Research Articles

This communication examines the revitalization of the pratuokng, a traditional Bidayuh bamboo tube zither from Annah Rais, Sarawak, through a qualitative ethnographic case study. A pratuokng is an idiochord tube zither, a musical instrument consisting of one drum and seven strings. Data were collected through interviews with cultural practitioner Arthur Borman, observation of teaching and performance contexts, and review of relevant ethnomusicological literature. The study analyzes how instrument knowledge, tuning practices, and performance techniques are transmitted and adapted in response to contemporary social change and strategies used in encouraging younger generations to performed with pratuokng. Particular attention is given to Borman’s innovations in instrument configuration and musical range, and to how these developments generate debate regarding authenticity, legitimacy, and cultural authority. Previously published acoustic data are referenced to contextualize sound behavior; however, the analytic focus of this paper remains interpretive rather than experimental. Theoretically, the study contributes to discussions on cultural sustainability by framing tradition as a negotiated, evolving process rather than a fixed object. Findings indicate that context-sensitive innovation, community-based pedagogy, and selective global exposure can support continuity of endangered musical heritage while maintaining cultural integrity.

This study investigated the influence of nanosilica on the vibro-acoustic behavior, microstructure, and structural characteristics of composites based on poplar wood flour and recycled polystyrene. Composites containing 50 wt% wood flour and 0, 2, 4, and 6 phc nanosilica were prepared using twin-screw extrusion. Vibro-acoustic properties were evaluated using a non-destructive flexural vibration method, while the fractured-surface morphology and diffraction characteristics were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Nanosilica caused only minor changes in sound velocity, loss tangent, acoustic coefficient, acoustic conversion efficiency, and dynamic modulus of elasticity, with no statistically significant differences among the formulations (p > 0.05). SEM images showed apparent reductions in interfacial voids and improved contact between the wood flour and polymer matrix with nanosilica incorporation. XRD patterns indicated that the composites retained a predominantly amorphous character, while the changes in diffraction intensity suggested differences in X-ray scattering following nanosilica incorporation. Overall, nanosilica altered the apparent microstructural characteristics of the composites without significantly affecting their vibro-acoustic performance. The combination of stable vibro-acoustic properties and the use of recycled polystyrene suggests potential for these composites in lightweight panel and interior applications where stable acoustic behavior is desirable.

Southern Blue Gum (SBG) essential oil was chemically characterized and evaluated for selected biological activities using integrated in vitro assays supported by exploratory in silico analysis. GC–MS profiling identified nine constituents, with 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) representing 90.51% of the total composition, indicating a cineole-dominant chemical profile. Antibacterial screening against representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria showed pronounced inhibitory effects, with inhibition zones ranging from 24.3 to 38.8 mm and minimum inhibitory concentrations of 62.5–125 µg/mL depending on the strain. Anti-biofilm testing demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition, with the strongest reduction observed for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (61.35% at 0.5 MIC). Antioxidant evaluation using DPPH and ABTS assays revealed dose-dependent radical scavenging activity. Cytotoxicity screening in Caco-2 and HepG2 cell lines showed concentration-dependent responses with IC₅₀ values of 24.4 ± 0.15 and 59.52 ± 0.35 µg/mL, respectively. Molecular docking suggested moderate interaction of eucalyptol with bacterial DNA gyrase through hydrophobic contacts and hydrogen bonding. This study provides integrated chemical and functional characterization of cineole-rich Southern Blue Gum oil and supports further investigation of eucalyptus-derived volatile compositions in antimicrobial and biofilm-control research, while indicating that additional pharmacological, selectivity, and in vivo studies are required before translational application.

The seismic performance analysis of timber frame structures with viscoelastic damper is important. Combined with Rayleigh damping model and stiffness proportional damping model, the damping matrix of the timber frame structures with viscoelastic damper is constructed. Based on the fine calculation method, the numerical method of time-domain dynamic responses for timber frame structures with viscoelastic damper is proposed, which can be used to calculate the time-domain dynamic responses. Then the peak top displacement and peak bottom shear force are selected as the indicators, which are used to analyze the arrangement of viscoelastic dampers in wooden frame structures. Numerical results show that compared to viscoelastic dampers at the top and middle, viscoelastic damper at the bottom is the most advantageous for improving the seismic performance of the structure, which can be given priority consideration in design.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of CO₂ laser scanning speed, laser processing power, and fiber direction on color change and surface roughness in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Eastern beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) wood. To this end, laser processing was performed at four scanning speeds (200, 300, 400, and 500 mm/s) and five power levels (12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, and 16%) in both parallel and perpendicular directions to the grain. The surface roughness and total color changes observed in the samples were determined in accordance with TS EN ISO 21920-2 and ASTM D2244-25 standards. As a result, while Scots pine samples exhibited higher roughness values than Eastern beech, the total color change was higher in Eastern beech samples. A low scanning speed and high laser power increased both roughness and color change. Processing parallel to the grain increased roughness, while processing perpendicular to the grain resulted in a higher color change.

Structural particleboard (SPB) is a promising structural wood-based panel that can be manufactured using existing particleboard production facilities. Although product performance requirements for SPB have been only partially established, developed SPB panels have demonstrated basic product-level properties such as bending performance, internal bond strength, moisture resistance, and formaldehyde emission. However, experimental verification of structural performance is required for practical structural applications. In this study, newly developed SPB was evaluated for product performance and structural performance, including compressive strength, structural bending performance, and in-plane shear strength, and the results were compared with those of conventional particleboard (PB) and oriented strand board (OSB). To assess reliability as a structural material, coefficients of variation and 5^th percentile were examined in addition to mean values. SPB satisfied all product performance requirements and showed superior compressive performance compared with OSB and conventional PB in terms of both mean and 5^th percentile. In bending, SPB exhibited structural performance comparable to that of OSB in the major axis and showed competitive performance based on the 5^th percentile. In-plane shear performance was also stable in terms of mean value, variability, and 5^th percentile. These findings demonstrate that SPB has strong potential for use as a structural wood-based panel.

As a major consumer of soybean, the growth in China’s annual soybean production is crucial to its national food security. Both maize and soybean are upland crops with overlapping growth periods, leading to trade-offs in production when either crop is cultivated as a sole crop. However, the soybean-maize strip intercropping system enables the production of an additional soybean harvest with only a slight reduction or no loss in maize yield, thereby making a highly significant contribution to the expansion of total grain output. This study explored the effects of maize varietal traits and maize density on the production indicators of the two crops under this intercropping model by designing different maize varieties and maize planting densities. The results showed that maize lodging extent had an extremely significant negative correlation with maize yield and gross income. Maize plant height had a significant negative correlation with maize 100-grain weight, soybean SPAD values, and soybean grains per plant. Within a certain range, as maize density increased, maize yield first increased and then decreased, while soybean yield showed a continuous downward trend. Based on this regularity, a quadratic function mathematical model was constructed, with maize planting density as the independent variable and production benefit per unit area as the dependent variable. This model can be used to determine the optimal maize planting density for soybean-maize relay strip intercropping. This study identifies suitable maize varieties and optimal planting density, thereby providing references for local production practices.

Silver–selenium nanoparticles (Ag–Se NPs) were successfully prepared using Punica granatum peel extract via a green, eco-friendly, and cost-effective approach. The formation of nanoparticles was confirmed by a characteristic UV–Vis absorbance peak at 436 nm, while FTIR analysis indicated the involvement of functional groups in reduction and stabilization. TEM analysis showed predominantly spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 44.9 ± 19 nm. The synthesized Ag–Se NPs exhibited effective antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis, with inhibition zones of 17.8, 20.3, and 16.2 mm, respectively. The MIC values ranged from 62.5 to 500 µg/mL, confirming concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity. The nanoparticles showed significant antibiofilm activity, reaching 62.3% inhibition against E. coli at higher concentrations. Cytotoxicity evaluation demonstrated selective activity, with IC₅₀ values of 209 µg/mL for Vero normal cells and 115 µg/mL for MCF-7 cancer cells. Furthermore, antioxidant activity assessed by DPPH and ABTS assays showed IC₅₀ values of 458 and 312 µg/mL, respectively. Overall, the results indicate that green-synthesized Ag–Se NPs possess multifunctional biological activities, making them promising candidates for antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant applications.

Lactic acid (LA) is a growing demand platform chemical for food, pharmaceutical, and bioplastic applications. Lignocellulose offers an alternative to edible sugars as a substrate. However, its microbial conversion of mixed hexose/pentose sugars remains challenging. In this study, two new lactic acid bacteria with distinct sugar utilization profiles were isolated and evaluated for their LA production capability using a series of substrates. Enterococcus casseliflavus CW3-1 exhibited a partially homofermentative behavior and was capable of assimilating both hexose and pentose sugars. In contrast, Paucilactobacillus vaccinostercus MQ2 showed a heterofermentative manner and was a typical pentose-preferring bacterium, which did not metabolize glucose. In the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of alkali-pretreated corn stover and sugarcane bagasse with a commercial cellulase, co-cultivation of the two strains significantly outperformed the mono-cultures and the LA production from co-culture was slightly higher than the sum of the production from the two monocultures. Fermentation results from two types of biomasses showed that the maximum LA yield reached 0.78±0.03 g/g substrate; however, increasing the substrate concentration led to a decrease in yield. These results demonstrate the superiority of using microbial consortia for sustainable LA biorefining from lignocellulosic biomass.

This preliminary, limited case study compared reclaimed Juniperus excelsa (Greek juniper) wood—removed after approximately 42 years of service in a rural structure—with freshly cut samples from the same geographic region. Compressive strength parallel and perpendicular to the grain, full-section four-point bending, a study-specific visual defect index, and qualitative scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations were used. Test results showed that parallel compression and bending strengths were of similar magnitude in the two groups, whereas perpendicular compression showed a larger difference. These differences were not interpreted as a loss or preservation of properties, as the initial properties and detailed service history of the reclaimed specimens are unknown. In the new group, a distinct trend of decreasing bending strength with increasing visible defect scores was evident, whereas the narrow score range in the reclaimed group did not support a similar relationship. Some reclaimed specimens fractured abruptly near the peak load. Local microcrack-like discontinuities observed in selected SEM fields were qualitatively consistent with this behavior but did not establish causality. Due to the small sample sizes, the results provide preliminary engineering trends rather than design values.