Research Articles

Mushroom production can contribute to food security through producing food of high nutritional value and medicinal interest. This study examined the effectiveness of using date kernel (K) in a mixture with wheat straw (WS) as substrate on yield and different crop stages duration for Pleurotus ostreatus (P.O) cultivation. Five substrate formulas were investigated using K and WS, alone and in combination. The results indicated that there was a significant difference between formulas. Using wastes separately showed the lowest yield, whereas the substrate with 25% K gave the highest total yield (478 g) and biological efficiency (BE) of 95.61%, in 223 d and 78.52% as BE of three first flushes in 110.8 d. substrate with 75% K was more effective in term of time; it gave in 198.4 d 414 g of mushroom (BE: 82.95%) and 310.6 g (BE: 62.12%) for the three first flushes in 83.2 d. It is more effective to use K and WS in mixture than separately to cultivate P.O., The proportion depends on which we can give up; around 70 g of yield or 26 d as time difference; for more yield in longer time, using 25% K is more suitable, and 75% K is used for shorter time and less yield.

Protease enzyme at concentrations of 50, 75, and 100 U (μmol/min), in both solution and paste form, was evaluated for cleaning stains caused by Aspergillus flavus. This applied study was conducted on paper sheets that had been formed from either cotton or wood-derived cellulose fibers. After cleaning, the infected samples were examined and analyzed to identify any changes and assess the effectiveness of the cleaning process. Color change, digital microscopy, ATR-FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, and pH measurement were employed. The results confirmed that the most effective treatment was the enzyme paste form at 50 and 75 U, as this was able to remove existing fungus spots on the surface or permeate within the fibers. IR spectroscopy confirmed that the chemical composition of both cotton and wood paper remained unchanged. Conversely, there was a significant increase in the characteristic vibrations of water and the crystallization sites of cellulose at the wavenumber of 1300 cm^-1.

Hornification of cellulose-rich materials, particularly wood pulps, occurs when chemical bonds form between cellulose surfaces, along with intermolecular forces created during dewatering and drying, preventing the material from reswelling in water to its original structure. Hornification of pulps results in a reduced ability to form effective fiber networks and therefore weaker paper products. The objective of this work was to investigate the role of hornification in pelletized cellulosic biomass and materials in general to provide more information than can be obtained by measuring standard wet state properties, such as water retention. Pellets were produced from chemical pulps with different degrees of hornification, as indicated by the water retention value (WRV), and their mechanical performance was evaluated. The chemical pulps served as a model material for investigating hornification. Pulps with higher hornification produced pellets with inferior mechanical properties, which has not been shown before by such a test. This effect is attributed to increased fiber stiffness and reduced surface flexibility, which limits fiber-fiber bonding. In addition, high drying temperatures prior to pelletizing, and thus higher hornification, will increase compression energy and friction in the pelletizing process. A novel connection was observed between WRV and mechanical performance, highlighting the impact of hornification on the surface interactions of cellulose-based materials.

Surface treatments of paper and paper-based compounds are one of the most effective methods for improving different specifications of paper products, such as printability, paper strength values, absorption performance, and diminished surface roughness. In this study, cellulose derivatives of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and zinc oxide (ZnO), an inorganic antibacterial material, were prepared in varying concentrations (1/1, 1/0.5, and 1/0.25) and applied to standard filter paper by the dip-coating method to examine the combined effects of these chemicals on paper properties and the performance of the investigation papers as a food packaging material. Density, dry-wet strength, Cobb values, oil-dye absorption, and air permeability of papers were investigated in addition to degradation tests, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, antibacterial activity, and scanning electron microscopy images. The density values of papers were determined between 0.421 and 0.468 g/cm³. Although determined by different techniques, oil absorption and dye absorption performances showed similar patterns, and the addition of ZnO into the composition caused a decrease in the absorption performances. Dry strength and Cobb values increased with the ZnO addition, and strength values increased. Wet strength values. According to all of the findings, these papers would make excellent food packaging materials, particularly for dry, low-weight products.

The inherent warmth of wood is widely valued in design applications, yet the mechanisms underlying its perception across different sensory modalities have not been fully explored. The aim of this work was to investigate the physical properties that influence warmth perception of wood across different species and surface treatments, and to clarify the respective contributions of visual and tactile warmth during multisensory integration. In this work, 10 material samples were technically characterized and their perceived warmth was evaluated by participants under three conditions: vision-only, touch-only, or combined visual-tactile interactions. Infrared thermography was used to quantify material temperature changes. Results showed that color dominated warmth perception under the visual assessment, while thermal properties and hand-material interface temperature differences significantly influenced tactile warmth perception. Wood species exhibited substantial effects on warmth perception, whereas surface treatments showed limited impact. Visual-tactile warmth perception was significantly positively correlated with both modalities, predominantly mediated by tactile inputs during direct contact, with visual characteristics providing critical complementary information. These findings advance the understanding of wood’s multisensory warmth perception and provide valuable insights for user-centered wood space and product design.

In recent years, there has been considerable interest in the use of plant fibers in the construction sector. These fibers can represent an alternative to traditional fibers used in building materials, such as polypropylene fibers. Sustainable development requires materials that are environmentally friendly, i.e., natural and recyclable. Therefore, the aim of this article was to examine the mechanical performance (compressive and flexural strength) and properties of cementitious mortars reinforced with small-scale jute fibers. The jute fibers used in this work were pre-treated with demineralized water and cut into small sizes with a maximum length of 5 mm to eliminate the use of superplasticizers to make the mix homogeneous. The results obtained showed that mortars reinforced with 0.5% plant fibers had higher tensile and compressive strength than ordinary mortars. Furthermore, whatever the percentage, the fibers retained the interior temperature during cool periods, which could help reduce the power consumption of home air-conditioning systems. Therefore, the introduction of fibers saves cement, admixture, and water for each percentage. These results point to a promising future for the use of plant fibers in cementitious materials.

To explore the impact of wood biochar on the early growth of tree seedlings, biochar was produced from the branches of tree species deemed as waste wood: tamarix, acacia, and eucalyptus. This biochar was mixed with agricultural soil at various concentrations. Subsequently, Moringa oleifera seedlings were planted in the biochar-soil mixture and monitored over an eight-week period. Then the data were collected and statistically analysed. All of the biochar treatments applied to Moringa oleifera seeds resulted in a notable reduction in germination rates. In particular, the control treatment—where no biochar was used—showed a significantly higher rate of seed germination compared to the various biochar treatments that were made from different feedstock species and processed at varying pyrolysis temperatures, highlighting the diverse impact of biochar characteristics on seed development. Nonetheless, the biochar-soil mixture retained higher levels of water and promoted greater biomass and relative plant growth. Thus, it is crucial to interpret these results within an environmental context to gain a comprehensive understanding. Selecting appropriate branch wood feedstocks may enhance the production of suitable biochar products for specific applications. Pretreatment techniques for feedstock before biochar processing might be necessary.

Mechanical characteristics were studied for epoxy composites reinforced with cork fillers, analyzing various loading conditions of fillers ranging from 0 to 30%. The fabrication utilized a hand layup method. The results indicated that the composite mechanical properties, glass transition temperature, and storage modulus were optimal at a 20% natural filler loading. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showcased exceptional energy absorption capabilities up to 110 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the bio-filler degraded quickly, leaving 0.3% remnant, but the cork filler composite (25% v/v) showed an even residue concentration of 9%. Additionally, biodegradability tests showed weight loss in a soil burial test with the addition of bio-filler to the composite.

The effects of artificial weathering (168, 336, and 504 h) on the glossiness values and color parameters of varnished, polyurethane-modified ash wood were investigated. Samples included control samples without treatment and thermally treated samples under two different conditions (190 °C for 1.5 h and 212 °C for 2 h), all coated with a polyurethane-modified water-based varnish. In non-thermally treated and varnished samples, decreases in L* values were observed after weathering, while increases were noted in h^o, C*, b*, and glossiness at 60° in both perpendicular and parallel directions to the fibers. After weathering, for samples thermally treated at 190 °C for 1.5 h and varnished, increases were observed in glossiness values at 20° and 60° in both directions, as well as in L*, b*, and h^o values. Conversely, decreases were noted in a* and C* values. In samples thermally treated at 212 °C for 2 h and varnished, increases in a*, L*, h^o, b*, and C* values were detected after weathering, whereas decreases were observed in glossiness at all angles (20° and 60°) in both directions. The ∆E* values showed a decreasing trend in non-thermally treated varnished samples after weathering, while an increase was observed in samples thermally treated at 212 °C for 2 h and varnished.

Curcuma caesia Roxb., commonly known as black turmeric, has high medicinal and economic value, primarily due  to its wide range of bioactive compounds. Due to overharvesting and habitat destruction, C. caesia populations have been reduced drastically. Conventional propagation through rhizomes is inefficient due to susceptibility to microbial infections, long maturation periods, and unstable bioactive compounds content. This study aimed to enhance phenolics content, antioxidant properties, and curcumin content in in vitro propagated C. caesia through application of elicitors. C. caesia plantlets were treated with different concentrations of methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, silver nitrate, chitosan, and yeast extract. The total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, antioxidants, and curcumin content in leaves and rhizomes were assessed. At 200 μM, methyl jasmonate significantly enhanced total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin content and antioxidant properties in leaves and rhizomes. Silver nitrate (200 μM) and methyl jasmonate (100 to 200 μM) yielded the highest total curcumin content. Overall, methyl jasmonate was the most effective elicitor for improving phenolics content, antioxidant activities and curcumin accumulation. These findings highlight the potential of elicitor-based strategies, particularly methyl jasmonate, as an effective and sustainable approach to enhance the yield and quality of pharmaceutically important bioactive compounds in C. caesia, offering promising prospects for its conservation, commercial cultivation and medicinal applications.