BioResources (E-Journal)
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Shear Resistance and Surface Design of 3D Printed Dowels Made from Different Materials in Glued Scots Pine Furniture Joints
The shear resistance was measured for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) furniture joints assembled using straight, cross, and grooved-patterned dowels fabricated via 3D printing with Poly Lactic Acid (PLA), tough PLA, Poly Amide (PA), and tough resin. Results indicated that the highest shear value was given by the straight dowels joints produced from tough resin with an average value of 2845 N. This was followed by the shear resistance values of grooved dowels with 2819 N and cross dowels with 2725 N. The shear performances of the Scots pine joints produced from tough resin dowels were followed by the shear performances of the joints with different patterns produced from tough PLA, PLA, and PA, respectively. No statistical difference was observed in the shear resistances of the joints produced from dowels with different surface patterns. The shear performance of the tough resin dowels joints was higher than those of the solid wood and PA dowels used in the market. Joints with tough resin and tough PLA dowels exhibited both glue line separation and wood rupture near the dowel edge, whereas PA and PLA dowels primarily failed due to glue line separation.
Extending Tomato Freshness: The Role of Aloe Vera Gel in Reducing Post-Harvest Losses
Tomatoes are widely consumed but highly perishable due to their rapid respiration and delicate skin, causing significant post-harvest losses. Sustainable preservation is essential to maintain quality and reduce food waste. This study investigated aloe vera gel (AVG) as a natural, edible coating to extend tomato shelf life. Tomatoes at the pink ripening stage were coated with AVG for 3 and 6 minutes, then stored at 10 °C and 85% relative humidity for 16 days. The physicochemical traits pH, firmness, moisture content, total soluble solids (TSS), and microbial load were assessed every four days. AVG coatings slowed declines in pH, firmness, and moisture content compared to controls (p<0.05). Non-coated tomatoes dropped from pH 4.48 to 2.87, while 3- and 6-minute coated samples retained higher pH (3.28 and 3.65). Firmness fell to 0.56 kg/cm² in controls, but coated samples retained 1.18 and 1.50 kg/cm². Coated tomatoes had higher final moisture (78.35 to 80.25%) than controls (70.45%) and less weight loss (29.55 to 30.26 g vs. 28.11 g). TSS levels remained higher in coated tomatoes (3.10 to 3.40 °Brix vs. 2.40 °Brix), with lower microbial counts (2.95 and 2.16 vs. 4.24 log CFU/g). These results support AVG as an effective, eco-friendly method for preserving tomato quality
Effects of Pretreatment on the Dispersibility of Bamboo Pulp Fiber Suspensions for Nanocellulose Preparation
Industrial production efficiency of nanocellulose by mechanical homogenization was directly affected by dispersibility of pulp suspensions. The bamboo pulp was pretreated by oxidation using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO), enzymatic hydrolysis, and refining to study dispersibility of the pulp suspensions. Physical morphology and surface charges of the pretreated pulp fibers were analyzed to explain the differences of dispersibility. Multiple light scattering results showed that TEMPO oxidized pulp fibers and refined pulp fibers had good dispersivity, while the pulp fibers treated with cellulase hydrolysis exhibited comparatively lower dispersibility. The TEMPO oxidized pulp fibers had high carboxylate contents and high absolute value of Zeta potential. The dispersibility of the fibers could be improved by dispersants, and the maximum dispersion of fibers from enzymatic hydrolysis was obtained with 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose as dispersant
A Novel Wood Surface Defect Detection Model Based on Improved YOLOv8
To address the challenges posed by complex and variable backgrounds coupled with the small-target characteristics of wood surface defects such as knots and cracks, a novel wood surface defect detection model based on improved You Only Look Once version 8 (YOLOv8) is proposed. The model integrates a multi-head mixed self-attention mechanism into the backbone to improve the representation of fine-grained defect features. A learnable dynamic upsampling module replaces traditional nearest-neighbor interpolation to mitigate feature loss during resolution recovery. Additionally, a structural Re-parameterizable Block is adopted to enhance feature expressiveness during inference, and a small-object detection head is added to enhance the detection of small defects while minimizing both missed and incorrect detections. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model effectively enhances detection performance, increasing the mAP of the baseline model from 72.9% to 79.5%. Furthermore, the proposed model surpasses other YOLO variants in mAP across all defect categories. This improvement better meets the quality control requirements of wood processing and manufacturing, ensuring the quality of wood products
Advances in Wood Preservation Technology: A Review of Conventional and Nanotechnology Preservation Approaches
While wood has been a renewable and versatile material for centuries, its susceptibility to biotic and abiotic degradation remains challenging. Traditional preservation methods, though effective, raise increasing concerns about environmental and health toxicity, cost, and post-consumer fate of the treated wood products. To address these issues, more sustainable and effective preservation methods have emerged. This review examines the latest innovations, particularly nanotechnology and self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS), highlighting their applications, advantages, challenges, and research gaps. It focuses on literature from 2019 to 2024, exploring advancements in wood preservation. It also discusses the potential of these technologies to revolutionize wood preservation, offering promising and innovative solutions for the future
Handicraft Process, Aesthetic Characteristics, and Design Applications of Molten Metal Inlaid in Wood for Home Furnishings
The inlaying of molten metal into artificial or natural wood cracks represents an innovative combination of metal and wood. After cooling and solidifying, a unique texture is formed, offering a rich aesthetic experience rooted in its intricate decorative texture. This study systematically summarizes the process steps of molten metal inlaid in wood, including material selection, pretreatment, casting, cooling, and sanding. It elaborates on the aesthetic characteristics and decorative potential of this novel material through three aspects, including visual expression, tactile difference, and cultural value. Selected design cases of molten metal inlaid in wood for home furnishings are analyzed to assess the product design feasibility through the lens of craft aesthetics. The research further provides a guiding direction for its design application in household products
The Economics of Laurel Harvesting: Socio-Economic Drivers of Non-Timber Forest Product Utilization in Rural Southern Türkiye
This study aimed to assess the economic efficiency of laurel harvesting (Laurus nobilis L.) in Andırın, Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye. To achieve this, a household survey with 51 participants involved in laurel harvesting was conducted to identify the socio-economic factors influencing laurel harvesting. Principal component analysis (PCA), Sperman’s correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression modeling were conducted to analyze the relationships between socio-economic factors and laurel harvesting. Exploratory analysis of the dataset showed that laurel is an essential income source for almost 90% of households, particularly during agricultural off-seasons. However, only about 10% of the respondents considered laurel harvesting a profitable business. Statistical analyses revealed that distance to the town-city center, daily harvest earnings, and selling location are key factors in determining profitability from laurel harvesting. The current study’s evidence strongly supported the conclusion that market asymmetries and socio-economic heterogeneity shaped the viability of non-timber forest product-based livelihoods. On the other hand, the findings directly supported the Multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Enhancing local producer autonomy in pricing and market access emerged as a crucial factor in promoting equitable and sustainable laurel utilization in rural forest economies
Preliminary Study on Feasibility of Manufacturing Injection-molded Composite Using Cellulosic Materials
Wastepaper-derived fibers, natural starch binders, and micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) additives were preliminarily studied as key components in injection-moldable bio-composite formulations. Commercially available paper cups coated with polyethylene, corn starch, and MFC prepared in a laboratory were selected as raw materials. Since the injection molding machine is yet to be developed, handsheets were prepared as a substitute for the future injection-molded composites, and their physical properties were evaluated to assess the promising formulation candidates of recycled fibers, binder, and reinforcing agent. The optimal paper cup powder–starch ratio was 60:40, which balanced the tensile strength, elongation at break, and burst strength of the material while maintaining good processing characteristics and avoiding problems related to dewatering and adhesion to equipment during drying. The incorporation of up to 5% (by weight) MFC considerably improved the mechanical properties of the sheets by enhancing their fiber–fiber bonding. However, increasing the MFC content above 5% prolonged the dewatering time, compromising process efficiency, and making handsheet preparation impossible. These findings suggested that used paper cups, when combined with starch and MFC, could be effectively recycled into injection-molded composite materials, thereby contributing to environmental conservation and the advancement of resource circulation in manufacturing
Tribological and Acoustic Performance of Luffa acutangula Fiber and Sal Wood Sawdust Reinforced Epoxy Composites: An Experimental Study
Hybrid epoxy composites reinforced with Luffa acutangula fiber (LAF) and Sal wood sawdust (SWD) were examined for their tribological and acoustic properties. A consistent 20 wt% LAF was employed throughout all composites, with the SWD content adjusted to 0%, 5%, 15%, and 25%. The engineered composites underwent assessment for wear loss, coefficient of friction (CoF), sound absorption coefficient, and noise reduction coefficient. The results demonstrated a notable reduction in wear loss with the addition of SWD up to 15 wt%, with the 20FL/15SWD sample exhibiting the lowest wear at 0.32%. In a similar manner, the CoF decreased to 0.26 for the identical composition, indicating an ideal equilibrium between filler dispersion and fiber-matrix interaction. The enhancement of sound absorption and noise reduction coefficients was observed with increased SWD content, reaching peaks of 0.23 and 0.13, respectively for the 20FL/15SWD composite. The enhancements observed can be linked to the superior void-filling capacity and interfacial bonding facilitated by the SWD particles. Nonetheless, a high concentration of SWD (25 wt%) led to a minor decrease in performance attributed to particle agglomeration. The findings indicate that the 20FL/15SWD composite demonstrates enhanced tribo-acoustic performance, positioning it as a strong contender for applications requiring noise insulation and wear resistance
Voxel-based Modular Architectural Design Strategy Toward Autonomous Architecture
Rapid urbanization has led to resource shortages, necessitating sustainable approaches in the building industry. This research proposes a preliminary voxel-based modular-architectural design strategy (VMADS), focusing on reusable “H” blocks for component connections and construction. By integrating computational design and robotic fabrication, VMADS enhances precision and efficiency. The framework addresses discrete building theory, prefabrication, and autonomous architecture, emphasizing wood’s anisotropic nature for structural integrity. Experimental results validated VMADS through digital simulations and physical tests, demonstrating its potential to create sustainable, reconfigurable structures and revolutionize construction practices