Pine Research Articles

Pyrolysis and catalytic upgrading of pine wood sawdust over modified biochar catalyst in a tandem microreactor

A series of novel catalysts were prepared by modifying biochar (BC) with different metal loading (Fe, Zn) and thermal activation in different atmospheres (CO2, H2O). The catalysts were further used to upgrade the pyrolysis vapor from pine wood sawdust, aiming to produce high-quality bio-oil. The modified biochar catalyst exhibited strong deoxygenation ability to acids and ketones in bio-oil and effectively converted lignin-derived compounds into aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols. Subsequently, the catalyst (BC-Fe-CO2) demonstrating the highest yields of phenols and aromatics was selected for condition optimization. Different catalytic temperatures and biomass-to-catalyst ratios were compared to determine the optimal conditions for producing high-quality bio-oil. Phenolics and aromatic hydrocarbons content in the bio-oil reached 70 % at the optimal condition and the selectivity of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aromatic hydrocarbons reached 77 %. The properties of the biochar catalysts were characterized using BET, SEM, XRD, and XPS. The superior performance of the modified BC catalysts not only relied on its enhanced surface area and porous structure but also due to active Fe sites. The detail reaction pathways of the bio-oil catalytic upgrading were also proposed. These findings underscore the potential of modified biochar in pyrolysis and catalytic upgrading for bio-oil with improved quality.

Weathering of Wood Modified with Acetic Anhydride—Physical, Chemical, and Aesthetical Evaluation

The goal of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the natural weathering performance of three wood species representing hardwood and softwood modified with the acetylation process. Alder (Alnus glutinosa L.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), and radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) were characterised by various techniques to determine the aesthetical, chemical, and physical changes. The overall aesthetic performance of the investigated species was similar, with all showing a change in appearance after 9 months of exposure. However, the multi-sensor approach used for characterisation revealed differences in weathering behaviour related to surface erosion, wettability, and changes in chemical composition between the investigated species. An increase in the surface roughness observed for both hardwoods was associated with the erosion of the wood surface and the leaching of photodegraded chemical components. On the contrary, values of Sa remained relatively constant for acetylated radiata pine. Acetylated pine wood exhibited lower susceptibility to bleaching at the initial stage of the weathering process (3 months) and represented a more constant CIE L* compared to the investigated hardwood species. The contact angle measured with water gradually decreased in the case of acetylated radiata pine for up to six months, then it plateaued with a slight oscillation around 15°. For both hardwood species, the big drop was observed already after three months, followed by rather similar values. The PCA of IR spectra highlighted different mechanisms in the weathering of acetylated softwood and hardwood. The acetylated hardwood samples showed higher thermal stability than acetylated radiata pine. Experimental findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the long-term performance of acetylated wood, which directly influences its practical applications by enhancing design strategies, maintenance planning, product development, market acceptance, and overall sustainability. Performed tests have demonstrated the potential of underutilised hardwood species, enhanced through the acetylation process, to serve as alternative cladding materials to commonly used acetylated radiata pine.

Continuum of global to local dispersal frameworks highlights the increasing threat of pine wilt disease in China

The global introduction of human-mediated trade and local dispersal through transport or natural pathways are major processes and contributors to biological invasion. To effectively prevent and manage biological invasion, global introduction pathways and local dispersal processes of biological invasions need to be considered as a continuum of global to local dispersal (CGLD). However, there has been no unified CGLD framework developed that simultaneously considers global introduction pathway dynamics and multiple local dispersal processes with human-mediated and natural pathways to guide the development of effective management priority strategies for pine wilt disease. In this study, we constructed a CGLD framework to evaluate the global introduction and local dispersal risks of pine wilt disease. This is an invasive forest pathogen caused by the pine wood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which causes severe harm to forestry ecosystems worldwide. The global introduction network dynamics has indicated that the introduction pressure of PWN continually increased during 2003–2016. The highest-risk source country and entry port were the United States and Jiangsu ports, respectively. The local dispersal modes of PWN were mainly presented a random structure with lots of “in-filling” dispersal events during 2010–2021. The PWN populations in China have gradually dispersed to non-analogous climatic regions compared to those in the native and other invasive ranges. The dispersal risk areas of PWN primarily cover southwestern, eastern, central, and northeastern China. Such integration can facilitate more accurate prediction of global introduction and local dispersal pathway risk of biological invasion and provide vital guidance for designing management priority strategies to prevent invasion.

Insecticide applications with trunk injection method for reducing the damage level of Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heidemann, 1910) in stone pine stands

Leptoglossus occidentalis was first detected in Türkiye in 2009. The pest's damage to stone pine trees and its effects on seeds cause economic losses. In recent years, observations and predictions show that there is a significant threat not only to stone pine but also to other coniferous forests throughout country. In this study, pesticides were applied by trunk injection method in the experiment areas taken in stone pine stands of Bergama - Kozak region. In the systemic application carried out in 2020 and 2021, the Arborjet system was used and the insecticide with the active ingredient Azadirachtin (0.3 g/Lt) was used as an organic insecticide, as well as pesticide with the active ingredient Imidacloprid (200 g/Lt). In 2020, the highest seed filling rate was achieved after systemic Imidacloprid insecticide application with the Arborjet system. As a result of this application, the full seed rate reached 70.7% in Asagicuma, while this rate was 63.6% in the Karaveliler. The seed occupancy rate obtained from control trees in the Asagicuma was 37.96% and this rate reached 70.7% after systemic Imidacloprid application in the same field. Similarly, in the studies carried out in Asagicuma and Yukaribey experiment sites in 2021, only 35% of the seeds were filled in the cones taken from control trees, while the occupancy rate in the cones without insecticide application in the Yukaribey was determined to be 32.76%. In both trial sites, the highest seed fill rate was achieved after systemic Imidacloprid insecticide application with the Arborjet system. As a result of this application, the filled seed rate reached 67.89% in the Asagicuma and 69.86% in Yukaribey experiment sites.

Study of The Comfort of Glamping Tourism Supporting Facilities in The Ciwidey Tourism Area, Bandung Regency, West Java

Camping is one of the activities that interact directly with nature; besides that, camping can build intimacy with the people around us. Camping with comfortable facilities, commonly called Glamour Camping or abbreviated by the term Glamping, is a luxury camping that is a favourite of the world community, including Indonesia. Bandung Regency, especially Ciwidey, has a lot of natural potentials, one of which is Camping Site pine trees, lakes, tea and coffee plantations. Various activities that can be done in the Ciwidey Tourism Area include camping, outbound, water sports, and sightseeing. However, there are not many studies that specifically explore the comfort aspects of tourist support facilities, especially for the Glamping Tourism typology. The purpose of this study is to determine and identify the comfort aspects of Glamping Tourism supporting facilities in the Ciwidey Tourism Area, Bandung Regency, West Java. The method used in this research is a descriptive method with a qualitative approach involving 2 (two) variables, namely the actual condition of tourism and comfort & cleanliness. Data collection techniques were carried out through field observation, documentation studies, and questionnaires. The data collected was then analyzed descriptively and also used SWOT analysis with supporting data from the results of the tourist questionnaire. The results of the analysis of this study concluded that - Tourist responses to glamping tourism facilities in terms of physical conditions show that the available facilities are quite good, but there is still a need for a development strategy for glamping tourism facilities in the wider tourist area by maintaining facilities and maintaining glamping tourism facilities in terms of quality and quantity, collaborating with many parties, following the development of tourism trends.

Highly efficient degradation of tetracycline in groundwater by nanoscale zero-valent iron-copper bimetallic biochar: active [H] attack and direct electron transfer mechanism.

Development of carbon materials with high activity was important for rapid degradation of emerging pollutants. In this paper, a novel nanoscale zero-valent iron-copper bimetallic biochar (nZVIC-BC) was synthesized by carbothermal reduction of waste pine wood and copper-iron layered double hydroxides (LDHs). Characterization and analysis of its structural, elemental, crystalline, and compositional aspects using XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and TEM confirmed the successful preparation of nZVIC-BC and the high dispersion of Fe-Cu nanoparticles in an ordered carbon matrix. The experimental results showed that the catalytic activity of nZVIC-BC (Kobs of 0.0219 min-1) in the degradation of tetracycline (TC) in anoxic water environment was much higher than that of Fe-BC and Cu-BC; the effective degradation rate reached 85%. It was worth noting that the negative effects of Ca2+, Mg2+, and H2PO4- on TC degradation at ionic strengths greater than 15 mg/L were due to competition for active sites. Good stability and reusability were demonstrated in five consecutive cycle tests for low leaching of iron and copper. Combined with free radical quenching experiments and XPS analyses, the degradation of TC under air conditions was only 62%, with hydroxyl radicals (·OH) playing a dominant role. The synergistic interaction between Fe2+/Fe3+ and Cu0/Cu+/Cu2+ under nitrogen atmosphere enhances the redox cycling process; π-π adsorption, electron transfer processes, and active [H] were crucial for the degradation of TC; and possible degradation pathways of TC were deduced by LC-MS, which identified seven major aromatic degradation by-products. This study will provide new ideas and materials for the treatment of TC.

Identification of Attractants from Three Host Plants and How to Improve Attractiveness of Plant Volatiles for Monochamus saltuarius.

As a new vector insect of pine wood nematodes in China, the Monochamus saltuarius (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) vectors pine wilt nematodes into healthy pine trees through feeding and oviposition, resulting in huge economic losses to forestry. A promising control strategy is to develop safe and efficient attractants. This study aims to screen for the key active volatiles of Pinus koraiensis (Pinales: Pinaceae), Pinus tabuliformis (Pinales: Pinaceae), and Picea asperata (Pinales: Pinaceae) that can attract M. saltuarius, and to study the synergistic attraction of the main attractant plant volatiles with ethanol and insect aggregation pheromones. The preference of M. saltuarius for three hosts is P. koraiensis > P. tabuliformis > Picea asperata. We detected 18 organic volatiles from three host plants. Through EAG assays and indoor Y-tube behavioral experiments, 3-carene, (-)-camphor, β-pinene, α-phellandrene, terpinolene, α-pinene, D-limonene, and myrcene were screened to have attractive effects on M. saltuarius. We found that 3-carene, β-pinene, and α-pinene are the most attractive kairomones in field experiments, which may play a crucial role in the host localization of M. saltuarius. Ethanol has a synergistic effect on the attractant activity of 3-carene and β-pinene, and the synergistic effect on β-pinene is the best. The mixture of ethanol, 2-undecyloxy-1-ethanol, and ipsdienol can significantly enhance the attraction effect of β-pinene on M. saltuarius. These new findings provide a theoretical basis for the development of attractants for adult M. saltuarius and contribute to the green control of M. saltuarius.

Construction of Multisensory Landscape and Integration of Soundscape, Smellscape and Lightscape in Traditional Chinese Gardens

This paper proposes the concept of multisensory landscape construction, pointing out that people’s perception and appreciation of a landscape is a process of overall impression and judgment formed with a combination of visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, and even thermal and humid sense. Examples can be found in many famous traditional Chinese gardens. Around the West Lake area, there are famous soundscape scenic spots, e.g., Liu Lang Wen Ying (Orioles Singing in the Willows), Nan Ping Evening Bell (Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill), Zhejiang Qiu Tao (Autumn Wave of Zhejiang), and Jiu Li Song Tao (Wave of Pine Trees Lasts Nine Miles) . There are also some famous lightscape scenic spots, e.g., San Tan Ying Yue (Moon and Candlelight Mirrored in the Lake) and Ping Hu Qiu Yue (Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn) . In terms of smellscape, in addition to the famous scenic spot Qu Yuan Feng He (Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer), the West Lake area is also widely planted with osmanthus and other fragrant plants, forming a smellscape in which "late autumn is fragrant with osmanthus flowers and lotus in bloom for miles and miles." At Humble Administrator Garden, there are soundscape scenic spots such as Wu Zhu You Ju (Secluded Residence among Bamboo Bushes) and Liu Ting Ge (Pavilion to Pause and Listen); there are smellscape scenic spots such as the Orchid Field, the Magnolia Courtyard, the Panicum Pavilion, etc.; lightscape scenic spots such as Liu Ying Ge (Hall of Reflecting Shadows) and Ta Ying Ting (Pavilion of Shadow of Tower) can also be found there. In Chengde Summer Resort, there are soundscape scenic spots such as Wan He Song Feng (Wind of Ten Thousand Ravines and Pines) and lightscape scenic spots such as Xi Ling Chen Xia (Morning Sunset on West Ridge), etc.; smellscape scenic spots such as Qu Shui Hua Xiang (Fragrance of Flowers in the Curved Water) and Yuan Xiang Tang (Hall of Fragrance of Far Away) can also be found.The above classic cases eloquently prove that the creation of multisensory landscape and the integration of them are the valuable experience in traditional Chinese gardens, which play an important role in the achievement of famous landscape.Therefore, the design of landscape must pay attention to the creation and integration of soundscape, smellscape and lightscape. Another key point of the theory of multisensory landscape construction is that it is necessary to pay attention to both spatial and temporal dimensions so that the constructed landscape can be enjoyed everywhere and at all time periods. In this regard, the creation of the three-scape (specifically refer to soundscape, smellscape and lightscape) can also highlight their regional and temporal characteristics. By analyzing some classic cases of traditional Chinese gardens, this paper proposes that the construction of multisensory landscape and the integration of soundscape, smellscape and lightscape are the valuable experience in traditional Chinese gardens, which are also important for the achievement of famous landscapes and are excellent traditions that we should vigorously inherit and carry forward.

Вміст пластидних пігментів у дерев сосни звичайної уражених сосновим вертуном в умовах Західного Полісся

The biosynthesis of plastid pigments in Pinus sylvestrys L.was investigated in pine trees affected by Melampsora pinitorqua in the conditions of the Western Polissya. The total content of chlorophylls and carotenoids in the needles of trees with a mild and moderate degree of damage by Melampsora pinitorqua is 13,3…30,0% lower than in the control. Trees severely affected by Melampsora pinitorqua synthesize 21.8...38.4% less green and yellow pigments. A decrease in the content of green pigments in experimental pine trees is caused by chlorophyll a. Іt influences on absorption direct sunlight for the process of photosynthesis. The ratio of chlorophylls a/b is close to the control in experimental trees with a mild and moderate degree of disease damage and decreases by 23.3...32.9% in trees with a severe degree of disease damage. Іn all affected trees, the ratio between the amount of green and yellow pigments is close to the control.

Impact of Toumeyella parvicornis outbreak in Pinus pinea L. forest of Southern Italy: First detection using a dendrochronological, isotopic and remote sensing analysis

Climate change is expected to affect forests' growth and functioning and to increase their vulnerability to stressors such as prolonged drought and pest outbreaks. Identifying vulnerable forest stands and predicting tree decline is critical for timely management interventions to preserve forests integrity and associated ecosystem services. This study combined dendrochronological and isotopic analyses with satellite remote sensing to detect early warning signs of forest decline in a Pinus pinea L. stand in southern Italy affected by one of the first outbreak of the pine parasite Toumeyella parvicornis reported in Italy. Furthermore, through a comparative study of the analysis techniques, this research aimed to identify the most effective data processing strategies for detecting tree dieback of this species. Satellite analysis revealed a gradual decline in vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI, EVI2) of the stand from 2015 onwards, which coincided with the onset of defoliation due to the pest outbreak. The decline in defoliation intensified in 2020, leading to a severe tree carbon deficit and subsequent mortality of the pine stand in 2023. In comparison, indices such as EVI and EVI2 have been shown to be more sensitive than NDVI in detecting changes in canopy cover. The inclusion of the NDMI index provided important information on the moisture dynamics of the stand. Dendrochronological analyses complemented remote sensing data: a strong decrease in growth was observed from 2020 onwards, undemanding a tipping point for the Pinus pinea stand, which led to tree mortality in 2023. The study highlighted the higher sensitivity of detrended chronologies such as BAI and TRW-I in detecting signs of forest dieback compared to raw tree-ring data. Moreover, intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) analysis provided insight into the eco-physiological dynamics underlying pine tree decline, revealing lower tree water retention induced by defoliation. Finally, correlations between growth and WUEi data with meteorological variables highlighted how defoliation increased the vulnerability of trees to the effects of climate, influencing their ability to recover after the pest attack. In conclusion, the combination of these analysis methods provided a detailed and comprehensive overview of tree species dieback due to new invasive pest. Our findings providing valuable insights into the eco-physiological dynamics and early detection of signs of tree decline, useful for planning effective forest management strategies to counteract the diffusion of Toumeyella parvicornis across Italy and Europe.

‘웅덩이’와 소나무 어린이집 영유아들의 얽힌 놀이되기

Objectives This study examines the play experiences of young children in puddles through the perspectives of Deleuze's philosophy of rhizome and Barad's notion of agency. By analyzing the value inherent in play and how various aspects of play manifest, it aims to provide insights for alternative approaches to early childhood play. Methods From June to August 2023, a two-month participant observation was conducted on 46 children aged 1 to 5 at Pine Tree Nursery located in G City. Additionally, a post-qualitative research method was employed to capture ‘glow’ moments (MacLure, 2013) by encountering the experiences revealed in children's play through photographs, videos, and traces of play records. The collected data underwent a recursive process of reinterpreting the emerged events, connecting them with the flow of meaning, and analyzing the implications of the entanglement between the children and the puddles. Results The entangled play patterns between puddles and young children revealed several outcomes: encountering the inherent signs within the puddles, entangling with the materiality of the puddles and their environment, generating rhizomatic puddles that connect age and space, and creating ‘and... and... puddles’ by transcending time and space. Conclusions Through play in the spontaneously formed puddles, young children sensually encounter materiality and form new relationships. The dynamic and variable nature of the puddles leads to novel intra-actions with the children, resulting in creative play. Furthermore, the entanglement between the puddles and the children traverses time and space horizontally and vertically, fostering ongoing encounters. This highlights the agency embedded in the entangled relationship between young children and materials, suggesting the importance for early childhood educators to provide support for play.

Influence of thermal treatment on mechanical properties of pine wood with regard to prime cost

Influence of thermal treatment on mechanical properties of pine wood with regard to prime cost

Study on the characteristics of microwave pyrolysis of pine wood catalyzed by bimetallic catalysts prepared with microwave-assisted hydrothermal char

Bimetallic hydrothermal char catalysts (Co-Ni/MHC, Fe-Co/MHC, Fe-Ni/MHC) were prepared through ionic hydrothermal methods and microwave high-temperature activation. During catalyst preparation, different metals synergistically promoted the formation of ordered carbon structures such as carbon nanotubes and carbon microspheres, respectively. Serving both as microwave absorbers and catalysts for the microwave pyrolysis of pine wood, the bimetallic catalysts exhibited distinct advantageous characteristics. Fe-Ni/MHC exhibited excellent microwave absorption properties and was able to assist the PW to heat up rapidly at a rate of 6.17 °C/s, benefiting from which PW achieved a high bio-oil yield of 44.0 % in the microwave-assisted catalytic pyrolysis process. Using Co-Ni/MHC as a catalyst resulted in bio-oil with up to 42.7 % styrene content and had good catalytic effects on the formation of CO and H2. This study provides a scientific reference for the application of hydrothermal treatment and microwave-assisted pyrolysis in biomass pyrolysis technology.

Whole-Tree Green Density Equations for Loblolly and Slash Pine Trees

Abstract Using extensive legacy and new datasets, two equations of whole-tree green density, defined as the ratio of the green weight of stem wood with bark (GWob) divided either by the stem outside-bark volume (Vob) or by the stem inside-bark volume (Vib), were developed along with individual tree Vob, Vib, and GWob equations for loblolly and slash pines. The green density equations indicated that the GWob/Vob ratio increases while the GWob/Vib ratio decreases with an increase in tree size for both species. The transition from low-intensity management to intensive management has a notable impact on tree green weight characteristics. Generally, trees from older established plantations exhibited a higher GWob/Vob ratio compared with trees from more recently established plantations, spanning both loblolly and slash pines. Study Implications: Derived whole-tree green density equations, alongside updated stem green weight and volume equations, are valuable tools for estimating the volume and green weight of entire stem boles, facilitating volume-to-green-weight conversion for specific sections for loblolly and slash pines, the primary commercial timber species in the southern United States.

Biomass fast pyrolysis kinetics using curie-point pyrolysis: Comparison with pyroprobe and thermogravimetric analysis

In this study, the kinetics of fast pyrolysis of pine wood biomass at short timescales is evaluated using analytical Curie-point and Pyroprobe® pyrolyzers. Curie-point pyrolysis was highly effective in ensuring that the biomass was heated to the set temperatures at very high heating rates and precise time scales. This is the first time the mass loss data of lignocellulosic biomass using a Curie-point pyrolyzer is being reported at short timescales of the order of 10−1 s. COMSOL Multiphysics® simulations, employed to determine the time required for the sample to heat-up to the final reaction temperature, proved that it was 0.2 s in the Curie-point pyrolyzer and 6–8 s in the Pyroprobe® reactor. Within a time period of 0.5 s for temperatures greater than 400 °C, complete conversion of the biomass was achieved using a Curie-point pyrolyzer. The conventional reaction kinetic models were not able to explain the pyrolysis behavior of the sample in a Curie-point pyrolyzer, especially at short timescales of 0–0.5 s. However, the kinetics until 0.4 s, corresponding to the release of light volatiles, is shown to follow the sigmoidal Avrami model, while the major devolatilization stage in the range of 0.4–0.5 s could not be described by a standard kinetic model. This showed that the reactions at short time scales are highly complex processes governed by the competing decomposition rates of the biomolecules. The isothermal mass loss experiments using the Pyroprobe® showed that pyrolysis followed first-order kinetics, and the rate of decomposition was slower as it took 10–20 s for the conversion to attain a steady value. The kinetic compensation for the pyrolysis of pinewood was constructed using the fast pyrolysis data and the kinetics of slow pyrolysis using isoconversional models, and it was found to be ln(A) = 0.18*Ea – 3.12.

Aerial Image Segmentation of Nematode-Affected Pine Trees with U-Net Convolutional Neural Network

Pine wood nematode disease, commonly referred to as pine wilt, poses a grave threat to forest health, leading to profound ecological and economic impacts. Originating from the pine wood nematode, this disease not only causes the demise of pine trees but also casts a long shadow over the entire forest ecosystem. The accurate identification of infected trees stands as a pivotal initial step in developing effective prevention and control measures for pine wilt. Nevertheless, existing identification methods face challenges in precisely determining the disease status of individual pine trees, impeding early detection and efficient intervention. In this study, we leverage the capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing technology and integrate the VGG classical small convolutional kernel network with U-Net to detect diseased pine trees. This cutting-edge approach captures the spatial and characteristic intricacies of infected trees, converting them into high-dimensional features through multiple convolutions within the VGG network. This method significantly reduces the parameter count while enhancing the sensing range. The results obtained from our validation set are remarkably promising, achieving a Mean Intersection over Union (MIoU) of 81.62%, a Mean Pixel Accuracy (MPA) of 85.13%, an Accuracy of 99.13%, and an F1 Score of 88.50%. These figures surpass those obtained using other methods such as ResNet50 and DeepLab v3+. The methodology presented in this research facilitates rapid and accurate monitoring of pine trees infected with nematodes, offering invaluable technical assistance in the prevention and management of pine wilt disease.

Evaluation of the novel endophytic fungus Chaetomium ascotrichoides 1-24-2 from Pinus massoniana as a biocontrol agent against pine wilt disease caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the causative agent of pine wilt disease (PWD), is an ever-increasing threat to Pinus forests worldwide. This study aimed to develop biological control of PWD by the application of endophytic fungi isolated from healthy pine trees. We successfully isolated a novel endophytic fungal strain 1-24-2 from branches of healthy Pinus massoniana. The culture filtrates (CFs) of strain 1-24-2 exhibited strong nematicidal activity against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, with a corrected mortality rate of 99.00%. Based on the morphological and molecular characteristics, the isolated strain 1-24-2 was identified as Chaetomium ascotrichoides. In the in-planta assay, pine seedlings (2-years-old) treated with 1-24-2 CFs + pine wood nematode (T2) showed a significant control effect of 80%. A total of 24 toxic compounds were first identified from 1-24-2 CFs through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, from which O-methylisourea, 2-chlorobenzothiazole, and 4,5,6-trihydroxy-7-methylphthalide showed robust binding sites at Tyr119 against phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase (PMT) protein of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus by molecular docking approach and could be used as potential compounds for developing effective nematicides. Interestingly, strain 1-24-2 produces toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which disturb the natural development process of B. xylophilus, whose total number decreased by up to 83.32% in the treatment group as compared to control and also reduced Botrytis cinerea growth by up to 71.01%. Our results highlight the potential of C. ascotrichoides 1-24-2 as a promising biocontrol agent with solid nematicidal activity against B. xylophilus. This is the first report of C. ascotrichoides isolated from P. massoniana exhibiting strong biocontrol potential against B. xylophilus in the world. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Development of a Precise Tree Structure from LiDAR Point Clouds

Abstract. A precise tree structure that represents the distribution of tree stem, branches, and leaves is crucial for accurately capturing the full representation of a tree. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)-based three-dimensional (3D) point clouds (PCs) capture the geometry of scanned objects including forests stands and individual trees. PCs are irregular, unstructured, often noisy, and contaminated by outliers. Researchers have struggled to develop methods to separate leaves and wood without losing the tree geometry. This paper proposes a solution that employs only the spatial coordinates (x, y, z) of the PC. The new algorithm works as a filtering approach, utilizing multi-scale neighborhood-based geometric features (GFs) e.g., linearity, planarity, and verticality to classify linear (wood) and non-linear (leaf) points. This involves finding potential wood points and coupling them with an octree-based segmentation to develop a tree architecture. The main contributions of this paper are (i) investigating the potential of different GFs to split linear and non-linear points, (ii) introducing a novel method that pointwise classifies leaf and wood points, and (iii) developing a precise 3D tree structure. The performance of the new algorithm has been demonstrated through terrestrial laser scanning PCs. For a Scots pine tree, the new method classifies leaf and wood points with an overall accuracy of 97.9%.

Экологические особенности конвективной сушки пиломатериалов

Lumber drying is a mandatory technological operation that gives wood the properties necessary for the production of items, during which the wood is given shape and size stability during operation and/or increases biostability during transportation. Chamber drying is carried out at elevated temperatures, which predetermines the transfer of wood to a chemically active state. As a result, the first stage of extraction is realized – the release of a complex of substances in a solid, liquid and gaseous states onto the surface of the board. With all the variety of substances that accumulate during the growth process in each tree species, phenol and formaldehyde, which are common to all, are released during drying. They belong to class II hazard to humans. In the specialized literature, this issue is given unjustifiably little attention. The problem is complicated by the fact that a significant part of the wood drying production capacity is currently located within the urban area. Therefore, the entire spectrum of substances that are released from the dried wood is concentrated in the residential area, having a negative impact on humans. The aim of the research is to determine the degree of environmental impact of substances released from wood during drying. The list of substances that are released during convective drying from larch and pine wood, as well as data on the amount of these substances, which are given in the article, indicate the presence of an environmental pollution problem. In Russia, the entire volume of lumber for the production of products is dried in drying plants that do not have devices that neutralize pollutants. Consequently, harmful substances released from dried wood accumulate both on the territory of wood processing enterprises and in residential areas. From the above, it follows that drying lumber using low-temperature conditions cannot be considered an environmentally friendly type of production. This problem requires a more detailed study, which will allow us to develop a set of measures to reduce the negative impact of convective lumber drying on the environment.

Biomass source influence on hydrogen production through pyrolysis and in line oxidative steam reforming.

This study evaluates the potential of several biomasses differing in nature and composition for their valorization by pyrolysis and in-line oxidative steam reforming. The first task involved the fast pyrolysis of the biomasses in a conical spouted bed reactor at 500ºC, in which product yields were analyzed in detail. Then, the oxidative steam reforming of pyrolysis volatiles (gases and bio-oil) was approached in a fluidized bed reactor. The reforming experiments were performed at 600 ºC, with an steam/biomass (S/B) ratio of 3 and catalyst (Ni/Al2O3) space times of 7.5 and 20 gcat min gvol-1. Concerning equivalence ratio (ER), a value of 0.12 was selected to ensure autothermal operation. Remarkable differences were observed in H2 production depending on the type of biomass. Thus, pine wood led to a H2 production of 9.3 wt%. The lower productions obtained with rice husk (7.7 wt%) and orange peel (5.5 wt%) are associated with their higher ash and fixed carbon content, respectively, which limit the efficiency of biomass conversion to bio-oil. However, in the case of the microalga, the poor performance observed is due to the lower conversion in the reforming step toward gases due to the composition of its pyrolysis volatile stream.