Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation (FWPRDC) Cypress exatractives

Study to investigate the use of cypress pine extractives as a novel timber preservative.

Mixed valency in the high-temperature phases of transition metal molybdates,AMoO4 (A=Fe, Co, Ni)

Transition metal molybdates of the formulaAMoO4 whereA=Fe, Co or Ni exhibit a first-order phase transition between 670K–970K. An investigation of the lowtemperature (lt) and high-temperature (ht) phases by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray absorption spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility and other physical methods shows that the phase transition is associated with a valence change of the typeA 2++Mo6+αA 3++Mo5+ in the cases of iron and cobalt molybdates.

Magnetic susceptibility studies of lead oxyhalide glasses containing transition metal oxides

Magnetic susceptibility studies of lead oxyhalide glasses containing high concentrations of transition metal oxides such as MnO and Fe2O3 have been performed. While they exhibit predominantly antiferromagnetic interactions, the low temperature (<100K) region is dominated by paramagnetic contributions. The behaviour in these glasses is found to be similar to that of covalent oxide glasses and is different from that of purely ionic sulphate glasses.

High-value wood products from sub-tropical plantations

To refine the emerging silvicultural systems for sub-tropical eucalypt plantations to produce logs of acceptable dimensions and quality for processing into high-value solid and engineered wood products, while maintaining financial attractiveness for growers. The available resources are focussed primarily on sub-tropical Corymbia plantings.

Effect of deprivation of vitamin A on the basic proteins of the nuclei of rat testes

The relative concentrations of the major histones, namely, H1, TH1, H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 are not significantly changed in the testes of the vitamin A-deficient rats, as compared to those in the normal controls. But the testis-specific protein, TP, which is synthesized at the mid-spermatid stage, is markedly reduced in the testes of the deficient rats. On supplementation of the deficient rats with retinyl acetate for 28 days, there was a 50% recovery in the relative concentration of the TP with respect to the total amounts of H1 and TH1.

Some metal complexes with n-(2-pyridyl)thioacetamide and n-(2-pyridyl)thiobenzamide

The Cu(II). Zn(II) and Cd(II) chloride and bromide complexes of N-2(2-pyridyl)thioacetamide and N-(2-pyridyl)thiobenzamide have been prepared. The infrared and 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the complexes and the free ligands have been analysed to determine the coordination sites. It was concluded that N-(2-pyridyl)thioacetamide behaves as a bidentate ligand, chelating to the metal via pyridine nitrogen and thionamide sulfur atoms while the other ligand, N-(2-pyridyl)thiobenzamide coordinates to the metal atom as a unidentate through the pyridine nitrogen atom. Conformations of the free ligands are discussed.

Ternary metal complexes of anionic and neutral pyridoxine (vitamin B6) with 2,2'-bipyridine. Syntheses and x-ray structures of (pyridoxinato)bis(2,2'-bipyridyl)cobalt(III) perchlorate and chloro(2,2'-bipyridyl)(pyridoxine)copper(II) perchlorate hydrate

Ternary metal complexes involving vitamin B6 with formulas [CO",(PN-H)](anCdI [OC)'(bpy)(PN)Cl]C10(.bpHy 0 = 2,2'-bipyridine, PN = neutral pyridoxine, PN-H = anionic pyridoxine) have been prepared for the first time and characterized by means of magnetic and spectroscopic measurements. The crystal structures of the compounds have also been determined. [CO(PN-H)](CcryIsOta,l)lize s in the space group P2,/c with a = 18.900 (3) A, b = 8.764 (1) A, c = 20.041 (2) A,p = 116.05 (l)', and Z = 4 and [Cu(bpy)(PN)C1]C104-H20in the space group Pi with a = 12.136 (5) A, b = 13.283 (4) A,c = 7.195 (2) A, a = 96.91 (Z)', 0 = 91.25 (3)', y = 71.63 (3)', and Z = 2. The structures were solved by the heavy-atom method and refined by least-squares techniques to R values of 0.080 and 0.042 for 3401 and 2094 independent reflections, respectively. Both structures consist of monomeric units. The geometry around Co(II1) is octahedral and around Cu(I1) is distorted square pyramidal. In [CO(PN-H)]t(wCo IoxOy~ge)n~s ,fro m phenolic and 4-(hydroxymethyl) groups of PN-H and two nitrogens from each of two bpy's form the coordination sphere. In [Cu(bpy)(PN)C1]C104.H20o ne PN and one bpy, with the same donor sites, act as bidentate chelates in the basal plane, with a chloride ion occupying the apical position. In both structures PN and PN-H exist in the tautomeric form wherein pyridine N is protonated and phenolic 0 is deprotonated. However, a novel feature of the cobalt compound is that PN-H is anionic due to the deprotonation of the 4-(hydroxymethyl) group. The packing in both structures is governed by hydrogen bonds, and in the copper compound partial stacking of bpy's at a distance of -3.55 also adds to the stability of the system. Infrared, NMR, and ligand field spectroscopic results and magnetic measurements are interpreted in light of the structures.

Thermal reactivity of metal acetate hydrazinates

Metal acetate hydrazinates, M(CH3COO)2(N2H4)2 (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd) have been prepared and characterized by chemical analysis and infrared absorption spectra. Thermal decomposition of the complexes has been studied using simultaneous TG-DTG-DTA technique. Metal acetate hydrazinates decompose exothermically through metal acetate intermediates to the respective metal oxides.

Quasi-2D XY Magnetic Properties and Slow Relaxation in a Body Centered Metal Organic Network of [Co-4] Clusters

Octahedral Co2+ centers have been connected by mu(3)-OH and mu(2)-OH2 units forming [Co-4] clusters which are linked by pyrazine forming a two-dimensional network. The two-dimensional layers are bridged by oxybisbenzoate (OBA) ligands giving rise to a three-dimensional structure. The [Co-4] clusters bond with the pyrazine and the OBA results in a body-centered arrangement of the clusters, which has been observed for the first time. Magnetic studies reveal a noncollinear frustrated spin structure of the bitriangular cluster, resulting in a net magnetic moment of 1.4 mu B per cluster. For T > 32 K, the correlation length of the cluster moments shows a stretched-exponential temperature dependence typical of a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless model, which points to a quasi-2D XY behavior. At lower temperature and down to 14 K, the compound behaves as a soft ferromagnet and a slow relaxation is observed, with an energy barrier of ca. 500 K. Then, on further cooling, a hysteretic behavior takes place with a coercive field that reaches 5 Tat 4 K. The slow relaxation is assigned to the creation/annihilation of vortex-antivortex pairs, which are the elementary excitations of a 2D XY spin system.

A market assessment and evaluation of structural roundwood products from hardwood pulp plantations.

Roundwood structures have always been used for temporary and low cost shelters and other fleeting structures. Novel concepts for the use of plantation hardwoods in roundwood form in construction were developed and circulated along with an electronic questionnaire to stakeholders representing growers, designers and users of hardwood. Responses indicate that there is a high level of interest in developing products from the emerging small roundwood resource and a detailed program of research was supported and recommended by the majority of participants in the survey. These results indicate a high level of support for further investigation into the use of plantation hardwood for roundwood components. Respondents representing a wide range of stakeholders have indicated that to gain benefit from a detailed project they would require solutions for connection systems and protection from pests and weathering, indications of cost and assurance of ongoing supply for niche applications, data for strength, acoustic dampening and thermal insulation properties, acceptance by regulatory authorities and training for on-site construction.

Effect of reduced rotation length on Araucaria wood quality.

The review of existing information has identified the following: - the juvenile core in Araucaria is probably contained within the first 15 growth rings in the pith, with spiral grain being a chief determinant of its extent within the stem; - a reduction in rotation length for a given site index will reduce ASV and mature wood volume, with an increase in the proportion of juvenile wood; - for a given rotation length, lower ASV stems were estimated to contain a lower proportion of juvenile wood (based on the assumptions made and crude simulations using WEEDS, PL YSIM and STEPS software); regardless of juvenile wood proportions, smaller stems will yield a higher proportion of pith-in material; - an increase in the proportion of juvenile wood, due to a reduction in rotation length, could affect wood quality due to an increase in the proportion of the recovery containing high spiral grain, shorter tracheids and higher micellar angle; - high spiral grain and high micellar angles adversely impact on wood quality through their influence on twist and longitudinal shrinkage, respectively; - positive outcomes from a reduction in rotation length might include an increase in the proportion of live knots in upper stem sections and a reduction in the extent of brown-stain heartwood; - the uniformity in basic density within Araucaria stems means reduced rotation lengths and lower stem ASVs are unlikely to have a major impact on this wood property, and - the effect of a reduction in rotation length on the incidence of compression wood and timber susceptible to kiln staining could not be established from the available information.