, 90.01% and 91.99%, 85.63%, respectively). The results suggest that the proposed method can be conveniently used to calculate the LVV of coniferous and broad-leaf species under specific scanning settings. This work is explorative because hypotheses or a theoretical framework have not been previously defined. Rather, we would like to contribute to the formation of hypotheses as a background for further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thorough understanding of the heritability, genetic correlations and additive and non-additive variance components of tree growth and wood properties is a requisite for effective tree breeding. This knowledge is essential to maximize genetic gain, that is, the amount of increase in trait performance achieved annually through directional selection. Understanding the genetic attributes of traits targeted by breeding is also important to sustain decade-long genetic progress, that is, the progress made by increasing the average genetic value of the offspring as compared to that of the parental generation. In this study, we report quantitative genetic parameters for fifteen growth, wood chemical and physical traits for the world-famous Eucalyptus urograndis hybrid (E. grandis × E. urophylla). These traits directly impact the optimal use of wood for cellulose pulp, paper, and energy production. A population of 1,000 trees sampled in a progeny trial was phenotyped directly or following the development and use of near-infrared spectroscopy calibration models. Trees were genotyped with 33,398 SNPs and 24,001 DArT-seq genome-wide markers and genomic realized relationship matrices (GRM) were used for parameter estimation with an individual-tree additive-dominant mixed model. Wood chemical properties and wood density showed stronger genetic control than growth, cellulose and fiber traits. Additive effects are the main drivers of genetic variation for all traits, but dominance plays an equally or more important role for growth, singularly in this hybrid. GRM´s with >10,000 markers provided stable relationships estimates and more accurate parameters than pedigrees by capturing the full genetic relationships among individuals and disentangling the non-additive from the additive genetic component. Low correlations between growth and wood properties indicate that simultaneous selection for wood traits can be applied with minor effects on genetic gain for growth. Conversely, moderate to strong correlations between wood density and chemical traits exist, likely due to their interdependency on cell wall structure such that responses to selection will be connected for these traits. Our results illustrate the advantage of using genome-wide marker data to inform tree breeding in general and have important consequences for operational breeding of eucalypt urograndis hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reasonable micro-pits texture has been initially proved that it can improve friction characteristics between wood and cemented carbide surface and reduce surface friction coefficient. In order to study the cutting performance of the micro-texture when it is applied to the cutting tool for cutting wood more effectively, this paper selected micro-pit texture for studying influence of surface micro-texture cutting tool on wood cutting performance and cutting temperature, finding that when micro-pit cemented carbide cutting tool is adopted for turning the northeast China ash (Fraxinus spp.), it can reduce cutting force of turning and surface friction coefficient between rake face and cuttings. Moreover, for type A and type B cutting tools, when the texture parameters are that the diameter of the micro-pit is 80μm, the depth of the micro pit is: 10μm, area occupancy is 20% and the diameter of the micro-pit is 120μm, the depth of the micro-pit is 10μm and the area occupancy is 20%, the effect generated is the best. When a texture cutting tool is used for cutting, the decrease of the highest temperature in the cutting area is not very great, but the average temperature in the cutting area changes a lot, which is mainly caused by that micro-texture is processed at a position of the rake face close to the main cutting edge and that the highest temperature of cutting is mainly generated on the contact point between tool tip and wood. A reasonable micro-texture parameter can form a layer of liquid lubricating film on the up and down contact surfaces such that the direct contact between cemented carbide and northeast China ash is changed into indirect contact between lubricating films formed by the liquid so as to reduce the surface friction coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abydos is a large, complex archaeological site located approximately 500 km south of Cairo in Upper Egypt. The site has served as a cemetery for thousands of years and is where most of the Early Dynastic royal tombs are located. North Abydos includes the Middle Cemetery and the North Cemetery, which are separated from each other by a wadi. The Middle Cemetery was the burial ground for important Sixth Dynasty (2407–2260 BC) officials and over time for thousands of elite and non-elite individuals as well. Excavations at the core area of the Old Kingdom mortuary landscape have revealed many culturally important wooden objects but these are often found with extensive deterioration that can compromise their preservation. The objectives of this study were to characterize the biodegradation that has taken place in excavated wooden objects, elucidate the type of wood degradation present, obtain information on soil properties at the site and identify fungi currently associated with the wood and soils. Light and scanning electron microscopy studies were used to observe the micromorphological characteristics of the wood, and culturing on different media was done to isolate fungi. Identification of the fungi was done by examining morphological characteristics and extracting rDNA from pure cultures and sequencing the ITS region. Wooden objects, made from Cedrus, Juniperus and Acacia as well as several unidentified hardwoods, were found with extensive degradation and were exceedingly fragile. Termite damage was evident and frass from the subterranean termites along with sand particles were present in most woods. Evidence of soft rot attack was found in sections of wood that remained. Fungi isolated from wood and soils were identified as species of Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium, Stemphylium Talaromyces and Trichoderma. Results provide important information on the current condition of the wood and gives insights to the identity of the fungi in wood and soils at the site. These results provide needed information to help develop conservation plans to preserve these degraded and fragile wooden objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basidiomycete Chondrostereum purpureum (Silverleaf fungus) is a saprotroph and plant pathogen commercially used for combatting forest “weed” trees in vegetation management. However, little is known about its lignocellulose-degrading capabilities and the enzymatic machinery that is responsible for the degradative potential, and it is not yet clear to which group of wood-rot fungi it actually belongs. Here, we sequenced and analyzed the draft genome of C. purpureum (41.2 Mbp) and performed a quantitative proteomic approach during growth in submerged and solid-state cultures based on soybean meal suspension or containing beech wood supplemented with phenol-rich olive mill residues, respectively. The fungus harbors characteristic lignocellulolytic hydrolases (GH6 and GH7) and oxidoreductases (e.g. laccase, heme peroxidases). High abundance of some of these genes (e.g. 45 laccases, nine GH7) can be explained by gene expansion, e.g. identified for the laccase orthogroup ORTHOMCL11 that exhibits a total of 18 lineage-specific duplications. Other expanded genes families encode for proteins more related to a pathogenic lifestyle (e.g. protease and cytochrome P450s). The fungus responds to the presence of complex growth substrates (lignocellulose, phenolic residues) by the secretion of most of these lignocellulolytic and lignin-modifying enzymes (e.g. alcohol and aryl alcohol oxidases, laccases, GH6, GH7). Based on the genetic and enzymatic constitution, we consider the ‘marasmioid’ fungus C. purpureum as a ‘phytopathogenic’ white-rot fungus (WRF) that possesses a complex extracellular enzyme machinery to accomplish efficient lignocellulose degradation during both saprotrophic and phytopathogenic life phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deadwood is an important structural component in forest ecosystems and plays a significant role in global carbon and nutrient cycling. Relatively little is known about the formation and decomposition of CWD by microbial communities in situ and about the factors controlling the associated processes. In this study, we intensively analyzed the molecular fungal community composition and species richness in relation to extracellular enzyme activity and differences in decomposing sapwood and heartwood of 13 temperate tree species (four coniferous and nine deciduous species, log diameter 30–40 cm and 4 m long) in an artificial experiment involving placing the logs on the forest soil for six years. We observed strong differences in the molecular fungal community composition and richness among the 13 tree species, and specifically between deciduous and coniferous wood, but unexpectedly no difference was found between sapwood and heartwood. Fungal species richness correlated positively with wood extractives and negatively with fungal biomass. A distinct fungal community secreting lignocellulolytic key enzymes seemed to dominate the decomposition of the logs in this specific phase. In particular, the relative sequence abundance of basidiomycetous species of the Meruliaceae (e.g. Bjerkandera adusta) correlated with ligninolytic manganese peroxidase activity. Moreover, this study reveals abundant white-rot causing Basidiomycota and soft-rot causing Ascomycota during this phase of wood decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulching is a widely employed soil management practice. The mulches used have variable effects on the soil properties and plant growth. In China, mulches are used to cover bare soil at a few places in landscapes, where most of the soil is uncovered, especially in tree pits. As to improve our understanding on the effect of various mulches on soil properties and tree growth after two years of the treatment justifying its implication in soil fertility and tree growth. A comparison study was conducted to determine the effects of inorganic (cobblestone—CB; water permeable brick—WPB), organic (pine bark—PB; green waste compost—GWC), and living (turf grass—TG) mulches on soil physical and chemical properties at three different depths (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–40cm), and on tree growth (Sophora japonica) in urban tree pits. Soil moisture was measured once a month in 2015.The soil samples were collected from the tree pits two years after mulching and used to evaluate the physical and chemical properties. Further, trunk diameter and tree height were determined once a year. During the most months, all types of mulches significantly affected the moisture content of the soil at all the depths analyzed. In July and August, however, the moisture content of PB and TG treated soil decreased when compared with that of unmulched bare soil. Two years after mulching, the bulk density of the soil treated with PB, GWC, and TG was significantly affected at10–20 cm, with GWC exhibiting a relatively better effect. The treatments with PB, GWC, and TG also improved the total porosity, macroporosity, and microporosity of the soil at lower depths. Further, WPB worsened the bulk density and porosity of the soil, elevating the pH at lower depths. The organic matter, total N, mineral N, available P, and available K contents of the soil at lower depths increased when mulched with organic material. Turf grass significantly increased only the total N and available K at 0–10 and 10–20 cm. There was no significant difference in the soil properties among the treatments at 20–40 cm. Furthermore, the trunk diameter and tree height were not affected by the mulches two years after mulching. In conclusion, organic mulches especially GWC, not only increased soil fertility significantly but improved soil physical characters (0–10 cm depth) comparing to other mulches, are suitable to cover bare soil in urban tree pits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]