Research Articles

This study investigated the relationships between air-dry specific gravity, average annual ring width, and mechanical properties, including bending strength, compressive strength, and shear strength, in seven major coniferous species in Korea: Pinus densiflora, Pinus koraiensis, Larix kaempferi, Pinus rigida, Pinus rigida × taeda, Chamaecyparis obtusa, and Cryptomeria japonica. Specimens were tested according to KS standards, and correlation and regression analyses were conducted for each species. The results showed that air-dry specific gravity had significant positive correlations with mechanical strength in most species, indicating that it is the most reliable predictor of strength. In particular, Larix kaempferi, Pinus rigida, and Pinus rigida × taeda exhibited relatively clear positive correlations with bending, compressive, and shear strengths, confirming that air-dry specific gravity serves as a key indicator for explaining the strength properties of these species. Average annual ring width generally showed negative correlations with bending and compressive strengths; however, the statistical significance varied depending on species and growth region. Therefore, for analyzing the mechanical properties of domestic coniferous wood, air-dry specific gravity should be used as the primary predictive factor, while average annual ring width and species-specific wood characteristics should also be considered.

Traditional patterns are visual carriers of cultural heritage, and understanding young adults’ aesthetic preferences and visual attention may inform contemporary dissemination. This study examined, at the category level and individual sample level, subjective evaluation and objective behavior among 30 university students from one setting in response to 26 traditional wooden furniture patterns of the She ethnic group in eastern Fujian, using preference evaluation questionnaires, semantic differential ratings, and eye tracking. Results showed that (1) subjective evaluation was multidimensional: plant patterns received the highest category-level average (Avg.) score for aesthetic preference (Avg. = 1.811), whereas the Round Longevity Pattern in the abstract patterns performed best at the individual sample level (Avg. = 2.133); (2) Friedman tests showed significant differences in fixation count (FC) at both levels (p < 0.001), with the highest FC for human-figure patterns at the category level (Avg. = 22.950), and the Panhu Pattern at the individual-sample level (Avg. = 28.867); (3) aesthetic preference and visual attention were generally consistent, but at the participant-by-stimulus level, a negative binomial generalized linear mixed model showed no clear independent association between any subjective dimension and FC. This study supports a subjective-objective approach to traditional pattern perception and cultural dissemination.

As green consumption and the tea gift market continue to develop, tea packaging is shifting from basic protection toward improved user experience and sustainable use. To address the limited structural utilization and low modularity of existing wooden tea packaging, this study developed a user-needs-driven design approach integrating KANO, AHP, and QFD. User requirements were identified through questionnaires and interviews and classified using the KANO model. AHP was then applied to determine the priorities of requirements, and QFD was used to translate key requirements into design attributes. The results showed that independent module disassembly and reconfiguration, stable connections, adjustable internal space, and post-gifting conversion into everyday storage were high-priority requirements. QFD further identified the interlocking grid structure, multifunctional storage structure, structural stability design, modular dimensional adaptability, and lightweight material reduction as the five highest-ranked design attributes, with relative weights of 21.35, 16.67, 11.35, 11.31, and 10.67, respectively. Based on these findings, a modular wooden tea packaging solution with detachable, replaceable components was developed to enable flexible reconfiguration and functional extension. This study provides a systematic reference for user-needs-driven modular wooden packaging design.

Bound water governs swelling, fiber saturation behavior, and mechanical performance in cellulosic materials. Conventional determination methods, including solvent exclusion and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), are destructive and labor-intensive. This study shows that near-infrared diffuse reflectance (NIR-DR) spectroscopy provides a mechanistically grounded alternative based on wavelength shifts in the OH combination band near 1.92 µm (≈5210 cm^-1). Rather than relying solely on absorption intensity, the method tracks systematic changes in band position associated with changes in the hydrogen-bonding environment of the cellulose–water system as moisture content changes. A distinct transition in band position occurs at moisture contents consistent with bound water values reported for comparable cellulosic materials. The spectral behavior is interpreted in terms of changes in the ensemble hydrogen-bonding environment within the evolving cellulose–water system. Reinterpreted in light of modern optical transport theory and contemporary cellulose science, the results establish band-position analysis as a physically meaningful, non-destructive approach for assessing bound water in lignocellulosic fibers, with potential application to rapid at-line or in-line measurement and process control.

Coconut coir is an abundant lignocellulosic agro-industrial residue that can be processed into fibrous pulp for exploratory bio-based insulation panels. This study used a complete three-level, three-factor (3^3) factorial design to examine the effects of phosphoric-acid pretreatment concentration, sodium-hydroxide cooking concentration, and bleaching chlorometric degree on gravimetric pulp yield and apparent thermal conductivity. Second-order regression equations and coefficient-magnitude (Pareto) rankings were used as exploratory tools to describe treatment effects, and a genetic algorithm was used to identify a candidate compromise within the tested factor bounds. Observed pulp yields ranged from 20.1% to 74.5%, and apparent thermal conductivity ranged from 0.035 to 0.170 W×m^-1K^-1. The candidate conditions gave model-predicted values of 92.4% pulp yield and 0.041 W m^-1K^-1 apparent thermal conductivity; these values were not independently confirmed experimentally. Because compositional analysis of the recovered solid was not performed, the material is described as treated fibrous pulp rather than purified cellulose. The results provide an exploratory basis for further optimization, which should include composition, moisture, and independent confirmation measurements before practical insulation performance is claimed.

This study investigated the bending creep performance of cork composite wood floorings. The cork composite wood floorings consisted of two temperate species (tulip tree and larch) and two tropical species (teak and merbau) as the face layer, and a cork board reinforced with metal, glass fiber, or carbon fiber as the core layer. The bending creep curves for all specimens showed a shape to increase at the upper right side, and the curves were found to show a linear behavior beyond about 1 h. The initial compliances of cork composite wood floorings increased in the order of merbau (M) < teak (T) = larch (La) < tulip tree (Tu), which showed a density dependence where higher density species that had lower deformation. The creep compliance increased in the order of tulip tree < merbau < teak < larch, but the values of this increase remained small. Regarding the dissimilar materials, the creep compliance tended to increase in the order of CM (cork-metal) < CC (cork-carbon fiber) < CG (cork-glass fiber). From these results, the bending creep compliance of the cork composite wood flooring with temperate wood species was higher than for those with high-density tropical wood species, but the gap between those species was small. These results indicate the potential of temperate wood species for various interior applications.

Monitoring Pb²⁺ levels is essential for aquatic environmental safety. Compared to conventional methods, electrochemical sensors offer a low-cost and efficient alternative for trace heavy metal analysis, with electrocatalytic sensing strategies playing a key role in signal amplification. While biochar (BC) is a promising electrode modifier due to its porous structure and surface functionalization, its application is often restricted by low conductivity. Herein, magnetic biochar (MBC) was prepared via co-precipitation and utilized to fabricate a modified glassy carbon electrode (MBC/GCE). Characterization of MBC revealed an excellent pore structure and a specific surface area of 120 m²/g, markedly higher than that of BC. This increased surface area offers abundant active sites for the adsorption and preconcentration of Pb²⁺ ions, significantly enhancing the subsequent electrocatalytic reduction process. Electrochemical characterization, including electrocatalytic activity evaluation, showed that the MBC/GCE substantially decreased charge transfer resistance and promotes the redox kinetics of Pb²⁺. Under optimized conditions, the platform exhibited high sensitivity toward Pb²⁺ within a linear range defined by I = 6.34 + 64.5C (R² = 0.996), achieving a detection limit of 68 nmol/L. These results highlight the potential of MBC/GCE as an effective electrocatalytic sensing platform for Pb²⁺ monitoring in water.

Carbon content is needed for fuel characterization and carbon accounting, but measuring every incoming biomass lot by ultimate analysis is not always practical. This study examined whether routine proximate data could provide a preliminary value that remains easy to audit. The source table contained 1,689 solid-fuel records. Filters for feedstock type, completeness, physical limits, proximate closure, and duplication reduced this to 643 samples of untreated wood, grass or plant, organic residue, husk or shell, and straw. A category-stratified test set was reserved before comparing ridge regression, four nonlinear regressors, and three published correlations by nested cross-validation. Ridge based on ash and volatile matter returned the lowest mean root mean square error (RMSE; 2.883 wt.% C). For the 129 held-out samples, R² was 0.707, RMSE was 2.412 wt.% C, and mean absolute error (MAE) was 1.767 wt.% C. Its lead over the alternatives was small. The nominal 90% conformal interval covered 95.3% of test samples, although its mean width was 11.841 wt.% C; leave-one-category-out RMSE reached 4.621 wt.% C. The equation is limited to preliminary screening and quality assurance. Certified elemental analysis is still required for high-stakes decisions.

As global attention to intangible cultural heritage (ICH) continues to grow, the contemporary design adaptation of traditional crafts, such as Chu-style lacquerware, faces a dual challenge: subjective biases in design decision-making and the superficial extraction of cultural connotations. To address these limitations, this study proposes a quantitative design and evaluation framework that integrates memetics, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE). First, the cultural memes of Chu-style lacquerware are systematically deconstructed across material, behavioral, and spiritual dimensions, yielding 29 specific evaluation indicators. Second, AHP is applied to calculate the weight of each indicator, establishing the core priority of elements such as phoenix motifs, geometric forms, and the red color palette. Based on these findings, three modern furniture design schemes were developed and objectively assessed using FCE to determine the optimal solution. The results indicate that this integrated approach effectively balances cultural inheritance, aesthetic experience, and functional practicality. This study offers a scientifically rigorous and replicable pathway for the sustainable safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, while providing a valuable reference for integrating traditional cultural characteristics into modern furniture design.

This study provides the first Canadian characterization of the wood pallet and container industry by developing a dataset of material usage and structural production elements. A survey instrument adapted to the Canadian context, from previous American studies, was electronically distributed to firms with NAICS 321920. The results indicate that Canadian pallet producers manufactured approximately 50.4 million pallets in 2022, representing about 5.5% of U.S. production. Custom pallet sizes accounted for the largest share of production at 48%, while the standard 48 x 40-inch pallet remains the dominant size, with a 39% market share. Softwood lumber was the primary material used for wood packaging, accounting for 97.4% of packaging produced and approximately 13.5% of total Canadian softwood lumber output, equivalent to 2.76 billion board feet. Canada heat-treated a higher proportion of pallets, at 88%, compared to 63% in the United States, to comply with international shipment regulations. Approximately 46% of wooden pallets were repaired and returned to service, while pallets that cannot be repaired were typically processed into wood chips for secondary uses such as animal bedding.