Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rocca C. Chin-On, Maria J. Barbosa, Rene H. Wijffels, Marcel Janssen
Summary: Microalgae are a promising renewable feedstock for various biobased products. To reduce production costs, a novel V-shaped photobioreactor is proposed to capture and dilute sunlight, thereby improving photosynthetic efficiencies and biomass productivities of microalgae.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Haoyu Shi, Gongyu Liu, Guilin Yang, Qingzhen Bi, Yongjie Zhao, Bo Wang, Xu Sun, Xiaoling Liu, Huan Qi, Wenhao Xu, ChungKet Thein, Hao Nan Li
Summary: This paper proposes an analytical model to calculate the size and shape of edge chipping in the scratch of soda-lime glass, considering the strain-rate hardening effect. A series of experimental trials were conducted to validate the accuracy of the model under different parameters. The key findings of this research are expected to provide meaningful and helpful references in the real fabrication of high-valued optical devices made of SLG.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jean Pierre Cavalli, Elias Frank de Araujo, Jose Miguel Reichert
Summary: The potential productivity of eucalyptus trees in Brazil was evaluated using a model and the results showed that soil type has a significant impact on productivity. Arenosols soil showed a decline in productivity after 58 months, while Acrisols soil exhibited high productivity up to 89 months.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tasneema Ishika, Emeka G. Nwoba, Cherono Kwambai, Navid R. Moheimani
Summary: The harvesting frequency significantly influences the biomass productivity and lipid content of Nannochloropsis. High frequency harvesting is preferred for generating biomass, while lowering the frequency can enhance the lipid content. Proper management of harvesting frequency is crucial to achieve optimum targeted product (biomass and/or lipid).
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Luis M. Miapia, David Ariza-Mateos, Virginia Lacerda-Quartin, Guillermo Palacios-Rodriguez
Summary: The miombo forest is an important ecosystem in Angola, with significant carbon storage capacity and ecosystem services. However, deforestation rates in the Huambo province over the past 20 years and low charcoal productive capacity may compromise the sustainability of this ecosystem.
Article
Forestry
Raffaele Spinelli, Natascia Magagnotti, Alberto Assirelli, Joao Pedro Martins, Matevz Mihelic
Summary: The study tracked the bundling of logging residues from eucalypt plantations in Portugal and Spain using a John Deere 1490 forwarder bundler over a 7-year period. It found high bundling productivity, mechanical availability, and utilization rates, with a slight decline in productivity over time possibly due to wear and challenging conditions. Bundling technique appears to thrive in the Iberian region due to its industrial eucalypt farming and bioenergy generation, offering efficient residue recovery in constrained industrial plantation settings.
Article
Forestry
Raffaele Spinelli, Barnabas Kovac, Patrik Heger, David Heilig, Balint Heil, Gabor Kovacs, Natascia Magagnotti
Summary: This study found that shortening log length specifications can significantly increase log yield in low-yielding plantations, but it also comes with an increase in harvesting cost. Measures are suggested to mitigate the cost increment.
Article
Forestry
Miranda T. Curzon, Robert A. Slesak, Brian J. Palik, Julia K. Schwager
Summary: Our study shows that the impact of management on forest productivity and recovery is influenced by factors such as soil texture, quality, and climate. Different management treatments had varying effects on above-ground biomass, soil carbon and nutrients, soil bulk density, and stand development in aspen-dominated forests. Understanding soil limitations is crucial when considering forest management impacts.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shimaa M. El Shafay, Ahmed Gaber, Walaa F. Alsanie, Mostafa E. Elshobary
Summary: The study aimed to improve biomass and biochemical constituents, especially lipid production, of Anabaena variabilis and Nostoc muscorum by formulating an optimal growth condition using various concentrations of nutrients. A. variabilis was chosen for biodiesel production due to its superior lipid and protein accumulation, while N. muscorum showed the highest carbohydrate content.
Article
Forestry
Lars Eliasson, Erik Anerud, Anders Eriksson, Henrik von Hofsten
Summary: Sieving of chipped forest fuels is suggested to reduce dry matter losses during storage, providing homogeneous material with better properties. Starscreens were found to be more productive than vibrating screens, but sieving costs were high and machine productivity limited. Profitable sieving operations require demand for the fine fraction.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOREST ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thanh-Tin Nguyen, Xuan-Thanh Bui, Huu Hao Ngo, Thi-Thuy-Duong Nguyen, Kim-Qui Nguyen, Hong-Hai Nguyen, Ky-Phuong-Ha Huynh, Julien Nemery, Takahiro Fujioka, Cong Hung Duong, Bao-Trong Dang, Sunita Varjani
Summary: Cultivating microalgae in urine using a lab-scale membrane photobioreactor (MPBR) system, it was found that a low biomass retention time of 7 days resulted in significantly higher biomass productivity and nutrient removal rates.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
David Franco Frazao, Jose Carlos Goncalves, Amelia M. Silva, Fernanda Delgado
Summary: This study evaluated the productivity of labdanum resin, seeds, and biomass in a 5-year-old shrubland, finding that annual harvest maximizes labdanum resin and photosynthetic biomass productivity, while biennial harvest maximizes seed and lignified biomass productivity.
Editorial Material
Hematology
Gaurav Goyal
Summary: The study found a high prevalence of mutations associated with clonal hematopoiesis in patients with Erdheim-Chester disease, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms of ECD and its known association with other myeloid neoplasms.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Francis J. Fields, Ritchie E. Hernandez, Ethan Weilbacher, Edgar Garcia-Vargas, Justin Huynh, Mason Thurmond, Richard Lund, Michael D. Burkart, Stephen P. Mayfield
Summary: The study isolated nine species of green algae directly from an outdoor pilot production facility, with Parachlorella kessleri-SD23 showing the highest annual productivity and lipid content in the greenhouse setting.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
M. P. Sanchez-Saavedra, F. Y. Castro-Ochoa
Summary: This study evaluated the growth characteristics, proximate composition, and fatty acid content of eleven microalgae strains, as well as their potential for biodiesel production. The findings indicated that certain microalgae strains showed promising potential for biodiesel production, including Chlorella vulgaris and Cymbella sp.
BIOENERGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Raffaele Spinelli, Barnabas Kovac, Patrik Heger, David Helig, Balint Heil, Gabor Kovacs, Natascia Magagnotti
Summary: This study explored the optimization potential of short rotation poplar plantations by manipulating log specifications and grading instructions to decrease time consumption or increase log yield. The experiment indicated that abandoning the manufacturing of a second small log was not cost-effective, but decreasing small end diameter efficiently increased log yield without negative effects on harvesting productivity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOREST ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Raffaele Spinelli, Barnabas Kovac, Patrik Heger, David Heilig, Balint Heil, Gabor Kovacs, Natascia Magagnotti
Summary: This study found that shortening log length specifications can significantly increase log yield in low-yielding plantations, but it also comes with an increase in harvesting cost. Measures are suggested to mitigate the cost increment.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
A. Assirelli, M. Brambilla, E. C. Leonello, N. Magagnotti, R. Spinelli
Summary: To minimize the burden on orchard termination and renewal, complete tree removal and processing is the most effective technique. However, specific biomass processing techniques are needed when dealing with rootstocks. This research aims to determine the efficiency of processing complete trees from orchard termination. The study found that combining a slow-speed shredder with a rotary sieve can effectively upgrade complete tree material into a viable fuel.
BIOMASS & BIOENERGY
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Raffaele Spinelli, Natascia Magagnotti, Barnabas Kovac, Patrik Heger, David Heilig, Balint Heil, Gabor Kovacs, Matevz Mihelic
Summary: Early pre-sorting of log-trees and biomass-trees during tree crop harvesting can significantly increase the overall value of the harvest and reduce harvesting costs. This method decreases productivity for the initial feller-buncher machine, but results in a higher productivity for the processor machine. Additionally, pre-sorting makes whole-tree harvesting a cheaper option compared to cut-to-length system.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOREST ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Giovanna Ottaviani Aalmo, Raffaele Spinelli, Natascia Magagnotti, Rien Visser
Summary: Automation in forestry can reduce mental workload and improve productivity, but it is necessary to consider its impacts on other tasks.
Article
Forestry
Raffaele Spinelli, Natascia Magagnotti, Giulio Cosola, Benjamin Engler, Stefan Leitner, Renato Vidoni
Summary: A survey conducted in northern Italy on 12 cable yarding operations revealed that the excavator-based processor was the main consumer of fuel, while the yarder accounted for less fuel consumption. The study also found that set up and dismantle, as well as commuting, occupied a significant share of total time, while relocation had a minimal impact on time and fuel use.
Article
Forestry
Stefan Leitner, Massimiliano Renzi, Raffaele Spinelli, Renato Vidoni
Summary: This research focuses on the design of hybrid tower yarder drivetrains in the forestry sector to facilitate the transition to more sustainable equipment. Through simulation and data analysis, the best design and control algorithms are determined. The results confirm the feasibility of hybridization and the potential for energy recovery.
Article
Forestry
Rien M. M. Visser, Raffaele Spinelli
Summary: Skidders are cost-effective extraction machines. A study in Southland, New Zealand, compared the performance of a two-axle skidder with and without winch assistance on different slope trails. The study found that winch assistance improved productivity by 8% on a 30% slope trail, but had no positive effect on a 40% slope trail. Preliminary soil disturbance assessment showed low soil disturbance at the harvest site.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Joern Erler, Raffaele Spinelli, Andreja Duka
Summary: This article presents a project proposal approved in the ERASMUS+ program for developing an e-learning tool for teaching forest technology at the Master's level. The article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning and provides a detailed overview of the development of course contents.
Article
Forestry
Raffaele Spinelli, Natascia Magagnotti, Giulio Cosola
Summary: Interviews with 51 entrepreneurs revealed that cable-yarding specialist companies in Italy are typically small-scale businesses, employing 3 to 5 operators and producing about 5000 m(3) over bark annually. Their main equipment is tower yarders, supported by adapted farm tractors and excavators. Alpine entrepreneurs differ from non-alpine ones in terms of productivity and versatility due to differences in work environment. Non-alpine loggers face limitations such as fragmented private ownership, smaller hardwood trees, and less valuable timber products. However, further expansion of cable-logging south of the Alps could be achieved through the development of new equipment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOREST ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Raffaele Spinelli, Natascia Magagnotti, Barnabas Kovacs, Patrik Heger, Matevz Mihelic
Summary: The study compared the effectiveness of two different logging methods, cut-to-length (CTL) and whole-tree-harvesting (WTH), with two log length specifications (2 m vs. 4 m). The research aimed to determine which combination of method and log length resulted in lower costs and/or better log yield. The study found that CTL harvesting into 4-m long logs was the most effective solution, offering a better log yield compared to WTH and incurring similar harvesting costs. Shortening log length to 2 m increased harvesting costs by 25%.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Natascia Magagnotti, Matevz Mihelic, Anna Perazzolo, Raffaele Spinelli
Summary: The study investigates the forest interventions conducted on small-scale forests by Forest Service crews in Verona, Italy, with a focus on restoring degraded forests. Data from 340 worksites over 17 years were used to analyze operational performance and trends. Most interventions involved thinning and conversion of softwood plantations and beech/mixwood coppice stands, with softwood thinning becoming more prevalent over time. Productivity varied between 1 and 8 m3 per worker day, with fuel consumption of 0.4 l m-3 or 38 l ha-1.
SMALL-SCALE FORESTRY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Benno Eberhard, Natascia Magagnotti, Rodolfo Picchio, Raffaele Spinelli
Summary: Coppice management is becoming more popular due to its ability to meet multiple demands in modern forestry. Mechanization is needed to improve profitability, and this study found that there were no significant differences in the resprouting ability of stumps between using an excavator mounted disc saw and an excavator mounted hydraulic shear.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Economics
Sara Lorenzini, Nadia von Jacobi
Summary: This paper fills the gap in the literature on polycentric governance by focusing on the micro-processes of conflict that precede its establishment. Through a comparative analysis of four case studies, the authors find that conflict can lead to negotiations and the eventual establishment of common procedural rules, which can sustain polycentric governance.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Hubert Palus, Lenka Marcinekova, Jaroslav Salka
Summary: The complexity and comprehensiveness of sustainability issues in forest certification schemes require knowledge based and transparent decision-making processes, which involve open and multi-stakeholder participation. This study examines the latest PEFC national sustainable forest management standard revision process in Slovakia from the viewpoint of stakeholder participation. The results highlight the importance of stakeholder understanding, trust, and satisfaction in the effectiveness of the revision process.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Nicholas Palaschuk, Jason Gauthier, Ryan Bullock
Summary: Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are important for the spiritual and cultural identity of Indigenous communities, but current forest policies in Canada do not adequately protect these resources. This research used a participatory approach and community interviews to document local criteria, elements, and values related to NTFP development and conservation. The resulting framework can guide decision making and promote socio-economic benefits for the Missanabie Cree First Nation.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Laila Berning, Metodi Sotirov
Summary: This paper analyzes the coalition politics driven by beliefs and interests in the new European Union Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR). The study identifies pro-regulation and contra-regulation coalitions and highlights the strategic alliance formed between pro-EUDR business actors and other pro-coalitions. Despite opposition from a weaker contra-regulation coalition, the EUDR was ultimately institutionalized as a compromise solution accommodating different beliefs and interests of state and non-state actors.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Mehwish Zuberi, Michael Spies, Jonas o. Nielsen
Summary: Smallholder farmers play a crucial role in agrarian value chains in the Global South, but they are often neglected in technology-oriented agricultural interventions. However, they face challenges such as lack of resources, established crop rotation patterns, and market and climatic factors.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
James Chamberlain, Carsten Smith-Hall
Summary: More countries are adopting novel approaches to transition to a forest-based bioeconomy, which can address global challenges such as sustainable forest management, poverty alleviation, and climate change mitigation. Utilizing non-timber forest products is crucial for the realization of a forest-based bioeconomy.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Keith Barney
Summary: The social impacts of industrial wood plantations in Southeast Asia, specifically in Laos, are debated. This study finds that under certain conditions, these plantations can positively contribute to local livelihoods, but there are still issues of land dispossession and inadequate compensation.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)