Mixture Of Wood Research Articles

WOOD VINEGAR AS A SUPPORTING ACTIVE INGREDIENT AND NEEM OIL DISPERSANT IN A NANOEMULSION SYSTEM AND THEIR BIOACTIVITY

Biopesticides are eco-friendly solutions because they have low toxicity and specific targets. Neem oil (Azadirachta indica) has the potential to enhance the antifeedant properties of wood vinegar against insect pests. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate a nanoemulsion mixture of neem oil and wood vinegar viz-a-viz their characteristics and efficacy against polyphagous insects like Spodoptera litura. This formulation involved the mixture of wood vinegar and various concentrations of neem seed oil (10, 20, 30, and 40 %), alongside surfactant, and water, to form an oilin-water (o/w) nanoemulsion. Furthermore, the formulations were then studied for their physicochemical properties and bioactivity. However, the 30 % formulation showed the best characteristics at 33.78 nm droplet size, with a polydispersity index and an antifeedant activity of 0.176 and 90.4%, respectively. The best activity (98.6%) was observed in the combination of 40 % neem oil and 2 % tar.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ МУЗЕЙНОЇ РЕСТАВРАЦІЇ ПОЛИВ’ЯНИХ КЕРАМІЧНИХ ПЛИТОК ЦЕРКОВНОЇ ПІДЛОГИ ХІІ СТ. З М. БУСЬК

For the first time in the article the analysis and systematization of twin ceramic tiles of the XII century from the city of Busk is performed. Metric characteristics, technology of tile execution and its watering, installation technology are determined. A restoration program has been developed and work on the monument has been practically implemented. During the chemical-technological studies of two samples it was found that the mineral composition of lime-sand solution consists of quartz sand, slaked lime, organic additives and the mineral masicot, which corresponds to the chemical formula PbO, and lead oxide Pb2O. Thus, during the princely era to create a strong solution add protein, resulting in the formation of casein, over time in this solution could function organisms (which would feed on microcasein), so to prevent the formation of microorganisms added antiseptic - lead oxide. Analysis of brown ceramic glaze showed that this color is formed by mixing the tops of oxide forms of calcium and pork, as well as quartz sand, clay raw materials and feldspar. Yellow ceramic glaze was the result of the presence of a significant amount of lead oxide in the charge. Green ceramic glaze was formed due to the presence of a copper element in the silicate matrix.Fluorescent glow is characteristic of yellow and greenish coating. This effect is achieved due to the addition of a mixture of wood and bone ash (phosphorus). Yellow-green ceramic glaze is stronger than brown.. This was reflected in the state of preservation of the decorative surface of the tiles, and is also a consequence of the fact that the yellowish ceramic glaze was more homogeneous due to the lead content. In contrast, brown ceramic glaze was less robust due to the additional introduction of Fe2O3 oxide into the charge. The program of restoration of finishing tiles consists of several stages: photo-fixation of the monument before restoration; execution of measurement drawings and cartograms of losses; part of the ceramic tiles that were in a critically unstable state was strengthen the solution KSE-100; performing samples for chemical analysis; cleaning of the ceramic tiles from pollution by means of compresses of distilled water and a cotton swab; cleaning ceramics from crosslinked organic contaminants by steam jet method; structural strengthening of ceramics with silicon-organic solution KSE-300; injection of cracks with mineral solution to prevent further destruction of the monument; lassing additions; elaboration of a reverse arrangement method of arranging floor tiles. The process of structural strengthening lasted three times in two weeks. After total impregnation of the tiles with silicon-organic solution, they were covered with a film to allow deeper penetration of the substance and slow evaporation. This method allowed to evenly impregnate the ceramic tiles and prevent the formation of zones of film stress on the surface of the works. The main axis of the restoration program was the stabilization of the archeological site from further destruction. All found ceramic tiles had significant damage and cracks, and this is a source of destruction of the object. Therefore, during the restoration it was decided to inject the cracks with the author's mineral solution. The result of conservation measures - managed to stabilize the monument, stop its destruction and give the object an expositional appearance. Ceramic tiles of the church floor are a valuable Ukrainian cultural heritage of the XII century. Their technology of execution and installation testifies to a high level of handicraft skill. The importance of ceramic floor tiles for Ukrainian science and art has led to a frugal approach to conservation, adherence to the vector of quality stabilization of ceramic and irrigated materials. The developed concept of museum arrangement of ceramic tiles will allow to continue historical and chemical-technological research.

Characterization of Irradiated Wood Plastic Composites (WPCs) Consumer Product

This research paper emphasizes the characterization of irradiated wood plastic composites for consumer product. Throughout this research, it is precisely conducted to observe the mechanical and physical properties of WPCs and their ability to fit in the market globally. The study also carried out to promote WPCs product that came naturally from renewable sources. WPCs in this research can be defined as mixture of wood that can be replaced with pineapple fiber in a polymer matrix. Composite that used in this research mainly consists of 40% polyethylene (PE), 50 % pineapple fiber and the rest is coupling agent that enhance the WPCs mixture. After undergoes several processes such making the raw sample of WPCs mixture, the WPCs were then irradiated under required dose levels of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 kGy with the aid of the Gamma Cell Irradiator. Soon after, the irradiated WPCs then undergoes characterization process using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Diagnosis on the morphology of WPCs found that there was significant difference between the radiated and irradiated surfaces.

Mathematical modeling of the thermochemical processes of sequestration of SOx when burning the particles of the coal and wood mixture

The article presents the results of mathematical modeling of the initial stage of the combustion of wood and coal particles in conditions corresponding to the combustion chambers of boiler units of thermal power plants. A hypothesis is formulated that describes the sequestration of anthropogenic sulfur oxides (SOx) under the conditions of combustion of mixed fuels based on coal and wood as a result of the interaction of water vapors (formed during the evaporation of interporeal and adsorbed biomass moisture) with SOx with the formation of sulfuric (H2SO4) acid vapors. When these vapors of sulfuric acid H2SO4 interact with iron oxides of the mineral part of the coal. To test the formulated hypothesis, a new mathematical model has been developed for the processes of co-ignition and combustion of wood and coal particles under high-temperature heating conditions. The mathematical model of the ignition process developed by the authors differs from the known ones (published in leading international scientific periodicals on the combustion of solid fuels) by a detailed description of a complex of gas-phase and heterogeneous thermochemical reactions occurring both in the boundary layer of fuel particles and in their porous structure. The mathematical model of the combustion process of wood-coal fuel particles developed by the authors is currently the most detailed in describing the thermophysical, thermochemical and aeromechanical processes occurring both in the fuel particles and in their small vicinity. Multistage kinetic schemes for the oxidation of the main volatile components (methane ‒ CH4, carbon monoxide ‒ CO, hydrogen ‒ H2), as well as the formation of sulfur oxides by means of oxidation of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), released as a result of pyrolysis of the organic part of coal, have been adopted. Based on the results of numerical modeling, the possibility of intensifying the processes of sequestration of sulfur oxides by moistening the wood component of the fuel mixture has been established. It is shown that water vapor can act as an agent adsorbing anthropogenic sulfur oxides, transforming the latter into sulfuric acid vapor, respectively. In turn, the vapors H2SO4 and HNO- 3 can be relatively easily captured by means of condensation. It has been established that for effective SOx capture during co-combustion of coal and biomass, the moisture content of the latter must be at least 5% by weight. The research provides grounds for the conclusion about the possibility of environmentally efficient combustion of coal in the composition of wood-coal fuel composites.

Polylactic Acid Cellulose Nanocomposite Films Comprised of Wood and Tunicate CNCs Modified with Tannic Acid and Octadecylamine.

Herein, a one-pot strategy was used to prepare hydrophobic cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) surface-modified with tannic acid and octadecylamine. By this strategy, CNCs derived from wood (W-CNC) and tunicates (T-CNC) were modified in situ and incorporated into a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix using two methods, without first drying the CNCs. Films of PLA-CNC nanocomposites were prepared both by solution casting and by wet compounding in a thermo-kinetic mixer, followed by melt extrusion. Various properties of these PLA nanocomposites were evaluated herein, along with an assessment of how these properties vary with the type of CNC reinforcement. Cast films with a hybrid mixture of wood and tunicate CNCs displayed improved mechanical properties compared to either wood or tunicate CNCs, but extruded films did not show this hybrid effect. The water vapor permeability of the extruded nanocomposite films with 1% CNCs was reduced by as much as 60% compared to the PLA films. The composite films also showed enhanced biodegradation compared to neat PLA films. These results demonstrate that wet compounded PLA composites produced with wood or tunicate CNCs modified using a one-pot, water-based route have improved barrier and biodegradation properties, indicating a potential for packaging applications without having to dry the CNCs.

Effect of Supercritical Extract from Black Poplar and Basket Willow on the Quality of Natural and Probiotic Drinkable Yogurt.

Simple SummaryFermented milk products should be an important component of the human diet due to their high nutritional value and easy digestibility. In order to enhance the nutritional value of yogurts, additives in the form of plant-based raw materials are often used. Phytoextracts are a mixture of biologically active compounds that can have beneficial effects on the human body and influence both the manufacturing process and the quality of food products. The incorporation of extracts from the basket willow (Salix viminalis) into natural and probiotic yogurts reduced the fermentation time and increased their antioxidant activity. Sensory evaluation of the appearance and texture of yogurts enriched with extracts showed no significant differences compared to natural yogurts. The addition of plant extracts may enable the standardisation of yogurt quality and increase its biological activity.Yogurt is a fermented milk drink produced by Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrüeckii ssp. bulgaricus, or Lactobacillus rhamnosus, which can be enriched with polyphenolic compounds to enhance its antioxidant properties. Supercritical (scCO2/H2O) extracts obtained from the mixture of bark and wood of black poplar (Populus nigra) and basket willow (Salix viminalis) are the source of bioactive compounds. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of supercritical extracts from the P. nigra and S. viminalis on the fermentation, quality, and bioactive properties of drinkable natural and probiotic yogurts. The incorporation of scCO2/H2O extracts at a dose of 0.01% (w/v) into milk for the production of natural and probiotic yogurts increases their functional properties by enhancing the antioxidant activity without causing negative effects on the physicochemical and organoleptic properties of products. The antioxidant activity of yogurt with scCO2/H2O extract from P. nigra and S. viminalis was higher than control yogurts by 1.3–13.2% and 4.4–37.5%, respectively. The addition of a supercritical S. viminalis extract reduced the time of natural and probiotic yogurt fermentation. Natural and probiotic yogurt with scCO2/H2O extracts added was characterised by a bacterial population size of over 7 log cfu/g, and the microflora was active throughout the cold storage period. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of scCO2/H2O extracts from P. nigra or S. viminalis in both types of yogurt. A secondary structure analysis confirmed interactions between compounds of scCO2/H2O extract from P. nigra and S. viminalis extract with milk proteins. These interactions affect the compounds’ structural and functional properties by changing, e.g., their digestibility and antioxidant properties.

Impact of Sawmill Waste on SO2 Emissions from Co-firing with Lignite

ABSTRACT Results of experimental studies of joint pyrolysis processes of a fairly typical and widely used in Russia and Poland 3B grade lignite and wood (sawdust of pine wood) are provided. The results were performed in order to substantiate the previously formulated hypothesis about the mechanism of suppression of sulfur oxides in the combustion products of such mixed fuels. Conclusions on the mechanism of SOx suppression were made after comparing the analysis results of the elemental composition of the initial lignite, wood, and ash remaining after the total completion of the studied mixtures pyrolysis processes, as well as X-ray phase analysis of the ash composition. It was found that the proportion of calcium and aluminum sulfates is higher in the solid pyrolysis products of mixtures of crushed coal and wood compared to the ash of homogeneous coal. Practical significance of the performed studies is that the obtained results of the experiments allow to justify the possibility of using wood as a part of mixed fuels based on 3B grade lignite as an additive that significantly reduces the yield of sulfur oxides during combustion of such fuels in the furnaces of steam and hot water boilers. It has been experimentally established that during high-temperature decomposition of two-component fuels based on 3B lignite in a mixture with fine wood biomass, the effect of reduction of sulfur oxide concentration in gaseous pyrolysis products of such mixtures is obtained due to the formation of calcium and aluminum sulfates in the ash of mixed fuels as a result of chemical reactions between gaseous and solid pyrolysis products of lignite and wood with participation of water vapor.

PENGARUH MEDIA CARBUZING ANTARA ARANG TEMPURUNG KELAPA DAN ARANG KAYU BAKAU TERHADAP NILAI KEKERASAN BAJA KARBON RENDAH

The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of carburizing media variation to the microstructure and hardness of low carbon steel in pack carburizing process. The pack carburizing process is after applied to get hardness in the surface and ductility in the middle of metal.This research, carburizing media used is coconut shell charcoal, mangrove wood charcoal with a percentage weight of each - each 900g and 50:50 coconut shell charcoal and mangrove wood charcoal. In this study carburizing process carried out at a temperature of 950oC with heating time of 180 minutes, 60 minute detention for the three processes Carburizing, The results of this research indicate that the media coconut shell charcoal is more effective as compared carburizing media mangrove wood charcoal and a 50:50 mixture of coconut shell charcoal and wood bakau.campurang 50:50 coconut shell charcoal and mangrove wood charcoal violence occurs on the outside of 55 HRC With percentage increase of 313.5% at the beginning and harder than the carburizing Media coconut shell charcoal and wood inside the mangrove but resilient.

Kinetic Analysis for the Catalytic Pyrolysis of Wood Plastic Composite Over Al-MCM-41.

This study examined the catalytic effects of Al-MCM-41 on the pyrolysis of wood plastic composite via the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and model-free kinetic analysis. Al-MCM-41 containing nanopores, with a high BET surface area (633 m²/g) and acidity (SiO₂/Al₂O₃:25), reduced the decomposition temperature of wood and plastic mixtures (PE and PP) in a wood-plastic composite. The average activation energy for the catalytic pyrolysis of wood plastic composite, which was calculated via a model-free kinetic analysis method (Ozawa) of TGA, was also lower at all conversions than those of non-catalytic pyrolysis. This suggests that the pores of Al-MCM-41 and its high cracking efficiency allow the effective diffusion of wood plastic composite components.

Prototypes of innovative and creative products from laboratory of forest products technology

Three types of prototypes of innovative and creative products have been made in Laboratory of Forest Products Technology, Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara. According to the origin of raw material, the products are consisted of recycle paper, natural dye, and plastics waste. Production methods were as follows: recycle paper was produced using used paper with addition thermoplastic adhesive. Natural dyes derived from plants and they were applied mainly into fabrics using eco-print technique. Plastics waste originated from beverages bottles and packaging were mixed with wood and converted into eco-friendly souvenir. Results of this study: recycle paper can be used as book cover, campaign media, eco-print media and egg tray. Natural dyes in conjunction with eco-printing technique have been patterned not only on fabrics but also onto paper, wood, leather and ceramics become décor paper, stationary, women and seminar needs and mugs, respectively. Mixture of plastics waste and wood become eco-friendly souvenirs in various composition and shape. Limited and simply testing were carried out and discussed. Advance examination is still needed to assess the quality of the products. Determination of packaging, pricing and market sharing of these various innovative and creative products should be also studied further.

EFFECT OF VARIOUS TYPES OF GROWING MEDIA AND APPLICATION OF LIQUID ORGANIC FERTILIZER ON THE GROWTH OF DENDROBIUM ORCHIDS

This research was a potted experiment carried out in a special orchid house (arnet) at the Padang Galleria Padangsambian Kelod from September to November 2019, the aim was to determine the effect of plant media and the provision of liquid organic fertilizers on the growth of dendrobium orchids. The factorial CRD pattern was the design used in this study, which consists of two factors, first, the use of growing media of wood charcoal (K), fern stems (P), and a mixture of fern stems with wood charcoal (M) and, second, the provision of liquid organic fertilizer, namely, Dewa (D), DI Grow (I), and GDM (G). The results showed that the interaction between the use of planting media and the application of liquid organic fertilizer had no significant effect on all plant growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, and number of tillers. However, the plant medium as a single treatment had a significant effect on the number of orchid tillers, fern stems (P) as the plant medium gave the highest number of tillers, namely: 2.22 stems or 32.93% more than the growing media for wood charcoal (K) and a mixture of charcoal, wood and fern stems (M) with 1.67 tillers each

Natural gas-supported gasification of polyethylene and wood mixtures in a porous medium reactor

Valorisation of plastic waste or forest-agroindustrial residues poses an opportunity to reduce landfilling and to obtain value-added products simultaneously. Through thermal partial oxidation, hydrocarbon fuels can be gasified and converted into syngas. Particularly, hybrid porous media reactors allow gasifying low-grade fuels in an efficient eco-friendly way. In this work, the natural gas-supported gasification of polyethylene and wood mixtures in a porous bed reactor is studied. The reactor is designed and built to operate in semi-continuous mode. The temperature evolution, the reaction wave propagation rate, and the resulting concentration of the main gas species (H2, CO, CH4, CO2, NOx, and UHC) were measured for different polyethylene and wood mixtures, keeping an optimum natural gas-to-air ratio of 0.8. The influence of the gasification conditions on the reaction pathways and the process development is analysed by sampling the system in two representative moments. The maximum syngas production was 23.86 vol%, which was obtained when loading only 100% polyethylene, while the maximum energy return on investment of 49% was registered for the highest biomass fraction in mixture. The semi-continuous operation design was validated based on the thermal behaviour and the combustion wave displacement. This experimental work shows promising results in the search for solutions to gasify solid wastes in continuous mode.

Processos de formação e processos antrópicos no abrigo de Itapeva/SP

O estudo da micromorfologia do solo é uma ferramenta útil para detectar materiais arqueológicos que os arqueólogos não conseguem avistar nas escavações. O objetivo deste artigo é revelar vestígios de ocupação humana a partir de uma análise micromorfológica. Os resultados são derivados da produção de seções delgadas que descrevem materiais de duas áreas diferentes do sitio, denominadas unidades de escavação D18 e G6, referentes às áreas norte e sul, e apontam para a existência de um solo antropogênico com formação de fogueiras. Conclui-se que o sedimento formado é uma mistura de areia, cinza, madeira e argila, que foi depositado em longos períodos e é derivado da ocupação humana e da deposição natural.

Antioxidant Activity and Chemical Characteristics of Supercritical CO2 and Water Extracts from Willow and Poplar.

Renewable feedstock from perennial industrial crops, including those cultivated on marginal land in a short-rotation coppice system, could be an important contribution to the bioeconomy. The majority of data available on the topic are limited to the production of bioenergy from this type of biomass. According to the concept of bioeconomy, biomass-based bioproducts have priority over energy production. This paper characterizes the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of extracts from bark (b), wood (w) or a mixture of bark and wood (b + w) from Salix purpurea, Salix viminalis and Populus nigra obtained using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2), scCO2 and water (1%, w/w) or only water. Generally, a high concentration of polyphenols was obtained after extraction with scCO2 and water, while the lowest concentration was found in extracts obtained with scCO2. The highest concentration of polyphenols (p < 0.05) was obtained in an extract from P. nigra (b) (502.62 ± 9.86 mg GAE/g dry matter (d.m.)) after extraction with scCO2 and water, whereas the lowest polyphenol concentration was observed in an scCO2 extract from S. purpurea (b) (6.02 ± 0.13 mg GAE/g d.m.). The flavonoids were effectively separated by extraction with scCO2 (0.88–18.37 mg QE/g d.m.). A positive linear relationship between the antioxidant activity determined by DPPH and ABTS assays and the concentration of polyphenols was demonstrated, R2 = 0.8377 and R2 = 0.9568, respectively. It is most probable that the concentration of flavonoids, rather than the concentration of polyphenols, determines the chelating activity of Fe2+. The Fe2+-chelating activity of scCO2 extracts ranged from 75.11% (EC50 = 5.41 mg/cm3, S. purpurea, b + w) to 99.43% (EC50 = 0.85 mg/cm3, P. nigra, b + w). The lowest chelating activity was demonstrated by the extracts obtained with scCO2 and water (maximum 26.36%, S. purpurea, b + w). In extracts obtained with scCO2 and water, p-hydroxybenzoic acid (210–428 µg/g), p-coumaric acid (56–281 µg/g), saligenin (142–300 µg/g) and salicortin (16–164 µg/g) were the dominant polyphenols. All of these chemical compounds occurred mainly in the free form. The S. purpurea, S. viminalis and P. nigra biomass proved to be an attractive source of biologically active compounds for various possible applications in food, drugs or cosmetics. These compounds could be extracted using an environmentally friendly method with scCO2 and water as a co-solvent.

The First Evidence of the Insecticidal Potential of Plant Powders from Invasive Alien Plants against Rice Weevil under Laboratory Conditions

In a laboratory experiment, we studied the insecticidal effects of invasive alien plants on the rice weevil. The research was carried out in two parts. In the first part, we studied the insecticidal properties of seven different plant species, namely, Bohemian knotweed (Fallopia × bohemica), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), false indigo-bush (Amorpha fruticosa), tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), and giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea). Mixtures of powders and wheat were prepared in two different concentrations, namely, 2.5 w% and 1.25 w%. The experiment was performed at temperatures 20 °C and 25 °C and at two humidity levels, 55% R.h. and 75% R.h. Very low mortality (below 8%) was found when using combinations with the higher relative humidity. No significant differences were observed between the effects of these concentrations. In the second part of the experiment, Norway spruce wood ash and diatomaceous earth (product SilicoSec®) were added to the powder obtained by milling leaves of four different invasive plant species (Canada goldenrod, staghorn sumac, tree of heaven, false indigo). In the independent application, wheat was added to the powder at a concentration 2.5 w%. In the treatments that involved mixtures of powder and wood ash/diatomaceous earth, we applied 1.25 w% plant powder and 1.25 w% wood ash or 1.25 w% plant powder and 450 ppm of a SilicoSec® preparation. The positive control was carried out as two separate treatments with 2.5 w% wood ash of Norway spruce and 900 ppm of the SilicoSec® product, while untreated wheat represented the negative control. The experiment was performed at two temperatures (20 °C and 25 °C) and two R.h. values (55 and 75% R.h.). The mortality of beetles was recorded on the 7th, 14th, and 21st day after the start of the experiment. Higher mortality rates of rice weevil adults were found at the higher relative humidity, and an important factor of mortality was also the day of exposure, as a higher mortality was found when the exposure of individuals to the tested substances was for a longer time period. After 21 days at 25 °C and 55% R.h., the combinations in which the lower concentration of Norway spruce wood ash was added to the powder of invasive alien plants achieved more than 90% mortality of beetles. By adding the plant powder of invasive alien plants to wood ash, we achieved a greater insecticidal efficacy of invasive plants and lower concentrations of wood ash. Nevertheless, the results of our research do not indicate any great usefulness of the plant powder of invasive plants in suppressing the rice weevil. Additional studies should primarily focus on the insecticidal efficacy of powder from the genus Solidago, which in our study, displayed the greatest insecticidal potential among the tested invasive plants.

The Buffer Effect of Different Wood Species and the Influence of Oak on Panel Composites Binders.

The buffer action of certain wood species can intensely affect the curing and hardening of some thermosetting wood adhesives. The present article presents a quantification of such buffering effects, determined under controlled conditions, in various wood species. The buffer capacity of oak has been found to be rather extreme and is likely to affect quite heavily the ability of urea-formaldehyde (UF) and melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) wood panel adhesives in industrial operations. A variation of the buffer capacity of furnishes containing between 0% and 30% oak chips has been investigated. This was correlated with the internal bond (IB) strength of MUF bonded laboratory particleboards. The wood mixture buffering capacity increases with the oak content, while the panel IB strength decreases.

Variations in δ13C values of levoglucosan from low-temperature burning of lignite and biomass

Levoglucosan, an anhydrosaccharide, is commonly used as an organic tracer for biomass burning, but has also been identified from coal smoke particulate matter (PM) including lignites. Here we showed that stable carbon isotope analysis specifically of levoglucosan may be one possible way to determine the relative contributions from coal combustion versus biomass burning sources. PM samples were collected from low-temperature burning/smoldering of Miocene lignites from Poland and basket willow (Salix viminalis L.) representative of biomass. The calculated levoglucosan δ13C values of xylites varied from −23.6 to −21.6‰, while for detritic coal samples they ranged from −24.2 to −23.1‰, with means of −22.7 and −23.7‰, respectively. The calculated levoglucosan δ13C value of basket willow wood was −27.1‰. Values of willow wood mixtures with xylite varied from −25.8 to −23.4‰ (with an increasing proportion of xylite), while values of mixtures of willow and detritic coal ranged from −26.9 to −24.6‰ (with an increasing proportion of detritic coal). The δ13C values for the mixtures changed proportionally to the contents of individual components with R2 = 0.88 and 0.89 for willow with xylite and detritic coal, respectively. The hopanoid distributions characteristic for low-temperature lignite/peat burning, with a predominance of 22R-α,β-homohopane, ββ-hopanes and hopenes, as well as low or very low values of the homohopane index, were observed in smoke PM from most lignite samples and absent in the basket willow sample. Thus, the relatively high content of hopanes (with the occurrence of 22R-α,β-homohopane, ββ-hopanes and hopenes) in atmospheric PM samples can be treated as additional tracers of lignite combustion.

Oxidative stress resulting from exposure to wood smoke among native women living at high altitude – 3,850 m a.s.l.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the blood levels of two oxidative stress biomarkers among native women exposed to wood smoke living at high altitude (3,850 m a.s.l.). Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) percentage in venous blood, which is also a cellular hypoxia biomarker, were analyzed.Materials and methods: A descriptive case-series study conducted in 74 women between 14 and 55 years of age exposed to wood smoke and coming from the rural area of the Copacabana Municipality (La Paz, Bolivia) at 3,850 m a.s.l. Screening was carried out through a survey and a complete physical examination. MDA levels and COHb percentage in venous blood were determined, and the demographic variables and transcutaneous oxygen saturation were measured. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed and measures of central tendency were calculated using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 18.Results: Seventy-four (74) women between 14 and 55 years of age were examined. This examination resulted in a mean level of 5.5 μmol/L ± 2 MDA and a median percentage of 1 % COHb (p25 –p75: 0.7 - 1.6). Women who used to burn a mixture of eucalyptus and cow or sheep dung had a higher mean level of MDA and a median percentage of 2.5 % COHb.Conclusions: Indoor air pollution (CAI) due to wood smoke increases the oxidative stress among this native population living at high altitude. This is demonstrated by the increased levels of MDA, and the difference against the biomarker levels of healthy native populations living at high altitude and at sea level. In addition, MDA levels and COHb percentages were higher among women who used to burn a mixture of wood and cow or sheep dung due to the higher harmful effects of such mixture.

Consideration about the Toyoda Power Loom

Toyoda Power Loom was Japan’s first power loom invented Sakichi TOYODA in 1896. The exhibition machine of our museum was produced in 1899 and is certified as Machinery Heritage No. 47. Aichi Prefecture has also held an event with the date of patent acquisition for this loom August 1st designated as “Aichi’s Invention Day”, and rents and displays this power loom. In a power loom, the main moving parts such as shafts and gears are made of iron, and the frame is made of wood, so used mixture of wood and iron. Then problems such as distortion of the frame occur when it is moved. Therefore, consider making a duplicate for rental, (1) Re-evaluation of the mechanism, (2) Survey for reproduction, (3) Copy production, so it is reported.

Highly sensitive reflection based colorimetric gas sensor to detect CO in realistic fire scenarios

For early fire detection, the measurement of low and small rising concentrations of the fire typical gas carbon monoxide (CO) is essential. The approach presented herein integrates a highly sensitive colorimetric material into a low cost gas sensor system. The gas sensitive color dye is hosted by silica nanoparticle based supraparticles and then processed to a so-called gas sensor stripe. Changes in the CO concentration enable a change of the sensor stripes color, which is easily detectable as a change of the light that is reflected by the stripe. A diffusion chamber protects the gas sensitive film against harmful environmental influences and interfering light. The capability of the gas sensor system is demonstrated in lab as well as real fire tests. In case of the latter, standardized real fire tests are conducted, as well as realistic mixtures of plastics and wood are smoldered. The developed sensors react in real time to the slowly rising CO concentration during the test fires. Even small amounts of CO (<20 ppm) are reliably detectable.