Volume 21 Issue 4

Aiming at the problems of strong subjectivity in Taishan wood-based cultural and creative design, low added value of bio-based materials, and superficial cultural translation, this paper proposes a systematic design framework coupling Grounded Theory with the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP). A three-dimensional evaluation system covering culture, function, and emotion is constructed, based on which three Taishan wood-based cultural and creative products are developed. A multi-criteria evaluation framework is established using a Likert-type five-point scale for efficacy verification. The results indicate that this quantitative path mitigates wood anisotropy and accurately restores complex contours. It enhances the added value of wood-based materials while preserving high recognizability of authentic cultural imagery. This method facilitates the shift of cultural and creative development from empirical judgment to data-driven decision-making, and provides solid theoretical support and a universal research direction for the high-value sustainable development of mountain-type cultural heritage.

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) is a medicinal and culinary plant valued for its rich phytochemical composition and diverse biological activities. This study investigated the phytochemical profile and in vitro biological activities of an ethanolic fenugreek seed extract using chromatographic and biological assays. GC–MS analysis tentatively identified nineteen volatile constituents, with 2-methyl-2-butenal (36.65%) and p-cymene (17.96%) as the major compounds, while HPLC revealed a phenolic-rich extract. The extract exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant activity, reaching 85.75 ± 1.73% and 71.79 ± 1.95% scavenging in the DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively, at 1000 µg/mL. MTT evaluation demonstrated preferential cytotoxicity toward HepG2 and Caco-2 cancer cells, with IC₅₀ values of 124.65 and 164.39 µg/mL, respectively, compared with 480.8 µg/mL for normal WI-38 cells. The extract also showed moderate pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 116.74 µg/mL) compared with orlistat (IC₅₀ = 17.83 µg/mL) and dose-dependently inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the extract’s in vitro antioxidant activity, preferential cytotoxicity toward the tested cancer cell lines, and inhibitory effects on pancreatic lipase and carbohydrate-digesting enzymes.

Static and modal performances of kenaf fiber reinforced epoxy composites and their hybrid laminates were numerically evaluated for first-person view (FPV) drones. Seven laminate configurations were investigated, including full kenaf, carbon, and glass fiber composites, as well as kenaf–carbon and kenaf–glass hybrid systems with varying ply placements. Each ply contained a fiber weight fraction of ~30 wt.%. Finite element-based static structural and modal analyses were performed. Static analysis under realistic hover-loading conditions showed that the fully kenaf/epoxy frame exhibited a maximum von Mises stress of 1.20 MPa and a maximum displacement of 0.00352 mm, remaining well within safe structural limits while achieving the lowest mass (570 g). The carbon-skinned kenaf hybrid (C/K/K/C) reduced maximum stress and displacement by approximately 63% and 81%, respectively, compared to the full kenaf laminate, while maintaining a ~5% lower mass than the full carbon frame. Modal analysis revealed that the fundamental natural frequency increased from 11.9 Hz for the kenaf laminate to 13.6 Hz for the carbon–kenaf hybrid, approaching the carbon/epoxy frame value of 15.2 Hz. All kenaf-based and hybrid configurations exhibited natural frequencies well above dominant motor excitation ranges, indicating low resonance risk during FPV operation.

The applicability of a torrefied wood flour/cationic polyacrylamide (TWF/C-PAM) treatment agent for pilot-scale wastewater treatment and the reutilization potential of the generated sewage sludge as an agricultural soil amendment were evaluated. The TWF/C-PAM treatment agent showed high removal efficiencies for turbidity 91.8%, suspended solids 96.4%, total phosphorus 90.0%, chemical oxygen demand 67.3%, and biochemical oxygen demand 61.2%. The treatment performance was comparable to that of conventional 10% polyaluminum chloride, although relatively low total nitrogen removal efficiency 10.3% was observed. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was cultivated in sewage sludge-amended soil presented with sludge addition ratios of 1%, 5%, 10%, and 30%. Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents increased up to the 5% treatment level, indicating the potential applicability of sewage sludge as an agricultural soil amendment. These findings demonstrate the potential of the TWF/C-PAM treatment process for simultaneous wastewater treatment and sewage sludge reutilization.

The environmental impact of long-lasting conventional plastics and related microplastic pollution have created an urgent need for sustainable packaging alternatives. Multifunctional green packaging films were developed by incorporating calcium lignosulfonate (CaLS) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) essential oil emulsion (SAEO) into a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) matrix. Films were prepared by the aqueous solution casting method at different SAEO concentrations. The chemical profile of the essential oil was determined by GC-MS analysis, confirming eugenol as the major component (86.9%). The structural, thermal, mechanical, color, and selected functional properties of the films were characterized. CaLS incorporation increased tensile strength by approximately 9% compared to neat HPMC. The addition of SAEO reduced tensile strength while enhancing flexibility. CaLS remarkably enhanced UV-blocking performance of HPMC from 55% to 98%, which was slightly decreased to 94% following SAEO addition. Antibacterial activity increased with essential oil concentration, particularly the film containing 6 wt.%. SAEO achieving approximately 99% reduction against Escherichia coli and 70% against Staphylococcus aureus. The findings suggest that the combined use of cellulose and lignin derivatives with clove essential oil offers an integrated approach for the development of multifunctional food packaging materials, as well as providing a field of application for non-wood forest products.

Additive manufacturing (AM) using wood-based materials offers new bioeconomic possibilities for sustainable product design and waste valorization. This study examined the influence of wood particle size and shape on the properties of pastes processed by Liquid Deposition Modeling (LDM). Softwood sawdust separated into nine particle size ranges and ground wood powder were analyzed. The materials were mixed with water and methylcellulose as a natural binder, printed into test specimens, and evaluated for shrinkage, density, and flexural strength. Finer particles led to higher densities (up to 0.38 g/cm³), flexural strengths (up to 4.8 MPa), and elastic moduli (up to 436 MPa), while larger particles limited the filler content and reduced mechanical performance. Grinding decreased particle slenderness and promotes greater material density, thereby improving mechanical strength. These findings demonstrate that particle characteristics strongly influence paste printability and mechanical performance, providing a basis for the further development of resource-efficient wood-based materials for sustainable manufacturing.

This study assessed the suitability of four Miscanthus cultivars as alternative raw materials for pulp and paper production. A field evaluation revealed that cultivars 1 and 6 achieved the highest biomass yield ratios, at 2.4 and 2.0, compared to Miscanthus x giganteus. Chemical characterization identified cultivar 6 as favorable for pulping, exhibiting low extractives (1.35%), Klason lignin (14.5%) and moderate ash contents (1.37%). Pulp yields of up to 61.5% were achieved by soda pulping at 160 °C for 90 min and the addition of 15% NaOH by weight of the raw material. Cultivar 23 had the lowest residual lignin content at 1.1%. After refining to 500 PFI revolutions, sheets (30 gsm basis weight) produced from cultivar 6 achieved a tensile index of 43.9 N·m/g. The same tensile index as eucalyptus (44.0 N·m/g) was exhibited after 3000 rotations in the PFI mill. Overall, the results demonstrated that the selected Miscanthus cultivars, especially cultivar 6, is a promising source of fiber, particularly for products that require high absorbency and strength.

Using polylactic acid (PLA) and nanocellulose (NFC) as raw materials, and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) as the modifier, the PLA/NFC-GMA composite was prepared by solution blending. The addition of GMA effectively improved the dispersion of NFC in PLA, with NFC being grafted onto the PLA molecular chain through a reaction with GMA. The tensile strength of PLA/NFC-GMA composites increased with NFC loading, while GMA improved interfacial compatibility and dispersion, leading to a non-monotonic strength trend and reduced elongation at break. The PLA/NFC-GMA composite with 0.7 wt.% NFC and 6.0 wt.% GMA had the best mechanical properties, with the tensile strength of 27.7 MPa and the elongation at break of 78.4%. The PLA/NFC-GMA composite exhibited excellent UV shielding. Its transmittance was nearly zero below 280 nm and it maintained high transparency within the wavelength range of 400 to 800 nm, with a transmittance exceeding 85%. The transparency of the composite reached its maximum when the NFC and GMA loadings were 0.7 and 1.5 wt.% relative to PLA, respectively. GMA significantly enhanced the thermal stability of PLA/NFC-GMA composites. The thermal stabilization effect of GMA became saturated at ~3.0 wt.%, beyond which additional GMA primarily promoted more complete volatilization without further improving thermal resistance.

The nirai is a four-string hybrid instrument that combines characteristics of the Okinawan sanshin with those of a standard guitar, developed by the brand K. Yairi. Designed for ease of performance, the instrument employs a default open-fifth tuning in the key of G (G2–D3–G3–D4, from the fourth to the first string). Owing to its non-standard tuning and simplified design, conventional Western notation systems-such as standard guitar tablature-are less commonly applied. As a result, performers typically rely on aural learning or adapt musical materials to suit the instrument’s tuning, which yields a diatonic rather than a fully chromatic scale. Knowledge is generated through the act of composing, arranging, and performing original musical works as research artefacts. The research methods include the development of customized notation scores specific to nirai, as well as duet performances with selected local traditional instruments. The findings demonstrate that the timbral and modal characteristics of the Nirai integrate effectively with indigenous Bornean instruments, the sape, revealing its potential as a mediating tool for intercultural musical dialogue. This study contributes practice-led insights into alternative tuning systems, compositional strategies, and notation approaches, reinforcing the value of creative practice as a mode of musical knowledge production.

Acoustics plays a significant role in the classification of a wide range of products in wood science and technology, from standing trees to structural elements. The study of wood acoustics involves the use of mechanical waves that are sensitive to several factors, including sample dimensions, intrinsic characteristics of the wood species, and the presence of defects. This study aimed to estimate the modulus of elasticity in juvenile wood of Tectona grandis using three different non-destructive wave-based evaluation methods: ultrasound, impulse vibration, and stress waves, with the goal of identifying the most suitable technique for predicting this mechanical property. Additionally, the study evaluated the impact of knots on wave propagation velocity and, consequently, on the estimation of the modulus of elasticity. Specimens measuring 20 × 20 × 300 mm (width, thickness, and length, respectively) were used, totaling 42 samples divided into two groups: with knots and without knots. The results indicated that all evaluated methods were effective and exhibited strong correlations with the estimated modulus of elasticity. Furthermore, the presence of knots in young, fast-growing teak wood did not significantly influence wave propagation.