In this study, epoxidized lignins were prepared by reacting softwood (SW) and hardwood (HW) technical (kraft) lignins with a biobased epichlorohydrin. The chemical structures, rheological behaviors, and thermomechanical properties of the epoxidized lignins were measured and compared with those of petroleum-based (DGEBA) epoxy resin. First, the chemical and physical properties of the lignin samples were assessed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), quantitative phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P NMR), and 2D-heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) NMR analyses. Subsequently, the unmodified lignins were epoxidized over a short period (3 hours), using ethyl lactate as a biobased co-solvent. The 31P NMR and HSQC analysis of the epoxidized lignins confirmed that phenolic hydroxyl and carboxylic acid groups in lignin were selectively epoxidized without any other significant changes to the chemical structure of lignin. Rheological multi-wave curing studies of both lignin-based and bisphenol A-based (DGEBA) resins cured with a biobased curing agent revealed that the lignin-based systems exhibited significantly shorter gelation times and lower activation energies. Further analyses, including gel fraction, swelling ratio, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results, demonstrated that lignin-based thermosets had comparable properties to the petroleum-based epoxy system when both were prepared with solvent (40 wt%) inclusion. Notably, the thermoset resin made with kraft hardwood lignin exhibited superior thermomechanical properties compared to the softwood system.

Domestication of the Pleurotus mushroom has not only supported food security but has also provided livelihoods for growers and consumers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. However, growers have faced the challenge of selecting suitable substrates (hard or soft woods) and of dealing with seasonal impacts on productivity. This research aimed to assess the effects of substrate type (based on wood nature) and season on the cultivation performance of Pleurotus species in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Two species of Pleurotus (P1: P. ostreatus and P2: P. eryngii) were cultivated on 600 g of soft wood (SW) (Xylopia aethiopica) and 600 g hard wood (HW) (Mitragyna ciliata) sawdust supplemented with 100 g of rice bran and 1 g of Rhizophora racemosa wood ash during the dry (D) and rainy (R) seasons. The completely randomised design was adopted for this study to avoid experimental bias. A total of eight treatments (P1SWD, P1HWD, P2SWD, P2HWD, P1SWR, P1HWR, P2SWR and P2HWR) in accordance with the interaction of species, substrate type and season were established and experimented in four replications. Length and rate of mycelia ramification evaluation revealed that P1 performed better than P2 as it recorded highest lengths and rates respectively for P1SWR week 1 (3.70±0.63 cm and 0.52±0.09 cm day-1), P1SWD week 2 (8.40±1.04 cm and 0.58±0.04 cm day-1) and equal lengths and rates for P1SWD, P1HWD and P1SWR for week3 (9.50±0.00 cm and 0.45±0.00 cm day-1), week4 (9.50±0.00 cm and 0.34±0.00 cm day-1) and week 5 (9.50±0.00 cm and 0.27±0.00 cm day-1). Softwood and dry seasons supported better mycelial ramification in length and rate than hardwood and wet seasons, as both species of Pleurotus reached complete colonization by the end of week 5. P1 had a higher substrate degradation rate of 15.65% and 13.69% for dry and wet seasons, respectively. However, the dry season and hardwood supported higher degradation rates. Growth parameter assessment revealed higher values for experiments conducted in the dry season and on softwood. However, a higher height of the fruiting body and diameter of the pileus were observed for P1, while P2 recorded higher values for the length and width of the stipe. Generally, the seasons and substrate types exerted varying influences on the growth, ramification, and degradation potentials of P. ostreatus and P. eryngii, as their values differed significantly at p≤0.05.

An experiment was undertaken to standardize the type of rootstock, nutrient scheduling and type of cuttings for rooting of rose rootstock in factorial completely randomised design with five replications during 2022 to 2023. The treatment includes two rootstocks (V1 : Rosa multiflora and V2 : Natal Briar), four different nutrient doses (N1 : 400:200:200 kg, N2 : 600:200:700 kg, N3 : 450:150:525 kg and N4 : 300:100:350 kg NPK ha-1 year-1) and three types of cuttings (hardwood, semi-hardwood and soft wood). Results revealed that the maximum number of sprouts (1.84), leaves (9.66) and roots (7.83) per cutting, and length of longest root (5.19 cm) were recorded in rootstock Rosa multiflora compared to Natal Briar. Application of 400:200:200 kg NPK ha-1 year-1, recorded maximum survival of cuttings (79.11%), minimum days to first sprouting (8.47) maximum number of sprouts (1.91), leaves (10.54) and roots (9.65) per cutting, and length of longest root (6.33 cm) compared to other fertilizer treatments. Among the different types of cuttings, hardwood cuttings recorded minimum days to first sprouting (8.54), greatest thickness of cutting (7.62 mm), number of roots per cutting (7.67) and length of longest root (5.85 cm). These findings could be used to produce high-quality planting material in rose.

Canada’s supply management system in dairy has long been a source of friction with the United States, particularly involving Québec, which produces nearly half of Canada’s milk. While most sectors were liberalized under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and its successor, the United States– Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), dairy remains protected by quotas, tariffs, and price controls. The exclusion of American producers—especially in key electoral states such as Wisconsin and Michigan—has made Canadian dairy a repeated target of U.S. presidents. This article examines why supply management persists despite its economic costs. It situates dairy protection in Québec’s provincial identity, language politics, and rural traditions, showing how symbolic politics can outweigh efficiency arguments in a post-material society. It also draws upon the political science theory of entrenchment, which highlights how incumbent actors and interest groups in democratic states use institutional, legal, and strategic tools to resist legislative reform and preserve their advantages. Comparisons with New Zealand, Australia, and the European Union highlight that reform is possible, but also politically costly. The article also contrasts Québec’s defense of dairy with its embrace of liberalized trade in aluminum, steel, aircraft, softwood lumber, and critical and strategic minerals, illustrating the province’s dual international strategies. Finally, it assesses the stakes for the 2026 USMCA review, where U.S. negotiators are likely to press for expanded access to the Canadian dairy market while Québec pushes Ottawa to resist.

The transition toward a circular bioeconomy requires efficient conversion of biogenic wastes and biomass into renewable fuels. This study explores the gasification potential of wastewater sludge (WWS) and food waste (FW), representing high moisture-content biowastes, compared with softwood (SW), a lignocellulosic biomass reference. An Aspen Plus equilibrium model incorporating the drying stage was developed to evaluate the performance of air and steam gasification. The effects of temperature (400–1200 °C), equivalence ratio (ER = 0.1–1), and steam-to-biomass ratio (S/B = 0.1–1) on gas composition and energy efficiency (EE) were examined. Increasing temperature enhanced H2 and CO generation but reduced CH4, resulting in a maximum EE at intermediate temperatures, after which it declined due to the lower heating value of the gases. Although EE followed the order SW > FW > WWS, both biowastes maintained robust efficiencies (60–80%) despite high drying energy requirements. Steam gasification increased H2 content up to 53% (WWS), 54% (FW), and 51% (SW) near S/B = 0.5–0.6, while air gasification achieved 23–27% H2 and 70–80% EE at ER ≈ 0.1–0.2. The results confirm that wet bio-wastes such as WWS and FW can achieve performance comparable to lignocellulosic biomass, highlighting their suitability as sustainable feedstocks for waste-to-syngas conversion and supporting bioenergy integration into waste management systems.

The European beaver (Castor fiber) has long been considered an ecosystem engineer, exerting a profound influence on the habitats it occupies. Its activities significantly shape water conditions, terrain, and biodiversity. Research conducted in the Ciechanów Forest District aimed to assess the impact of beavers on the local environment. Observations took place from August 2024 to March 2025 and involved documenting beaver activities such as browsing trees, creating burrows, and building lodges. It was found that the tree species most frequently selected by beavers in the study area was gray alder (Alnus incana). Beavers most frequently browsed trees with a diameter of 1–20 cm and a hardness of 2.1 on the Brinell scale. Their most intense impact occurred at the end of the growing season, from August to November. The most preferred species were young trees with soft wood, which may indicate that less effort and energy are required to cut them down, or that they are more palatable, juicy, and tender than older plants.

Background and purposeThe study aims to assess the occupational variation of sinonasal cancer (SNC) incidence in the Nordic population. SNC is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis and a strong connection with occupational exposure, hence, assessing occupational risk for SNC is an essential aspect in the efforts of cancer prevention.Patients/material and methodsStandardized incidence ratios (SIR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for SNC were calculated for 54 occupational categories from data based on population censuses and cancer registries in the five Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.ResultsDuring 1961–2005, 5,799 SNC cases were registered, 61% men and 39% women. Male woodworkers had an SIR of 1.84 for SNC (95% CI 1.66–2.04) with 355 cases, a finding consistent across all Nordic countries. The SIR for the histological subgroup sinonasal adenocarcinoma (SNAC) among male woodworkers was 5.50 (95% CI 4.56–6.56) with 122 cases. Female woodworkers also had an elevated SIR for SNC of 1.88 (95% CI 0.90–3.46), but based on only 10 cases. Country-specific elevated SIRs for SNC in men were noted in Denmark for shoe and leather workers (SIR 3.62, 95% CI 1.33–7.87), and in Norway for smelting workers (SIR 2.24, 95% CI 1.41–3.39). Reduced SIRs were observed for male military personnel, teachers, gardeners and farmers, and female religious workers.InterpretationAccording to these Nordic registry data, woodworking, which is normally based on soft wood in the Nordic countries, is a high-risk occupation for SNC and particularly for SNAC.

The asymmetric effects of softwood lumber duties, tariffs, and mortgage rates on housing payments

Feedstock-dependent mobility of pyrogenic carbon colloids under naphthalene: dominant role of zeta potential and adsorption behavior.

The experiment was conducted during August, 2023 to March, 2024 at Mango Research Station, Dr. YSR Horticultural University, Nuzvid, Andhra Pradesh, India to study the effect of grafting time on success of soft wood grafting in mango. The experiment consisted of 2 factors i.e grafting time and varieties with 3 replications and laid out in a two factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD). The results indicated that among the treatments, bud break (14.2 days) was observed early on 10th September (17.5 days) while grafting done in 10th October took more days for bud break (18.8 days). However, graft success and survivability percentage was found highest (86.3 and 70.8% respectively) in October grating. Among the varieties, percentage of graft success and survivability were significantly highest (>80% and >60% respectively) in all varieties except Royal Special which recorded 77.9% of graft success and 59.9% of survivability. The interaction effects showed that graft success per cent was found significantly highest in Totapuri grafted on 10th October (91.7%) which was on par with Chinnarasam grafted on 10th August (88.7%), 10th October (86%) and Baneshan grafted on 10th October (88.3%). Graft survivability percentage was significantly highest in Chinnarasam (74.7%). Baneshan (73%) and Totapuri (70.7%) grafted on 10th October. The findings of this experiment clearly indicated that soft wood grafting done in the month of October was effective for graft success and survivability under coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Mobility of biochar colloids from diverse feedstocks: Dominant control of zeta potential under varying ionic strength and Cd2+ presence.

A case study was conducted on the carbon impacts of forest harvesting and manufacturing in the Pacific Northwest Douglas-fir region using a combination of timber cruise data from older (80+ years) second growth, structurally complex, naturally regenerated stands (aka so-called legacy forests), scaled harvest volume, trucking data, and other secondary sources. These data were used to generate a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) for the growth and harvesting of a cubic meter of harvested logs. These LCIA data were used as inputs to wood product models for Washington wood production facilities to generate a cradle to gate LCA of four primary harvested wood products (softwood lumber, plywood, and poles, hardwood lumber). These primary product LCAs were compared to functionally equivalent alternative wood and non-wood products to estimate substitution benefits from their use. Cubic meter comparisons were scaled to the log volume from the timber stands and compared to a no-harvest alternative on a per acre basis. Results, coupled with assumptions on growth and decay, were also used to generate an estimate of likely carbon outcomes 40 years forward. Key results include: Harvesting, manufacturing, product storage and substitution store or offset an additional 11.71 metric tons of carbon per acre over the no-harvest alternative starting in year 0. This full carbon accounting shows there is no carbon debt when substitution and leakage effects are accounted for in the analysis. Future forest growth in harvested stands increase the differential to as much as 72 metric tons/acre by year 40. Our findings contrast to other reports that suggest retaining these naturally regenerated older (80+) forests as carbon sinks generates a larger carbon benefit than harvesting and placing products in long-lived applications. These differences are partially a result of modeling assumptions about continued, and substantial, forest growth past year 80: such assumptions are not supported by the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data (USDA 2023). Ignoring the carbon stored in forest residues from harvest and underestimating or ignoring the impacts of substitution are large drivers of the differences reported here versus those in model-based literature.

This study evaluated the impact of biochar on the growth of strawberry plants, combining visual and proximal sensing monitoring. The plants were rooted in soil enriched with biochar, derived from pyrolysis of soft wood at 550 °C and applied in two doses (2 and 15 g/L), and after physical activation with CO2 at 900 °C; there was also a treatment with no biochar (unaltered). Visual monitoring was based on data logging twice per week of plants’ height and number of flowers and ripe fruits. Proximal sensing monitoring involved a system including a low-cost multispectral camera and a Raspberry Pi 4. The camera acquired nadiral images hourly in three spectral bands (550, 660, and 850 nm), allowing calculation of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). After three months, control plants reached a height of 12.3 ± 0.4 cm, while those treated with biochar and activated biochar grew to 18.03 ± 1.0 cm and 17.93 ± 1.2 cm, respectively. NDVI values were 0.15 ± 0.11 for control plants, increasing to 0.26 ± 0.03 (+78%) with biochar and to 0.28 ± 0.03 (+90%) with activated biochar. In conclusion, biochar application was beneficial for strawberry plants’ growth according to both visual and proximal-sensed measures. Further research is needed to optimize the integration of visual and proximal sensing monitoring, also enhancing the measured parameters.

Amid the rise of economic nationalism and increasing uncertainty in global trade governance, understanding the impact of unilateral trade enforcement on bilateral relations has become critically important. This study explores the resurgence of protectionist policies under President Donald J. Trump, with a particular focus on their effects on U.S.–Canada trade relations and the broader global trend toward economic nationalism. Employing a qualitative case study approach supported by a simple tariff simulation, the research examines how instruments such as anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) were utilized to protect domestic industries. The simulation indicates that imposing a 21% tariff on Canadian softwood lumber could significantly reduce import volumes while potentially increasing domestic output by 121.8%. However, these protectionist measures also intensified trade tensions, disrupted longstanding alliances, and weakened trust in multilateral institutions such as the WTO. By integrating empirical estimation with policy narrative analysis, this study contributes to the literature on trade policy, emphasizing that while unilateral protectionism may offer short-term domestic advantages, it requires careful calibration with economic diplomacy to ensure the sustainability of global trade cooperation.

Abstract Potato growers and processors throughout the Pacific Northwest have observed that extensive periods of smoke exposure from summer wildfires can have negative effects on potato crops ( Solanum tuberosum L). Replicated field studies were conducted during 2022 and 2023 to document the impact of smoke exposure on yield, grade and storability of three russet potato cultivars (‘Russet Burbank’, ‘Clearwater Russet’, ‘Alturas’). Potato plants were treated from July 10 to August 18 each year in clear plastic-covered hoop house enclosures between 6:00 and 9:00am MST, before rising temperatures within the enclosures would cause heat stress. The fuel used to generate smoke consisted of a mixture of hard and soft wood tree species. Tubers were harvested in mid-September, graded, and samples placed into storage at 9 o C for 6 months. Yield, quality and decay after storage were used to calculate revenue and smoke impact using a potato processing contract. Potato plants exposed to smoke did not exhibit any visual symptoms and did not senescence earlier than plants not exposed to smoke. Smoke exposure caused a decline in proportion of U.S. No 1 tubers ( p = 0.09). and a slight increase in the proportion of cull tubers ( p = 0.08). The effect of smoke on cull production was more apparent during the 2022 trial when daytime high temperatures were often above the level considered optimum for potato growth, and less apparent in the more moderate conditions experienced during 2023. A similar effect was seen on specific gravity, with smoke treatment causing a significant decline in 2022 but not in 2023. Smoke treatments had no impact on weight loss but decreased decay after six months of storage. The three cultivars tended to exhibit different responses to smoke exposure in terms of proportion of < 113 g and > 170 g tubers ( p = 0.06 and 0.04, respectively). Alturas and Russet Burbank exhibited no change in the percentage of < 113 g and > 170 g tubers due to smoke treatment in both 2022 and 2023. In contrast, Clearwater Russet showed an increase in < 113 g tubers in 2022 due to smoke treatment and a decline in 2023. Clearwater Russet also exhibited a significant decline in the proportion of yield that was > 170 g in response to smoke treatment in 2022, but no effect in 2023. The impact of smoke on crop revenue was variable, ranging from a 20% decrease to a 17% increase. It is unclear whether cultivar selection could be used as a tool to reduce the risk of losses due to wildfire smoke exposure.

The market of wood products is the primary system used to assess the value of timber. Understanding its dynamics could help in forecasting future trends and guiding decision-makers on what and when to harvest, enabling better market anticipation. Previous research has mainly studied wood products prices through general indices, which does not allow differentiation of wood products based on their dimensions, key information that can be linked with the structure of forest stands. We examined how macroeconomic variables, the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate-related disasters costs affected the prices of eight wood products (seven softwood lumber products and one oriented strand board) in North America. We fitted first-order autoregressive models with a conditional variance function, on time series of prices recorded between 1990 and 2023. We found that, contrary to common assumptions, price changes cannot be attributed to the same variables, nor do these variables impact prices with the same magnitude across different products. Moreover, disruptive events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly contributed to uncertainty without entirely determining prices. Such findings can help link the value of standing trees, based on the products they can generate, and therefore inform on optimal silviculture and harvesting strategies.

Abstract Understanding how functional traits are related to species diversity and ecosystem properties is a central goal of ecology. Wood density is a trait that integrates many aspects of plant form and function and is highly variable among species. Previous studies of wood density across elevational gradients have been based on limited sampling and have reported declines with increasing elevation, though even this simple pattern remains unknown, much less its underlying functional and evolutionary relationships. Here, we use one of the longest and most speciose elevational gradients in the world, extending from the Andean tree line to the Amazon basin, to test the extent to which elevation, species composition, phylogenetic affinity and forest structure determine variation in wood density. Using field‐collected wood samples and global databases, we assigned wood density to 1231 species and 31,330 stems across 41 (47.5 ha) mature forest plots arrayed across a 3500‐m vertical gradient. Our results show that mean wood density, either weighted by abundance, basal area or species, was highly variable but tended to decline from low to middle elevations and increase again from mid‐elevations to the tree line. As a result of this non‐linearity, forests at the Andean tree line had higher wood density than their lowland Amazon counterparts. We observed an abrupt transition in wood density at the lower limit of persistent cloud formation (cloud base), where the lowest wood density values were found. The decline of wood density is attributed to a significant shift in life forms, with an abundance of tree ferns at middle elevations and a higher probability of landslides and disturbances favouring a suite of traits associated with low wood density, such as softer wood and higher elasticity. Species turnover explained most of the among‐species variation across the gradient, with elevation having no consistent effect on within‐species variation in wood density. Together, both gradual compositional changes and sharp local changes in the importance of non‐dicot life forms, such as arborescent ferns and palms, define patterns of forest‐level carbon density, with wood density per se controlling ecosystem properties, such as carbon flux, across the Andes‐to‐Amazon elevational gradient.

Crassochepalum crepidioides plant has antibacterial and anti-wound properties. This study aims to determine the botanical profile, microscopic powder, phytochemical screening, and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). This study aims to determine the morphology of leaves, stems, roots, microscopic powder, phytochemical screening, and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) of C. crepidioides leaves from Tanjung Setia Village West Coast Lampung, Indonesia. Methods include morphological examination, microscopic powder, phytochemical screening, and TLC. The results of the botanical show oval-shaped leaves, pointed tips, pinnate veins, serrated edges, smooth leaf surface, soft wood stems, and tap roots. Microscopic observation found fragments of stomata. Positive phytochemical screening of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. TLC test spot with five spots (red) and an average Rf value of 0.21-0.97. Concludes that the thin layer chromatography test is thought to produce flavonoid spots at an Rf value of 0.72-0.77.

Employees in the woodworking industry, including carpentry workshops, wood product factories, and the wooden house industry, are exposed to wood dust at work. In Norway, this industry is exempt from regulations banning air recirculation, intended to prevent harmful substance buildup in working environments. While wood dust exposure is linked to increased risks of cancer and respiratory diseases, eliminating the exemption could have significant economic consequences for companies reliant on heated air recirculation during winter. A detailed characterization of the exposure is needed to evaluate the health risks associated with recirculated air. Wood dust contains components like resin acids, endotoxins, fungi, bacteria, monoterpenes, and aldehydes, which can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. Understanding these exposures is crucial for evaluating whether existing occupational exposure limits (OELs) adequately protect workers' health. This study aimed to assess wood dust and associated exposures in companies with and without air recirculation or humidification. Between 2019 and 2023, full-shift personal aerosol sampling was conducted in 23 companies during winter. Samples were analyzed for wood dust mass, endotoxin, bacteria and fungi, resin acid, monoterpenes, and aldehydes. Log-transformed exposure data were analyzed by mixed models using company types and work-related conditions as fixed effects. Results showed average exposure below OELs but with significant variability. About 25% of measurements exceeded the OEL for inhalable wood dust of 1 mg/m3. Air recirculation had mixed effects; it lowered the monoterpene exposure by 95% (from GM 597 µg/m3 to GM 27 µg/m3) but increased the GM microbial exposure 2 to 5 times across companies. The impact of air recirculation varied across company types. For building element production, it nearly doubled the wood dust exposure from soft woods (from GM 0.15 mg/m3 to GM 0.27 mg/m3), while for door/window manufacturers, exposure was nearly halved compared to those not using air recirculation (from GM 0.44 mg/m3 to GM 0.25 mg/m3). Air humidification lowered the inhalable dust exposure by 59% across the company (from GM 1.36 mg/m3 to 0.56 mg/m3) but led to increases in monoterpene by 90 % (from GM 86 µg/m3 to GM 792 µg/m3) and microbial exposure by up to 64%. Companies manufacturing interior products without a humidification system had resin acid exposure levels that were 10 times higher (GM 3323 ng/m3) compared to those with a humidification system (GM 344 ng/m3). The variability in exposures was mostly influenced by company-specific practices. Evaluation of preventive measures should therefore be tailored to the individual company.

Abstract The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), D1990 details standard practices for establishing and maintaining design values for dimension lumber. Included in this standard are statistical methods for detecting changes in dimension lumber properties over time. A characteristic (or design) value, also known as the allowable property, is published for each lumber property, and this value must be updated whenever changes in the resource warrant. Currently ASTM D1990 calls for the use of the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test (also known as the Mann-Whitney test) to detect changes in these properties. In essence, this test is a two-sample test designed to detect changes in the underlying populations from whence the samples were drawn. In this work, FPL researchers recommend, with justification, that this practice be revised to the use of one-sample tests that focus on detecting disparities between the current resource properties and the corresponding currently accepted design values. We detail the tests that are recommended for properties whose design values are (based on) either the mean or some quantile. We further examine the impacts, in terms of statistical errors, of these alternative tests in comparison to the current paradigm through simulations using a collection of distributions modeled from actual within-grade softwood lumber modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture data.