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Machine learning classifiers are increasingly widely used. This research note explores how a particular widely used classifier, the Random Forest, performs when faced with samples which are imbalanced and noisy data. Both are known to affect accuracy, but if their effects are independent or not has not been explored. Based on an experiment using synthetic data generated for the study we find that the effects of noise and sample balance interact with each other; classification accuracy is worse when faced with both noisy data and sample imbalance. This has implications for the use of RF in market research, but also for how methods to address either sample imbalance or noise are assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) play an important role in aerosol effects on air quality and public health, but their atmospheric abundance and sources are poorly understood. We measured EPFRs contained in PM2.5 collected in Fairbanks, Alaska, in winter 2022. We find that EPFR concentrations were enhanced during surface-based inversion and correlate strongly with incomplete combustion markers, including carbon monoxide and elemental carbon (R2 > 0.75). EPFRs exhibit moderately good correlations with PAHs, biomass burning organic aerosols, and potassium (R2 > 0.4). We also observe strong correlations of EPFRs with hydrocarbon-like organic aerosols, Fe and Ti (R2 > 0.6), and single-particle mass spectrometry measurements reveal internal mixing of PAHs, with potassium and iron. These results suggest that residential wood burning and vehicle tailpipes are major sources of EPFRs and nontailpipe emissions, such as brake wear and road dust, may contribute to the stabilization of EPFRs. Exposure to the observed EPFR concentrations (18 ± 12 pmol m-3) would be equivalent to smoking ∼0.4-1 cigarette daily. Very strong correlations (R2 > 0.8) of EPFR with hydroxyl radical formation in surrogate lung fluid indicate that exposure to EPFRs may induce oxidative stress in the human respiratory tract.

Air pollution consists of complex mixtures of chemicals with serious deleterious health effects from acute and chronic exposure. To help understand the mechanisms by which adverse effects occur, the present work examines the responses of cultured human epidermal keratinocytes to specific chemicals commonly found in woodsmoke. Our earlier findings with liquid smoke flavoring (aqueous extract of charred wood) revealed that such extracts stimulated the expression of genes associated with oxidative stress and proinflammatory response, activated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, thereby inducing cytochrome P4501A1 activity, and induced cross-linked envelope formation, a lethal event ordinarily occurring during terminal differentiation. The present results showed that furfural produced transcriptional responses resembling those of liquid smoke, cyclohexanedione activated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, and several chemicals induced envelope formation. Of these, syringol permeabilized the cells to the egress of lactate dehydrogenase at a concentration close to that yielding envelope formation, while furfural induced envelope formation without permeabilization detectable in this way. Furfural (but not syringol) stimulated the incorporation of amines into cell proteins in extracts in the absence of transglutaminase activity. Nevertheless, both chemicals substantially increased the amount of cellular protein incorporated into envelopes and greatly altered the envelope protein profile. Moreover, the proportion of keratin in the envelopes was dramatically increased. These findings are consistent with the chemically induced protein cross-linking in the cells. Elucidating mechanisms by which this phenomenon occurs may help understand how smoke chemicals interact with proteins to elicit cellular responses, interpret bioassays of complex pollutant mixtures, and suggest additional sensitive ways to monitor exposures.

This article discusses the evolution and diversity of secondary cell walls (SCWs) in seed plants. The study used cryoSEM to analyze macrofibrils in 33 different angiosperm and gymnosperm species. The results showed that angiosperms generally have narrower macrofibrils compared to gymnosperms, but there are exceptions. The findings provide insights into wood nanostructure and cell wall composition, which can be useful for selecting or engineering desirable wood properties and improving carbon sequestration in plantation forests. The study also examines the evolution of macrofibril size in seed plants, specifically focusing on angiosperms and gymnosperms. The researchers found that large macrofibrils are characteristic of gymnosperms, while small macrofibrils are characteristic of angiosperms. However, they also discovered an intermediate macrofibril size in the Liriodendron genus. The researchers speculate that this may be due to differences in cell wall composition or environmental factors. Further research is needed to investigate these factors and their impact on carbon sequestration and storage by plants. [Extracted from the article]

Although many of the structures and organelles of vegetative cells are comparable to those of animal tissues, significant differences between the two kingdoms require modifications in histological techniques for both tissue processing steps and histochemical staining techniques. The authors investigated the challenges of working with plant tissues by collecting various flora to represent the four main plant organs: leaf, stem, root, and flower/fruit. Triplicate samples for each specimen were placed into formalin for paraffin embedding, placed into formalin for later frozen sections, and used fresh to undergo immediate frozen sectioning. Frozen sections of plant tissues were more difficult to obtain than formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections, exhibited tissue loss during staining, and were inferior morphologically to FFPE sections. Although, historically, plant tissue fixation and processing has employed several different reagents compared with those used in animal tissue processing and took significantly longer times, the current investigation determined reagents and protocols from a modern histology laboratory which processes mammalian tissues can be applied to plant tissue processing with only slight modifications in respect to reagent timing. Additionally, staining techniques were compared and while it is well known that plant cell walls stain well with safranin O, the current investigation determined the uptake of safranin O can be accelerated by incubating at 60°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermo‐catalytic co‐pyrolysis of paulownia wood and polypropylene mixture were carried out in a fixed bed horizontal reactor system. The biochar obtained from pyrolysis of paulownia wood was activated by steam at 700°C. Activated biochar supported magnesium oxide, nickel oxide and cobalt oxide catalysts were prepared by incipient miosture impregnation and were used to upgrade the bio‐oil. Catalytic pyrolysis reduced the amount of bio‐oil compared with non‐catalytic pyrolysis (59.5% of bio‐oil). The results indicate that the production of aromatic compounds increased from 40.35% to 65.93, 62.12 and 61.56% using Ni, Co and Mg catalysts, respectively. For all three catalysts, the production of furan compounds decreased. It was found that bio‐char based catalysts are suitable for use in the co‐pyrolysis process to improvement the biofuel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to apply a new approach to the quantitative analysis of the formation of gaseous products generated during the thermochemical conversion of wood waste samples of different fineness by using thermogravimetric analysis with mass spectrometry (TGA‐MS). Profiles of the release of gaseous components in the process of thermochemical conversion of wood samples were obtained based on data from the combined use of mass spectrometry and thermogravimetry. The resulting mass spectrometric data were processed according to the proposed methodology and the characteristics of the released gases were noted. The kinetic coefficients of the gases' formation were calculated from the processed data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To test the hypothesis that adaptive shifts leading to the assembly of tropical savannas involved coordination between bark and wood traits and to understand the underlying mechanisms. Location: Tropical South America. Taxon: Angiosperms (woody). Methods: We compiled data on three bark traits (total, inner and outer relative bark thickness), wood density, maximum height, five secondary xylem traits and on species' habitat information (light environment, climate, soil and fire history) for Neotropical savanna, forest and generalist species (biome groups). We tested for pairwise and multivariate associations among traits across species and if biome group and habitat conditions explained species positions along the resulting strategy axes. Results: Traits covaried along four different axes. The first axis was consistent with a trade‐off between fire (thick barks) and shade tolerance (low bark to diameter ratio, high vessel density) and contributed to differentiate the three biome groups according to the preference for shaded environments. Forest species also differed from savanna and generalist species in a separate axis by being more resource acquisitive. Maximum height and wood density did not strongly trade‐off with bark thickness, although maximum height was negatively covaried with relative outer bark thickness. Preference for shaded conditions was the main driver of variation in the two principal strategy axes, but temperature, fire and soil sand content also explained differences in plant stature between savanna and generalist species. Main Conclusions: Allocation to bark is constrained by trade‐offs with wood, opposing shade‐tolerant and acquisitive forest species to fire‐resistant and conservative savanna species. Rather than a single strategy axis, three axes are necessary to understand the functional differences among savanna, forest and generalist species. Because two of these axes are controlled by light availability, the associated traits tend to covary in space and time, but not across species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium wilt and gummosis disease is a major concern in Subabul plantations, resulting in quantitative and qualitative wood losses to the paper and pulp industry. Growers currently rely on agrochemicals, which are not environmentally safe. Therefore, developing a sustainable control strategy employing biocontrol agents is necessary. For this, the investigation was performed to identify native Trichoderma strains from Subabul rhizospheric soil having antagonistic, disease control efficiency, and PGPR attributes. Six antagonistic Trichoderma (TR1 to TR6) strains were isolated and their efficacy was tested against Fusarium in-vitro by dual plate technique and volatile metabolites. Among these, Trichoderma strains TR1 and TR2 were found efficient in counteracting the growth of F. equiseti (70–90% inhibition) compared to control. The effectiveness was primarily attributed to the increased production of volatile metabolites, siderophores, and the ability to solubilise the nutrients (P and K). Further, six potent Trichoderma strains were identified as T. asperellum (TR1, TR2, TR3, TR6), and T. hamatum (TR4, TR5) through rDNA ITS gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. These isolates were mass-multiplied, formulated using Talc powder followed by bio-priming in rooting media. The application of Trichoderma into rooting media reduced the wilt disease caused by artificial inoculation of F. equiseti. Further, TR1 and TR2 were found promising with conferred protection against wilt, enhanced survival rate (10–15%), and improved growth compared to untreated control. Application of adapted TR1 and TR2 antagonists in rooting media during clonal multiplication has the potential wilt control efficiency, enhanced survival rate, and plant growth promotion in Subabul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experimental study presented in this paper aimed to investigate the effects of bolt number and their pattern on the failure time of minimally fire-protected glulam beam bolted connections. Four full-size glulam beam-end connection configurations reinforced perpendicular to wood grain with self-tapping screws (STS) were experimentally tested under exposure to elevated temperatures that followed the CAN/ULC S101 (Standard methods of fire endurance tests of building construction and materials. Underwriters Laboratories of Canada, Fifth edition, Ottawa, Canada, 2019) standard fire time–temperature curve. All metal connecting components (i.e., bolt heads and nuts and steel plate edges) were fire protected using wood plugs and strips, respectively. Throughout the duration of fire tests, all specimens were subjected to monotonic load causing bending moment equivalent to the maximum moment design capacity of the weakest unreinforced connection configuration. Fire test results show that the failure time of all four proposed wood–steel–wood connection configurations surpassed the 45-min mark, which is the minimum prescribed fire resistance rating for timber connections in applicable codes, with the two configurations that employed six bolts sustained the applied load for more than 60 min in standard fire conditions. Increasing the number of bolts from four to six enhanced the failure time of the proposed connection configurations with time increments more than those due to changing the bolt pattern. Most importantly, test results confirm that reinforcing the connections with STS fully curtailed wood splitting and averted row shear failure that is frequently encountered in similar but unreinforced connection configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of poplar fermentation for ethanol, different methods are adopted to achieve efficient treatment and resource utilization of fermentation residues, which meets the current demand for green energy and carbon neutrality. Therefore, this work aims to establish an evaluation method on energy consumption, pollutant emissions, and cost expenditures in the production process for biofuels from poplar wood and residue. The process was simulated with commercial software (Aspen Plus for chemical production simulation and cost estimation and eBalance for LCA). Results showed that compared to FCE, it made a higher conversion efficiency of CFG because of the biojet fuel and gasoline from the gasification and conversion of residual lignin. And the flash evaporator, hydrolysis reactor, and fermentation reactor were components with the highest exergy loss. The economic cost of CFG was 9.63% less than that of FCE, and cellulase enzymes and poplar wood in variable costs were main factors in the total cost. Comparing environmental impacts from four perspectives, it was found that the total comprehensive impact of FCE was higher than that of CFG under each weight. The degree of influence of the first level indicator layer was energy consumption, environmental impact, and economic cost in descending order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated self-heating and off-gassing of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) wood pellets made from sawdust generated from separated mature and juvenile wood. The pellets were produced at an industrial scale and stored in large piles of about 7.2 tonnes. The production process involved drying the sawdust using three different methods and to varying moisture contents. The results indicated significant influences of both raw material type (F(6) = 61.97, p < 0.05) and drying method (F(2) = 65.38, p < 0.05) on the self-heating of the pellets. The results from the multiple regression analysis further showed that both the raw material type and pellet moisture content significantly influenced the temperature increase, with strong correlations observed for pellets produced using low-temperature drying (F(3, 14) = 83.52, multiple R2 = 0.95, p < 0.05), and medium temperature drying (F(3, 13) = 62.05, multiple R2 = 0.93, p < 0.05). The pellets produced from fresh mature wood sawdust were found to be more prone to self-heating and off-gassing while steam drying the sawdust at high temperature and pressure led to a significant reduction in heat and gas generation across all materials. The heightened self-heating and off-gassing in mature wood pellet can be attributed to a higher proportion of sapwood in the raw material. The probable explanations to the observed differences are in line with biological mechanisms for self-heating and off-gassing, as well as the chemical oxidation of fatty and resin acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Educational board games have been receiving attention from educators in recent years. Designing the rules of board games based on cognitive theory, and further analysing educational board games from more dimensions are important issues that warrant further study. Purpose: The research designed a board game called Chemistry Story to promote students' learning of the concept of element combination in chemical substances. The design of the cognitive mechanism of the board game was based on three cognitive design principles, namely schema connection theory, attention, and cognitive scaffolding. Sample: The participants were 48 eighth-grade students in Taiwan. Their average age was 13.8. Design and methods: A one-group pretest-posttest design was adopted. The research explored students' learning achievement, flow, and acceptance after using this board game for learning. Moreover, this research analysed the differences in students' flow while playing with game components made of different materials (paper, wood, and plastic), and explored the relationship with learning achievement, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use. Results: The results showed that students' concept of element combination in chemical substances improved through playing this board game. In addition, students had considerable engagement and acceptance of the board game's learning activities with the game components made of different materials. The results of the correlation analysis showed that students with low academic achievement were more likely to feel that Chemistry Story was helpful to their studies. It was also found that the wooden material components brought abetter sense of engagement and game acceptance. Conclusion: When designing educational board game products, we should not only consider the target knowledge of the board game and the design of the game mechanism, but also consider the students' feelings about the materials used to make the components, and choose materials that can bring students a better learning experience, so as to enhance the positive influence on their learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) is a lysosomal enzyme found in renal tubular epithelial cells, the concentration of which can be measured in blood as a possible diagnostic tool to monitor renal disease; however, no reference values are currently available in reptiles. This study investigated the presence of plasma NAG concentrations in three reptile species. Blood samples were obtained from clinically healthy bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps; n = 13), corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus; n = 9) and wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta; n = 13). To assess renal health further, a biochemistry panel was performed for all animals, and renal biopsies were collected from the bearded dragons and snakes, but not from the turtles. Biopsies were not taken from wood turtles to limit the risk associated with anesthetizing an endangered species. Of the 35 animals sampled, 29 were considered healthy and included in the study. Plasma NAG concentrations in the wood turtles were significantly lower than in the corn snakes (P = 0.004) and plasma NAG concentrations in the corn snakes were significantly higher than in bearded dragons (P = 0.038). Wood turtles had the lowest NAG concentrations, followed by bearded dragons and corn snakes. In conclusion, NAG reference intervals should be established for each reptile species, and analyte validation is needed for this assay in reptiles. Further research is needed to establish NAG reliability as a diagnostic tool in reptiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North American conifers exhibit three radial specific gravity (SG) patterns (Type 1, 2, and 3), which balance hydraulic and mechanical requirements. Type 1 and 2 patterns (Pinaceae) have low SG and high microfibril angle (MFA) corewood ensuring compliance, whereas in outerwood high SG/low MFA provide stiffness and strength resisting bending. Hydraulically, corewood, especially in Type 2 species, is resistant to embolism, whereas outerwood has higher specific conductivity. Cupressaceae (Type 3) have hydraulically very efficient, low SG outerwood, facilitating rapid growth. Corewood is flexible, whereas outerwood is mechanically weak and compensated for by more conical stems and durable heartwood (which prevents Brazier buckling). Radially earlywood (EW) decreases, and latewood (LW) increases for all types, whereas %latewood (%LW) increases (Type 1), decreases, then increases (Type 2) and decreases (Type 3). Ring SG increases when increasing LW SG and %LW are sufficient to counteract decreasing EW SG. Shade tolerance, crown recession, hormone gradients, and environmental variation affect patterns. Auxin concentration decreases with increasing distance from juvenile foliage slowing cell division, concomitantly gibberellin concentration (lignification) and carbohydrates (cell wall thickening) increase, producing higher %LW. Across a species range regions receiving relatively high summer rainfall have trees with higher %LW (by ring). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Debris jams contribute to bridge pier failures. Previous investigations showed that a debris jam can constrict the flow cross section, enhance flow intensity, and result in significant scour. Physical modeling was conducted to investigate the influence of debris jams on scour depth. Instead of using a static block to represent a debris jam, dynamic debris jams composed of real tree seedlings were investigated to represent jams forming of woody debris with roots and branches. The dynamic jam was achieved by continuously releasing individual seedlings from upstream. The resulting seedling jams had a typical half-cone shape and generally grew continuously over time, with observed scour increasing with the size of the debris jam. The scour in the presence of a dynamic debris jam could have depth up to twice and volume up to eight times that of a pier without a debris jam. In addition, the dynamic debris jam also induced additional hydraulic head across the cylinder pier, which correlated with the size of debris jam and Froude number. Practical Applications: Scour around a bridge pier is the removal of sediment from the pier foundation by the surrounding flow. This can destabilize the bridge infrastructure, leading to potential failure. The accumulation of wood debris on a bridge pier leads to the formation of a debris jam that can increase scour. Most previous studies measured scour induced by a fixed debris jam geometry of constant size, with no temporal variation. However, in real situations, debris will gradually and often rapidly, especially during floods, accumulate over time around a bridge pier, and the associated scour increases as the debris jam increases in size. This paper presents an experimental study of the temporal evolution of debris accumulation on the model of a bridge pier and the associated progress of scour as a debris jam develops. In contrast to most previous studies that used wooden dowels, the debris is modeled using real seedling trees, which have roughness characteristics more akin to real-world debris. The resulting debris jams are relatively stable due to the interlocking of debris pieces. It was found that the instantaneous scour depth increased in the presence of the developing debris jam and that it was proportional to how much the debris jam blocked the flow. Interestingly, the plan area of the scour hole increased more than that occurring in the absence of the debris; the scour hole volume is hence much greater when a debris jam is present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure for making a wooden heat-insulating product for construction applications through lignin removing is presented in this paper. The non-conventional procedure is almost similar to that known and used in the pulp and paper industry, but the technological purpose is clearly different. The type of tree wood chosen by authors (Romanian spruce wood) is a novelty compared to the rather large list of tree species tested so far and represents the originality of the work. The liquid alkaline environment was constituted of NaOH, Ca(OH)2, and distilled water and this has activated the spruce wood waste. By removing lignin from the wood structure, heat conductance of the wooden material decreased by comparison with conductance of the same type of non-treated wood. The heat treatment temperature into an electric oven was 95 °C for 8 hours. The results showed the possibility to obtain a product with denseness value of 0.14 g⋅cm-3 and heat conductance of 0.030 W⋅m-1⋅K-1, i.e. very good insulation properties. Analyzing the material quality, this was almost identical to high-performance wooden materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Forest management allows the sustained removal of significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. Within different activities in the forest, wood utilisation has the most significant man-made environmental impact which affects the carbon balance, which is important to know, to be able to accurately identify its role in climate change. This study aims to determine the carbon footprint of logging during utilisation based on scenario analysis in national default and theoretical assortment structures (11 additional scenarios for each forest stand) within the entire life cycle of raw wood products. Based on a common functional unit (100 m3 of cut wood), a comparative environmental life cycle analysis (LCA) for intermediate and final cutting was performed in shortwood forestry work systems in beech (Fagus spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), spruce (Picea spp.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and hybrid poplar (Populus x euramericana) stands in Hungary. After obtaining the results, the present study calculated the carbon footprint order for the utilisation life cycle phases and the entire tree utilisation life cycle. The distribution of absolute carbon footprint (ACF: considered emitted CO2 from fossil and biotic origins together) by final cutting exhibited the following order: hybrid poplar (6%)—spruce (8%)—beech (26%)—oak (27%)—black locust (33%). The ACF ranking for the whole technological life cycle (intermediate and final cutting, 400 m3 of cut wood) was hybrid poplar– spruce—oak—beech–black locust. The carbon footprint rankings of the studied stands were expanded to the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using biodegradable material derived from renewable resources as petroleum-based plastics replacement is a promising way towards sustainable development. However, the insufficient mechanical properties and complex manufacturing process of bioplastics still need to be improved for high-quality food packages. Herein, we report a top-down strategy to transform natural wood into a clear wood packaging film through scalable delignification and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) infiltration. The wood packaging film demonstrates a laminated structure with completely collapsed cell walls and PVA intertwined together after energy-saving air drying, resulting in high light transmittance with low haze, good mechanical performance, and high barrier performance for oxygen and water vapor. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the underlying fracture mechanism between cellulose and PVA, which effectively enhances the Young's modulus and strength of the wood packaging film. These findings contribute to the development of biodegradable and strong packaging materials, as well as other food-related applications, using sustainable wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme floods threaten lives, assets and ecosystems, with the largest impacts occurring in urbanised areas. However, flood mitigation schemes generally neglect the fact that urban floods carry a considerable amount of solid load. In this study, we define urban flood drifters (UFDs) as loose objects present in the urban landscape that can become mobile under certain flow conditions, thereafter blocking drainage infrastructure and endangering both downstream and upstream communities. Based on 270 post‐flood photographic records from 63 major inundations of the past quarter‐century across 46 countries, we provide a comprehensive analysis of UFDs and their flood‐hazard implications. We show that a variety of vehicles, furniture and a heterogeneous mixture of drifters are present in post‐flooding scenarios. Plastic, construction debris and wood (natural or anthropogenic) dominate the statistics of transported drifters in urban floods (with frequencies of roughly 50%–60% each), followed by cars (present in 31.5% of post‐flood images). Other heavy vehicles are readily observed in post‐flood imagery and furniture such as bins, garden sheds or water tanks also appear occasionally, therefore suggesting that they can play a relevant role in extreme floods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-based hemp natural fibre-reinforced composites are sustainable in the view of the environment. However, these composites have not attracted many applications due to their less mechanical properties compared to the synthetic fibre-reinforced composites. The present work reports the hemp fibre-reinforced composite loaded with cellulose-based filler to improve their mechanical properties. At equal proportions of cellulose filler such as pistachio shell powder, teak wood powder, groundnut shell powder reinforced with the hemp fibre-reinforced epoxy composite, the improvement in the tensile strength, flexural strength, % of elongation and % of deformation is reported. The hemp fibre/epoxy composite loaded with 5 wt% of pistachio shell powder shows a 9.28% increment in tensile strength, 50.96 % increment in flexural strength compared to hemp fibre/epoxy composite. The hemp/epoxy composite loaded with 5 wt% teak wood powder particles shows enhancement in tensile, flexural by 31.56 %, 35.97%, respectively. The hemp/epoxy composite loaded with 5 wt% groundnut shell powder particles shows enhancement in tensile, flexural by 42.99 %, 83.99%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phoebe and Machilus trees, whose wood is known as Nanmu in China, face endangerment owing to long-term manmade destruction and climate change. Therefore, effective and accurate forensic tools to identify Nanmu species are required. This study developed a method for DNA identification of woods from six commonly traded Phoebe and Machilus species. DNA was efficiently extracted from oil cell-rich wood tissues, DNA barcodes were screened, species were compared, and a Nanmu DNA database was constructed. Comparison and analysis involved 26 sets of plastid genomes of Phoebe and Machilus. The five highest variable regions (Pi>0.009; psbA-trnH, psbJ, psbJ-petA, rpl32-trnL, and ycf1) were identified, and three nuclear regions (ITS, LEAFY, and RPB2) were compared. Among single DNA fragments, the nuclear DNA region LEAFY proved optimal for identifying Nanmu species, while psbA-trnH+psbJ+ycf1 was the optimal plastid combination locus. Compared with distance-based (TaxonDNA) and machine-learning analyses, the tree-based method had a lower success rate for species identification. Four labelled Nanmu samples were selected to validate the method and clustered with P. zhennan and P. sheareri data based on the LEAFY region and plastid combination locus. These findings will contribute to the conservation, classification, architecture maintenance, and trade monitoring of Nanmu natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION The co‐application of biochar and wood vinegar has demonstrated the potential to enhance premium crop production. The present study reveals the effects of co‐applying rice husk biochar and wood vinegar (both foliar and soil application) on soil properties and the growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis L.) in a two‐season pot experiment.The soil pH, electrical conductivity and dissolved organic carbon contents in combination treatments of wood vinegar and biochar were increased more when wood vinegar was applied to soils rather than to leaves, and the parameters were observed to surpass those for chemical fertilizer treatments. The biomass of Chinese cabbage shoots was significantly increased by 60.8‐ and 27.3‐fold in the combined treatments compared to the control when 1% wood vinegar was sprayed to the leaves (WF1) in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Higher contents of vitamin C, soluble protein and soluble sugar were also observed in the combined wood vinegar and biochar treatments compared to chemical fertilizer treatments and the control; for example, the vitamin C content of plant shoot in WF1 was 21.3 times that of the control. The yield and quality of plants were decreased across all treatments in 2023 compared to 2022 but the combination treatments still displayed superiority.The co‐application of wood vinegar and biochar enhances the growth and improve the quality of Chinese cabbage through improving the soil properties and plant photosynthesis. Moreover, the foliage application of wood vinegar is more preferable compared to soil application. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces an alternative approach towards lignocellulosic biomass fractionation. For this purpose, reactive eutectic media (REM) based on ammonium formate and different organic acids are investigated, possible products are identified, and the REM are employed for lignin extraction and terminal isolation of cellulose pulp from beech wood. The method promises a considerable process intensification by simultaneous separation of high purity cellulose pulp, lignin isolation as a cationically modified species, and production of value‐added chemicals from reaction products of the REM. This study puts a further focus on the generated cellulose pulp and investigates it with respect to surface charge and fiber length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites are important ecosystem engineers in many ecosystems globally. Hence, surveys of termite species composition, abundance and activity can be important for understanding ecosystem function—especially in biomes where they tend to be abundant, such as tropical savannas. However, comprehensively surveying termites can be challenging due to their cryptic nature and varied feeding and nesting habits, which strongly influence the effectiveness of different survey methods. Baiting and active searches of reduced transects are two methods commonly used to sample termites, and while these methods have been evaluated in the savannas of South Africa, this has not occurred in the extensive tropical savannas of northern Australia. Thus, this study evaluated the effectiveness of baits and reduced transects to assess termite species richness and activity across 18 × 1 ha experimental plots in a tropical savanna near Darwin, Australia. Surveys in each plot consisted of two 60 × 2 m transects and a 9 × 3 baiting grid of alternating buried wood and paper baits and surface straw baits. Baits were checked three times: at 4‐, 7‐ and 10‐week intervals following placement. Upon survey completion, the sampling effort, efficacy and costs of each method were compared. Reduced transects detected all 32 species recorded in this study, representing four feeding groups (from undecayed wood to highly decayed organic material in the soil). Baiting detected 20 species, but failed to detect some of the species that fed on decayed materials. Paper baits, checked only twice (at 4 and 10 weeks following placement), were required to detect all species sampled at both wood and paper baits. Therefore, overall baiting costs could be reduced (without data loss) by using paper baits only and reducing the number of bait checks. Compared with baiting using all three bait types, reduced transects detected the most species and had the lowest per‐species cost. Consequently, reduced transect surveys are the most effective method in these northern Australian savannas when assessing species composition. However, if the abundance of species that feed on undecayed wood or levels of termite activity are being assessed, then reduced baiting is a more appropriate method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood serves crucial functions in plants, yet our understanding of the mechanisms governing the composition, arrangement, and dimensions of its cells remains limited. The abrupt transition from nonlianescent to lianescent xylem in lianas represents an excellent model to address the underlying mechanisms, although consistent triggering factors for this process remain uncertain. In this study we examined how physical support attachment impacts the development of lianescent xylem in Bignonia magnifica (Bignoniaceae), employing a comprehensive approach integrating detailed anatomical analysis with gene expression profiling of cambium and differentiating xylem. Our findings demonstrate that attachment to physical supports triggers the formation of lianescent xylem, leading to increased vessel size, broader vessel distribution, reduced fibre content, and higher potential specific water conductivity than nonlianescent xylem. These shifts in wood anatomy coincide with the downregulation of genes associated with cell division and cell wall biosynthesis, and the upregulation of transcription factors, defense/cell death, and hormone‐responsive genes in the lianescent xylem. Our findings provide insights into the regulation of xylem differentiation, driven by response to environmental stimuli. Additionally, they shed light on the mechanisms underlying the adaptation of lianas to climbing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-year pot experiment was designed to investigate cadmium (Cd) accumulation in the various parts of poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr. cv. ‘Lux’ I-69/55) by setting up 5 Cd application treatments (0, 5, 20, 50, and 100 mg/kg dry soil). The results showed that poplar exhibited a high tolerance to Cd stress, with Cd uptake significantly increasing across all plant parts as soil Cd levels rose. In general, leaves exhibited the highest Cd concentration while stems had the lowest. An upward increase trend of the accumulation of Cd in the aboveground parts from the base wood, along the stem to the branch, until the leaves, as well as a radially outward increase of Cd from the wood near the pith, to the wood near the bark, and finally to the bark, were observed. Over the three successive years, poplar trees exhibited a generally increasing extraction ability in terms of Cd concentration and the bioconcentration factor (BCF) in their aboveground parts, attributed to the enhanced leaf transpiration and conducting tissue development. The BCFs of various parts of poplar ranged from 0.09 to 6.30, following the trend of leaf > bark > branch > root > stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specialty mushrooms have been implicated in foodborne illness outbreaks in the U.S. in recent years. These mushrooms are available to consumers in both their fresh and dried states. Dehydrating mushrooms is a convenient way to increase shelf life. The dehydration process results in a lowered water activity (aw) of the commodity, creating an environment where both spoilage and pathogenic bacteria cannot proliferate. Prior to food preparation and consumption, these mushrooms are typically rehydrated and possibly stored for later use which could lead to increased levels of pathogens. This study examined the survival and growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica on dehydrated enoki and wood ear mushrooms during rehydration and subsequent storage. Mushrooms were heat dehydrated, inoculated at 3 log CFU/g, and rehydrated at either 5 or 25°C for 2 h. Rehydrated mushrooms were stored at 5, 10, or 25°C for up to 14 d. L. monocytogenes and S. enterica survived on enoki and wood ear mushroom types during rehydration at 5 and 25°C, with populations often <2.39 log CFU/g. During subsequent storage, no growth was observed on wood ear mushrooms, regardless of the rehydration or storage temperature, with populations remaining <2.39 log CFU/g for both pathogens. When stored at 5°C, no growth was observed for either pathogen on enoki mushrooms. During storage at 10 and 25°C, pathogen growth rates and populations after 14 d were generally significantly higher on the enoki mushrooms rehydrated at 25°C; the highest growth rate (3.56 ± 0.75 log CFU/g/d) and population (9.48 ± 0.62 log CFU/g) after 14 d for either pathogen was observed by S. enterica at 25°C storage temperature. Results indicate a marked difference in pathogen survival and proliferation on the two specialty mushrooms examined in this study and highlight the need for individual product assessments. Data can be used to assist in informing guidelines for time and temperature control for the safety of rehydrated mushrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, silicified woods are found in many geological formations. Significantly, the organic materials of wood are no longer dominant; almost all wood fossils have been mineralized into inorganic silica materials. These unique geological processes must be understood to develop better understanding on organic material fossilization, particularly in the micron scale. Therefore, our aim was to characterize the composition of silicified wood using comprehensive microanalysis. The methods utilized were XRF, ICP-MS, XRD, FTIR, and FE-EPMA. Specimens are from Jasinga, West Java, Indonesia. The results showed that wood silicification was controlled by the infiltration of silica from the host rock into the spaces of the wood structure. In Jasinga, they are controlled by Pliocene tuffaceous sedimentary rocks. The ratio of silica phases revealed a trend in the degree of silicification. Besides silica, the distribution of trace elements also demonstrates the geochemical interaction between the wood fossil and host rock. Wood fossils are affected by the gradual replacement of organic carbon-based materials with silica through silicification. Silica enrichment occurs in the internal of wood, facilitates permineralization and recrystallization. Silica replaces organic material and preserves the wood structures. The microanalytical approach provides comprehensive perspectives on wood petrification, leads to better insights for paleontological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) (PILO) trees exhibit exceptional longevity. Their tree‐ring width (TRW) series offer valuable insights into climatic variability. Maximum latewood density (MXD) typically correlates better with temperature variations than TRW, yet PILO MXD records are non‐existent due to methodological challenges related to tree‐ring structure. Here, we used an X‐ray Computed Tomography (X‐ray CT) toolchain on 51 PILO cores from the California White Mountains to build a chronology that correlates significantly (r = 0.66, p < 0.01) with warm‐season (March‐September) temperature over a large spatial extent. This led to the first X‐ray CT‐based temperature reconstruction (1625–2005 CE). Good reconstruction skill (RE = 0.51, CE = 0.32) shows that extending MXD records across the full length of the PILO archive could yield a robust warm‐season temperature proxy for the American Southwest over millennia. This breakthrough opens avenues for measuring MXD in other challenging conifers, increasing our understanding of past climate further, particularly in lower latitudes. Plain Language Summary: Ancient Bristlecone pine trees can live for several millennia and hold invaluable climate information. Their annual rings were used to develop millennium‐length records of the Holocene climate. Maximum latewood density (MXD), which is the highest wood density value in the latewood of a tree ring, has been shown to closely follow summer temperature in different conifer species, but not yet in Bristlecone pine. The gnarly and twisted growth of these ancient trees has presented significant hurdles for MXD analysis. Here we apply an X‐ray Computed Tomography toolchain that allows us to 3D scan through the tissue of a tree ring and to map MXD variations. Using this new technique, we were able to reconstruct warm‐season temperature for the American Southwest back to 1625 CE. With these findings, we are confident that a full‐length reconstruction (back to 2575 BCE) can yield the longest annually resolved temperature reconstruction for this continent. Key Points: We present the first X‐ray Computed Tomography‐derived maximum latewood density‐based temperature reconstruction using Bristlecone pine tree coresBristlecone pine maximum latewood density is a reliable proxy for warm‐season temperature over a large part of the American SouthwestOur reconstruction (1625–2005 CE) contains low‐frequency variability and can be prolonged over a large part of the Holocene [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wood preservative disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) migration is studied in clay. Using boron analysis by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‐OES), DOT spatial and temporal dynamics are surveyed to show how DOT permeates into the wood and the clay using concentration profiles as a function of depth, initial wood moisture, and direction of filling. Atomic force microscopy and chemical imaging using photoinduced force microscopy are used to show the morphology of the wood samples and the distribution of DOT on their surface. ICP‐OES results show that the average DOT concentration in the wood samples is originally 0.8 and 1.5 wt% in the bulk and at the surface, respectively. Conditioning of the wood to a moisture content of 19% in a climatic chamber reduces DOT concentration by 8% for the fir and 17% for the spruce. After one week of contact with the clays, the results showed a rapid decrease of 25–40% in DOT concentration in wood. On longer periods (5 months), the spruce shows a tendency to reabsorb the DOT from the clay and the DOT migration stabilizes at 20%. These results contribute to defining the dosage of DOT when the wood is exposed to clay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Summary: Wood is resulted from the radial growth paced by the division and differentiation of vascular cambium cells in woody plants, and phytohormones play important roles in cambium activity.Here, we identified that PagJAZ5, a key negative regulator of jasmonate (JA) signaling, plays important roles in enhancing cambium cell division and differentiation by mediating cytokinin signaling in poplar 84K (Populus alba × Populus glandulosa).PagJAZ5 is preferentially expressed in developing phloem and cambium, weakly in developing xylem cells. Overexpression (OE) of PagJAZ5m (insensitive to JA) increased cambium activity and xylem differentiation, while jaz mutants showed opposite results. Transcriptome analyses revealed that cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKXs) and type‐A response regulators (RRs) were downregulated in PagJAZ5m OE plants. The bioactive cytokinins were significantly increased in PagJAZ5m overexpressing plants and decreased in jaz5 mutants, compared with that in 84K plants. The PagJAZ5 directly interact with PagMYC2a/b and PagWOX4b. Further, we found that the PagRR5 is regulated by PagMYC2a and PagWOX4b and involved in the regulation of xylem development.Our results showed that PagJAZ5 can increase cambium activity and promote xylem differentiation through modulating cytokinin level and type‐A RR during wood formation in poplar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wood carbon fractions (CFs)—the proportion of dry woody biomass comprised of elemental carbon (C)—are a key component of forest C estimation protocols and studies. Traditionally, a wood CF of 50% has been assumed in forest C estimation protocols, but recent studies have specifically quantified differences in wood CFs across several different forest biomes and taxonomic divisions, negating the need for generic wood CF assumptions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in its 2006 "Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories", published its own multitiered system of protocols for estimating forest C stocks, which included wood CFs that (1) were based on the best available literature (at the time) and (2) represented a significant improvement over the generic 50% wood CF assumption. However, a considerable number of new studies on wood CFs have been published since 2006, providing more accurate, robust, and spatially- and taxonomically- specific wood CFs for use in forest C estimation. Main text: We argue that the IPCC's recommended wood CFs and those in many other forest C estimation models and protocols (1) differ substantially from, and are less robust than, wood CFs derived from recently published data-rich studies; and (2) may lead to nontrivial errors in forest C estimates, particularly for countries that rely heavily on Tier 1 forest C methods and protocols (e.g., countries of the Global South with large expanses of tropical forests). Based on previous studies on this topic, we propose an alternative set of refined wood CFs for use in multiscale forest C estimation, and propose a novel decision-making framework for integrating species- and location-specific wood CFs into forest C estimation models. Conclusion: The refined wood CFs that we present in this commentary may be used by the IPCC to update its recommended wood CFs for use in forest C estimation. Additionally, we propose a novel decision-making framework for integrating data-driven wood CFs into a wider suite of multitiered forest C estimation protocols, models, and studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ reconstructed anti-corrosive and active surface on hierarchically porous carbonized wood for efficient overall seawater electrolysis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Wood comprises different cell types, such as fibers, tracheids and vessels, defining its properties. Studying cells' shape, size, and arrangement in microscopy images is crucial for understanding wood characteristics. Typically, this involves macerating (soaking) samples in a solution to separate cells, then spreading them on slides for imaging with a microscope that covers a wide area, capturing thousands of cells. However, these cells often cluster and overlap in images, making the segmentation difficult and time-consuming using standard image-processing methods. Results: In this work, we developed an automatic deep learning segmentation approach that utilizes the one-stage YOLOv8 model for fast and accurate segmentation and characterization of macerated fiber and vessel form aspen trees in microscopy images. The model can analyze 32,640 x 25,920 pixels images and demonstrate effective cell detection and segmentation, achieving a mAP 0.5 - 0.95 of 78 %. To assess the model's robustness, we examined fibers from a genetically modified tree line known for longer fibers. The outcomes were comparable to previous manual measurements. Additionally, we created a user-friendly web application for image analysis and provided the code for use on Google Colab. Conclusion: By leveraging YOLOv8's advances, this work provides a deep learning solution to enable efficient quantification and analysis of wood cells suitable for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the effects of production parameters such as wood species and timber strength classes on some mechanical properties of CLT panels using both non-destructive and destructive methods. Additionally, the study compared the strength values obtained from non-destructive and destructive testing methods on CLT panels and elucidated the relationship between them through regression analyses. CLT panels were produced using spruce and alder timbers, as well as hybrid panels formed from combinations of these two wood species. According to the TS EN 338 standard, the C and D strength classes of the timbers were determined non-destructively using an acoustic testing device. Among the timbers whose strength classes were determined, a total of 6 different strength classes were selected for spruce and alder. The bending strength, modulus of elasticity, and screw withdrawal force tests were performed on the CLT panel groups both non-destructive and destructive. As a result of the regression analyzes, the determination coefficient (R2) between non-destructive screw withdrawal force and destructive bending strength values varied between 0.6135–0,9997. Moreover, the R2 value calculated between non-destructive and destructive modulus of elasticity values for CLT panels was found to be between 0.7076–0.9997. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptotermes brevis (Walker) (Blattodea: Kalotermitidae) is one of the most destructive drywood termites that attack moisture‐protected timber in service. Heat treatment has been studied to control these termites, but the low thermal conductivity of wood can result in prolonged treatment times and the need for high temperatures to eliminate termite colonies. The current study investigated heat transfer through a heat transfer model and experiments within solid timber boards and a representative wall section. The aim was to optimise targeted spot heat treatment as a cost‐effective method for eradicating this pest within structural elements. Through experimental work and the development of a deterministic heat transfer model, valuable insights were gained into temperature distribution within wooden structural elements. The findings revealed that proximity to the heated surface played a crucial role, with closer distances reaching equilibrium temperatures faster. The heat transfer model, validated against experimental data, accurately predicted temperature distributions within the timber. Termite survival was significantly influenced by heating time and distance from the heated surface when a wall section was heated at 60°C. The mean survival of C. brevis pseudergates kept inside wall studs varied from 30% to 96.7% depending on the distance from the heated surface after 1.5 h of heating, where the temperature ranged from 43°C to 45°C. However, after extending the heating duration to 3 h, the temperature in wall studs was elevated to 51°C, 49°C and 47°C at 22, 40 and 60 mm from the heated stud face, respectively. All C. brevis pseudergates across all distances were killed at a 3‐h duration. This research underscores the importance of understanding temperature distribution in structural wood elements and exposure times when employing heat as a spot treatment for drywood termite control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the performance and factors affecting the species classification of convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture using whole-part and earlywood-part cross-sectional datasets of six Korean Quercus species. The accuracy of species classification for each condition was analyzed using the datasets, data augmentation, and optimizers—stochastic gradient descent (SGD), adaptive moment estimation (Adam), and root mean square propagation (RMSProp)—based on a CNN architecture with three to four convolutional layers. The model trained with the augmented dataset yielded significantly superior results in terms of classification accuracy compared to the model trained with the non-augmented dataset. The augmented dataset was the only factor affecting classification accuracy in the final five epochs. In contrast, four factors in the entire epoch, such as the Adam and SGD optimizers and the earlywood-part and whole-part datasets, affected species classification. The arrangement of earlywood vessels, broad rays, and axial parenchyma was identified as a major influential factor in the CNN species classification using gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) analysis. The augmented whole-part dataset with the Adam optimizer achieved the highest classification accuracy of 85.7% during the final five epochs of the test phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objectives Results Conclusions The woods of trees of the genus Dalbergia are a frequent cause of allergic contact dermatitis.To describe the different patterns of symptoms and sensitisation to woods of the genus Dalbergia in four patients whose regular work is linked to music, either as performers (two patients) or instrument makers.The patients showed extensive cross‐reactivity between the different Dalbergia woods. The two musicians exhibited symptoms exclusively in the contact areas, while the instrument makers showed a pattern of airborne symptoms. The period from sensitisation to the development of symptoms varied greatly among the patients.The symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis to Dalbergia woods differ markedly depending on the route of contact. Cross‐reactivity between the woods of this genus is very wide. The sensitising potential varies between the various Dalbergia woods, which require different contact periods depending on their sensitising power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anatomical description of wood and charcoal for a wide variety of purposes is an essential tool for compiling databases to correctly identify species. This study describes and compares the anatomy of the wood and charcoal of Manilkara sp., collected in a protected area in the Pará state, Brazil. The qualitative anatomical characteristics of the wood, such as diffuse-porosity; vessels in radial multiples; alternate intervessel pits; axial parenchyma in lines or reticulate; rays uniseriate or biseriate, not storied, are corroborated in the literature. Moreover, this work reports the presence of helical thickenings in the vessel elements and possible helical thickenings in fibres in Manilkara. After the carbonization process, there were morphometric changes in the anatomical elements, as an increase in vessel frequency between 23 % and 141 %, and in ray frequency between 2.8 % and 12.9 %; while ray height decreased and ray width increased. Overall, some anatomical variations could be related to, or a result of the interaction between species plasticity, genetics, age and environmental factors. These characteristics enabled the identification of the samples at the genus level and the anatomical description of the wood and charcoal can be useful for forest inspections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The checkerboard constitutes the best pattern for full‐field strain measurement because it maximizes image gradient. In the experimental mechanics community, employing this pattern is currently strongly limited because depositing it on the surface of specimens raises practical difficulties. A recent study shows, however, that it is technically possible by using a laser engraver. The present paper aims to push this solution forward by printing a checkerboard pattern on a thin polymeric film and then gluing the resulting laser‐engraved film on the specimen surface. The underlying idea is to separate the manufacturing process of this optical strain gauge on the one hand and its use on the other hand to help spread this strain measuring tool in the experimental mechanics community. The polymeric film employed here is the same as that used in the manufacturing process of classic electrical gauges, so one can rely on the know‐how of classic strain gauge bonding to glue this optical strain gauge on the specimen surface. The main difference between the proposed tool and classic electrical gauges is that the strain field beneath the polymeric support is measured instead of localized strain values. The paper is a proof of concept for this strain field measuring tool. The manufacturing and bonding processes are described in the paper. The localized spectrum analysis, a spectral technique developed for processing images of periodic patterns, is used to retrieve the strain fields from checkerboard images. Through two complementary examples, we show the ability of this new type of strain gauge to detect and quantify local details in the strain field beneath. A simplified 1D model is also proposed to assess the minimum width of the strain peak that can reliably be measured with this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA general solution technique for hygrothermo-electroelastic problems in bodies with D∞ symmetry is developed. The displacement and electric field are expressed in terms of their respective potential functions, and the hygrothermo-electroelastic field quantities are expressed in terms of elastic and piezoelastic potential functions, each of which satisfies a Laplace equation with respect to the appropriately transformed spatial coordinates, combined with the two hygrothermoelastic displacement potential functions. As an application of this technique, a theoretical analysis of an infinite cylinder subjected to distributions of moisture content, temperature, and stress was performed, and the significance of the hygrothermo-electroelastic analyses was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As major terrestrial carbon sinks, forests play an important role in mitigating climate change. The relationship between the seasonal uptake of carbon and its allocation to woody biomass remains poorly understood, leaving a significant gap in our capacity to predict carbon sequestration by forests. Here, we compare the intra-annual dynamics of carbon fluxes and wood formation across the Northern hemisphere, from carbon assimilation and the formation of non-structural carbon compounds to their incorporation in woody tissues. We show temporally coupled seasonal peaks of carbon assimilation (GPP) and wood cell differentiation, while the two processes are substantially decoupled during off-peak periods. Peaks of cambial activity occur substantially earlier compared to GPP, suggesting the buffer role of non-structural carbohydrates between the processes of carbon assimilation and allocation to wood. Our findings suggest that high-resolution seasonal data of ecosystem carbon fluxes, wood formation and the associated physiological processes may reduce uncertainties in carbon source-sink relationships at different spatial scales, from stand to ecosystem levels. Forest carbon source and sink processes may have contrasting climatic sensitivities. This analysis on 177 coniferous forest sites shows that carbon fluxes and wood formation are coupled but not fully synchronous at intra-annual scales, with peaks in cambial activity preceding those in photosynthesis and respiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the blind test outcomes of two independent methods for the identification of tropical wood species in pulp and paper products. Both, the established anatomical and the relatively new chemotaxonomic method support the European Deforestation Regulation 2023/1115 (EUDR), which aims to ensure that only legally harvested timber that has not contributed to deforestation is traded in the EU. The blind test involved 570 decisions on 15 test sheets of 37 self-manufactured mixed tropical hardwood pulps and an industrial beech pulp, used as a matrix. Both detection techniques demonstrated robust performance with over 80 % hit rates. The results show that the synergies and combination of the strengths of both methods can be utilized and lead to even better combined performance. In order to establish the chemotaxonomic identification method as a complement to the conventional anatomy-based method, statistical analyses were performed to assess its intermediate precision between three different GC-MS systems. In most cases, the method gave consistent results independent of the instrument used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalent use of unsustainable polymers in current X‐ray scintillators poses a significant environmental concern. The advancement of biodegradable X‐ray scintillators holds promise in mitigating escalating environmental issues tied to electronic or medical waste and carbon footprints. Herein, a biodegradable and flexible X‐ray scintillation film is presented employing lead‐free 0D Cs3Cu2I5 perovskite nanoparticles integrated into densified‐delignified wood (Cs3Cu2I5@D‐Wood). The Cs3Cu2I5@D‐Wood film demonstrates precise and detailed X‐ray imaging capabilities, achieving a high spatial resolution of 10 line pairs per millimeter (lp·mm−1). To minimize the environmental impact associated with disposal, metal and halide ions (e.g., Cs+, Cu+, I−) from Cs3Cu2I5@D‐Wood can be easily retrieved by a simple solvent extraction process. The approach showcases the potential of biodegradable wood‐based X‐ray scintillation screens as alternatives to conventional, plastic‐based screens. This offers a significant contribution to environmental sustainability by reducing electronic or medical waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blends of prevulcanized natural rubber (PVNR) and acrylic emulsion (AC) were prepared at the fixed PVNR/AC ratio of 30/70. Effects of titanium dioxide (TiO2) addition were optimized across the contents 0, 10, 20 and 30 parts per hundred parts of polymer (php) with respect to various properties. Morphological analysis revealed a two-phase system in which the PVNR particles were dispersed in the AC matrix. Incorporation of TiO2 induced a finer blend morphology in which a part of the TiO2 was located at the interfaces of blend components. The tensile strength increased with initial TiO2 loading and reached its maximum at 10 php loading, with an improvement by about 127% over the blend without filler. However, further increase in filler loading reduced the tensile strength, and the filler tended to agglomerate at those higher loadings. Thermal stability and storage modulus in rubbery region of the blends containing TiO2 were also improved over the unfilled blend, due to the improved morphology and the hydrogen bonds between TiO2 filler and polymer matrix. TiO2 improved water wettability and adhesion of the blend. The maximum peel strengths on wood and metal substrates were about 120% and 26% larger than for the reference unfilled blend. Such drastic improvements suggest that the filled blends may find applications as coating materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water vapor sorption is a fundamental property of cellulosic materials. Numerous theoretical and empirical models have been developed to describe the relationship between water activity, temperature, and equilibrium moisture content (EMC). However, a meaningful connection between model parameters and thermodynamic properties related to the sorption process is often lacking. In cases where models yield thermodynamic properties, such as through use of the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, these are limited to temperatures where the ideal gas equation is applicable. In this paper we advance a thermodynamic framework and formulate a new semi-empirical sorption model based on the differential Gibbs energy of sorption as a function of EMC and temperature, intended for high temperature applications such as steam drying or fire modeling. We refer to this as the Comprehensive Analytical Sorption Thermodynamic (CAST) model. It has six parameters, includes temperature explicitly, and is invertible. The CAST model includes analytical equations for the differential enthalpy of sorption, the differential entropy of sorption, and the integral heat of wetting. The model is evaluated using sorption data and calorimetric data over a range of temperatures from the wood science literature and compared with several existing models. Overall, the CAST model fits the experimental sorption and calorimetric data with higher accuracy than existing models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]