Research Articles

Bamboo culms can alter the bamboo’s geometric shape by adjusting the hierarchical organization of anatomical components as a means of adapting to different living conditions. Therefore, a square-like culm has been found commonly in the Chimonobambusa bamboo species. However, the underling mechanism for how these anatomical components assemble into a square culm in the species remains to be considered. Furthermore, the relationship between the geometrical construction of culm and its corresponding organization of anatomical components within also needs clarification. Therefore, the geometrical construction of cross-sections was examined in this work. A super-ellipse based on the Lamé curve was confirmed. Additionally, the transitional zone, at 3/4 in the radial direction, was detected as an inflection point where the geometric parameters clearly changed. Meanwhile, anatomical observation also suggested that the transitional zone can be identified as an inflection point because the fibre morphology difference in circumferential regions becomes more apparent in this area. It is worth mentioning that there is a coherence between the geometrical and microstructural features in circumferential and radial variation. These findings are meaningful to manifest the controlling mechanism of hierarchical structures on the geometrical shape of bamboo culm.

The current stage of the construction industry development implies increased requirements for building materials to maintain and improve global environmental processes. The understanding by ecologists globally of the danger of anthropogenic impact on the global environment has been reflected in the formulation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, scientists and engineers are turning to safe plant-based raw materials as innovative building materials. Of particular interest for practice is the use of Reynoutria sachalinensis, which may exhibit biocidal properties. The purpose of this study was to obtain a gypsum stone modified with an extract from the green mass of R. sachalinensis, as resistant coating to fouling by microscopic fungi. The results indicated 10% decrease in the required water addition to gypsum paste when using plant extract, a slowdown of the initial and final setting time of the modified gypsum paste samples compared to the control samples by 6 and 7 min, respectively, and a slight decrease in bending and compressive strengths of the samples of 12.5% and 6%. The 100% resistance of the modified samples to fouling by microscopic mould fungi was also revealed.

This work aimed to determine the linear and mass attenuation coefficients of soy-lignin bonded Rhizophora spp. particleboard intended for use as a phantom material using Monte Carlo GATE simulation. At a desired density of 1.0 g cm^-3, particleboard constructed of Rhizophora spp. wood trunk bonded with soy flour and lignin was created. The sample’s elemental composition was identified using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The GATE software was used to simulate the setup with the histories of 1 × 10⁷, and comparison was made between the experimental and simulation data. The disparities between the linear and mass attenuation coefficients of the samples experimentally measured and calculated using GATE at low energy photons were quite small. The result revealed a good agreement between the experimental and simulation data, and the attenuation coefficients were in close proximity with XCOM of water. The outcome revealed GATE adequacy for validation of attenuation coefficient measurement in bioresources phantom material for medical physics application.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of modifying some varnishes used in wood materials with different nanomaterials on the antimicrobial properties of wood surfaces. For this purpose, samples prepared from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky), and sessile oak (Quercus petraea Liebl.) were varnished with water-based and synthetic varnish with 0.1% and 0.3% nano boron and nano silver added according to ASTM D3023 (2017). Four different microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis) were used to determine the antimicrobial effect on wood surfaces. Among the microorganisms, the highest growth was found in S. aureus and the lowest growth was found in S. epidermidis. In terms of antimicrobial activity, the lowest growth was found in samples with 0.1% nano boron synthetic varnish and highest growth was found in 0.1% water-based varnish. As a result, it is thought that the use of nano materials together with varnishes applied to the surface of wood materials in areas where antimicrobial properties are desired will be beneficial for human and environmental health.

The global production of furfural generates substantial amounts of furfural residue waste annually, which, if not properly managed, can lead to significant environmental pollution. However, the ash produced from the combustion of this biomass waste shows promise as a cement additive, offering an innovative solution for furfural residue management. In this study, ash obtained from the combustion of furfural residue in industrial boilers was used as an additive in both Portland cement and magnesium oxysulfate cement, with concentrations ranging from 5% to 20%. Mortar specimens were then prepared and tested for compressive and flexural strength at 3, 7, and 28 days. The results indicated that at a 10 wt% addition, the formation of cotton-like structures and ettringite needles was most pronounced, resulting in the highest compressive and flexural strengths in the Portland cement specimens. Similarly, in magnesium oxysulfate cement, a 10 wt% ash addition significantly promoted the formation of the 5·1·7 phase, leading to the highest compressive strength. In summary, under appropriate conditions, furfural residue ash can be effectively utilized as a cement additive, contributing to resource recovery and sustainable waste management.

This study aimed to address the demand for furniture by developing a user-oriented design pathway for intelligent furniture products, using dining tables as a case study. According to Maslow’s hierarchy, the user needs are classified, and then the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method was used to calculate the causal relationship, as well as the centrality and weight of each demand. The logical relationship between these factors was analyzed with Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) to create a hierarchical logic diagram. To ensure the feasibility of the theoretical framework, the System Usability Scale (SUS) was used for evaluation. This study systematically sorted out the logical relationship and hierarchical structure in the table demand system and identified the core elements and factor categories in the table design. The results confirmed that this design pathway effectively met user needs for dining furniture and provided practical guidance for developing the same type of furniture products, offering valuable reference for similar design endeavors.

Nanocellulose (CNF) was obtained from carrots using a combination of chemical treatment, mechanical milling, and ultrasonic treatment. Ultrafast preparation of maleic anhydride esterified nanocellulose was achieved by a hydrated hydrogen ion-driven dissociation, chemical cross-linking strategy based on a “one-pot” reaction method. Esterification modification with maleic anhydride reduced the crystallinity of nanocellulose and enhanced its thermal stability. High-strength drug-carrying hydrogels (MACNF/SA) with different drug loading capacities were prepared using cefixime (CFX) as a drug model and maleic anhydride esterified nanocellulose (MACNF) and sodium alginate (SA) as the main raw materials. The compressive strength of MACNF/SA hydrogels made from MACNF reached a maximum of 80.3 kPa when the mass ratio of CNF to MA was 2.5:12. Rheological property tests showed that the MACNF/SA hydrogels were pseudoplastic fluids with shear thinning. The drug release from the drug-carrying hydrogels followed non-Fickian diffusion.

Cellulose is a widely available organic substance that forms membranes with excellent hydrophilicity and biocompatibility. However, it is prone to biological contamination because its surface is conducive towards the accumulation of biologically active substances, which has hindered its application potential. In this work, an antimicrobial cellulose-based membrane (Ag/UiO-66-NH₂@BCM) with high water flux, high retention rate, and good hydrophilicity was prepared. At an optimal blend ratio of 1 wt% Ag/UiO-66-NH₂, the membrane exhibited significant improvements, including a 31% increase in pure water flux, a Bovine Serum Albumin retention rate of 99.6%, and a water flux recovery of 97.4%. Crucially, the membrane demonstrated potent antibacterial, showcasing its broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. Investigations into the ability of Ag/UiO-66-NH₂@BCM to remove Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Cr⁶⁺ ions from a water column revealed that the maximum adsorption capacity of the monolayer was 405, 390, and 328 mg/g, respectively. The composite membrane demonstrated broad-spectrum and highly effective antimicrobial properties, along with efficient removal of heavy metal ions. The proposed method can be utilized to prepare other composite membranes for water treatment and other fields of membrane separation technology.

Bast fiber from paper-mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) has long been utilized for handmade paper in Asia, serving as a prominent non-wood cellulose material. When restoring paper cultural assets, selecting a similar paper to the original ensures longevity and prevents deterioration issues like warping or tearing. The production of handmade paper involves several processes, including refining, steaming, and bleaching of raw materials. Once formed into sheets, the physical properties of the paper are dictated by these materials and remain unchanged unless the paper is newly made. Handmade paper production is labor-intensive and time-consuming, emphasizing the need for careful raw material selection to match desired characteristics. This study evaluated the dendrological, morphological, anatomical, and chemical compositions of three paper-mulberry wood types cultivated in Korea and inferred their suitability as pulp for papermaking or repair of archival paper specimens. Paper-mulberry wood showed differences in fiber length according to molecular phylogenetic characteristics, but there were no differences in anatomical characteristics owing to the immaturity of the wood. This study investigated the characteristics of the bast fibers from the bark of paper-mulberry trees with different genetic traits to identify favorable factors likely to affect the pulp and papermaking process and paper quality.

Food waste is an excellent source of various bioactive secondary metabolites. In addition, food waste is a global issue, and more research is being focused on the conversion of value-adding products from food waste, especially fruits. In this study, bioactive polyphenols were extracted from orange peels. The parameters that affect the extraction of polyphenols from orange peels were optimized using response surface methodology. Ethanol was used to extract bioactive polyphenols, and the extraction time (min), extraction temperature, and ethanol concentration (%) were analyzed. Orange peels are an excellent source of polyphenols, and the yield was increased under optimized extraction conditions (p<0.05). The polyphenol content increased twofold (38.4 mg GAE/g) under the optimized extraction conditions (53% ethanol, 51 degrees centigrade and 96 min extraction time). Crude polyphenols exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis (19±1 mm zone of inhibition), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (17±2 mm zone of inhibition) (p<0.05). In addition, orange peel extract exhibited antifungal activity against A. flavus and C. albicans. The ethanol extract exhibited DPPH activity (1.61±0.03 mg GAE/100 g) and ABTS reducing power (1.48±0.01 mg GAE/100 g). The polyphenol compounds exhibited antibiofilm activity against biofilm-producing Bacillus subtilis and increased in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05).