A comprehensive review of the application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in the characterization of lignocellulosic biomass, a promising feedstock for chemical and fuel production, is presented. The diverse array of lignocellulosic materials, both naturally occurring and chemically or mechanically processed, and the various NMR techniques employed to elucidate their structural and chemical properties are explored. The review delves into the theoretical foundations of NMR and extends to detailed discussions on its use in analyzing whole biomass structures, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, lignin-carbohydrate complexes, and biomass derivatives such as platform chemicals, pyrolysis products, and digested substances. Additionally, it covers the application of NMR in monitoring reaction rates and studying biomass transformation processes in situ. Finally, the workflow of an NMR experiment and a model experiment of an unknown biomass sample are detailed to aid biomass researchers. This work aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of NMR research in biomass characterization and to inspire innovative approaches to address the complex chemical and structural challenges in this vital field of research.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly influencing technical education and manufacturing, but the implications for wood science education as well as its impact on the Malaysian wood products industry remain insufficiently mapped. This scoping review synthesized evidence from 31 peer-reviewed articles, government documents, and industry reports using the PRISMA approach, to examine three linked issues: the application of AI and Industry 4.0 technologies in wood-related production; the resulting changes in workforce competencies; and the implications for wood science and technology education in Malaysia. The review which assumed a policy-oriented theme indicated a persistent mismatch between the digital capabilities expected in technology-enabled wood manufacturing and the competencies represented in current education and training provision. At the same time, the evidence does not support an assumption that AI adoption is uniformly beneficial: implementation is constrained by SME resources, data quality, cybersecurity, workforce readiness, and the intrinsic variability of wood as a biological material. The review therefore recommends evidence-informed curriculum renewal, stronger industry-academia collaboration, targeted reskilling, and policy coordination, while emphasizing that these recommendations should be validated through stakeholder engagement and future empirical research.
This paper presents the mathematical modeling and optimization of multilayer wood veneer panels (plywood) reinforced with basalt mesh, with the aim of improving their mechanical properties under bending. This study is based on a Central Composite Design (CCD), which analyzed the influence of three factors: panel density, mesh position, and pressing pressure. Based on experimental data, second-order regression models were developed for the maximum bending force parallel to the grain of the surface veneer and perpendicular to the grain of the surface veneer, whose statistical significance was confirmed through analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicate a nonlinear influence of the factors and significant interaction effects. It was determined that the bending force parallel to the grain of the surface veneer had an optimum within the experimental space, while the maximum values perpendicular to the grain of the surface veneer occurred at the boundary of the domain. Optimization was carried out using both analytical and numerical methods (MATLAB), with good agreement between the results. Multi-criteria optimization enabled the definition of a compromise solution with balanced mechanical performance.
Early tending, involving the selective removal of competing seedlings to regulate density in young stands, is an important silvicultural practice for reducing competition, yet its short-term effects on growth dynamics of Pinus brutia seedlings are not well understood. Here, the impact of early tending was evaluated by comparing five treated and five control plots over 2.5 years, measuring seedling height and root-collar diameter. Tending reduced seedling density by approximately 89.7%, resulting in significantly accelerated growth; mean height and diameter in tended plots were 215 and 5.19 cm, respectively, compared to 111 and 2.51 cm in controls. Growth increments were about 3.7 and 3.6 times greater in tended plots. Additionally, tending altered the height–diameter relationship, indicating altered coordination between height and radial development. These findings demonstrate that early tending not only enhances growth magnitude but also reshapes growth trajectories in Pinus brutia seedlings, supporting its role as an effective silvicultural intervention to improve stand development under high competition.
Wood-decay fungi and subterranean termites shorten the service life of timber, and both become more active as temperatures rise. This study presents a climate-based framework for assessing the biodeterioration hazard of wooden heritage and applies it to all 506 state-designated wooden heritage buildings in the Republic of Korea from 1973 to 2025. Daily temperature and precipitation at each building were estimated from a bias-corrected one-kilometer climatology (cross-validated root-mean-square error 0.66 °C). Year-to-year variation was taken from anomalies at 61 long-term stations. Five annual indicators were derived: mean annual and January temperature, termite activity days, a climatic termite hazard index, and the Scheffer climate index for fungal decay. Between the first and the last decade of the record, mean annual temperature rose by 1.49 °C and January temperature by 1.65 °C; termite activity days increased by 7%, the termite hazard index by 27%, and the Scheffer index by 12%. The termite index rose more than the Scheffer index at 459 of 506 sites; these are relative changes in climate-based indices for different exposures, not measured deterioration rates. The framework supplies the hazard component of a heritage risk assessment and a baseline for projecting hazard under climate change and planning preventive conservation.
