BioResources (E-Journal)
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Design and Experimental Testing of Holly Pruning Machine with Adaptive Adjustment Tool
No full textTo improve the efficiency of holly pruning, effectively solve the labor intensity of manual handheld pruning machines, and the frequent replacement of tools when pruning different shapes of hollies, this study designed a pruning machine with adaptive tool adjustment. A combination of theoretical calculations, fluid dynamics simulation and analysis, and field testing was employed to design spray application mechanisms and verify their feasibility. Visual distance measurement and target recognition algorithms were used to design visual mechanisms, which were experimentally validated. Based on the principles of kinematics and dynamic simulation analysis, adaptive tool adjustment mechanisms were designed, and the key factors influencing the pruning smoothness rate and residual branch rate of the pruning equipment were identified. Based on the force analysis and parameters from the experimental results, the machine performed well, with a cutting mechanism motor speed of 20.9 kr/min, a tool tilt angle of 50°, and a walking speed of 0.91 m/s. The machine achieved a pruning smoothness rate of 79.3% and a residual branch rate of 8.1%, thereby meeting the requirements for holly pruning in horticultural operations.
Nanoemulsions of Some Edible Oils and their Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anti-hemolytic Activities
No full textPlant oils have been applied for numerous purposes. Developing the composition of oils through nanotechnology has become a requirement, whether from a medical or industrial point of view. In this study, nanoemulsions (NEs) of olive and peanut oils were evaluated. GC-MS was used to determine the saturated and unsaturated fatty acids contents in both oils. Based on the area %, cis-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid (54.0%), myristic acid (30.7%), and arachidonic acid (23.1%) were the greatest constituents in peanut oil, while arachidonic acid (23.2%), cis-11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid (22.7%), and cis-11-eicosenoic acid (11.4%) were the greatest constituents in olive oil. TEM examination indicated that the diameter of peanut oil NEs (14.6 nm) was less than that of olive oil NEs (24.5 nm). Olive oil and its NEs exhibited more antioxidant activity than peanut oil and its NEs had IC50 values of 158.6, 102.5, 435.1, and 291.5 µg/mL, respectively. Negligible hemolysis was observed using olive oil, unlike peanut oil, while hemolysis based olive oil NEs was increased compared with hemolysis based peanut oil NEs, particularly at high concentrations of 600 to 1000 µg/mL. Molecular docking investigation offered the structure–activity correlation and binding modes of cis-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid with Salmonella typhi (5ZXM) enzymes
Liquid Absorbent Bamboo Fiber Foams: Towards 100% Ligno-cellulosic Menstrual Absorbent Pads
No full textTraditional menstrual absorbent pads typically combine cellulose fiber fluff pulp with non-biodegradable, petroleum-based superabsorbent polymers (SAPs). To eliminate the need for SAPs, this study explores foaming as a method to create a highly porous lignocellulosic fiber network capable of storing large amounts of fluid. Bamboo fibers were chosen due to their high lignin content, which is expected to help maintain the structural integrity of the porous network during liquid absorption and preventing collapse compared to 100% cellulose fibers. The bamboo fiber foams demonstrated remarkable porosity and superior absorbency compared to commercial pads, but they exhibited lower water retention when subjected to compression. Refining the fibers and incorporating microfibrillated cellulose offer promising opportunities to enhance water retention
Feasibility of Protecting Bamboo Surface by High Temperature Wax Penetration
No full textThe permeability, hydrophobicity, glass transition temperature, crystallinity and chemical composition of bamboo subjected to wax-scalding heat treatment were detected using depth-of-field microscopy, contact angle measurement, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffractometry, and infrared spectrometry. Effects of wax scalding technology and formula on bamboo properties were studied from three aspects: temperature, time, and wax species. The improved wax scalding technology was found to have a good penetration effect and to achieve hydrophobic and mildew-proof effects. At the heat treatment temperature of 180 °C, a good permeation effect was achieved and the hydrophobicity of bamboo was increased. The penetration depth of wax in bamboo within 2 min decreased with the shortening of wax scalding time. However, the infiltration effect was not obvious with the prolonging of time, and increasing preheating treatment will obviously improve the permeability. The effect was the best after preheating and wax scalding at 180 °C for 2 min. Mixed experiments of various waxes showed that the wax had the best penetration effect into bamboo when the ratio of paraffin wax to white wax was 5:4:2, the wax scalding temperature was 180 °C (above which the wax begins to sublimate), and the wax scalding time was 2 min
Broomcorn Stalk Fiber in Nonwoven Reinforced Polylactic Acid Matrix Composites
No full textThe broomcorn plant (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is one of the main cereal crops and its grains are used in food and feed sectors while its stems are used in broom production and as a building material. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biobased polymer that is widely used as a matrix material in natural fiber-reinforced composites. In this study, the aim is to use broomcorn plant stems, which are agricultural waste, as reinforcement in composite production. For this purpose, fiber was obtained by purifying broomcorn plant stems from woody cells with enzyme and NaOH. To easily comb the fibers, 10 wt% cotton was added and blended and turned into nonwoven fabric via needle punching. Then, PLA was combined with the matrix using the hot press method to produce single and double-layered composites. To characterize the broomcorn fiber reinforced composite material, strength, elongation, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared instrumental methods were used within the standards. According to the analysis results, broomcorn fiber has a high potential as a new reinforcement material suitable for composite production.
Shelf-Life Assessment of Canola Protein Bio-Adhesive
No full textThe storage stability of binders before their application is a crucial factor in the wood panel industry, as it impacts the mechanical properties, quality control, economic efficiency, and market competitiveness of the final products. In the present study, the long-term stability of two canola protein isolate (CPI) and two canola meal (CM) adhesive variants was investigated. The protein-based adhesives were prepared and tested on one-layer particleboards after one week, one month, two months, three months, and four months of storage of the formulations. Results indicate that the CPI-based outperformed the CM-based variants in terms of internal bonding strength (IB), modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) due to the higher protein concentration of the CPI over the CM. While the IB strength of the CM-bonded particleboards was lower than the EN 319 requirement after the first four weeks of storage (0.34 N/mm2 and 0.29 N/mm2 for nitrite and bisulfate-crosslinked respectively), that of the CPI-bonded was still superior to the EN 319 after four months (0.44 N/mm2 and 0.3 N/mm2 for nitrite and bisulfate-crosslinked respectively). This indicates that the nitrite-crosslinked variants had a more robust chemical formulation, leading to stronger and more durable bonds
The Role of UV-B Radiation in Modulating Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis and Regulatory Mechanisms in Medicinal Plants
No full textThe impact of UV-B (Ultraviolet-B) radiation is reviewed relative to the biosynthesis and regulation of secondary metabolites (SMs) in medicinal plants. Plants sense UV-B radiation through the photoreceptor UVR8, which is present as a dimer in the absence of UV-B and monomerizes upon UV-B exposure, interacting with proteins to regulate gene expression. In medicinal plants, UVR8-mediated signaling can regulate the activity of key enzymes, thereby affecting accumulation of secondary metabolites. For instance, in Arabidopsis thaliana, UVR8-mediated signaling regulates the expression of flavonoid biosynthesis genes. UV-B radiation influences the yield of SMs in medicinal plants, impacting the biosynthesis of phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids, though the effects vary under different UV-B conditions. Furthermore, UV-B radiation induces gene regulation in secondary metabolism, with most genes being upregulated. UV-B interacts with other stress factors, e.g. chromium, UV-A, water availability, and temperature, which affect the accumulation of secondary metabolites. However, these mechanisms are complex and require further investigation. Current research exhibits limitations, including uneven study coverage, a lack of standardized methodologies, and insufficient exploration of interactions between UV-B and other factors. Future studies should expand the research scope, adopt multifactorial approaches, and investigate molecular mechanisms, thereby advancing agricultural practices and the development of medicinal plants
Antimicrobial with Time-kill Kinetics, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Properties of Rosmarinus officinalis L. Oil Extract Based on Its Bioactive Components
No full textThere is a major clinical problem associated with antimicrobial resistance. Rosmarinus officinalis L. is an effective medicinal source. Its oil has been extracted and tested for its multiple therapeutic capabilities. The oil extract was found to be a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus as Gram-positive bacteria, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia as Gram-negative bacteria, and Candida albicans as the most common pathogenic mold. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the oil extract was found to be 15.6 μg/mL against B. subtilis, S. aureus, and C. albicans, and 62.5 μg/mL and 125 μg/mL against E. coli and K. pneumonia, respectively. The bactericidal activity started at 150 and 180 min against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively, with clear time-killing kinetics. The oil extract was able to scavenge DPPH free radicals with an IC50 of 4.0 μg/mL. The oil extract was found to have high toxicity on the Caco2 cell line (colon tissue) at high dose 1000 μg/mL with IC50 of 75.39 ± 0.56 μg/mL. The chemical composition of the oil extract was determined employing gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, in which 53 compounds were named at different surface area ratios, retention times, and probability ratios
Antibacterial Activity of Dactylicapnos scandens Extract against Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced Pneumonia in Mice: An In vitro and In vivo Study
No full textThis study analyzed the antibacterial potential of Dactylicapnos scandens extract (DSE) against Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)-induced pneumonia in mice. The DSE was tested for in-vitro antibacterial activity against MP and pharmacological activity in MP-induced pneumonia in mice. DSE showed significant in-vitro antibacterial activity against MP. It improved the level of nitric oxide, and myeloperoxidase, including the lung weight index near to control in a dose-dependent manner in experimental animals. The levels of glutathione and superoxide dismutase were found significantly increased in DSE treated rats with a reduction in malondialdehyde activity as compared to pneumonia-induced mice in a dose dependent manner. The level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6, Interleukin-1 beta, and tumour necrosis factor alpha, and total cells and DNA content were also found reduced in DSE treated group as compared to disease control mice. This study demonstrated potent antibacterial activity of Dactylicapnos scandens extract against Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection
Optimising Risk Management in Wood-based Manufacturing: A Fuzzy AHP-FMEA Framework Approach
No full textThis study integrates the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to enhance risk prioritisation in wood-based manufacturing. Traditional FMEA methods face challenges in handling subjective evaluations and complex environments. By incorporating fuzzy logic, this study refines the Risk Priority Number (RPN) calculation, enabling a more nuanced assessment of failure modes. Critical failure points, such as delays in order processing, production, and delivery, were identified, highlighting their impact on operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and financial outcomes. Using the Pareto principle, it was revealed that addressing the top 20% of the identified risks could mitigate approximately 80% of the overall risk exposure. Proposed corrective measures, including enhanced employee training, streamlined workflows, and improved communication protocols, provide actionable strategies to optimise processes and ensure sustainability. Conducted within a Croatian wood-manufacturing company, this framework demonstrated its efficacy in refining risk assessments and supporting continuous improvement. The findings advance risk management methodologies and showcase the potential for broader applications in dynamic and complex industrial environments