Treesearch

Nanotechnology is defined as the manipulation of materials measuring 100 nanometers or less in at least one dimension. Nanotechnology is expected to be a critical driver of global economic growth and development in this century. Already, this broad multi-disciplinary field is providing glimpses of exciting new capabilities, enabling materials, devices, and systems that can be examined, engineered, and fabricated at the nanoscale. Using nanotechnology to controllably produce nanomaterials with unique properties is expected to revolutionize technology and industry.

Small-scale gasification plants that generate electrical energy from forest health thinnings may have the potential to deliver substantial amounts of electricity to the national grid. We evaluated the economic feasibility of two sizes of BioMax, a generator manufactured by the Community Power Corporation of Littleton, Colorado. At current avoided- cost electricity prices in Oregon, it would not be economical to operate a small-scale (100-kW) BioMax without a subsidy or tax credit, even if fuel were delivered to the plant at a forest landing at no cost. Given a tax credit, a 1,000-kW system...

This study compares prices from various timber market reports and an estimate of timber value derived from product-selling prices and manufacturing costs. In the South, two primary sources of timber price information are Forest2Market (F2M) and Timber Mart-South (TMS). Comparisons showed that F2M prices are generally higher than TMS prices for both stumpage and delivered timber. Residual value (RV) estimates tended to vary from these at any given time. Over 5 years, however, the negative and positive deviations largely offset each other, resulting in roughly the same average price levels,...

Solid-sawn lumber (Douglas-fir, southern pine, Spruce–Pine–Fir, and yellow-poplar), laminated veneer lumber (Douglas-fir, southern pine, and yellow-poplar), and laminated strand lumber (aspen and yellow-poplar) were heated continuously at 82°C (180°F) and 80% relative humidity (RH) for periods of up to 24 months. The lumber was then reconditioned to room temperature at 20% RH and tested in edgewise bending. Little reduction occurred in modulus of elasticity (MOE) of solid-sawn lumber, but MOE of composite lumber products was somewhat reduced. Modulus of rupture (MOR) of solid- sawn lumber...

This revision of the classification of unicellular eukaryotes updates that of Levine et al. (1980) for the protozoa and expands it to include other protists. Whereas the previous revision was primarily to incorporate the results of ultrastructural studies, this revision incorporates results from both ultrastructural research since 1980 and molecular phylogenetic studies. We propose a scheme that is based on nameless ranked systematics. The vocabulary of the taxonomy is updated, particularly to clarify the naming of groups that have been repositioned. We recognize six clusters of eukaryotes...

Inorganic/organic hybrid adsorbents for removing orthophosphate from water were prepared by lanthanum (La) treatment of bark fiber, a lignocellulosic material obtained from juniper (Juniperusmonosperma). The La was anchored to the juniper bark (JB) fiber by ion exchange with Ca in the bark and was responsible for removing orthophosphate. Two La concentrations (0.01 and 0.1 M) were used that resulted in loadings of 0.198 (La/JB01) and 0.302 (La/JB02) mmol of La g -1 of fiber, respectively. At circumneutral pH conditions, La exhibited a strong affinity for bark, but significant La desorption...

Contrary to what might be called popular myth, research shows that allowing exterior wood surfaces to weather before applying paint does not help the cause of long-term coating performance. Instead, weathering prior to painting has been shown to contribute significantly to premature failure of the finish due to loss of adhesion.

Xylitol production by Pichia stipitis FPL-YS30, a xyl3-Ä1 mutant that metabolizes xylose using an alternative metabolic pathway, was investigated under aerobic and oxygen-limited culture conditions. Under both culture conditions, FPL-YS30 (xyl3-Ä1) produced a negligible amount of ethanol and converted xylose mainly into xylitol with comparable yields (0.30 and 0.27 g xylitol/g xylose). However, xylose consumption increased five-fold under aerobic compared to oxygen-limited conditions. This suggests that the efficiency of the alternative route of xylose assimilation is affected by respiratio...

The research presented herein is the first attempt to probe the chemical nature of lignocellulosic samples by the application of carbon near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (C-NEXAFS). C-NEXAFS is a soft X-ray technique that principally provides selective interrogation of discrete atomic moieties using photoelectrons of variable energies. The X1A beam line of the National Synchrotron Light Source was employed for the specific purpose of observing carboxylic acid moieties that display a signature absorption band centered at 289 eV. This study caps a larger effort to...

The Paleogene record of Afro-Arabia is represented by few fossil localities, most of which are coastal. Here we report sedimentological and paleontological data from continental Oligocene strata in northwestern Ethiopia. These have produced abundant plant fossils and unique assemblages of vertebrates, thus filling a gap in what is known of Paleogene interior Afro-Arabia. The study area is approximately 60 km west of Gondar, Chilga Woreda; covers about 100 km2; and represents as few as 1 Myr based on radiometric dates and paleomagnetic chronostratigraphy. The sedimentary strata are 150 m...