Analysis of durability and dimensional stability of hidrothermal carbonized wooden pellets

[EN] Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a chemical pretreatment of wood waste for convert it in biochar by the application of high temperatures and pressures in a reaction time that do not exceed 10 hours. One of the main applications of the HTC biochar is as pellets. In this research durability against fungal decay and dimensional stability associated with relative humidity changes of HTC pellets were analyzed and evaluated. A comparison of these properties between HTC pellets and wooden EN+ pellets has been carried out. HTC pellets are significantly more durable against fungal attack, more dimensionally stable against relative humidity changes and denser than wood pellets, which confers better properties for logistics processes like storage and transport.S32133061

Evaluation of thermally-treated wood of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) against Mediterranean termites (Reticulitermes spp.)

[EN] Termite resistance of thermally-treated ash (Fraxinus excelsior L) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L) against subterranean termites (Reticulitermes banyulensis) was evaluated. A laboratory no-choice feeding test following the standard EN 177 was performed to assess the efficacy of this thermo-modification against subterranean termites in the Mediterranean area. After 8 weeks period of exposure, results showed that durability against termites was slightly improved for thermally-treated beech wood, which was classified as moderately durable. However, in case of thermally-treated ash wood, samples were highly biodegraded by termites, revealing no increase in their durability and being classified as non durable. Guardar / Salir Siguiente >Oliver Villanueva, JV.; Gascón Garrido, P.; Ibiza Palacios, MDS. (2013). Evaluation of thermally-treated wood of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) against Mediterranean termites (Reticulitermes spp.). European Journal of Wood and Wood Products. 71(3):391-393. doi:10.1007/s00107-013-0687-2S391393713Doi S, Kurimoto Y, Ohmura W, Ohara S, Aoyama M, Yoshimura T (1999) Effects of heat treatments of wood on the feeding behaviour of two subterranean termites. Holzforsch 53(3):225–229Hill CAS (2006) Wood modification: chemical, thermal and other processes. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, ISBN:9780470021729Mburu F, Dumarcay S, Huber F, Pétrissans M, Gérardin P (2007) Evaluation of thermally modified Grevillea robusta heartwood as an alternative to shortage of wood resource in Kenya: characterisation of physicochemical properties and improvement of bio-resistance. Bioresour Technol 98(18):3478–3486Militz H (2002) Heat treatment technologies in Europe: scientific background and technological state-of-art. In: 33rd annual meeting, The international research group on wood preservation, CardiffNunes L, Nobre T, Rapp AO (2004) Thermally modified wood in choice tests with subterranean termites. COST E37, ReinbeckShi JL, Kocaefe D, Amburgey T, Zhang JL (2007) A comparative study on brown-rot fungus decay and subterranean termite resistance of thermally-modified and ACQ-C-treated wood. Holz Roh- Werkst 65:353–358Surini T, Charrier F, Malvestio J, Charrier B, Moubarik A, Castéra P, Grelier S (2012) Physical properties and termite durability of maritime pine Pinus pinaster Ait., heat-treated under vacuum pressure. Wood Sci Technol 46:487–501Unsal O, Kartal SN, Candan Z, Arango RA, Clausen CA, Green F (2009) Decay and termite resistance, water absorption and swelling of thermally compressed wood panels. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 63:548–55

Resistance of wood modified with different technologies against Mediterranean termites (Reticulitermes spp.)

[EN] A laboratory no-choice test following the standard EN-117 was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of wood modified with different technologies against subterranean termites of the genus Reticulitermes spp. European beech modified with DMDHEU, acetylated radiata pine, and furfurylated Southern yellow pine were used for termite testing. Before the bioassay, half the number of the specimens (including controls) was subjected to an accelerated aging test according to EN-84. The specimens were exposed for 8 wk to the termites. Additionally, mass losses were measured. The results indicated that the feeding pressure was sufficient according to EN-117 for a valid test. Acetylated wood and DMDHEU-modified wood were classified as durable, showing excellent termite resistance. Furfurylated wood was resistant in the case of non-leached specimens; however, the leaching process led to a classification of non-durable. Thus, the new modification technologies open a real possibility of their use in the Mediterranean region as alternative preventive treatments against subterranean termites. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Gascón Garrido, P.; Oliver Villanueva, JV.; Ibiza Palacios, MS.; Militz, H.; Mai, C.; Adamopoulos, S. (2013). Resistance of wood modified with different technologies against Mediterranean termites (Reticulitermes spp.). International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation. 82:13-16. doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2012.07.024S13168

Improved termite resistance of wood by wax impregnation

[EN] We investigated the effect of wax-treated and biocide-free wood specimens against three different termite species. A laboratory no-choice test with Reticulitermes banyulensis Clement was carried out in Valencia (Spain) under Mediterranean conditions for eight weeks. Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L) fully impregnated with distinct waxes was used. Two field trials were conducted with Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt) and Mastotermes darwiniensis Froggatt in northern Queensland (Australia) with wax-impregnated beech (Fagus sylvatica L) for 16 weeks. All three subterranean termites are of major economic importance in their respective regions. The results indicated that feeding pressure by the termites was sufficient within all trials for a valid test. Wax-impregnated Scots pine sapwood was classified as durable. No termites survived the test. The results showed an aging process under submersion conditions, which lead to a classification of moderately durable. The paraffin treatment showed good termite resistance under both test procedures, and was classified as durable. The Australian field trials showed a decreased mass loss of wax-treated beech, in which an amide wax showed excellent termite resistance. The results indicate a clear dependence of the termite resistance on the type and ratio of wax used and the feeding preferences of the specific termite species. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The authors thank Clariant Produkte Deutschland GmbH (Gersthofen) for providing the waxes and financial support for this project.Scholz, G.; Militz, H.; Gascón Garrido, P.; Ibiza Palacios, MS.; Oliver Villanueva, JV.; Peters, BC.; Fitzgerald, CJ. (2010). Improved termite resistance of wood by wax impregnation. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation. 64(8):688-693. doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2010.05.012S68869364

Assessment of plasma chitotriosidase activity, CCL18/PARC concentration and NP-C suspicion index in the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease type C : A prospective observational study

Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C) is a rare, autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in either the NPC1 or NPC2 genes. The diagnosis of NP-C remains challenging due to the non-specific, heterogeneous nature of signs/symptoms. This study assessed the utility of plasma chitotriosidase (ChT) and Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 18 (CCL18)/pulmonary and activation-regulated chemokine (PARC) in conjunction with the NP-C suspicion index (NP-C SI) for guiding confirmatory laboratory testing in patients with suspected NP-C. In a prospective observational cohort study, incorporating a retrospective determination of NP-C SI scores, two different diagnostic approaches were applied in two separate groups of unrelated patients from 51 Spanish medical centers (n = 118 in both groups). From Jan 2010 to Apr 2012 (Period 1), patients with ≥2 clinical signs/symptoms of NP-C were considered 'suspected NP-C' cases, and NPC1/NPC2 sequencing, plasma chitotriosidase (ChT), CCL18/PARC and sphingomyelinase levels were assessed. Based on findings in Period 1, plasma ChT and CCL18/PARC, and NP-C SI prediction scores were determined in a second group of patients between May 2012 and Apr 2014 (Period 2), and NPC1 and NPC2 were sequenced only in those with elevated ChT and/or elevated CCL18/PARC and/or NP-C SI ≥70. Filipin staining and 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC) measurements were performed in all patients with NP-C gene mutations, where possible. In total across Periods 1 and 2, 10/236 (4%) patients had a confirmed diagnosis o NP-C based on gene sequencing (5/118 [4.2%] in each Period): all of these patients had two causal NPC1 mutations. Single mutant NPC1 alleles were detected in 8/236 (3%) patients, overall. Positive filipin staining results comprised three classical and five variant biochemical phenotypes. No NPC2 mutations were detected. All patients with NPC1 mutations had high ChT activity, high CCL18/PARC concentrations and/or NP-C SI scores ≥70. Plasma 7-KC was higher than control cut-off values in all patients with two NPC1 mutations, and in the majority of patients with single mutations. Family studies identified three further NP-C patients. This approach may be very useful for laboratories that do not have mass spectrometry facilities and therefore, they cannot use other NP-C biomarkers for diagnosis

ILC Reference Design Report Volume 1 - Executive Summary

The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2s^-1. This report is the Executive Summary (Volume I) of the four volume Reference Design Report. It gives an overview of the physics at the ILC, the accelerator design and value estimate, the detector concepts, and the next steps towards project realization.The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2s^-1. This report is the Executive Summary (Volume I) of the four volume Reference Design Report. It gives an overview of the physics at the ILC, the accelerator design and value estimate, the detector concepts, and the next steps towards project realization