Volume 20 Issue 1

Compared to ordinary white wheat, colored wheat has an enhanced nutritional profile, with nutrients primarily distributed in the bran layers. In this study, debranning technology was utilized to regulate debranning times and selectively debranned outer layer, middle layer, and aleurone layer of colored wheat bran to analyze the distribution of nutrients within these layers. Iron, selenium, zinc, and calcium in the bran of black wheat were more than five times higher than in the flour. Iron and calcium were concentrated in the outer layer of the bran, while selenium and zinc were mainly found in the aleurone layer. Pigment compounds and total phenolics were distributed in the middle layer of the wheat bran, with the anthocyanin content in this layer being over 20 times higher than that in the flour. The majority of dietary fiber was found in the endosperm layer. The outer layer of the bran was dominant in iron, selenium, and dietary fiber. The middle layer had higher levels of lutein, alkylresorcinols, and anthocyanins, while the aleurone layer featured a more even distribution of nutritional components. This article provides theoretical support for incorporating nutrient-rich bran layers into flour in future applications.

Deep drawing of paperboard has shown promising results for the packaging industry due to its high productivity, economical process routes, and geometrical freedom. Paper, as a material, offers a combination of compostability and recyclability while consisting of renewable resources. However, formed paper can exhibit wrinkles due to the excess material during the deep drawing process. Wrinkles form differently depending on the anisotropic behavior caused by fiber orientations. To control material deformation while forming asymmetric components the sheet metal industry uses draw beads. This paper investigates the impact of draw beads on paperboard forming. The goal is to avoid additional process steps while increasing the achievable drawing depth as well as the wrinkle control. The design of the draw beads, including their advantages and disadvantages, is discussed based on experimental tests and compared with numerical simulations. Results show that while draw beads increase drawing depth and reduce wrinkles, their position and length affect the severity and distribution of wrinkles, as well as the wrinkle-free distance.

Lipases degrade triglycerides and are used in detergent, biodiesel production, and chemical industries. In this work, lipase-producing fungal strains were enriched. A total of 10 morphologically different fungi were isolated and screened for lipase production. The isolated indigenous Aspergillus niger LP4 utilized a mixture of Calophyllum inophyllum oil cake and coconut oil cake (1:1), showing greater lipase production (127.5 ± 5.5 U/g substrate) than Calophyllum inophyllum oil cake (120.2 ± 3.4 U/g substrate) and coconut oil cake (103 ± 1.8 U/g substrate). A one-variable-at-a-time approach revealed optimum pH at 6.5 (139.2 ± 4.5 U/g substrate), 30 °C (152.4 ± 7.3 U/g substrate), 6% (v/w) inoculums (174.1 ± 5.4 U/g substrate), and 60% moisture content (180.5 ± 3.3 U/g substrate). After screening bioprocess variables by the traditional method, the selected three variables (pH, inoculum concentration, and moisture level) were optimized by the central composite design experiment. The central composite design gave 2.1-fold more lipase production compared to an unoptimized medium. The F-value of the designed model was 12.98, and the p-value was 0.0002. In this model, the terms A, B, C, A2, and C2 were significant model terms. The crude lipase showed exceptional compatibility with detergents, improved wash performance, and released free fatty acids from the wastewater.

The nutrient composition and biostimulant properties of seaweed were determined as solid biofertilizer for cultivating tomato seedlings in a greenhouse. Seaweeds (Sargassum wightii, Sargassum longifolium, Laminaria digitata, and Gelidiella acerosa) were collected from rocky areas and turned into a powder, and their nutrient compositions were analyzed. The brown seaweed showed indoleacetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA₃), indole butyric acid (IBA), and abscisic acid (ABA). The amount of IAA ranged from 0.52 to 21.5 μg/mL. Compared with the other brown algae, the G. acerosa extract presented the maximum amount of GA₃ (149 μg/mL). The amount of IBA ranged from 1.5 to 15.3 μg/mL, and the ABA level was high in S. wightii (2.5 μg/mL). All algae powders were subjected to biofertilizer preparation and their biostimulant properties were studied. The algal biostimulant improved flower cluster number, fruit number, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight in tomato plants in a greenhouse. Macroalgae fertilizer improved urease, phosphatase, invertase, and catalase activities (p<0.05) and the microbial population in the soil. The results showed positive effects of biostimulants on soil physicochemical and biological properties.

Toxic metals/metalloids such as arsenic are environmental pollutants that are damaging to living organisms. Commonly found metals pose a serious threat to human health unless they are controlled. In this study, the accumulation of As metalloid, which has entered the food chain for specific reasons, in plant organs was determined, and it was examined whether plants are hyperaccumulators against As concentration. As a result, Pinus pinaster Aiton., Cupressus arizonica Greene., Picea orientalis (L.) Peterm., Cedrus atlantica (Endl.), and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) species accumulated more than 1 mg/kg As concentration. The highest average As concentration (7.91 mg/kg) was found in the northern bark of P. menziesii. The highest As concentrations in wood were found in the eastern direction for P. pinaster (5.21 mg/kg), C. arizonica (4.99 mg/kg), and P. orientalis (4.02 mg/kg), and in the western direction for C. atlantica (3.56 mg/kg) and P. menziesii (3.88 mg/kg). Additionally, it was determined that As concentration varied depending on location, direction, species, and year.

Roof truss systems and wall panels are two examples of popular structural components made by cold-formed steel (CFS) which is classified as a steel-based building material available in a wide range of shapes, and thicknesses. The use of CFS is increasing due to its many desirable properties, including a high strength-to-weight ratio, low weight, resistance to corrosion, and fast installation. In contrast, the thin-surfaced and opened section of CFS buckles easily when utilised as a beam or column. When the load is applied directly, the CFS section fails in modes such as web crippling, torsion, and buckling. As a result, the new I-section with top and bottom flange elements was produced by using CFS channel section, and timber board from the type of oriented strand board (OSB) as a web element. The study aimed to determine the initial structural characteristics of the built-up I-section CFS with OSB short column. A single or double web element made by yellow and dark brown OSB was used to construct the I-section for determining the initial structural characteristics. The I-section with a double web of yellow OSB showed the highest value of ultimate load and compressive strength as compared to other specimens in the range of 8.00% to 14.00%.

Research on growth rings in tropical trees within flooded forests has unveiled the complexity of climate change in these ecosystems. However, there has been limited understanding regarding species and their potential for dendrochronology. This study assessed 20 species from 13 botanical families in a flooded forest in southeastern Peru. Wood samples were collected during the dry season using a non-destructive sampling with motorized drill, alongside botanical samples for identification. Growth ring features were described following the IAWA, at a macroscopic level. Thirteen species showed promise for dendrochronological studies, eight of which were previously undocumented. These findings are pivotal for prioritizing species in future dendrochronological investigations in the Peruvian Amazon.

The effect of air heat treatment was evaluated relative to the shrinkage and surface roughness of six Korean oak woods: Quercus serrata (Qs), Quercus mongolica (Qm), Quercus acutissima (Qac), Quercus aliena (Qal), Quercus dentata (Qd), and Quercus variabilis (Qv). The properties were examined using untreated and treated flat-sawn heartwood boards at 160, 180, 200, and 220 °C for 2 h. The shrinkage in the radial and tangential directions increased with increasing temperature, whereas the anisotropy coefficients decreased from 160 to 200 °C and increased at 220 °C. At all temperatures, Qm exhibited the smallest shrinkage, and Qv showed the highest shrinkage in the radial and tangential directions. The surface roughness of the oak wood decreased with increasing temperature, showing the highest average roughness (R_a) value in Qs at all temperatures. Qm and Qac showed the smallest R_a values at 160 to 200 °C and 220 °C, respectively. Qm showed the highest change in R_a value at 160 and 200 °C, while Qv had the highest change at 180 and 220 °C. In contrast, Qal consistently exhibited the smallest change in R_a at all temperatures.

This study aimed to assess the applicability of the extract and hydrosol obtained from the yarrow (Achillea millefolium) plant, which has grown widely in places where the Mediterranean climate prevails, as an impregnation agent for wooden materials. Red pine (Pinus brutia), oriental beech (Fagus orientalis), and walnut (Juglans regia) were selected as test samples of wood. An immersion method was used for the impregnation process that was performed for different time periods, 30 min (short), 3 h, (medium), and 24 h (long). Following the impregnation process, test samples were soaked in water for 6, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h to determine some physical properties of wooden material (retention, specific gravity, shrinkage, swelling, and water uptake). The results revealed that the highest retention after yarrow extract impregnation was achieved with red pine at 10% hydrosol concentration (2.29%) in a 30 min period whereas the lowest retention was observed with walnut material at 10% hydrosol concentration (1.17%) within a 24 h period. Yarrow extract did not have a significant effect on the physical properties of impregnated wooden materials; however, it was argued that the hydrosol was effective in the dimensional stability of all test samples due to its water-repellent properties.

In a 16-month study addressing global agricultural soil heavy metal contamination, researchers explored plant-centered solutions using Jacaranda plants. The impact of different combinations of cadmium nitrate (40, 80, and 120 mg) and lead nitrate (400, 800, and 1200 mg/kg soil) were evaluated relative to Jacaranda’s remediation capabilities. Employing a randomized complete block design with 8 applications across 3 repetitions, the study assessed growth traits and chemical characteristics. Untreated plants showed higher growth values, contrasting with reduced values in plants exposed to elevated cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) levels. For instance, the treatment with 120 mg Cd/kg soil + 1200 mg Pb/kg soil led to a 28% reduction in plant height, 13% in main stem diameter, 41% in branch number, and 35% in leaf area compared to the control. Despite these challenges, Jacaranda plants demonstrated resilience with a 100% survival rate. Plant organs showed increased Cd and Pb contents, with fallen leaves having lower metal content, mitigating pollution hazards. Post-planting, soil characteristics shifted, indicating Jacaranda‘s potential for Cd phytoextraction (BCF < 1 and, TF > 1) and Pb phytostabilization (BCF and TF < 1). The study establishes Jacaranda as a promising candidate for phytoremediation due to its resilience to elevated metal levels.