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This research focuses on the successful development of Agel Leaf Fiber (ALF)-Epoxy composites added with Carbon Active Powder (CAP) and printed using the Vacuum Pressure Infusion (VAPRI) method. Considering the importance of determining the mechanical properties of composites as raw materials for making fishing boats, this research aims to determine the use of Agel Leaf Fiber (ALF) in polymer matrix composites. The composite morphology was analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and ImageJ software. The mechanical properties evaluated included Tensile Strength, Flexural Strength, and Hardness. The composite was prepared by incorporating CAP in varying volumes of 0 %, 10 %, and 30 % with a fixed ALF percentage of 40 %. The results showed that the addition of CAP significantly increased the tensile strength to 128.51 MPa, with 0.068 % elongation, 1787.39 MPa modulus of elasticity, and a hardness value of 75.2 HD. Furthermore, the addition of 10 % carbon exhibited a remarkable improvement in flexural strength, reaching 238.51 MPa. This improvement could be attributed to reduced porosity, resulting in enhanced bonding between ALF-CAP-Epoxy components. The flexural strength of the composite with the highest CAP content experienced a significant increase of 238.51 MPa. Thus, Agel leaf fiber has the potential to be used as a reinforcing material in the manufacture of composites and is applied in the manufacture of environmentally friendly fishing boat bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore the tensile properties of plant fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (PFRCCs). An axial tensile numerical-simulation and test study of PFRCC panels with four thicknesses was performed to analyze their tensile properties, providing a relevant basis for the engineering application of PFRCC panels. The results show that the peak load of uniaxial tensile failure of PFRCC panels with thicknesses of 8 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm and 18 mm is 424.0 N, 664.8 N, 825.0 N and 986.4 N, respectively. The bearing capacity of the panels gradually increases with the increase of the thickness. The peak tensile strain is about 0.044%, 2.93 times that of the cement matrix and the tensile strength is about 2.73 MPa. It is proved that adding plant fiber can increase the toughness of the cement matrix and increasing PFRCC panel thickness can improve its tensile bearing capacity without affecting its tensile-strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing energy consumption and minimizing environmental impacts have been significant factors in expanding the applicability of plant fiber-reinforced composites across a variety of industries. Plant fibers have major advantages over synthetic fibers, including biodegradability, light weight, low cost, non-abrasiveness, and acceptable mechanical properties. However, the inherent plant fiber properties, such as varying fiber quality, low mechanical properties, moisture content, poor impact strengths, a lack of integration with hydrophobic polymer matrices, and a natural tendency to agglomerate, have posed challenges to the development and application of plant fiber composites. Emphasis is being placed on overcoming this limitation to improve the performance of plant fiber composites and their applications. This study reviews plant fiber-reinforced composites, focusing on strategies and breakthroughs for improving plant fiber composite performance, such as fiber modification, fabrication, properties, biopolymers, and their composites with industrial applications like automotive, construction, ballistic, textiles, and others. Furthermore, Pearson rank correlation coefficients were used in this review to assess the relationship between the chemical composition of plant fibers with their physical and mechanical properties. If researchers study the behavior of plant fibers using correlation coefficients, it will be easier to combine plant fibers with a polymer matrix to develop a new sustainable material. Through this review study, researchers will learn more about the strategic value of these materials and how well they work in different real-world situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been renewed interest in the incorporation of plant fibers in cementitious materials to substitute synthetic, steel, and polymer fibers. This interest has been mainly stimulated by the numerous inherent advantages in the use of natural fibers in composites, such as high supply and availability, cost-effectiveness, low density, and full recyclability. Despite the great interest in incorporating plant fibers in cement, the low compatibility between the fibers and cement generates several problems in the fresh and hardened states of the composite. This work aimed to enhance the mechanical behavior of a cement mortar by incorporating short flax fibers treated with a citric acid solution. This eco-friendly treatment was used to modify the flax fibers in order to improve their physicochemical compatibility with the cement matrix. The fibers were treated with a 5 wt.% citric acid solution, and the effects of the treatment were evaluated by analyzing the properties of the fibers' surfaces and resulting composite. The mechanical behavior of the fiber-reinforced composite was evaluated on the samples prepared from treated and untreated fibers and compared with that of a control mortar through three-point bending and compression tests and the determination of the toughness index. The treatment was shown to be effective in modifying the surface roughness and wettability of the fibers and resulted in a 41% decrease in their water saturation rate. The cement mixture with treated fibers showed a considerable decrease in the initial setting time delay (24%), and the flexural strength was improved by 43.5% at 7 days and 18% at 28 days compared to that of the control mortar. Despite the expected decrease in the compressive strength of the composites compared to that of the control mortar, the composites containing the treated fibers showed a better performance (13% at 7 days and 6% at 28 days) than those prepared with the raw fibers. It can be concluded that treatment of flax fibers with 5 wt.% citric acid solution shows promise as a way of improving the mechanical properties of the cement mortar and could be beneficial for the production of higher quality composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparency to UV-Vis light and radiopacity of dental resin composites containing zirconia (ZrO2) fillers were investigated. The transparency of the resin composite containing porous ZrO2 spheres was much higher than that containing irregularly shaped ZrO2 particles. Calcination of the porous ZrO2 spheres at high temperatures led to dramatically reduced specific surface areas and pore volumes. The transparency of the resin composite containing the calcined porous ZrO2 spheres drastically decreased as the calcination temperature increased. Then, the enhanced UV-Vis transmittance of the resin composite containing porous ZrO2 spheres is attributed to the concentration and physical characteristics of the pores. The radiopacity of the resin composites containing porous ZrO2 spheres increased slightly with increasing calcination temperature. This study revealed that the internal structure of the ZrO2 fillers mainly influenced in the UV-Vis light transmittance of the resin composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moisture sorption and diffusion processes of plant fiber materials have a significant impact on their properties and product quality in healthcare, food production, cigarette processing, textile field, and papermaking industry. The infiltration process affects the rate of water sorption and processing of flavoring liquids, and exploring its mechanisms can optimize the production process. Here, multi-scale imaging approach was employed to identify the heterogeneous structure of plant leaves and the impact of multilevel fiber structure and pore channels on water adsorption. The dissipative changes and mechanisms of water adsorption, osmotic diffusion, and hygroscopic swelling in plant leaves were illustrated. Furthermore, the effects of temperature and water activity on water diffusion under different environmental conditions are determined through a comparison of adsorption equilibrium and diffusion electrochemical impedance analysis (EIS), with a focus on the water-blocking effect of the waxy layer interface. This work investigated the correlation between the impedance change in water transport and the natural layered water-blocking polymer film structure and multi-level pore structure. This study sheds new light on biological multi-scale fiber materials and these findings are important reference value for manufacturing processes to improve the moisturizing properties of functional plant fibers in the field of food preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion-exchange fiber has been widely used as a conventional adsorbent for water purification, but its base material, the petroleum, does not comply with the current trend of environmental protection. The synthesis of functional materials from natural resources attracts intensive interest. Cotton lint fiber is a natural cellulose based hollow fiber, which has a unique advantage in ion-exchange process. Herein, for the first time, a cationic design for the cotton lint fiber was carried out in a simple two-step strategy. The cellulose based anion-exchange fiber (CAF) showed well-preserved fibrous macrostructure and cellulose nanofibril structure. And the ideal cationic group content (133.26 mmol·100 g−1) of it indicates the successful combination of structural and functional properties, which are the responsible for its excellent adsorption efficiency that includes the high adsorption capacity (above 1300 mg g−1), rapid adsorption rate (90% of its equilibrium uptake within 6 min at the initial concentration of 300 mg L−1), perfect solid/liquid separation property, and good recyclability (> 95%) for congo red. Additionally, the adsorption mechanism can be attributed to the synergistic effect of electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals force, which was explained by the employment of classical adsorption models and advanced double layer statistical physical model. The results show that this functionalized biomaterial is an ideal candidate to replace the conventional anion-exchange fiber. This work not only revolutionizes the application of natural plant fiber, but also provides a cost-effective and simple strategy for the utilization of cellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood and plants are made of fibers that contain, in addition to cellulose, lignin and hemicelluloses. Xylan and galactoglucomannan are the dominant secondary cell wall hemicelluloses. In modern times, fibers are important materials for the biorefinery industry and for developing biocomposites. For these and other applications, the structural analysis of fibers is important, and Raman spectroscopy is among the many analytical techniques used. However, given the structural similarity between hemicelluloses and cellulose, many of their Raman contributions overlap, and the extent to which the overlapping features of hemicellulose modify the spectrum of cellulose is not yet fully understood. The present investigation focuses on this aspect by examining xylan, one of the hemicelluloses. As a model system, samples with various mass ratios of cotton microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and xylan (birch wood) were prepared and analyzed using FT-Raman spectroscopy. In most cases, the Raman intensities were sample-composition-dependent, and, when the selected band intensities were plotted against the xylan content, good linear correlations (with an R2 between 0.69 and 1.0) were obtained. The results indicated that with increased xylan content, the peak intensities increased at 1460, 898, and 494 cm−1 and declined at 1480, 1121, 1096, and 520 cm−1. Additionally, intensity changes (%) in the MCC bands with respect to MCC's fractions in various mixture samples showed that, in most cases, the mixture intensities increased and were highly correlated with the xylan amounts in the mixtures (with an R2 between 0.75 and 0.97). These findings were applied to interpret Raman spectra of selected xylan-containing delignified plant fibers. It is hoped that the insights gained in this study will allow for better interpretation of the spectra of natural and treated plant materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fibers are one of the most attractive materials in biocomposites due to their potential for sustainability. This study aims to prepare sustainable composite materials using fibers from Sansevieria trifasciata (snake plant) and to investigate their mechanical, morphological, and water absorption properties. The composite was prepared with epoxy resin through a manual hand lay‐up process, maintaining standard parameters with changeable reinforcement (10%, 20%, and 30%). The mechanical properties (tensile, impact, and flexural strength), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and water absorbency of the composites were evaluated. The result showed that the tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact resistance of the composites are 6.99 MPa, 10.77 MPa, and 14 J, respectively, for 30% fiber components, which are significantly higher than other composite materials. The SEM analysis showed a strong interfacial bond between the snake plant fiber and the epoxy resin. The FTIR analysis revealed a reduction in hemicellulose and lignin and an improvement in the interfacial adhesion between snake plant fiber and epoxy resin. The composites also demonstrated time‐dependent increases in water absorption, with the sample containing 30% fiber components showing the best absorbency performance at 0.88%. Highlights: A study is being conducted on the effective and sustainable use of biowaste.The composite materials loaded with 30% fibers had significantly high tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact resistance.The SEM analysis of snake plant fiber‐reinforced polymer composite showed a strong interfacial bond between fiber and epoxy resin.The FTIR analysis of the composite revealed the reduction of hemicellulose and lignin.The use of non‐renewable materials is reduced, and eco‐friendliness is promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cellulose-enriched tertiary cell walls present in many plant fibers have specific composition, architecture, machinery of formation, and function. To better understand the mechanisms underlying their mode of action and to reveal the peculiarities of fibers from different plant species, it is necessary to more deeply characterize the major components. Next to overwhelming cellulose, rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) is considered to be the key polymer of the tertiary cell wall; however, it has been isolated and biochemically characterized in very few plant species. Here, we add RG-I to the list from the phloem fibers of the Phaseolus vulgaris stem that was isolated and analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), dynamic light scattering, and immunolabeling, both within tissue and as an isolated polymer. Additionally, fibers with tertiary cell walls from nine species of dicotyledonous plants from the orders Malphigiales, Fabales, and Rosales were labeled with RG-I-related antibodies to check the presence of the polymer and compare the in situ presentation of its backbone and side chains. The obtained results confirm that RG-I is an obligatory polymer of the tertiary cell wall. However, there are differences in the structure of this polymer from various plant sources, and these peculiarities may be taxonomically related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is the most important natural fiber source in the world. The genetic potential of cotton can be successfully and efficiently exploited by identifying and solving the complex fundamental problems of systematics, evolution, and phylogeny, based on interspecific hybridization of cotton. This study describes the results of interspecific hybridization of G. herbaceum L. (A1-genome) and G. mustelinum Miers ex Watt (AD4-genome) species, obtaining fertile hybrids through synthetic polyploidization of otherwise sterile triploid forms with colchicine (C22H25NO6) treatment. The fertile F1C hybrids were produced from five different cross combinations: (1) G. herbaceum subsp. frutescens × G. mustelinum; (2) G. herbaceum subsp. pseudoarboreum × G. mustelinum; (3) G. herbaceum subsp. pseudoarboreum f. harga × G. mustelinum; (4) G. herbaceum subsp. africanum × G. mustelinum; (5) G. herbaceum subsp. euherbaceum (variety A-833) × G. mustelinum. Cytogenetic analysis discovered normal conjugation of bivalent chromosomes in addition to univalent, open, and closed ring-shaped quadrivalent chromosomes at the stage of metaphase I in the F1C and F2C hybrids. The setting of hybrid bolls obtained as a result of these crosses ranged from 13.8–92.2%, the fertility of seeds in hybrid bolls from 9.7–16.3%, and the pollen viability rates from 36.6–63.8%. Two transgressive plants with long fiber of 35.1–37.0 mm and one plant with extra-long fiber of 39.1–41.0 mm were identified in the F2C progeny of G. herbaceum subsp. frutescens × G. mustelinum cross. Phylogenetic analysis with 72 SSR markers that detect genomic changes showed that tetraploid hybrids derived from the G. herbaceum × G. mustelinum were closer to the species G. mustelinum. The G. herbaceum subsp. frutescens was closer to the cultivated form, and its subsp. africanum was closer to the wild form. New knowledge of the interspecific hybridization and synthetic polyploidization was developed for understanding the genetic mechanisms of the evolution of tetraploid cotton during speciation. The synthetic polyploids of cotton obtained in this study would provide beneficial genes for developing new cotton varieties of the G. hirsutum species, with high-quality cotton fiber and strong tolerance to biotic or abiotic stress. In particular, the introduction of these polyploids to conventional and molecular breeding can serve as a bridge of transferring valuable genes related to high-quality fiber and stress tolerance from different cotton species to the new cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the natural origins of its primary components, such as plant fibers, bioplastics are materials that disintegrate quickly. Typically, plasticizers are used to create cellulose-based bioplastics. Plasticizers soften hard, inflexible structures, improve elasticity and flexibility, and lessen bioplastics' tendency to break. The manufacturing of bioplastics in this study includes the incorporation of chitosan and sorbitol plasticizers as a variable. Chitosan and sorbitol were utilized in the following mass ratios: 0.5 g, 1.0 g, and 20 %, 30 %, and 40 %. The optimal chitosan and sorbitol concentrations produced the most desirable bioplastic properties. At a ratio of 20 % sorbitol and 0.5 g chitosan, the greatest bioplastic value for tensile strength (845.68 kPa) and Young's modulus (67.65 x 102 KPa) was attained. With values of 44.94 % and 81.28 %, respectively, the ratio of 30 % sorbitol to 1 g chitosan produced the best mass and water absorption values. At a ratio of 30 % sorbitol and 0.5 g chitosan at 0.94 g/mL and a ratio of 40 % sorbitol and 1 g chitosan at 1.75 %, the highest density and elongation values were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Houtaomuga Phase I culture represents the earliest Neolithic remains found in Northeast China heretofore, thus filling an over 10,000-year gap in early pottery distribution. Pottery decorations and manufacturing techniques from this culture are unique. The pattern application methods seen are stamping, rolling, and incising. The emergence of flat-bottomed pottery and coiling techniques serves as a prelude to the later ceramic tradition of cylindrical jars with flat bottoms. Comb-teeth decorations along with plant fiber temper indicate similarity with pottery remains in Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary researchers are directing attention towards enhancing the structural integrity of biodegradable matrices, such as polylactic acid (PLA), through the incorporation of plant fibers. The utilization of novel fibers is becoming more prevalent to achieve the specific demands of composite applications, particularly in the automotive and packaging fields. Woven fabrics are commonly favored for reinforcing composites due to their elevated specific strength and dimensional stability. In pursuit of this context, we have developed a unique woven fabric using 100% okra fiber and utilized it in the production of PLA biocomposites. This approach was made due to the unexplored potential of okra woven fabric in the field of composite manufacturing. To optimize the performance of the composites, three distinct weight proportions of okra woven fabric (OWF) were chosen, including 20%, 30%, and 40%. The obtained composites were mechanically, morphologically, and thermally characterized. The manufactured composite's maximum tensile and thermal property was attained by adding 20% OWF to the PLA. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that 20% OWF composite possessed superior fiber‐matrix adhesion, improving all properties' efficacy. The overall findings reveal that the OWF/PLA composites are promising as a green material for applications in the automotive and packaging industries. Highlights: A novel class of composite has been created using 100% okra woven fabric.The composite with 20% fabric content showed the best mechanical properties.Thermal properties of composites are also optimized using 20% fabric content.SEM confirms the strong fiber‐matrix bonding of 20% OWF/PLA composites.The composites are suitable for automotive and packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upland cotton is the fifth-largest oil crop in the world, with an average supply of nearly 20% of vegetable oil production. Cottonseed oil is also an ideal alternative raw material to be efficiently converted into biodiesel. However, the improvement in kernel oil content (KOC) of cottonseed has not received sufficient attention from researchers for a long time, due to the fact that the main product of cotton planting is fiber. Previous studies have tagged QTLs and identified individual candidate genes that regulate KOC of cottonseed. The regulatory mechanism of oil metabolism and accumulation of cottonseed are still elusive. In the current study, two high-density genetic maps (HDGMs), which were constructed based on a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population consisting of 231 individuals, were used to identify KOC QTLs. A total of forty-three stable QTLs were detected via these two HDGM strategies. Bioinformatic analysis of all the genes harbored in the marker intervals of the stable QTLs revealed that a total of fifty-one genes were involved in the pathways related to lipid biosynthesis. Functional analysis via coexpression network and RNA-seq revealed that the hub genes in the co-expression network that also catalyze the key steps of fatty acid synthesis, lipid metabolism and oil body formation pathways (ACX4, LACS4, KCR1, and SQD1) could jointly orchestrate oil accumulation in cottonseed. This study will strengthen our understanding of oil metabolism and accumulation in cottonseed and contribute to KOC improvement in cottonseed in the future, enhancing the security and stability of worldwide food supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review details the different approaches to replacing animal fat used in meat products with non-animal fat ingredients based on their physical forms during processing. Six different physical forms to replace the fat are categorized as 1) powder, 2) paste, 3) plant oils, 4) combinations of dietary fiber with plant oils or animal protein/skin, 5) pre-treated fat replacer, and 6) oleogel and emulsion gels. The ingredients, characteristics, processes, mechanisms, advantages, and disadvantages of all the fat replacers are discussed extensively. The oleogel and emulsion gel approach is found to be the most practical by retaining the solid-like properties while possessing a healthier fatty acid profile over other approaches. This approach also can solubilize both hydrophobic and hydrophilic components and also have good thermodynamic stability, thus imitating the animal fat. In addition, the cost of production is kept low while maintaining the nutritional attributes, physicochemical and sensorial properties of meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the degradation mechanisms and mechanical properties of alkali-modified bamboo fiber composites under long-term water aging (up to 120 days) at 25 °C. The main findings show that alkali-treatment reduces the equilibrium moisture content of composites to 12.01 ± 0.04% after a treatment duration of 48 h. At dry conditions, the tensile strength and modulus of composites reach their maximum values of 290 ± 11.2 MPa and 11.5 ± 0.61 GPa for a soaking time of 4 h, then, gradually drop to smaller values, respectively. Beyond 120 aging-days, the tensile strength of 4, 24 and 48 h-modified fiber composites considerably decreases by 66.32 ± 0.33%, 60.99 ± 0.26% and 81.68 ± 0.41%, respectively. Similarly, their Young's modulus falls by 39.72 ± 0.25%, 49.04 ± 0.19% and 41.71 ± 0.37%, respectively. As confirmed by SEM, this significant drop is attributed to the severe microstructural damage of fibers and matrix which is a result of the prominent differential swelling between the internal cell wall layers. However, the findings attractively reveal a slight decline of about 18.15 ± 0.34% and 15.79 ± 0.33% in the tensile strength of raw and 0.5-h-modified fiber composites after 120 aging-days, respectively. Likewise, their Young's modulus decreases by 18.55 ± 0.4% and 14.47 ± 0.28%, respectively. This good aging resistance of the raw and 0.5-h-modified fiber composites suggests that the matrix plasticization, physical expansion of fibers as well as hydrolysis reaction are the main aging mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large amount of sunflower production is carried out in our country. The 2,500,000 tons of sunflower stalks that appeared after production pose a problem for our farmer. In order to clean up this environmental problem from the field, sunflower stalks are destroyed by burning to warm up in winter, broken down and mixed into the soil, or burned after harvesting. It is thought that by obtaining qualified, ecological and naturally decomposing sunflower fiber from the stem of the sunflower plant, which is an agricultural waste, it can increase the added value of agricultural products and contribute to the protection of the environment. In this study, the anatomical characteristics of the stem of the sunflower plant were determined, and natural lignocellulosic fibers were obtained from the sunflower stem by retting and decortication methods (fresh stem, dried stem). Various physical, chemical and mechanical properties of these fibers have been measured. For this purpose, FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) analysis, XRD (X-Ray Diffractometer) analysis and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) analysis were applied to the fibers obtained by different methods. Thermal analyses were performed by TG-DTA (Thermogravimetric) analysis. In addition, fiber strength, fiber fineness, fiber length and color measurements were made. The chemical content of the obtained fibers (pectin, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose) was determined. The properties of the fibers were compared using the obtained data. As a result of the study, it has been seen that the characteristic properties of the sunflower fibers obtained by the retting method are better. It has been determined that the elemental, thermal and crystal structures of the fibers obtained by different methods are similar. It was concluded that sunflower fiber will not be spun as a yarn, but can be used as a natural polymeric composite reinforcement material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stabilized rammed earth blocks have been an alternative building material around the world due to their cost efficiency, low embodied energy, and environmental footprints. However, the lower compressive strength and resistance to wearing limits their use in comparison to higher-cost alternatives. The integration of fibers in rammed earth blocks has been a promising technique for enhancing their properties. In this research, the viability of buffelgrass as a reinforcing fiber in stabilized earth blocks was determined. The buffelgrass was incorporated into the mix up to 5% by weight for samples with the increment of 1% for each mix and the durability was determined under wet and dry conditions. In addition, the influence of the buffelgrass on the compressive strength was observed and the optimum content was determined. The morphological characteristics were observed using SEM imaging of the rammed earth and fiber interaction at a fracture surface. The results showed the inclusion of buffelgrass helps the wear resistance of the earth blocks when exposed to wet-dry conditions as well as slightly improving the compressive strength of the material after dry and wet curing.

Background Enzymatic catalysis in different industrial applications is often preferred over chemical methods due to various advantages, such as higher specificity, greater efficiency, and less environmental footprint. Pectinases are a group of enzymes that catalyze the degradation of pectic compounds, the key components of plant middle lamella and the primary cell wall. Pectinases have found applications in multiple industrial processes, including cotton bioscouring, fruit juice extraction and its clarification, plant fiber degumming, paper making, plant biomass liquefaction, and saccharification, among others. The purpose of this study was to taxonomically characterize a bacterial species exhibiting pectinolytic activities and assess its pectinolytic activity qualitatively and quantitatively, as well as test its bioscouring potential. Results Here, we report that Burkholderia cepacia, a previously unknown species with pectinolytic activity, exerts such activity comparable to commercially used pectinase enzymes in the textile industry, but requires less temperature for activity. Conclusion Quantitative evaluation of enzyme activity indicates the potential of the bacterial species for use in the bioscouring of cotton knit fabric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has always been an interest in the professional communities of libraries, archives and conservation science to find ways of estimating the rate of degradation of paper under archival conservation conditions. Previously we reported a number of considerations for developing a kinetic degradation model based on Whatman no.1 paper. In the present research, this model was extended to 10 different papers and validated. Various physical and chemical properties of acidic, neutral, and alkaline papers were measured, such as the degree of polymerization (DP), tensile strength, equilibrium moisture content, and pH, as well as alkaline fillers content when applicable. The activation energy (Ea) based on DP of cellulose and zero-span tensile strength were determined. Ea and pH had the most significant influence on the simulated decay of paper. Papers with a high Ea (> 120 kJ mol−1), alkaline such as those containing at least 2% CaCO3, and acidic—but good printing quality papers made of bleached chemical pulp– were found the most durable in ambient conditions. Papers with a lower Ea (< 110 kJ mol−1) such as lignocellulosic papers containing significant amount of mechanical pulp were much less stable over time. Whatman filter papers, used as models of pure cellulosic papers, were found to have low Ea despite the good quality cotton fibers. A generic isoperm equation based on Ea was developed to predict the changes in the state of papers under various climatic conditions, and was applicable independently of the pH of the paper. The model developed allows a better quantification of the deterioration rate of printing papers such as those that are currently, and will be in the future, found in our archival collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rather than landfilling or incineration, value exists in textile wastes that should be recovered. Cotton is a major component of apparel and other textile materials that could find new value by extracting it from textile waste in the form of cotton fiber fragments (CFFs). To explore this potential, CFF properties were analyzed and compared after producing them from model undyed and fiber reactive dyed textile waste fabrics by mechanical milling or enzymatic degradation. Characterization methods included scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, fiber quality analysis, degree of polymerization (DP), X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Enzyme-treated undyed CFFs exhibited distinct properties of flattened fiber fragment dimensions, a more uniform fiber length distribution compared to other CFFs, a DP comparable to solvent-spun regenerated cellulose fibers from cotton, the highest crystallinity of all CFFs tested, greater hydrophobicity than milled cotton reference material, and better thermal stability than milled reference cotton. The effects of mono-functional and bi-functional reactive dyes on enzyme degradation behavior and final product characteristics were also evaluated and discussed. Both dyed and undyed CFFs show good potential for being utilized in diverse applications. This analysis of the properties of partially degraded cotton fibers provides a necessary technical foundation for promoting CFF recycling for use in applications such as composites and regenerated fibers, and provides insights on the mechanism by which cotton disintegrates in the presence of enzymes to potentially inspire new strategies for dyeing cotton that takes a designed for recycling perspective into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses a new method for decorticating bast fiber stalks, particularly hemp and flax, through a mastication process without damaging the fiber for use in biocomposites. Conventional automated decortication methods provide high stalk processing throughput, but they significantly damage the bast fibers and adversely affect their performance in biocomposite applications. Initial experiments with industrial hemp using a matched set of tools indicate that indexing the stalk by, at most, half a tooling period for each mastication cycle maximizes both the crushed stalk flexing action and dehurding efficiency. Further process insight was gained through simple stalk-crushing experiments (force vs. deflection) between matching teeth with no indexing, where force spikes correspond to initial collapse of the stalk cross section and initial hurd bending fracture along the stalk length. A more extensive experimental design with stiffer tooling reveals that hurding efficiency is maximized by adding spaces in the bottom die for hurd to fall through, using the smallest practical indexing distance of less than half a tooling period, and using as many teeth as possible. However, shorter indexing and more teeth also decrease the throughput rate and complicate stalk handling. Future work for optimizing and commercializing the process is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental study on the influence of alkaline environments on natural fibers of plant and mineral origin in concretes. The durability of concrete-based composite materials is influenced by the properties of the reinforcing fiber, and the serviceability of concrete is dependent on its durability. The aim of the present study is to investigate the strength, weight loss %, and surface degradation of jute, sugarcane, coconut, sisal, as well as basalt fibers through an accelerated aging method when used as reinforcements in concrete. The samples were immersed in an alkaline environment of sodium and calcium hydroxide at two different levels of pH for one week. Further, the fibers were immersed in NaOH and Ca(OH)2 solutions of 1 M, 2 M, 4 M, and 6 M concentrations for 48 h in order to investigate the gradual effect of an alkaline environment on the mechanical properties of the fiber. It was concluded that the weight loss % was greatest for jute fibers when used in concrete composite, while there was no significant effect on the basalt fiber samples. The strength of jute fiber in the concrete sample was also most severely affected by the aging process, compared to other fibers. The strength of basalt fibers in a concrete composite was least affected by the aging process. In some cases, the sisal fiber sample showed an increase in fiber tenacity after the aging process due to fibrillation, which might have increased the interfacial area. The fiber microstructure before and after the aging was evaluated through the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM analyses of different fibers were carried out to investigate surface degradation. The fiber pull-out strength was found to be the greatest for basalt fiber, followed by jute and sisal. This is indicative of the excellent adhesion of such fibers with cement in a concrete composite. In these cases, the use of sisal fiber results in defibrillation and increased specific surface area. Sugarcane and coconut fibers ruptured due to their inherent weakness and provided only a small increment in the mechanical performance of the concrete. Basalt fiber-reinforced concrete offered the greatest compressive strength, followed by jute and sisal. These observations provide crucial information regarding the durability and aging of natural fiber-reinforced concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Siwalan is one of the community's agricultural crops, where this plant is often found in rural areas, and this plant is one of the crops that are managed in the small-scale agricultural business sector, the management of this agricultural business sector is classified as traditional both in terms of management methods and tools, because this business sector is an agricultural business that has been passed down from generation to generation. Palm plants are very beneficial for rural communities, because from all parts of the palm plant can almost be used. The results that can be produced from this plant are sap and palm fiber. The purpose of this research is the first to determine the factors that affect palm sugar business income, the second to determine the most dominant factors that affect palm sugar business income. This type of research is a quantitative study using multiple linear regression analysis method. The object of this research is Jadung Village, Dungkek District, Sumenep Regency with a research sample of 70 respondents. The results showed that the variables age, education, length of business, number of dependents, number of trees, and cosmopolitan level had a significant effect on palm sugar business income. Based on the results of research on socioeconomic factors that affect palm sugar business income, it shows that. Socio-economic factors that affect palm sugar business income are age, education, length of business, family dependents, number of trees and cosmopolitan level, both jointly and partially. The most dominant factor that affects palm sugar business income in Jadung Village, Dungkek District, Sumenep Regency is the Number of Trees Factor, this can be seen from the amount of the beta coefficient variable the number of trees which is 0.396 greater than the others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review and dose–response meta‐analysis examined the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) following dietary fiber intake. Relevant articles were retrieved from a variety of databases, including Scopus, Embase, and Medline, until March 2023. Spirometry was the most frequently used method for determining the presence of COPD. Based on the search, there were a total of 213,912 participants across five separate studies. Random effects model was used to combine the data and a dose–response analysis was further conducted. Five distinct cohort studies were identified. Based on highest versus lowest analysis, there was an inverse correlation between the intake of total fiber (RR, 0.72; 95%, CI: 0.64–0.80), cereal fiber (RR: 0.76, 95% CI 0.68, 0.86), and fruit fiber (RR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.83). Although this result was not significant for vegetable fiber (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.84–1.07). Dose–response analysis revealed that daily increase of 10 g of total dietary fiber, cereal fiber, or fruit fiber reduced the risk of COPD by 26%, 21%, and 37%, respectively. The ROBINS‐E tool classified all cohort studies as having a moderate risk of bias. Total fiber, cereal fiber, and fruit fiber intake were found to have low credibility using the NutriGrade tool. Additionally, there is a lack of scientific evidence supporting the use of vegetable fiber. Larger, more comprehensive studies are required to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Genome-wide introgressions were beneficial to the comprehensive mining of QTL. • The combination of CSSLs and improved k-mer genotyping showed the high efficiency for genetic effects detection. • 39 introgression segments were detected with stable favorable effects for simultaneous improvement of multiple traits in Gh. • 11 segments were comprehensive discovered for the stable simultaneous improvement of FL/FS and LP. • The plasticity of genetic effects of variations in different genetic backgrounds need to be considered in breeding. The simultaneous improvement of fiber quality and yield for cotton is strongly limited by the narrow genetic backgrounds of Gossypium hirsutum (Gh) and the negative genetic correlations among traits. An effective way to overcome the bottlenecks is to introgress the favorable alleles of Gossypium barbadense (Gb) for fiber quality into Gh with high yield. This study was to identify superior loci for the improvement of fiber quality and yield. Two sets of chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) were generated by crossing Hai1 (Gb , donor-parent) with cultivar CCRI36 (Gh) and CCRI45 (Gh) as genetic backgrounds, and cultivated in 6 and 8 environments, respectively. The kmer genotyping strategy was improved and applied to the population genetic analysis of 743 genomic sequencing data. A progeny segregating population was constructed to validate genetic effects of the candidate loci. A total of 68,912 and 83,352 genome-wide introgressed kmers were identified in the CCRI36 and CCRI45 populations, respectively. Over 90 % introgressions were homologous exchanges and about 21 % were reverse insertions. In total, 291 major introgressed segments were identified with stable genetic effects, of which 66(22.98 %), 64(21.99 %), 35(12.03 %), 31(10.65 %) and 18(6.19 %) were beneficial for the improvement of fiber length (FL), strength (FS), micronaire, lint-percentage (LP) and boll-weight, respectively. Thirty-nine introgression segments were detected with stable favorable additive effects for simultaneous improvement of 2 or more traits in Gh genetic background, including 6 could increase FL/FS and LP. The pyramiding effects of 3 pleiotropic segments (A07:C45Clu-081, D06:C45Clu-218, D02:C45Clu-193) were further validated in the segregating population. The combining of genome-wide introgressions and kmer genotyping strategy showed significant advantages in exploring genetic resources. Through the genome-wide comprehensive mining, a total of 11 clusters (segments) were discovered for the stable simultaneous improvement of FL/FS and LP, which should be paid more attention in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of the new crown epidemic has deepened people's awareness of the importance of antibacterial and antiviral materials. It is imperative to develop applicable and economical antibacterial materials. In this work, we have proposed a facile method to prepare plant fibers with prominent antibacterial and antiviral performance. In the proposed strategy, the fiber design and in situ assembly of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were applied to improve the antibacterial and antiviral performance of plant fibers. Mechanical refining split the fibers and made them conformable; in this instance, polydopamine (PDA) was precipitated onto the fiber surface by the oxidative polymerization of dopamine and linked closely with cellulose hydroxyl groups, while AgNPs were in situ grown on the PDA coatings; PDA acted as a bonder to link fibers and AgNPs together. Benefiting from the high AgNP loadings and strong bond between AgNPs and fibers, the fibers showed excellent antibacterial and antiviral performance. This study provides a novel route for improving the antibacterial performance of plant fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes the flexural behavior of biocomposites composed of a polyurethane matrix derived from castor oil plants and coir fibers. A statistical design is performed to identify the effects of fiber alkaline treatment and aging on the flexural modulus and strength of the composites. Physical tests and failure analyses are carried out to better assess their mechanical performance. A second experiment at 100% relative humidity is performed on treated fiber composites to compare with those obtained by immersion in water. The flexural modulus of the composites is not significantly affected by the fiber alkali treatment, while the strength is reduced by 35.17% when treated fibers are considered. Increasing the exposure time of composites under both aging conditions progressively reduces their flexural properties. The aging process of biocomposites in an environment with 100% relative humidity takes twice as long to reduce to the same flexural properties as those aged in water. Highlights: Composites made with treated fibers showed higher apparent density and lower porosity.Water aging reduces flexural modulus and strength of biobased coir composites.The bending properties are strongly dominated by the properties of biobased polymer.100% relative humidity takes twice as long to reduce to the flexural properties as those aged in water.Untreated coir fibers achieve superior bending properties under moisture aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focuses on the optimization of formulation, characterization, and damage analysis of plant fiber-reinforced polyester resin composites (jute and date palm). To better understand the characteristics and mechanical behavior of these materials, this study investigates the influence of resin content and plant fibers on the physico-mechanical behavior of the resin composites. Resinous composites consisting of polyester resin and raw earth were studied using a novel formulation based on an empirical method that follows the principle of earth saturation with polyester resin. Saturation was achieved with a 28% content of polyester resin, which appeared to be an optimal blend for the earth–resin composite. Plant fibers were randomly incorporated as reinforcement in the composites at various percentages (1%, 2%, and 3%) and lengths (0.5 cm, 1 cm, and 1.5 cm). Mechanical tests including bending, compression, and indentation were conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of the composites. Analysis of fracture morphology revealed that the deformation and rupture mechanisms in bending, compression, and indentation of these composites differ from those of traditional concrete and cement mortar. The obtained results indicate that the composites exhibit acceptable performance and could be favorably employed in the rehabilitation of historic buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actin dynamics is pivotal in controlling cotton fiber elongation and the onset of secondary wall biosynthesis. We report that overexpression of GhACTIN1 under fiber fiber-specific promoter, GhSCFP, improves cotton fiber length, strength, and micronaire value. However, the effect of transgene has a more positive effect on fiber strength and micronaire value than fiber length. F-actin quantification and cellulose contents measurement in transgenic developing cotton fiber during the elongation phase showed an increase of up to 8.7% and 4.7% respectively. Additionally, physiological factors such as water use efficiency showed no significant change in transgenic cotton lines, while stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate were significantly increased. Moreover, agronomical data determined that lint percentage (GOT) and seed cotton yield also increased up to 4.6% and 29.5% respectively, in transgenic cotton lines compared to the control lines. Our data demonstrate that the GhACTIN1 gene is a strong candidate gene for cotton fiber and yield improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites have attracted much attention in many industries due to their abundant resources, low cost, biodegradability, and lightweight properties. Compared with synthetic fibers, various plant fibers are easy to obtain and have different characteristics, making them a substitute for synthetic fiber composite materials. However, the aging phenomenon of composite materials has been a key issue that hinders development. In natural environments, moisture absorption performance leads to serious degradation of the mechanical properties of composite materials, which delays the use of composite materials in humid environments. Therefore, the effects of moisture absorption performance of plant fiber composite materials on their mechanical properties have been summarized in this article, as well as various treatment methods to reduce the water absorption of composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Four-chambered stomach including the forestomachs (rumen, reticulum, and omasum) and abomasum allows ruminants convert plant fiber into high-quality animal products. The early development of this four-chambered stomach is crucial for the health and well-being of young ruminants, especially the immune development. However, the dynamics of immune development are poorly understood. Results: We investigated the early gene expression patterns across the four-chambered stomach in Hu sheep, at 5, 10, 15, and 25 days of age. We found that forestomachs share similar gene expression patterns, all four stomachs underwent widespread activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses from d 5 to 25, whereas the metabolic function were significantly downregulated with age. We constructed a cell landscape of the four-chambered stomach using single-cell sequencing. Integrating transcriptomic and single-cell transcriptomic analyses revealed that the immune-associated module hub genes were highly expressed in T cells, monocytes and macrophages, as well as the defense-associated module hub genes were highly expressed in endothelial cells in the four-stomach tissues. Moreover, the non-immune cells such as epithelial cells play key roles in immune maturation. Cell communication analysis predicted that in addition to immune cells, non-immune cells recruit immune cells through macrophage migration inhibitory factor signaling in the forestomachs. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the immune and defense responses of four stomachs are quickly developing with age in lamb's early life. We also identified the gene expression patterns and functional cells associated with immune development. Additionally, we identified some key receptors and signaling involved in immune regulation. These results help to understand the early life immune development at single-cell resolution, which has implications to develop nutritional manipulation and health management strategies based on specific targets including key receptors and signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to confirm the “vegetable-first” effect. In addition, because we aimed dietary fiber in vegetable salad, the effect after the ingestion of vegetable salad extract (vegetable salad from which solids have been removed) before carbohydrates on postprandial serum glucose level was also evaluated. A total of 13 healthy men were given meals after one-night of fasting: rice–vegetable salad, vegetable salad–rice, and vegetable salad extract–rice. Blood samples were taken at 0, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after the ingestion of the test meal to measure serum glucose levels. Serum glucose levels were significantly lower after 45 and 60 min in the vegetable salad–rice group compared to the rice–vegetable salad group. No significant difference was found between the vegetable salad extract–rice group and the vegetable salad–rice/rice–vegetable salad group. The result suggested that it might be important to ingest vegetables to obtain the “vegetable-first” effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perennial crops, especially legumes, have a crucial role in the development of sustainable agriculture. One such species may be fodder galega (Galega orientalis Lam.), whose utility values, including persistence and multi-directional use, are still not sufficiently known and appreciated. The aim of this study was to evaluate fodder galega yield dynamics, taking into account some indices of fodder value and the accumulation of mineral components in long-term use in light soil under moderate climate conditions with periodic shortages of precipitation. The results of six long-term experiments conducted at the Mochełek Research Station (53°120′ N, 17°510′ E) were evaluated. The dynamics of dry matter, total protein yield, and accumulation of minerals were best reflected by trend lines in the form of logarithmic functions, where during the first 4–5 years of use, a significant increase in the assessed values was noted, and in subsequent years, the increase continued but at a lower rate. The advancement in plant development in the establishment year had a significant impact on yields in the first production year. On average, during 10 production years, the dry matter yield obtained was 936 g m2, and the total protein yield was 177 g m2. Between 50% and 60% of the yield was determined by herbage accumulation in the first cut. Among minerals, the highest accumulation level was achieved for potassium. The height of shoots and the content of crude fiber in the plants increased linearly in the following years. The shoot density, leafiness, and content of minerals did not depend on the age of the galega stand, and their values were different among growth periods within a season. The number of shoots per 1 m2 in successive cuts was 170, 139, and 92, and their height was 79, 67, and 31 cm, respectively. The share of leaves in the first cut yield was 50%, and in the second and third cuts, it was 65% on average. In these conditions, over 10 years of use, galega turned out to be a valuable, persistent, and reliably yielding fodder crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate US consumers' willingness to pay for cotton apparel production and country of origin attributes. Using a choice‐based conjoint experiment and information treatments, we examine the preferences of 727 US shoppers for the attributes: cotton fiber production systems and country of manufacture of the cotton fiber. Random utility theory is the basis for the survey's responses analysis to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) values for the attributes. Choices made by consumers are modeled using a mixed logit model in WTP space estimated using simulated maximum likelihood procedures. Results show that consumers are willing to pay more for cotton apparel from the United States than apparel from other countries, and more for apparel made from fiber produced in organic systems than in conventional systems. Only some subgroups of consumers were found to be affected by exposure to an information treatment regarding potential labor exploitation in cotton farms and textile mills. [EconLit Citations: D12]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fibers have recently attracted a significant interest from researchers and industry due to their environmental friendliness, availability and other unique characteristics including high tensile strength and exceptional durability. Plant fibers such as jute, flax, hemp, coir, sisal and bamboo are among natural fibers that have been intensively studied. However, the technical characteristics of the Sansevieria Ehrenbergii (SE) fiber, which is among the most abundant natural fibers found in tropical regions such as Tanzania, have not been widely studied and the full potential of this fiber has yet to be realized. As a result, the plant is mainly used as a source of antibacterial materials and natural bandages and for making conventional fiber products such as ropes. It is also common to see SE plants in gardens as decorative items. However, a detailed research into the physical, mechanical and structural properties of this fiber could lead to value-added applications that would economically benefit both the producers and the producing countries. This paper reports on the general overview, extraction processes, properties and applications of SE fibers based on review of literature. The fiber's current challenges and future prospects have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood-polymer composites (WPCs) combine the properties of wood and polymers. Creating composites involves adding plant or wood fibers as fillers to a polymer matrix. This study used mahogany and mango wood sawdust as reinforcement materials, while high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were used as matrices. The investigated data in this study comprises four different (10, 20, 30, and 40) weight percentages (wt%) of mahogany and mango sawdust paired with corresponding wt% (90, 80, 70, and60) of HDPE and PVC matrices. The extrusion method produced composites with different amounts of sawdust and polymer matrices. Wood polymer composites were characterized by examining their mechanical properties, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to analyze their morphology. The results showed that the maximum tensile strength was obtained from the 20% for both sawdust composites. The ultimate tensile strength was recorded at 15.28 MPa for Mahogany sawdust-HDPE (Mh-HDPE) composite, whereas the Mahogany sawdust-PVC (Mh-PVC) exhibited the lowest tensile strength at 2.38 MPa. In addition, HDPE-based composite shows higher tensile strength (11.56 MPa) with Mango sawdust than PVC-based composites (2.28 MPa). Tensile strength, and impact strength of the fabricated composites were also assessed by ASTM standards. The maximum impact strength was obtained at 10wt% of sawdust for all four composites investigated in this study. It was also observed that impact strength significantly decreased with the increase of fiber percentage in the composite. These results demonstrated the highest mechanical properties of the Mh-HDPE than the other composites, which SEM further investigated. The morphological analyses confirmed uniform mixing of sawdust and polymer matrices, evident by the absence of no pores, cavities, or voids in the prepared composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant fibers are rich in dietary fiber and micronutrients but often exhibit poor functionality. Ultrasonication can affect the particle size of plant fiber, thereby influencing other techno-functional properties. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of high-intensity ultrasound on citrus, apple, oat, and pea fiber. Initially, solutions containing 1 wt% of plant fiber were homogenized using ultrasonication (amplitude 116 µm, t = 150 s, energy density = 225 kJ/L, P ¯   = 325 W). Due to cavitation effects induced by ultrasound, differences in particle size and a shift in the ratio of insoluble and alcohol-insoluble fractions for dietary fiber were observed. Additionally, viscosities for citrus and apple fiber increased from 1.4 Pa·s to 84.4 Pa·s and from 1.34 Pa·s to 31.7 Pa·s, respectively, at shear rates of 100 1 s . This was attributed to observed differences in the microstructure. Freeze-dried samples of purified citrus and apple fiber revealed thin and nearly transparent layers, possibly contributing to enhanced water binding capacity and, therefore, increased viscosity. Water binding capacity for citrus fiber increased from 18.2 g/g to 41.8 g/g, and a 40% increase was observed for apple fiber. Finally, ultrasound demonstrated itself be an effective technology for modifying the techno-functional properties of plant fiber, such as water binding capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Goat is an important livestock worldwide, which plays an indispensable role in human life by providing meat, milk, fiber, and pelts. Despite recent significant advances in microbiome studies, a comprehensive survey on the goat microbiomes covering gastrointestinal tract (GIT) sites, developmental stages, feeding styles, and geographical factors is still unavailable. Here, we surveyed its multi-kingdom microbial communities using 497 samples from ten sites along the goat GIT. Results: We reconstructed a goat multi-kingdom microbiome catalog (GMMC) including 4004 bacterial, 71 archaeal, and 7204 viral genomes and annotated over 4,817,256 non-redundant protein-coding genes. We revealed patterns of feeding-driven microbial community dynamics along the goat GIT sites which were likely associated with gastrointestinal food digestion and absorption capabilities and disease risks, and identified an abundance of large intestine-enriched genera involved in plant fiber digestion. We quantified the effects of various factors affecting the distribution and abundance of methane-producing microbes including the GIT site, age, feeding style, and geography, and identified 68 virulent viruses targeting the methane producers via a comprehensive virus-bacterium/archaea interaction network. Conclusions: Together, our GMMC catalog provides functional insights of the goat GIT microbiota through microbiome-host interactions and paves the way to microbial interventions for better goat and eco-environmental qualities. -Pdb_6YZpzy_mmd53S_tih Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been growing interest in using plant fibers to reinforce materials in modern manufacturing. This study focuses on the development of a novel biocomposite made from an enset fiber (EF) and polylactic acid (PLA) matrix using compression molding at a hot-pressing temperature of 170 °C and pressure of 7 MPa for 7 min. Before preparing the biocomposites, the fibers were chemically modified with different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and cut into shorter fibers with a 40 mm average length in size. Then, the extent of modifications on the mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical behavior, morphology, and water absorption were investigated. The tensile, flexural, and Charpy impact tests were carried out to evaluate the mechanical properties of the samples as per ASTM standards. Moreover, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and the water absorbency of the biocomposites were investigated, and the results were graphically shown and explained. The results indicate that the biocomposite treated with 5% NaOH exhibited significant improvements in tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength compared to the untreated composite. The tensile modulus and flexural modulus of 5% NaOH-modified enset fiber biocomposite were also enhanced by 55.8% and 70.3% compared to untreated enset fiber biocomposite. The highest tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength found for the PLA composite reinforced by EF treated with 5% w/v NaOH solution were 20.16 MPa, 30.21 MPa, and 12.02 kJ/m2, respectively. In general, the modification of natural fibers improves adhesion at the interface and therefore decreases the water absorption and improves the dynamic mechanical properties of biocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article highlights the significance of well-preserved perishable organic materials, such as wood, plant fibers and skins, in studying past societies and understanding human adaptations, technology and ecological knowledge. It specifically examines the plant-based artifacts found in Cueva de los Murciélagos, providing insights into the evolution of plant-based technologies during the Early-Middle Holocene in Europe, shedding light on cultural traditions.

Introduction: In closed-loop soilless cultivation, the main nutrient sinks are nutrients retained either by the crop or in spent growing media. Measurement of nutrients in spent growing media and in the aboveground vegetative plant biomass at crop termination can be a tool for assessing and optimizing nutrient efficiency. The first aim of this study was to test the potential of nearinfrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to forecast the various nutrient contents in strawberry leaves, which would then allow for assessment of crop nutrient status and total nutrient uptake by strawberry plants. The second aim was to test NIRS as a high throughput technique for assessing the N, K, Ca, Mg and organic matter (OM) content and the pH, EC and C:N and C:P ratios for a dataset of composts, plant fibers and spent growing media. The NIRS prediction model for fast screening of the total nutrient contents in spent growing media was compared with a single extraction method. Methods: A database with 369 dried and ground strawberry leaf samples with known contents of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were scanned using NIRS. The database covered a range of leaf contents of 6-35 g N/kg dry matter (DM), 0.7-6.3 g P/kg DM and 2-29 g K/kg DM. A dataset of 458 samples of different types of materials used in growing media was validated with a dataset of 109 samples. Results: Validation for the strawberry leaves indicated potential for this application, with R2 values of 0.90 or higher for N, K and Ca, and R2 values higher than 0.85 for P and Mg. Validation for the dataset of composts, plant fibers and spent growing media also indicated the potential for this application, with R2 values of 0.90 or higher for organic matter, and with R2 values of 0.85 or higher for total Ca, pH and C:N. A first test indicated potential for the calibration based on fresh samples of compost, plant fiber as well as spent growing media or dried (not ground) samples. Discussion: Use of NIRS on fresh samples would eliminate the need for drying and grinding the samples and would reduce screening time. The ammonium acetate extraction is a reliable alternative to NIRS for fast screening of the total P, K, Ca, and Mg contents in composts, plant fibers and spent growing media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]