Research Articles

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.

Ultraviolet (UV)-cured coating and water transfer printing (WTP) are popular organic coating techniques offering aesthetic and functional benefits for wood-based panels. This study considered the gloss change of medium density fiberboard (MDF) panels, which were coated with WTP and UV printing processes. Image processing was used before and after being exposed to some domestic cleaning agents. A carbon fiber-patterned organic finish was applied to the surfaces of the prepared sample panels followed by scrub-testing with various domestic cleaning agents in compliance with Turkish Standards (TS) EN ISO 11998. The image processing based scrubbing tester (IPBST) developed in this study was used for the scrubbing process. Digital images of the samples were captured before and after the scrubbing process, and the Red-Green-Blue (RGB) color model was converted to the Hue-Saturation-Intensity (HSI) model for analysis. The I-channel in the HSI system was used to calculate the average gloss values, which were compared to results from the BYK-Gardner Spectro-Guide 45/0 device. Pearson correlation analysis indicated a robust and statistically significant correlation of 0.71. As a result, the image analysis-based gloss evaluation method has been shown to enable a more comprehensive evaluation of surface quality by providing fast, non-contact, and detailed analysis.

A high-performance wood adhesive was successfully developed by incorporating soybean oligopeptides into Camellia oleifera protein through a combination of degradation and epoxy resin crosslinking techniques. The results showed that the presence of oligopeptides boosted the creation of more active functional groups in the degradation liquid system. This process enhanced the adhesive’s initial viscosity and overall stability. As a result, the adhesive’s performance was significantly improved, making the bond more robust and long-lasting. However, a notable drawback was observed: the storage duration of the adhesive was shortened from 10 h to 3.5 h. Despite this limitation, the adhesive exhibited several advantageous properties, including a high curing reaction rate, a relatively low curing temperature, and excellent thermal stability. Additionally, the prepared adhesive demonstrated superior bonding strength and outstanding water resistance, making it a promising alternative for various wood-based applications.

This article examines the effect of digestate from biogas plants, as well as its combinations with biochar and zeolite, on soil properties, sorghum yield, and heavy metal accumulation. The experiment was carried out in an experimental field in Czeslawice (Poland). The results showed that the incorporation of digestate increased the organic matter content, improved the availability of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), and improved the soil pH. The addition of biochar was demonstrated to support the stabilization of nutrients and limit the bioavailability of heavy metals. In contrast, zeolite has been observed to enhance the mineral content of the soil, although it has also been noted that this can result in an increase in sodium and heavy metal content. The highest sorghum biomass production was obtained in soils with digestate from biogas plants and biochar, while the addition of zeolite reduced the yield. Therefore, the study confirmed that natural additives have different effects on the soil. The utilization of waste material in agriculture requires monitoring of soil quality and the judicious selection of organic waste additives. The results indicate the potential of these additives to promote sustainable agriculture and the circular economy.

During their usage, caustic magnesite composites are susceptible to aggressive microbial action. This paper investigated the resistance of wood-filled caustic magnesite composites in a standard filamentous fungi medium. Caustic magnesite composites based on caustic magnesite, filled with wood sawdust from lime, ash, pine, and aspen trees were studied. The compositions were cured using magnesium chloride. The findings showed that composites filled with fine-fraction wood powders exhibited improved strength and resistance properties of caustic magnesite. If this requirement is met, then optimal conditions are created for the formation of an improved matrix in composites with filler and film phase. Tests in the standard medium showed that wood-filled caustic magnesite composites were fungistatic, but not fungicidal. This means that in case of external contamination, wood-filled caustic magnesite composites are susceptible to biodegradation. Tests demonstrated that exposure to the standard fungal medium resulted in an increased mass content and decreased strength of the samples.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sawdust on the growth, aesthetic quality, photosynthetic pigments, and nutrient uptake of Lavandula officinalis, a widely cultivated medicinal and ornamental plant in Türkiye. Eleven growth media were formulated by mixing peat and perlite with sawdust at concentrations ranging from 5% to 50% (v/v). The results demonstrated that the 25% sawdust treatment significantly enhanced plant height, crown width, fresh weight, and visual appearance. Photosynthetic pigment concentrations (chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids) were also optimized at this level, while higher sawdust proportions (≥ 40%) led to notable declines. Contrary to expectations, total nitrogen content increased with sawdust levels, possibly due to nitrogen-rich tissues in the sawdust and enhanced microbial mineralization. Calcium content peaked at 25%, whereas micronutrients such as iron, copper, and zinc decreased with higher sawdust ratios. The findings suggest that Scots pine sawdust, when applied at moderate levels, can serve as a sustainable substrate component in lavender cultivation. This is the first study to systematically assess Scots pine sawdust in lavender growing media, contributing to the development of resource-efficient and environmentally friendly horticultural practices.

The characteristics of vascular bundles vary significantly across different heights in bamboo. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of vascular bundles is crucial for the identification and efficient utilization of bamboo materials. In this work, the structure and type of vascular bundles in Thyrsostachys oliveri at different heights were investigated. The results revealed substantial differences in the types of vascular bundles in T. oliveri at various heights within the bamboo. The radial diameter exhibited no significant differences in the radial variation of fiber sheath area at different heights, whereas the tangential diameter showed differences in the radial variation between the upper and lower middle parts of the bamboo. This study provides insights into the structural variations of vascular bundles in T. oliveri at different heights, which are beneficial for optimizing the use of bamboo materials in various applications.

The effects of adding defatted soybean flour (SF) at different stages of the “alkali-acid-alkali” process were studied relative to the viscosity, impact toughness, bonding strength, and water resistance of melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) resin. The results showed that the influence of SF on the strength properties and water resistance of the resin exhibited distinct stage-specific and dosage-dependent characteristics. In the first stage, an appropriate amount of SF (4% to 6%) significantly improved the resin’s viscosity, impact toughness, and bonding strength, demonstrating good toughening and strengthening effects. In the second stage, the addition of SF led to more complex and somewhat unstable effects on viscosity and impact toughness. In the third stage, a moderate amount of SF (2% to 6%) evidently enhanced bonding strength, but high dosages (8% and 10%) resulted in a decrease in water resistance and impact toughness.

Wood’s hygroscopic nature limits its outdoor applications. Technologies such as wood polyesterification, involving the in situ reaction of alcohols and carboxylic acids, densify the wood cell wall and potentially reduce hydroxyl group activity. Whey ultrafiltration permeate, a co-product of whey protein purification, which is rich in lactose, can be a source of OH groups for wood modification. This study explores lactose’s reactivity with biobased carboxylic acids and evaluates the resulting wood properties post-modification. Spectroscopic analyses confirmed that lactose reacts with carboxylic acids when heated above the melting point, and the Maillard reaction and caramelization may occur due to whey ultrafiltration permeate’s non-protein nitrogen substances and acidic medium combined with high temperatures. Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy analysis verified that lactose and malic acid react within trembling aspen sawdust, significantly reducing moisture absorption and enhancing thermal stability. This study proposes a novel valorization of whey ultrafiltration permeate and a simple process for improving wood properties.

Ruminants are significant contributors to methane (CH₄) emissions due to methanogenesis by their gut microbiomes. The enzyme methyl coenzyme M reductase (MCR) is crucial for this process in rumen archaea. Targeting MCR via computational tools has emerged as a novel approach to reduce CH₄ emissions in ruminants by inhibiting methanogenesis. This study focused on evaluating wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) compounds as potential MCR inhibitors using in silico methods. Initially, 21 wheatgrass compounds were selected, and their drug-likeness traits were assessed using Lipinski’s rule of five. Five compounds, namely 2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3-phenylenediamine, Caryophyllene oxide, Caryophyllene, N,N-tetramethylene-.alpha.-(aminomethylene) glutaconic anhydride, and n-hexadecanoic acid met all criteria. These compounds were further analysed for absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties using the Swiss ADME tool, confirming their drug-likeness traits with no Lipinski’s violation. Molecular docking analysis was performed using the CB-Dock2 tool to assess binding interactions with MCR. The compounds showed binding affinities in the following order: N,N-tetramethylene-.alpha.-(aminomethylene) glutaconic anhydride (-7.3 kcal/mol) > Caryophyllene (-6.8 kcal/mol) > Caryophyllene oxide (-6.7 kcal/mol) > n-hexadecanoic acid (-6.3 kcal/mol) > 2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3-phenylenediamine (-6.0 kcal/mol). These findings suggest that the selected wheatgrass compounds have potential as anti-methanogenic agents, positioning them as promising MCR inhibitors for mitigating CH₄ emissions in ruminants.