Spatial pattern of soil carbon and nutrient storage at the alpine tundra ecosystem of Changbai Mountain,China

气候变化对土壤碳和养分的影响越来越受到生态学家的关注,尤其是对高山冻原生态系统的影响。本研究目的是长白山高山冻原系统土壤碳和养分的空间异质性。结果表明:不同土层深度的土壤碳在Meadow alpine tundra vegetation (MA)中显著地高于其他植被类型(p<0.05);在每一植被类型中,表层(010 cm)碳含量显著地高于1020 cm的土层;土壤氮的分布格局是氮素在表层和1020 cm土层变化规律相似;不同土层深度的土壤磷在Lithic alpine tundra vegetation (LA) 中显著地低于其他植被类型(p<0.05);土壤钾浓度在Felsenmeer alpine tundra vegetation (FA) 和LA中显著地高于其他植被类型,但在每一植被类型中土壤钾浓度随土壤深度没有明显的变化;不同深度土壤硫在MA中显著地高度其他植被类型;对每一植被类型而言,C: N, C: P, C: K 和C: S随土壤深度增加而降低。除了在SA的表层外,表层的土壤C: N高于1020 cm的土层。在长白山高山冻原系统中,随植被类型的变化,土壤碳和养分储量有着显著的空间异质性。参29表3图1。     

Manufacture and mechanical properties of binderless boards from kenaf core

Binderless boards were prepared from finely ground powders of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) core under varying manufacturing conditions. This research was designed to investigate their mechanical properties and evaluate the various manufacturing conditions: pressing temperature and time, pressing pressure, board density, board thickness, grain size of raw materials, and addition of furfural. The mechanical properties (i.e., modulus of rupture and elasticity, internal bonding strength) of boards increased with increasing board density and met the requirement for 15 type medium-density fiberboard (MDF) by JIS A 5905-1994. Thickness swelling and water absorption of boards exceeded the maximum permitted levels for 15 type MDF and S20 grade hardboard by JIS A 5905-1994, which indicates the low water-resistant property of binderless boards. In contrast to that in usual wood-based materials, internal bonding strength showed significant correlations with other board properties: modulus of rupture and elasticity, thickness swelling, and water absorption. We confirmed experimentally that the best manufacturing conditions proved to be as follows: pressing temperature 180°C, time 10min; pressing pressure 5.3MPa; board thickness 5mm; board density 1.0g/cm³; average grain size 53µm; and powder with no furfural content.Part of this paper was presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Gifu, April 2002     

Application of a modified rate equation to the acetylation of wood

A modified rate equation, in which the diffusion of reagent was taken into consideration, was proposed and applied to results reported previously for the acetylation of wood. The equation was fitted more successfully to the prolonged as well as the early stage of the reaction than a common first-order rate equation. Although the conclusions were virtually unchanged, the reliability was enhanced because reaction parameters such as the rate constant, ultimate extent of the reaction, and activation energy calculated for the modified equation were based on much more data than those reported previously. The equation proposed here may be applicable not only to acetylation but to other chemical modifications of cellulosic materials in heterogeneous systems.     

Dynamic excitation and static loading tests of glulam lattice floor

A wooden lattice floor with high stiffness and damping capacity has been developed to solve noise problems in wooden apartment houses. The lattice floor consisted of Douglas fir glulam beams with inserted steel plate joints and drift pins. To examine the structural performance of the floor, dynamic excitation and static loading tests were conducted on the full size floor. The first and second order resonance frequencies of the floor were 13.5Hz and 27.0Hz, respectively. These frequencies are similar to the peak frequency of a conventional wooden floor and the combined floor fabricated from glued laminated timber and iron. The maximum static load of the floor was 127kN. The apparent flexural rigidity was less than half the value of several floors studied in the past. However, it is considered that the stiffness is improved by constructing panels and this floor has almost equivalent performance. Relative deflection was not affected by the loading history.Part of this study was presented at the International Wood Engineering Conference, New Orleans, October 1996.     

Characterization of the correlation structure of lumber strength properties

Spatially averaged data from the literature for along-the-length correlation of lumber flatwise bending modulus of elasticity and tensile strength was analyzed to determine the correlation of the base process for each property. The cross correlation between the two properties was also examined. The exponential correlation function, equivalent to a first-order auto-regressive process, was the best model for both correlation and cross correlation, based on the sum of squared errors between the correlations from the test data and the fitted model. The fitted functions can be used to generate correlation and cross correlation information for spatially averaged processes averaged over lengths different from the lengths used to obtain the test data.     

Feeding activity and life history characteristics of the generalist predator,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Chrysoperla carnea</Emphasis> (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) at different prey densities

Larvae of the common green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera :Chrysopidae) were fed with different densities of Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Petri dishes under laboratory conditions. Functional response, developmental time, mortality rate and fecundity of the predator were measured. Treatments were carried out at 25±1°C, 65±5% RH and a 16L:8D photoperiod in a controlled temperature cabinet. Prey was given at densities of 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 and 250 aphids per larva per day and the number of consumed prey, developmental time and mortality rate of the predator were recorded daily. Larvae of C. carnea responded to increasing prey densities with increasing food consumption and older larval stages displayed a higher rate of predation than younger ones. The behaviour of each of the three larval stages matched Hollings type II functional response. Larvae were able to complete their development in each of the seven prey densities, although increased prey densities reduced developmental time and mortality rate. Increased prey consumption in immature stages resulted in a higher net reproduction rate (R ₀) and the intrinsic rate of increase (r _m) of adult females.     

Leaf-litter decomposition of 15 tree species in a lowland tropical rain forest in Sarawak: dynamics of carbon,nutrients, and organic constituents

The effects of tree species on the dynamics of nutrient transformations during leaf-litter decomposition are not well understood in tropical rain forests. To examine differences in the dynamics of C, nutrients, and organic constituents during decomposition among tree species, the leaf-litter decomposition of 15 trees was assessed using a litter-bag method in a lowland tropical rain forest in Sarawak. The dynamics of C was parallel to that of weight loss. The dynamics of nutrients were grouped into three patterns. The dynamics of K was characterized by a high leaching loss in the initial stages, and that of Ca and Mg generally showed a gradual decrease over the course of decomposition. The dynamics of N and P showed highly different patterns with the weight loss, and was characterized by relatively higher remaining mass at the end of the experiment. The variations or exceptions of nutrient dynamics among tree species were considered to be related to the initial concentration of each nutrient. For the dynamics of organic constituents, water-soluble carbohydrates disappeared quickly at the initial stages, and acid-soluble carbohydrates were the second fastest decomposing fraction; the decomposition of acid-insoluble residue (AIS) was the slowest. The release of limiting nutrients (N and P) generally followed the disappearance of AIS, but was independent of the disappearance of AIS when the initial concentrations of these nutrients were very low.     

Moisture-dependent elastic characteristics of walnut and cherry wood by means of mechanical and ultrasonic test incorporating three different ultrasound data evaluation techniques

Ultrasonic testing is a non-destructive testing method of choice for estimating the anisotropic elastic properties of wood materials. This method is reliable for estimating the Young’s and shear moduli. However, its applicability to Poisson’s ratios remains uncertain. On the other hand, despite their destructive nature, mechanical tests allow a direct measurement of all elastic properties including the Poisson’s ratios. In some cases (e.g. when assessing cultural heritage objects), destructive testing may not be an option. In this work, two types of hardwood walnut (Juglans regia L.) and cherry (Prunus avium L.), which often appear on cultural heritage objects, were tested using both ultrasonic and mechanical testing methods under four different moisture conditions below fibre saturation point. The results show that a higher moisture condition leads to a decrease in material elasticity. For walnut wood, their longitudinal Young’s modulus (\(E_{\rm L}\)) was reduced by 679 MPa under the compression load for a one per cent increase in moisture content. Moreover, three ultrasound data evaluation techniques, which differ in the way they incorporate the Poisson’s ratios (full stiffness inversion, simplified uncorrected, and simplified corrected), were used to estimate the Young’s moduli (E). The main goal is to obtain reliable material parameters using the ultrasound test. As a result, it is concluded that the chosen data evaluation method influences the accuracy of the calculated E. In a certain case, the simplified-corrected method, which requires only one specimen type, gave a closer agreement to mechanical tests (e.g. \(\Delta E_{\rm T}=6\,\%\) deviation on mechanical results). In another case, the full-stiffness-inversion method, which requires four specimen types, gave the best estimation (e.g. \(\Delta E_{\rm L}=2\,\%\)). In this corresponding direction, the simplified-corrected method can only partially reduce the overestimation of the simplified uncorrected from \(\Delta E_{\rm L}=47\) to 32 %. The variation of E produced by different evaluation procedures is due to the different correction factor values, which is a consequence of the variation in \(\nu\).     

Solubility of kraft lignin-<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>-polyacrylonitrile copolymer in various ionic liquids and characterization of its solution

Lignin is a potential precursor for low-cost carbon fiber production, but it is difficult to spin and spool lignin because of its complex and interconnected molecular structure. This disadvantage can be overcome by introducing g-polyacrylonitrile (PAN) to lignin. However, the resulting copolymer is insoluble in common organic solvents. In this study, kraft lignin (KL)-g-polyacrylonitrile copolymers with different KL/PAN proportions were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method and their solubility in ionic liquids (ILs) was investigated at different temperatures. 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]Ac), 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methyl sulfate ([MMIM]MeSO4), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl), and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([BMIM]Br) were used as the ILs. At all investigated temperatures, the highest solubility of KL-g-PAN was observed in [EMIM]Ac, with the order of [MMIM]MeSO4 > BMIM]Br > [BMIM]Cl. The solubility in BMIM]Br and [BMIM]Cl was remarkably low, reaching values of less than 4 g/Kg. The viscosity and surface tension of the KL-g-PAN/[EMIM]Ac solution increased and decreased, respectively, with increasing amounts of PAN and further by the addition of dimethylformamide (DMF) to the solution. FTIR spectra of KL-g-PAN copolymers before and after dissolution suggested that PAN was partially depolymerized from the copolymer during the dissolution process.     

Thermal diffusion in Masson pine wood

In order to analyze the effects of the temperature gradient on moisture movement during the highly intensive microwave-vacuum drying, thermal diffusion of Masson pine wood was studied. Internal distribution of temperature and moisture in Masson pine samples sealed by epoxy resin and aluminum foil was measured, the magnitude of thermal diffusion was calculated and the influencing factors of thermal diffusion were discussed. Results showed that with the transfer of moisture toward the low temperature in wood, opposite temperature and moisture gradient occurred. The initial moisture content （MC）, temperature and time are important factors affecting this process; the thermal diffusion is in proportion to wood temperature, its initial moisture and time. The temperature and distance from hot surface is strongly linearly correlated, and the relationship between MCs at different locations and distance from the hot end surface changes from logarithmically form to exponentially form with the increase in experimental time.