Influence of Some Plant Fibers on the Mechanical Performance of Composite Materials

This work focused on the search for biobased materials capable of being used in road techniques as soil inclusions, and on studying the influence of their incorporation on the characteristic parameters of pavement layers. To this end, pineapple, cyperus and imperata plant fibers, due to their endemic availability, were used as reinforcement on sourced materials, notably bar soil, lateritic gravel and silty sand. Complete identification and mechanical tests (Proctor and CBR) were carried out on materials in their natural state (soil) and on composite materials (soil + plant fibers) in the laboratory to determine their classification in road geotechnics, their compaction parameters and their mechanical behavior. Firstly, the various types of 2.5 cm long fibers were incorporated into the different types of soil at mass contents of 1% and 2%. This part of the study showed that the pineapple fiber composite incorporated into class A2 bar soil offered the best results, with a 38% gain in CBR index compared with the natural soil. Pineapple fibers incorporated at 1% in lateritic gravel raise the CBR value of the reinforced soil to 10% of the CBR value of the natural soil and to 7% for silty sand.

Study on plant fiber/plastic composites as the substrate of floorboard

Three kinds of composites （fiber/Polypropylene, fiber/Polyethelene, and fiber/Polystyrene） were made by using hot pressing process for substrate of floorboard and the properties of each kind of composites were tested. MORs of PP/wood fiber, PS/fiber, and PE/fiber composites with coupling agent added were raised by 18.4%, 37.1%, and 42%. respectively, compared to those without coupling agent. Among the three kinds of fiber/plastic composites, fiber/PP composite has best mechanical properties, and it can meet quality standard of eligible grade product and come up to the excellent grade products of China when the coupling agent is added. The performance of composite made of PE/fiber or PS/fiber can exceed qualified product grade only with coupling agent added.

Effect of Plant Fiber-Polyacrylamide Blend on Retention and Evaporation Water at Arid and Semi-Arid Soils of Algeria

Soil and water conservation is essential for sustaining food production and for preserving the environment in arid and semi arid lands （ASALs） where conditions for agriculture and other land use systems are often harsh and unpredictable. The ASALs of Algeria are an important source of a variety of non wood forest products like Stipa tenacissima L. plant （esparto grass）. This research was conducted to determine the effects of different low concentration （〈 I%） polyacrylaJnide, Stipa tenacissima L. fiber （esparto grass fibers） and its mixtures with the polymer at water retention in arid and semi arid soil. All samples are characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray Diffractometry, thermal analysis TG DSC and scanning electron micrographs （SEM）. The results showed that polymer blend in soil could improve better soil physical proprieties decreased evaporation and increase water retention in arid soils compared with application of any other blend at the same concentration. The use of Polyacrylamide-Cellulose blend appears to promise for reducing the labor cost of irrigation at arid and semi-arid soils, and offers safe and environmentally friendly inexpensive materials. The importance of Polyacrylamide-Cellulose blends to alleviate poor physical properties and retain water in these arid regions to sustain plant growth.

Effects of planting dates and shading on carbohydrate content,yield,and fiber quality in cotton with respect to fruiting positions

Two cotton（Gossypium hirsutum L.） cultivars, Kemian 1（cool temperature-tolerant） and Sumian 15（cool temperaturesensitive） were used to study the effects of cool temperature on carbohydrates, yield, and fiber quality in cotton bolls located at different fruiting positions（FP）. Cool temperatures were created using late planting and low light. The experiment was conducted in 2010 and 2011 using two planting dates（OPD, the optimized planting date, 25 April; LPD, the late planting date, 10 June） and two shading levels of crop relative light rate（CRLR, 100 and 60%）. Compared with fruiting position 1（FP1）, cotton yield and yield components（fiber quality, leaf sucrose and starch content, and fiber cellulose） were all decreased on FP3 under all treatments. Compared with OPD-CRLR 100%, other treatments（OPD-CRLR 60%, LPD-CRLR 100%, and LPD-CRLR 60%） had significantly decreased lint yield at both FPs of both cultivars, but especially at FP3 and in Sumian 15; this decrease was mainly caused by a large decline in boll number. All fiber quality indices decreased under late planting and shading except fiber length at FP1 with OPD-CRLR 60%, and a greater reduction was observed at FP3 and in Sumian 15. Sucrose content of the subtending leaf and fiber increased under LPD compared to OPD, whereas it decreased under CRLR 60% compared to CRLR 100%, which led to decreased fiber cellulose content. Therefore, shading primarily decreased the ＂source＂ sucrose content in the subtending leaf whereas late planting diminished translocation of sucrose towards cotton fiber. Notably, as planting date was delayed and light was decreased, more carbohydrates were distributed to leaf and bolls at FP1 than those at FP3, resulting in higher yield and better fiber quality at FP1, and a higher proportion of bolls and carbohydrates allocated at FP3 of Kemian 1 compared to that of Sumian 15. In conclusion, cotton yield and fiber quality were reduced less at FP1 compared to those at FP3 under low temperature and low light conditions. Thus, reduced cotton yield and fiber quality loss can be minimized by selecting low temperature tolerant cultivars under both low temperature and light conditions.

Fiber from Plants,Not Petroleum

Sweetcorn and sugar are no longer just used to feed your appetite, they have joined the team of ‘green re- sources’ and instead of oil, the food farmily is paving its way to achieve a zero-waste revolution.

Toxic Gas Put 161 Workers of Jilin Chemical Fiber Plant in Hospital

A news briefing held on May 13 by local government in Jilin city of Jilin province released that 161 workers got sick symptoms as a result of their contact with an unidentified gas emitting from Jilin Chemical Fiber Group Corp.

Humans have intestinal bacteria that degrade the plant cell walls in herbivores

The cell walls of plants are mainly made of cellulose and contain a large number of calories.However,the main component,cellulose,is an indigestible plant fiber that is thought to be difficult for humans to use as energy.Herbivores acquire energy through the degradation of cell wall-derived dietary fiber by microorganisms in the digestive tract.Herbivores,especially horses,have a highly developed cecum and large intestine,and plants are fermented for their efficient use with the help of microorganisms.Humans also have an intestinal tract with a wide lumen on the proximal side of the large intestine,in which fermentation occurs.The digestive process of horses is similar to that of humans,and many of the intestinal bacteria found in horses that degrade plants are also found in humans.Therefore,it is thought that humans also obtain a certain amount of energy from cell wall-derived dietary fiber.However,the intake of dietary fiber by modern humans is low;thus,the amount of calories derived from indigestible plant fiber is considered to be very low.Cellulose in the plant cell wall is often accompanied by hemicellulose,pectin,lignin,suberin,and other materials.These materials are hard to degrade,and cellulose is therefore difficult for animals to utilize.If the cell wall can be degraded to some extent by cooking,it is thought that humans can obtain calories from cell wall-derived dietary fiber.If humans can use the calories from the cell wall for their diet,it may compensate for human food shortages.

Advances in Research of Molded Pulp for Food Packaging

The molded pulp,a product of three-dimensional papermaking technology,is environmentally friendly and has a low environmental impact due to its ability to decompose quickly in the natural environment after disposal.The application of molded pulp for food packaging can replace or reduce the use of plastic food packaging.Researchers extract fibers from plants for the production of safe and hygienic molded pulp for food packaging,and they also study and enhance the qualities of molded pulp to broaden its use in the food industry.This paper reviews the sources and varieties of plant fiber used in molded pulp for food packaging,as well as research on the improvement and optimization of the performance of molded pulp products.Additionally,issues with molded pulp’s actual use for food packaging are reviewed,along with the potential for future research.This work can serve as a reference for molded pulp applications and research in the food industry in the future.

艾比湖生态环境治理措施

新疆准噶尔盆地艾比湖流域属典型的风沙地貌聚集区,近50年来由于湖域面积不断减少,植被逐渐衰亡,在阿拉山口大风的作用下,艾比湖流域已经成为新疆沙尘暴的策源地之一,综合治理刻不容缓。流域水量逐年减少、植被大面积衰亡和阿拉山口的大风是导致艾比湖流域环境恶化的主要原因。利用风力布水,辅以植物纤维网覆盖为核心的生物综合治理方案,其可行性分析表明:该方法对逐步恢复艾比湖流域的生态有较好的应用价值,同时该技术还可以推广至湿地恢复和沙漠化治理当中。

The Alimentary Therapy for Hyperlipemia Complicated with NIDDM

Hyperlipemia is a complication commonly seen in non-insulin-dependent diabetes(NIDDM).This complication can causeischemic heart disease,cerebro-vascular disease and even lifethreatening.In order to prevent this complication and to reduce mortality of NIDDM,60patients with NIDDMand hyperlipemia were investigated.Alimentary therapy consisting of the following items was given:(1)routine control of total calorie consumption:(2)carbohydrates,lipids,proteins,vitamins and minerals taken in proportional amounts;(3)fish proteins were the main proteins in the diet;(4)dried mushroom(3g/day);(5)little tea after meal;(6)corn meal or millet gruel(5-10g./day).With this dietary regime,majority of the NIDDMpatiens with serum total lipid returned to normal or near normal.

Use of Asian selected agricultural byproducts to modulate rumen microbes and fermentation

In the last five decades, attempts have been made to improve rumen fermentation and host animal nutrition through modulation of rumen microbiota. The goals have been decreasing methane production, partially inhibiting protein degradation to avoid excess release of ammonia, and activation of fiber digestion. The main approach has been the use of dietary supplements. Since growth-promoting antibiotics were banned in European countries in2006, safer alternatives including plant-derived materials have been explored. Plant oils, their component fatty acids,plant secondary metabolites and other compounds have been studied, and many originate or are abundantly available in Asia as agricultural byproducts. In this review, the potency of selected byproducts in inhibition of methane production and protein degradation, and in stimulation of fiber degradation was described in relation to their modes of action. In particular, cashew and ginkgo byproducts containing alkylphenols to mitigate methane emission and bean husks as a source of functional fiber to boost the number of fiber-degrading bacteria were highlighted. Other byproducts influencing rumen microbiota and fermentation profile were also described. Future application of these feed and additive candidates is very dependent on a sufficient, cost-effective supply and optimal usage in feeding practice.

Economics and Performance of 10 Gb/s Metro Transport Over Mixed Fiber Plant of G.655 NZDF and G.652.C Zero Water-Peak Fibers

Using lower-cost lasers, 30% savings are possible for 10-Gb/s uncompensated metro transmission over NZDF, compared to G.652 fiber. We present WDM transmission results for a mixed plant of NZDF rings interconnected to G.652.C-fiber access laterals.

库布齐沙漠HDPE网和植物纤维网沙障防沙试验效应

在库布齐沙漠流动沙丘区建立HDPE网和植物纤维网工程沙障试验区,采用MetOne 014A/024A型8通道风速仪、8方位集沙仪、风蚀插钎,观测试验沙障影响下的风速、输沙量和地表侵蚀堆积,对比分析不同规格HDPE网、植物纤维网方格沙障和HDPE网前沿高立式阻沙沙障的防风固沙效应。结果表明:(1)一定孔隙度(50%)的方格沙障中心风速垂直变化幅度与变化规律,仅与沙障平面规格和高度(h)密切相关,与试验材料基本无关。相同平面规格的方格沙障,高度(h)大者降风效应显著;相同高度的方格沙障,小规格降风效应较为显著;(2)试验沙障及其防沙体系对风沙流输沙产生明显影响,相近地貌部位,5.0m×5.0m(h=100cm)植物纤维网方格中心输沙量远小于1.0m×1.0m(h=20cm)HDPE网方格和流动沙丘区,大规格高立式沙障固沙效应优于小规格低立式沙障;(3)试验沙障的地表侵蚀堆积状态仅与沙障规格有关,沙障材料的影响不明显。

Digestive retention times for Allen’s swamp monkey and L’Hoest’s monkey: data with implications for the evolution of cercopithecine digestive strategy

Primates access energy from plant fiber via bacterial fermentation in either a modified forestomach(‘fore­gut’),a caecocolic(‘hindgut’)chamber of the large intestine,or both.Longer digestive retention times allow for more complete fermentation;as such,primates that consume an herbivorous diet high in fiber are expected to have both relatively and absolutely longer retention times than those mammals that rely on more readily digest­ible plant foods,such as fruit.We used particulate markers to measure the digestive retention times of captive Al­len’s swamp monkeys[Allenopithecus nigroviridis(Pocock,1907)](n=3)and L’Hoest’s monkey(Cercopithe­cus lhoesti P.Sclater,1899)(n=2).Results indicate mean retention times of 23.2-29.4 h and 23.2-24.0 h for C.lhoesti and A.nigroviridus,respectively.Results from this study,in combination with previously published data on digestive retention times in other primate species,indicate that cercopithecines differ from other primate taxa by having lengthier retention times that can be predicted by body mass alone.These data are consistent with the hypothesis that relatively lengthy retention times are a primitive trait for Cercopithecinae.