Thermal modification and alkyl ketene dimer effects on the surface protection of deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara Roxb.) wood

The aim of this research was to evaluate the multiple effects of both thermal modification and alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) on the deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara Roxb.) wood surface, before and after an irradiation test. The physical and chemical changes that occurred on the cedar wood samples due to the combined effect of these modifications were evaluated by measuring their wettability and colour and using attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The surface analysis by XPS showed the expected variability among the sampled layers for unmodified and thermally modified cedar wood samples and a uniform composition after the AKD coverage, regardless of their pre-treatments. The FTIR spectra before the irradiation test showed that the hydrophobicity of the samples was ensured by the formation of carbonyl groups originating from the reaction between the AKD and hydroxyl groups of cellulose, which is related to the presence of the absorption band between 1700 cm−1 and 1750 cm−1. Markedly, after the irradiation test, a degradation of the amorphous cellulose component occurred, showing that photoisomerisation to the enolic form took place. Overall, although uniform AKD coverage was derived from the surface analysis and wetting test, the combined ATR-FTIR results and colour measurements showed that it could not provide permanent protection to the underlying wood structure due to its own tendency to degrade mainly in colour over time, under the action of UV rays and atmospheric agents

Impregnation of Bombax ceiba and Bombax insigne wood with a N-methylol melamine compound

Methylated N-methylol melamine (NMM) is known for its ability to enhance physico-mechanical properties, anti-fungal ability, and hydrophobicity and was therefore used to impregnate two less used and non-durable wood species from Myanmar, Bombax ceiba and Bombax insigne. Solution uptake, weight percent gain and nitrogen content were increased by increasing melamine concentrations with B. ceiba always achieving higher values compared with B. insigne. According to the leaching results, a higher degree of condensation after curing as well as a better crosslinking of NMM could be obtained at higher temperatures. However, both curing temperatures used (90 and 120 A degrees C) resulted in almost the same amount of nitrogen fixed in the cell wall. UV microspectrophotometry confirmed the penetration of the NMM into different morphological regions of wood tissues, which was again supported by the analysis of point measurement spectra of treated and untreated specimens

Journal of Materials Science / Reduced polarity and improved dispersion of microfibrillated cellulose in poly(lactic-acid) provided by residual lignin and hemicellulose

Abstract in deutscher Sprache nicht verf\ufcgbarThe surface chemistry and dispersion in poly(lactic-acid) of microfibrillated wood and microfibrillated lignocellulose prepared from untreated and partially delignified beech were compared with conventional microfibrillated cellulose produced from bleached pulp. High heterogeneity in fibril morphology and bulk chemical composition was observed. Also surface chemistry of the fibrils was highly variable, but not clearly correlated with bulk chemistry. Composite solution-cast films of poly(lactic-acid) reinforced with 1 % fibrils were produced by adding fibrils dried from solvent into a polymer solution. Highly variable dispersion of fibrils correlated with varying mechanical performance was observed. Correlations were obtained between surface chemistry of fibrils as revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and adhesion force microscopy on the one hand and the tensile performance of the fibril-reinforced polymer composites on the other hand. Overall, certain variants of fibrillated material with residual lignin and hemicellulose content showed reduced surface polarity, improved dispersion in poly(lactic-acid) and improved reinforcement efficiency compared to conventional MFC produced from bleached pulp

Evaluation of electrical signals in pine trees in a mediterranean forest ecosystem

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Plant Signaling and Behaviour on 2020, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/15592324.2020.1795580[EN] Electric potential differences in living plants are explained by theories based on sap flow. In order to acquire more advanced knowledge about the spatial distribution of these electric potential measures in trees, this research aims to analyze electrical signals in a population of Aleppo pines (Pinus halepensisMill.) in a representative Mediterranean forest ecosystem. The specific research objective is to assess some of the most significant factors that influence the distribution pattern of those electric signals: tree age, measurement type and electrode placement. The research has been conducted in representative forest stands, obtaining measurements of different representative trees. After a statistical evaluation of the obtained results, the main conclusions of our research are: A.Tree maturity influences directly on electric potential. B.Maximum electrical signals can be measured in young pines showing values of 0.6 V and 0.6 mu A for voltage and current, respectively. C.The distribution patterns of both voltage and short-circuit current depending on electrode placement are uniform.Zapata, R.; Oliver Villanueva, JV.; Lemus Zúñiga, LG.; Luzuriaga, JE.; Mateo Pla, MÁ.; Urchueguía Schölzel, JF. (2020). Evaluation of electrical signals in pine trees in a mediterranean forest ecosystem. Plant Signaling and Behaviour (Online). 15(10):1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2020.1795580S191510I. Further experiments on the more important physiological changes induced in the human economy by change of climate. (1873). Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, 21(139-147), 1-10. doi:10.1098/rspl.1872.0002Darwin, C. (1875). 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Intra-annual patterns of tracheid size in the Mediterranean tree Juniperus thurifera as an indicator of seasonal water stress

Because climate can affect xylem cell anatomy, series of intra-annual cell anatomical features have the potential to retrospectively supply seasonal climatic information. In this study, we explored the ability to extract information about water stress conditions from tracheid features of the Mediterranean conifer Juniperus thurifera L. Tracheidograms of four climatic years from two drought-sensitive sites in Spain were compared to evaluate whether it is possible to link intra-annual cell size patterns to seasonal climatic conditions. Results indicated site-specific anatomical adjustment such as smaller and thicker tracheids at the dryer site but also showed a strong climatic imprint on the intra-annual pattern of tracheid size. Site differences in cell size reflected expected structural adjustments against cavitation failures. Differences between intra-annual patterns, however, indicated a response to seasonal changes in water availability whereby cells formed under drought conditions were smaller and thicker, and vice versa. This relationship was more manifest and stable at the dryer sit

Chemical and physical defense traits in two sexual forms of opuntia robusta in Central Eastern Mexico

Sexually dimorphic plants provide an excellent opportunity for examining the differences in the extent of their defense against herbivores because they exhibit sex-related differences in reproductive investment. Such differences enable comparison of the sex with high reproduction expenses with the sex that expends less. The more costly sex is usually also better defended against herbivores. Generally, females are considered more valuable than hermaphrodites in terms of fitness; however, hermaphrodites are more valuable if they can produce seed by autonomous selfing, provided that the inbreeding depression is low and pollen is limited. We studied a gynodioecious population of Opuntia robusta from Central-Eastern Mexico, which has been reported to be trioecious, dioecious, or hermaphrodite, and addressed the following questions: 1) Is the hermaphrodite's reproductive output higher than the female's, and are hermaphrodites thus better defended? 2) Are plant tissues differentially defended? 3) Do trade-offs exist among different physical defense traits? and 4) among physical and chemical defense traits? We found that 1) hermaphrodites had a higher seed output and more spines per areola than females and that their spines contained less moisture. Non-reproductive hermaphrodite cladodes contained more total phenolic compounds (TPCs) than female ones. In addition, 2) hermaphrodite reproductive cladodes bore more spines than female cladodes, and 3) and 4) we found a negative relationship between spine number per areola and areola number per cladode and a positive relationship between spine number per areola per plant and TPC concentration per plant. Non-reproductive hermaphrodite cladodes contained a higher concentration of TPCs than female cladodes, and parental cladodes contained fewer TPCs than both reproductive and empty cladodes

The climate sensitivity of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] in the southeastern European Alps

Tree ring chronologies were developed from trees growing at two sites in Slovenia which differed in their ecological and climatological characteristics. Ring width, maximum latewood density, annual height increment and latewood cellulose carbon isotope composition were developed at both sites and time-series verified against instrumental climate data over the period (AD 1960–AD 2002). Ring width sensitivity to summer temperature is site-dependent, with contrasting responses at alpine and lowland sites. Maximum density responds to September temperatures, suggesting lignification after cell division has ended for the season. Stable carbon isotopes have great potential, responding to summer temperature at oth alpine and lowland stands. Height increment appears relatively insensitive to climate, and is likely to be dominated by local stand dynamics

The COMPARE Data Hubs

Data sharing enables research communities to exchange findings and build upon the knowledge that arises from their discoveries. Areas of public and animal health as well as food safety would benefit from rapid data sharing when it comes to emergencies. However, ethical, regulatory and institutional challenges, as well as lack of suitable platforms which provide an infrastructure for data sharing in structured formats, often lead to data not being shared or at most shared in form of supplementary materials in journal publications. Here, we describe an informatics platform that includes workflows for structured data storage, managing and pre-publication sharing of pathogen sequencing data and its analysis interpretations with relevant stakeholders