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Medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) have attracted considerable attention in recent decades due to their exceptional material properties and design flexibility. In this study, lightweight and non-equiatomic MEAs with low density (~5 g/cm3), high strength (yield strength: 1200 MPa), and high ductility (plastic deformation: ≧10%) were explored. We fine-tuned a previously developed Ti-rich MEA by microalloying it with small amounts of Ni (reducing the atomic radius and increasing the elastic modulus) through solid solution strengthening to achieve a series of MEAs with enhanced mechanical properties. Among the prepared MEAs, Ti65Ni1 and Ti65Ni3 exhibited optimal properties in terms of the balance between strength and ductility. Furthermore, the Ti65Ni3 MEA was subjected to thermo-mechanical treatment (TMT) followed by cold rolling 70% (CR70) and cold rolling 85% (CR85). Subsequently, the processed samples were rapidly annealed at 743 °C, 770 °C, 817 °C, and 889 °C at a heating rate of 15 °C/s. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the MEA could retain its single-body-centered cubic solid solution structure after TMT. Additionally, the tensile testing results revealed that increasing the annealing temperature led to a decrease in yield strength and an increase in ductility. Notably, the Ti65Ni3 MEA sample that was subjected to CR70 and CR85 processing and annealed for 30 s exhibited high yield strength (>1250 MPa) and ductility (>13%). In particular, the Ti65Ni3 MEA subjected to CR85 exhibited a specific yield strength of 264 MPa·cm3/g, specific tensile strength of 300 MPa·cm3/g, and ductility of >13%.

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PURPOSE: To determine the changes in keratometry measurements and refraction in patients having the thermo-mechanical periorbital skin treatment, Tixel®, to treat dry eye disease (DED). METHODS: A multi-centre, prospective, non-masked study was conducted. DED patients were recruited in 3 international centres and were evaluated in 5 visits separated by an interval of 2 weeks except for the last visit which took place after 18 weeks from visit 1. The same clinical examination was performed at all visits: OSDI questionnaire, tear stability, keratometry, best corrected visual acuity and refraction. Tixel® treatment was applied at the first 3 visits. RESULTS: 89 participants (24 males/65 females; mean age: 55.0 ± 14.2 years) were included: 20 presented moderate DED symptoms and 69 severe DED symptoms. Significant differences were found for the spherocylindrical refraction (vector analysis) between visit 1 and visits 2 and 3. Following cumulative analysis, 11.86 % and 16.94 % of participants had more than 0.5 dioptre (D) change in mean keratometry and keratometric astigmatism, respectively, at 3 months post-treatment. A total of 5.40 % had a sphere and cylinder change greater than 0.50D and 16.21 % had the axis changed more than 10 degrees (vector analysis). These changes were particularly significant in patients with severe DED symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Keratometry readings and refraction can change following thermo-mechanical skin treatment for DED, especially in those patients with severe DED symptoms. This should be considered as potential errors in intraocular lens calculations may be induced.

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Using mechanical cues for cancer cells can realize precise control and efficient therapeutic effects. However, the cell cycle-specific response for dynamic mechanical manipulation is barely investigated. Here, RGD-modified iron oxide nanomanipulators were utilized as the intracellular magneto-mechanical transducers to investigate the mechanical impacts on the cell cycle under a dynamic magnetic field for cancer treatment. The G2/M phase was identified to be sensitive to the intracellular magneto-mechanical modulation with a synergistic treatment effect between the pretreatment of cell cycle-specific drugs and the magneto-mechanical destruction, and thus could be an important mechanical-targeted phase for regulation of cancer cell death. Finally, combining the cell cycle-specific drugs with magneto-mechanical manipulation could significantly inhibit glioma and breast cancer growth in vivo. This intracellular mechanical stimulus showed cell cycle-dependent cytotoxicity and could be developed as a spatiotemporal therapeutic modality in combination with chemotherapy drugs for treating deep-seated tumors.

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Grasses are potential candidate to replace wood as a raw material for pulping and paper making, and several processes have been developed to produce grass pulp. In this study, wheat straw was used as raw material, and the possibility of sequential treatment with a mechanical method and deep eutectic solvent (DES) to prepare high-quality dissolving pulp was explored. Firstly, the wheat straw was mechanically treated, and then the wheat straw was delignified using a choline chloride-lactic acid deep eutectic solvent. The results showed that the optimal treatment conditions of deep eutectic solvent were 110 °C, 6 h, and a solid-liquid ratio (ratio of pulp to DES) of 1:40. The removal rate of lignin was 82.92%, the glucose content of pulp was increased by 11.42%. The DES recovery rate was further calculated, and the results showed that the DES recovery rate was more than 50% with rotary evaporation. The pulp viscosity after bleaching was 472 mL/g, and the α-cellulose accounted for 81.79%. This treatment has advantages in biomass refining, and the total utilization rate of wheat straw reaches 72%. This study confirmed that combined mechanical and deep eutectic solvent treatment can effectively remove lignin from wheat straw to produce high-quality wheat straw dissolving pulp.

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There is a clear need for the development of management strategies to control dominant, perennial weeds and restore semi-natural communities and an important part of this is to know how long control treatments take to be effective and how long they last after treatments stop. Here, we report the results from a 17-year long experiment where we compared the effects of five control treatments on dense Pteridium aquilinum (L. Kuhn) relative to an untreated experimental-control in Derbyshire, UK. The experiment was run in two phases. In Phase 1 (2005-2012) we controlled the P. aquilinum by cutting and bruising, both twice and thrice annually, and a herbicide treatment (asulam in year 1, followed by annual spot-re-treatment of all emergent fronds). In Phase 2 (2012-2021) all treatments were stopped, and the vegetation was allowed to develop naturally. Between 2005 and 2021 we monitored P. aquilinum performance annually and full plant species composition at intervals. Here, we concentrate on analysing the Phase 2 data where we used regression approaches to model individual species responses through time and unconstrained ordination to compare treatment effects on the entire species composition over both Phases. Remote sensing was also used to assess edge invasion in 2018. At the end of Phase 1, a good reduction of P. aquilinum and restoration of acid-grassland was achieved for the asulam and cutting treatments, but not for bruising. In Phase 2, P. aquilinum increased through time in all treated plots but the asulam and cutting ones maintained a much lower P. aquilinum performance for nine years on all measures assessed. There was a reduction in species richness and richness fluctuations, especially in graminoid species. However, multivariate analysis showed that the asulam and cutting treatments were stationed some distance from the untreated and bruising treatments with no apparent sign of reversions suggesting an Alternative Stable State had been created, at least over this nine-year period. P. aquilinum reinvasion was mainly from plot edges. The use of repeated P. aquilinum control treatments, either through an initial asulam spray with annual follow-up spot-spraying or cutting twice or thrice annually for eight years gave good P. aquilinum control and helped restore an acid-grassland community. Edge reinvasion was detected, and it is recommended that either whole-patch control be implemented or treatments should be continued around patch edges.

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The present paper aims to provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art mechanical surface modification technologies and their response in terms of surface roughness, surface texture, and microstructural change due to cold work-hardening, affecting the surface integrity and corrosion resistance of different Mg alloys. The process mechanics of five main treatment strategies, namely, shot peening, surface mechanical attrition treatment, laser shock peening, ball burnishing, and ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification, were discussed. The influence of the process parameters on plastic deformation and degradation characteristics was thoroughly reviewed and compared from the perspectives of surface roughness, grain modification, hardness, residual stress, and corrosion resistance over short- and long-term periods. Potential and advances in new and emerging hybrid and in-situ surface treatment strategies were comprehensively eluded and summarised. This review takes a holistic approach to identifying the fundamentals, pros, and cons of each process, thereby contributing to bridging the current gap and challenge in surface modification technology for Mg alloys. To conclude, a brief summary and future outlook resulting from the discussion were presented. The findings would offer a useful insight and guide for researchers to focus on developing new surface treatment routes to resolve surface integrity and early degradation problems for successful application of biodegradable Mg alloy implants.

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Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) and waste epoxy resin powder (WERP) generated after crushing are the most crucial hazardous materials in the recycling process of household e-waste. In this study, a sustainable treatment approach was established in response to the drawbacks of traditional treatment methods. The baseline and hypothetical scenarios were as follows: (1) scenario 1 (S1): WPCBs mechanical treatment, WERP safe landfill; (2) scenario 2 (S2): WPCBs mechanical treatment, WERP imitation stone bricks production. Based on the material flow analysis and comprehensive evaluation, the most profitable and environmentally friendly scenario was selected and assumed to be promoted in Jiangsu area and China from 2013 to 2029. The analysis result showed that S2 had the best economic performance and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) emission reductions potential. S2 is the best option that can gradually replace the traditional recycling model. With the promotion of S2, China would reduce the emissions of PBDEs by 700.8 kg. Meanwhile, it could save $542.2 million in WERP landfill costs, produce 1260.2 kt of imitation stone bricks, and generate $2308.5 million in economic benefits. In conclusion, this study can offer a new idea for dismantling products treatment of household e-waste and provide scientific knowledge to improve the sustainable management.

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Cellulose micro- and nanofibers (CNFs) are commonly regarded as "greener" than petro-based materials. The high energy input that their production still demands, along with the use of chemicals or heat in some pretreatments, asks for a critical view. This paper attempts a life cycle assessment of CNFs produced from bleached hardwood kraft pulp via three different pre-treatments before mechanical homogenization. First, a fully mechanical route, based on a Valley beating pre-treatment. Second, an enzymatic route, based on endoglucanases and requiring certain temperature (~50 °C). Third, a TEMPO-mediated oxidation route, considering not only the impact of the chemical treatment itself but also the production of TEMPO from ammonia and acetone. The main output of the study is that both, mechanical and TEMPO-mediated oxidation routes, present lower impacts than the enzymatic pre-treatment. Although the mechanical route presents slightly milder contributions to climate change, acidification, eutrophication, and other indicators, saying that TEMPO-mediated oxidation is environmentally unfeasible should be put under question. After all, and despite being disregarded in most assessment publications up to date, it is the only well-known way to selectively oxidize primary hydroxyl groups and thus producing kinds of CNFs that are unthinkable by other ways.

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Liquid packaging board is one of the highly demanded packaging mediums for liquid food and beverages, generating substantial waste each year. Even though the fibre part of the liquid packaging board is recycled through a repulping process, the plastic and aluminium are usually used for energy recovery and as alternative raw materials in cement factories. This practice reduces the life span and economic value of plastic and aluminium, which does not fit within a circular economy. The plastic and aluminium from liquid packaging board waste can be recycled mechanically and chemically. This study used the consequential life-cycle assessment method to compare the environmental impact of the recovery options of rejected materials from liquid packaging board waste treatment. Four scenarios were established: (1) energy recovery by waste incineration, (2) composite pallet production by mechanical recycling, (3) plastic pallet production by mechanical recycling, and (4) plastic pallet production by chemical recycling. The study showed that when the consumed energy was supplied from renewable sources, plastic pallet production by mechanical recycling process had the lowest environmental impact, and energy recovery by waste incineration had the highest impact. A sensitivity analysis revealed that composite pallet production by mechanical recycling process showed the best impact if the energy was sourced from the average production mix, and plastic pallet production by chemical recycling had the lowest impact when mechanically recycled plastic substituted for 0%, 30%, and 50% of virgin plastic. These results should be of interest to liquid packaging board manufacturers and other related stakeholders.

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The shift towards renewable energy mix has resulted in an exponential growth of the photovoltaic (PV) industry over the past few decades. Parallelly, new recycling technology developments are required to address the incoming volume of waste as they gradually approach their end-of-life (EoL) to realize the concept of a circular economy. Typical recycling processes involve high-temperature burning for separation and release of the PV cells for metal recovery processes. However, this thermal process generates gaseous by-products that cause serious health and environmental issues. Eschewing the need for burning, we demonstrate a simple crush-and-sieve methodology to strategically aids the separation of polymeric and metallic contents. The proposed approach showcased the efficient size-selective separation and generated polymer- and metal-rich fractions. More than 90 % of the total polymer present within the studied wastes was found to be retained in larger sized-particle fractions (F1 and F2). Metal content analysis highlighted the enrichment of highly valuable silver into the smallest sized-particle fraction (F4), accounting up to 70 % and 80 % of total silver present respectively for EVAc and MP. The benefits ripe through this simple crush-and-sieve method offers an attractive pathway for PV recycling process to obtain metal-rich fractions and allow focused recovery of valuable materials through an environmentally friendlier manner.

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In this study, the aim was to evaluate the effects of the adjuvant piperacillin-tazobactam solution in the mechanical treatment of periodontitis. A single-blind split-mouth randomized study, it included 24 participants. All of them presented periodontitis stage III according to the 2018 World Workshop classification and the presence of at least one of the following periodontal pathogens: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans; Porphyromona gingivalis; Treponema denticola; Tannerella forsythia; Prevotella intermedia. The study established two groups: a control group (SRP: scaling and root planing) and a test group (SRP plus local piperacillin-tazobactam). The final recruitment included 11 women (45.8%) and 13 men (54.2%). The age range was between 25 and 72 years, and the mean age was 57 ± 10.20 years. Clinical controls were performed at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months, repeating the SRP and applying the piperacillin-tazobactam solution again at the 3-month appointment. The clinical attachment level decreased by a mean of 2.13 ± 0.17 mm from the baseline to 6 months in the test group versus 1.63 ± 0.18 mm in the control group. The mean probing pocket depth decreased from 1.32 ± 0.09 mm in the test group, versus from 0.96 ± 0.14 mm on the control side. The plaque index in the test group decreased by 0.46 ± 0.04, while it decreased by an average of 0.31 ± 0.04 in the control group. In conclusion, the local use of piperacillin-tazobactam as complementary therapy produces better clinical results in patients with periodontitis. However, these results are not maintained over time, and so a more persistent local application is necessary.

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Biodegradable cellulose films with excellent mechanical, optical, and functional properties have attracted considerable attention as promising alternatives to plastics for photoelectronic devices. In this work, mechanically ductile, flame-retardant cellulose films with tunable optical properties were prepared by simple mechanical disintegration of phosphorylated cellulose (PhC) fibers, vacuum filtration of as-prepared dispersions, and subsequent pressing of the wet PhC films to prepare dried films. When mechanical disintegration conditions were optimized, the resultant PhC films exhibited an average density, tensile strength, Young's modulus, tensile toughness, and folding resistance of 1.4 g/cm3, 150 MPa, 8.5 GPa, 8.2 MJ/m3, and 4580 times, respectively. The PhC film hazes were widely controllable from 9 % to 91 %, while they maintained high light transmittances (>90 %) at a 550-nm wavelength. The PhC films were used for light management of light-emitting diodes by controlling mechanical fibrillation conditions of the PhC fiber/water slurry, showing that the films effectively improved the luminescence uniformity of the devices.

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The influence of the geometric modification (GM) of fumed nanoscale silica A300 (NS) on the adsorption capacity of human serum albumin (HSA) as well as the physicochemical and textural properties of the protein/nanosilica system was analyzed. An effective medical enterosorbent based on fumed nanosilica was designed and produced in the Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. To design an effective nanomaterial for biomedical applications as a wound-healing material, the adsorption, physicochemical and surface properties of the initial nanosilica (NS), nanosilica after geometric modification (GM-nanosilica), and HSA/nanosilica biocomposites were characterized. The differences in sorption capacities, acid-base, textural, and surface properties of the obtained materials were monitored using the diffuse UV-vis reflectance spectroscopy, the potentiometric titration of suspension, the nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, the scanning electron microscopy with the energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis and the digital optical microscope. For a deeper understanding of the nature of immobilized HSA molecules on the nanosilica and GM-nanosilica, the surface functional groups were characterized by the FTIR spectroscopy. It was found that the adsorption properties, physicochemical and textural characteristics of fumed nanoscale silica depend on the mechanical treatment time (tMT) and bulk density (db). In fact, as the tMT increases, the db of initial fumed nanosilica increases, and the protein adsorption capacity decreases, however, it remains at an acceptable level: 0.075 g/g, 0.056 g/g, 0.032 g/g for GM-nanosilica after 1, 4, and 7 h of mechanical treatment, respectively. HSA adsorption significantly changes the surface morphology, acid-base character, and structure of both unmodified and modified nanosilica.

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PURPOSE: To examine the effects of treatment with a thermomechanical skin device to the eyelid area on the clinical signs and symptoms of patients who suffer from dry eye disease (DED) secondary to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). METHODS: Forty patients aged 45 years or older with DED due to MGD were recruited. Both eyes (n = 80) of each patient received three treatments with the Tixel device (Novoxel®, Israel), with each treatment separated by a 2-week period. Treatment was applied across the upper and lower eyelids, with the same intensity, tip protrusion distance, and contact duration. Two additional follow-up visits were performed at 2-week intervals after treatment cessation. DED status was evaluated during each visit via SPEED II questionnaire, tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal staining score (CSS), MGD score, and frequency of lubricant use. Visual acuity (VA) was recorded during first and last visits. RESULTS: Mean age was 64.3 ± 12.4 years and 72.5 % (n = 29) were female. 45 % (n = 18) had a history of blepharitis, 12.5 % (n = 5) had chalazia, and 17.5 % (n = 7) suffered from allergic conjunctivitis. Mean follow-up time was 2.1 ± 0.6 months. Comparing the first and last visits, all parameters showed significant improvement after Tixel treatment: mean SPEED II scores (16.5 ± 5.9 to 11.8 ± 6.7, p < 0.001), CSS (2.0 ± 1.3 to 0.5 ± 0.9, p < 0.001), TBUT (2.7 ± 0.8 s to 6.5 ± 2.2 s, p < 0.001), MGD score (2.7 ± 0.5 to 1.2 ± 0.4, p < 0.001), and rate of lubricant use (3.4 ± 2.4 per day to 1.9 ± 2.0, p < 0.001). VA also improved (0.10 ± 0.11 logMAR to 0.08 ± 0.10 logMAR, p < 0.05). No major side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study Tixel treatment induced significant improvement of signs and symptoms among patients with DED due to MGD. Benefits persisted for at least one month. Further randomized controlled double-blinded studies are needed.

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Due exceptional properties such as its high-temperature resistance, mechanical characteristics, and relatively lower price, the demand for carbon fiber has been increasing over the past years. The widespread use of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers or plastics (CFRP) has attracted many industries. However, on the other hand, the increasing demand for carbon fibers has created a waste recycling problem that must be overcome. In this context, increasing plastic waste from the new 3D printing technology has been increased, contributing to a greater need for recycling efforts. This research aims to produce a recycled composite made from different carbon fiber leftover resources to reinforce the increasing waste of Polylactic acid (PLA) as a promising solution to the growing demand for both materials. Two types of leftover carbon fiber waste from domestic industries are handled: carbon fiber waste (CF) and carbon fiber-reinforced composite (CFRP). Two strategies are adopted to produce the recycled composite material, mixing PLA waste with CF one time and with CFRP the second time. The recycled composites are tested under tensile test conditions to investigate the impact of the waste carbon reinforcement on PLA properties. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is carried out on composites to study their thermal properties.

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Plant food wastes generated through the food chain have attracted increasing attention over the last few years not only due to critical environmental and economic issues but also as an available source of valuable components such as dietary fibers. However, the exploitation of plant waste remains limited due to the lack of appropriate processing technologies to recover and tailor fiber functionalities. Among the different technologies developed for waste valorization, mechanical techniques were suggested to be a promising and sustainable strategy to extract fibers with improved functionalities. In this context, the present review describes different mechanical technologies (conventional and innovative) with potential applications to produce micro/nanofibers from various plant residues, highlighting the operating principle as well as the main advantages and pitfalls. The impact on the structural, technological, and functional properties of fibrous materials is comprehensively discussed. The extent of fiber modification not only highly depended on the technology and operation conditions used but also on fiber composition and the application of posttreatments such as dehydration. Other variables, including economic and environmental issues such as equipment cost, energy demand, and eco-friendly features, are also reviewed. The outputs of this review can be used by both the industrial sector and academia to select a suitable combination of fiber and processing technology for designing novel foods with improved functionalities that fulfill market trends and consumer needs.

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The objective of this research was to study the effect of an optimal mechanical treatment method to reduce the mortar adhered on recycled aggregates (RCA) on the long-term mechanical properties and durability of concretes containing RCA at different replacement levels. It was found that concretes incorporating treated RCA exhibited sharper and more significant increase on 90- and 365-day compressive strengths than any other investigated mixture. The same mixtures also benefitted from a 'shrinkage-controlling' effect, where strains and mass losses were reduced by almost 15% and 10%, respectively, compared to the reference concrete. While sulfate resistance and carbonation resistance are predominantly defined by the hydration products available within the cement paste and not to a large extent by the aggregate type and quality, the incorporation of either treated or untreated RCA in concrete did not appear to expose RACs to significant durability threats.

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The properties of cement concrete using waste materials-namely, recycled cement mortar, fly ash-slag, and recycled concrete aggregate-are presented. A treatment process for waste materials is proposed. Two research experiments were conducted. In the first, concretes were made with fly ash-slag mix (FAS) and recycled cement mortar (RCM) as additions. The most favorable content of the concrete additive in the form of RCM and FAS was determined experimentally, and their influence on the physical and mechanical properties of concrete was established. For this purpose, 10 test series were carried out according to the experimental plan. In the second study, concretes containing FAS-RCM and recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) as a 30% replacement of natural aggregate (NA) were prepared. The compressive strength, frost resistance, water absorption, volume density, thermal conductivity, and microstructure were researched. The test results show that the addition of FAS-RCM and RCA can produce composites with better physical and mechanical properties compared with concrete made only of natural raw materials and cement. The detailed results show that FAS-RCM can be a valuable substitute for cement and RCA as a replacement for natural aggregates. Compared with traditional cement concretes, concretes made of FAS, RCM, and RCA are characterized by a higher compressive strength: 7% higher in the case of 30% replacement of NA by RCA with the additional use of the innovative FAS-RCM additive as 30% of the cement mass.

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Oat bran is a nutritionally rich ingredient, but it is underutilized in semi-moist and liquid foods due to technological issues such as high viscosity and sliminess. The aim of this work was to improve the technological properties of oat bran concentrate (OBC) in high-moisture food applications by enzymatic and mechanical treatments. OBC was hydrolyzed with ß-glucanase (OBC-Hyd) and the water-soluble fraction (OBC-Sol) was separated. OBC, OBC-Hyd and OBC-Sol were further microfluidized at 5% dry matter content. Enzymatic treatment and microfluidization of OBC reduced the molecular weight (Mw) of ß-glucan from 2748 kDa to 893 and 350 kDa, respectively, as well as the average particle size of OBC (3.4 and 35 times, respectively). Both treatments increased the extractability of the soluble compounds from the OBC samples (up to 80%) and affected their water retention capacity. OBC in suspension had very high viscosity (969 mPa·s) when heated, which decreased after both enzyme and microfluidization treatments. The colloidal stability of the OBC in suspension was improved, especially after microfluidization. The addition of OBC samples to acid milk gels decreased syneresis, improved the water holding capacity and softened the texture. The changes in the suspension and gel characteristics were linked with reduced ß-glucan Mw and OBC particle size.

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Restoration goals in fire-prone conifer forests include mitigating fire hazard while restoring forest structural components linked to disturbance resilience and ecological function. Restoration of overstory spatial pattern in forests often falls short of management objectives due to complexities in implementation, regulation, and available data. When historical data is available, it is often collected at plots too small to inform coarse-scale metrics like gap size and structure of tree patches (e.g., 1 ha). Principles of ecological forestry typically emphasize overstory removal patterns that emulate those of natural disturbances. So, low- and moderate-severity portions of contemporary wildfires may serve as a guide to restoration treatments where mixed-severity fires occur. Here, we compare forest spatial pattern and configuration in 15 mechanical restoration treatments and low- and moderate-severity portions of three wildfires in ponderosa pine-dominated forests to determine how they differ in spatial pattern. We obtained satellite imagery of restoration treatments and wildfires and used supervised classification to differentiate canopy and openings. We assessed elements of landscape structure including canopy and gap cover, gap attributes, and landscape heterogeneity for each disturbance type. We found that both mechanical restoration treatments and low- and moderate-severity portions of wildfires reduced forest cover, increased gap cover, and altered pattern and arrangement of gaps relative to undisturbed areas, though the magnitude of changes were greatest in the burned sites. Low- and moderate-severity wildfire consistently increased landscape heterogeneity, but mechanical treatments did not. This suggests that a greater emphasis on increasing gap and patch spatial structure may make mechanical treatments more congruent with natural disturbances. Outcomes of low- and moderate-severity portions of wildfires may provide important information upon which to base management prescriptions where reference data on landscape patterns is unavailable.

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