• International Journal of Reliability and Applications
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.153-173
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• 2007

Wood-plastic composites (WPC) are gaining market share in the building industry because of durability/maintenance advantages of WPC over traditional wood products and because of the removal of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) pressure-treated wood from the market. In order to ensure continued market share growth, WPC manufacturers need greater focus on reliability, quality, and cost. The reliability methods outlined in this paper can be used to improve the quality of WPC and lower manufacturing costs by reducing raw material inputs and minimizing WPC waste. Statistical methods are described for analyzing stiffness (tangent modulus of elasticity: MOE) and flexural strength (modulus of rupture: MOR) test results on sampled WPC panels. Descriptive statistics, graphs, and reliability plots from these test data are presented and interpreted. Sources of variability in the MOE and MOR of WPC are suggested. The methods outlined may directly benefit WPC manufacturers through a better understanding of strength and stiffness measures, which can lead to process improvements and, ultimately, a superior WPC product with improved reliability, thereby creating greater customer satisfaction.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 1993

This study deals with the effect of dwarf growth for the wood and the structural changes of cambium in Pinus koraiensis subjected to water stress. The length and wall thickness of tracheary elements in dwarf trees was shorter and thicker than that in normal trees. The redial width and cell number of the annual rings are narrower and smaller in dwarf trees than those in normal trees. In serial tangential sections, the frequency of anticlinal division is low and loss of cambial initials is small in dwarf trees. The length of cambial initials in water deficit, trees are slightly shorter than that in normal trees, and the instructive growth of cambial initials during differentiation of xylem mother cells is inactive in dwarf trees. Thus, it is interpreted that the shortening of tracheary elements in dwarf trees is due to the fact that the length of cambial initials are shortened and the intrusive growth of those during differentiation of xylem mother cells is inactive. The structural variations in the wood of naturally occurring dwarf trees are similar to those of trees subjected to artificial water stress. Therefore, it is suggested that the variation of xylem element in dwarf trees are related to water conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.61-69
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• 2003

This study investigated the effect of moisture content and loading direction on dowel bearing strength of two types of SCL. Dowel bearing tests of LVL and PSL were conducted with two different MC level, 7.5% and 19%, and two different oriention, L-direction(loading parallel to grain) and X-direction(loading perpendicular to grain). Most of specimens showed typical load-deformation curves and intersected 5% offset line. Failure modes were classified into two categories; spliting(for L-direction specimens) and peeling(for X-direction specimens). Dowel bearing strength generally decreased with increasing MC. The decreasing rate was more significant in X-directon. ESG also decreased with increasing MC, and the ratio of ESG of 7.5% versus 19% was about 1.47. Dowel bearing strength of LVL and PSL in L-direction was higher than that of X-direction. This results indicated that MC and loading orientation had a significant effect on dowel bearing strength of SCL. The average dowel bearing strength of LVL were higher than that of PSL in each loading direction. Two types of probability distribution model were chosen to quantify strength distribution, normal and 2-parameter weibull distribution. The two models showed good agreement with the data, especially in lower tail of the cumulative distribution. Normal and 2-parameter weibull distribution seemed to proper model of the dowel bearing strength for each MC levels.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2000

Even the same materials are assembled in flush door skin panel, warping is not simply prevented under the changes of environmental conditions since wood and wood-based material have large variations in their physical and mechanical properties. The parameters such as linear movement coefficient(LMC), modulus of elasticity (MOE), required to predict warping could be estimated by oven drying method and dynamic method instead of American Society for Testing Materials(ASTM) procedure. The relationship between warping and LMC was curvilinear, while it between warping and MOE was linear. LMC had a larger effect on warping than MOE. Material propensity of skin panel such as hardboard and plywood showed normal distributions. The variation of material properties, however, was much larger in plywood than in hardboard. Monte Carlo simulation also indicated that rejection ratio of flush door due to the occurrence of warping could be predicted with consideration of the relationship of warping and parameters of probability distribution of MOE, LMC, and moisture content.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.113-125
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• 2022

This study aimed to explore the biodiversity of chemical compounds found in the bark of Guibourtia tessmannii from Gabon, commonly called Kévazingo, and evaluate their anti-termite activity to determine their potential values as a source of development of anti-termite products that can be valued in the fields of fine chemicals and wood preservation. Extraction of G. tessmannii bark powders was carried out using the cold maceration method with trichloroethylene, acetone, ethanol, and water. Phytochemical screening made it possible to highlight groups of chemical families present in the extracts. Anti-termite activity was tested on the wild termites "Cubitermes sp" of the genus Isoptera. The yield of the extracts were 17.11% for the buttress and 13.42% for the height at 6 m. Phytochemical tests revealed that alkaloids, polyphenols, sterols, tannins, reducing compounds, flavonoids, saponins, and anthraquinones were present in the extracts. Results of anti-termite activity indicated that anti-termite activity varied with the different parts of the bark studied, extraction solvent, and concentration (50/50) and (25/75) of the extracts used. The extracts at 50/50 concentration showed a slightly better anti-termite activity compared to the 25/75 concentration. In addition, the buttress Kévazingo or buttress showed the strongest anti-termite activity for the aqueous extract with a survival rate of 0% after 2 days.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.690-694
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• 2010

In this study, herbal wood vinegar including Bambusoideae, Cinnamomi Cortex, Zingiberis Rhizoma was tested to see possibility for cosmetic or skin related medicine. Anti-oxidation effect of herbal wood vinegar was tested by DPPH free radical scavenging activity, and showed 97% inhibition rate at $50{\mu}g/ml$. Anti-bacterial effect was tested by disc diffusion method, and it indicated strong anti-bacterial activity against normal skin flora Staphylococcus aureus. Whitening effect was measured by tyrosinase inhibition assay, and it was lower compared with vitamin C. Stability test was done by MTT assay, and cell toxicity was relatively high. Stability was also checked, and there was not significant change in color, aroma, appearance and pH during storage. Anti-atopic dermatitis test was done by hairless mouse and herbal wood vinegar recovered damaged skin to almost normal condition after 9 days of application. IgE concentration in herbal wood vinegar treated mouse was also reduced 30% compared with control. From the study, herbal wood vinegar showed good anti-oxidation, anti-bacterial and anti-atopic dermatitis effect, and had promising application in cosmetic or skin related medicine.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.903-912
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• 2016

Morphological and anatomical evaluation of grafted P. merkusii have been undertaken to obtain the information about compatible and incompatible symptoms of 18 years old grafts based on morphological observation and microscopic analysis. Samples of compatible and incompatible grafts were obtained from previous research conducted by the Silviculture Departement Team in 1994. Result showed that compatible grafts have normal stem form and secondary growth (diameter growth), but some abnormality symptoms like undulated pattern of annual growth rings, phloem thickening and abnormality resin ducts in inner and middle parts of the union area occurred. Incompatible ones showed abnormality of the stem form, cortex-bark necrosis and swelling in the union area. Microscopic observation showed abnormality of all parts of the union, undulated pattern of annual growth rings, phloem thickening, abnormal resin ducts, low numbers and discontinuity of vascular elements in the union area.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.173-180
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• 2000

To determine the effect of base curve and diameter of soft contact lenses on the fitting under the various corneal curvature, the model eyes which was made of either stainless steel or ordinary wood, were used as the substitutes for human eyes. The evaluations of fit of the soft contact lenses on both wood model eyes and human eyes were found to be very similar to each other. All the contact lenses except very thin ones became flat after fit on the stainless steel model eyes because the model eye could not preserve enough moisture to hold the edge of contact lenses on the steel ball's surface. The relationships between the base curves of contact lenses and radii of cornea for the optimum (normal) fit were measured as follows : corneal curvature (C.C)<7.6 mm : base curve(B.C) 8.4 mm, C.C 7.6~7.8 mm : B.C 8.4~8.5 mm. C.C 7.8~8.1 mm : B.C 8.6 mm. It is concluded that larger base curve is required for the eyes which have abnormal bulge on its cornea. It is found that very thin soft contact lenses can be easily twisted or folded regardless of moisture content when they were fit on the relatively dry eyes(corneas).

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.310-317
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• 2013

This research has been carried out to evaluate the durability characterization of larch wood used for woody erosion control dam. Wood deterioration and strength properties were analyzed according to installed position and duration. Optical and scanning electron microscope were used for examining wood deterioration, and an universal testing machine was applied for compression and shearing strength. As a result, deposited wood in water was maintained almost similar anatomical and physical properties compare to normal wood, even though it was used for seven years. In non-deposited wood which was installed on the side of the dam, heartwood did not show any significant change during seven years, while sapwood was significantly deteriorated in five years. Also, strength properties of sapwood were significantly decreased according to installed duration whereas, degree of decrease in heartwood were relatively smaller than that in sapwood.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.189-193
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• 2004

Over the past several years, research efforts have been directed both at economically producing valuable substances from the wood biomass and at producing lignolytic enzymes at a lower cost. In the present study, we found that Phellinus igniarius, the basidiomycetes, secreted lignin peroxidase as a main lignolytic enzyme, which was detected maximum activity at 16th day of culture and showed 37 kDa of molecular mass in identification by activity assay and purification by anion-exchange chromatography. The Phellinus igniarius-derived lignin peroxidase hydrolyzed steam-exploded wood (Quercus mongolica) powder into small molecules showing cytotoxicity against cancer cel1s (HepG2 hepatoma, SK-N-SH neuroblastoma, B16 melanoma, MBT-2 bladder cancer). In addition, the enzyme hydrlysates of lignins (ELg) that were extracted from the steam-exploded oak showed more potent cytotoxic effects on the cancer cells than the enzyme hydrolysates of wood biomass (EWp), indicating that the cytotoxic effect of EWp may be due to the enzyme-degraded products of lignin among the lignocellulosics. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of ELg on Chang, normal liver cells, was much less potent than that of ELg on HepG2 and B16 cancer cells, indicating that the cytotoxic effect of ELg may be specific for cancer cells. The present results suggest that Phellinus igniarius may be a useful resource for the large-scale production of lignin peroxidase and that the lignin peroxidase may be applied for the generation of valuable biodegradation products from wood lignocellulosics for medical use.