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The literature lacks information on how the final slow pyrolysis temperature and Amazonian Forest wood species impact charcoal's physical, chemical, and energetical properties. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of wood species and final slow pyrolysis temperatures on the charcoal quality for the Brazilian steelmaking industry. Wood wastes were sampled from the branches of six tropical hardwoods (Dinizia excelsa, Manikara elata, Caryocar villosum, Couratari oblongifolia, Anacardium giganteum, and Parkia gigantocarpa). Laboratory-scale slow pyrolysis was performed at 400, 500, 600, and 700 ◦C. The variations were significant for wood basic density (0.420–0.990 g cm 3), lignin content (22.78–40.68 %, based on dry mass - db), and total extractives' content (2.45–12.01 % db). Furthermore, a significant effect of the pyrolysis temperature and wood species on the gravimetric yield of charcoals (31.66–39.41 % db) was confirmed. The greatest higher heating values for charcoal (>31.00 MJ kg 1) were observed for pyrolysis performed above 600 ◦ C for all species, except P. gigantocarpa, which provided charcoal with 31.90 MJ kg 1 at 500 ◦C. Balancing all variables studied, temperatures between 400 and 500 ◦C were optimal for charcoal production. For such species, the effect of the raw wood properties overcame the impact of slow pyrolysis temperature.

The literature lacks information on how the final slow pyrolysis temperature and Amazonian Forest wood species impact charcoal's physical, chemical, and energetical properties. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of wood species and final slow pyrolysis temperatures on the charcoal quality for the Brazilian steelmaking industry. Wood wastes were sampled from the branches of six tropical hardwoods (Dinizia excelsa, Manikara elata, Caryocar villosum, Couratari oblongifolia, Anacardium giganteum, and Parkia gigantocarpa). Laboratory-scale slow pyrolysis was performed at 400, 500, 600, and 700 ◦C. The variations were significant for wood basic density (0.420–0.990 g cm 3), lignin content (22.78–40.68 %, based on dry mass - db), and total extractives' content (2.45–12.01 % db). Furthermore, a significant effect of the pyrolysis temperature and wood species on the gravimetric yield of charcoals (31.66–39.41 % db) was confirmed. The greatest higher heating values for charcoal (>31.00 MJ kg 1) were observed for pyrolysis performed above 600 ◦ C for all species, except P. gigantocarpa, which provided charcoal with 31.90 MJ kg 1 at 500 ◦C. Balancing all variables studied, temperatures between 400 and 500 ◦C were optimal for charcoal production. For such species, the effect of the raw wood properties overcame the impact of slow pyrolysis temperature.

Understanding the carbon sequestration potential of undisturbed and rehabilitated mangrove ecosystems is crucial for mitigating the effects of climate change. In this study, the above-ground biomass (AGB) and structural complexity of natural, rehabilitated and regenerated mangrove forest stands were investigated. Using 32 years of Landsat time series-based normalized difference infrared index data and transect field inventory methods, we examined species and structural diversity as well as AGB distribution across 24 plots spanning a gradient from sea to land. A common allometric model and linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the influence of species diversity, structural complexity, and tree density on AGB. The results revealed that natural mangrove stands exhibited higher AGB, structural complexity, and species diversity than the rehabilitated and regenerated stands. The Shannon diversity index had a negligible effect on AGB, whereas structural complexity significantly influenced AGB in natural stands. This may be attributed to the predominance of rehabilitated monoculture and less diverse scrub mangroves in natural stands. Total AGB ranged from 45.05 to 536.48 tons/ha in natural stands and from 61.57 to 98.99 tons/ha in rehabilitated stands. Our findings illustrate the challenges (e.g., high-density plantation practices, lack of species diversity, and unsuitable site conditions for planted species) associated with current rehabilitation efforts and provide insights for optimizing future rehabilitation strategies.

Understanding the carbon sequestration potential of undisturbed and rehabilitated mangrove ecosystems is crucial for mitigating the effects of climate change. In this study, the above-ground biomass (AGB) and structural complexity of natural, rehabilitated and regenerated mangrove forest stands were investigated. Using 32 years of Landsat time series-based normalized difference infrared index data and transect field inventory methods, we examined species and structural diversity as well as AGB distribution across 24 plots spanning a gradient from sea to land. A common allometric model and linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the influence of species diversity, structural complexity, and tree density on AGB. The results revealed that natural mangrove stands exhibited higher AGB, structural complexity, and species diversity than the rehabilitated and regenerated stands. The Shannon diversity index had a negligible effect on AGB, whereas structural complexity significantly influenced AGB in natural stands. This may be attributed to the predominance of rehabilitated monoculture and less diverse scrub mangroves in natural stands. Total AGB ranged from 45.05 to 536.48 tons/ha in natural stands and from 61.57 to 98.99 tons/ha in rehabilitated stands. Our findings illustrate the challenges (e.g., high-density plantation practices, lack of species diversity, and unsuitable site conditions for planted species) associated with current rehabilitation efforts and provide insights for optimizing future rehabilitation strategies.

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe increasing interest in camel milk (CM) worldwide in recent years has increased the need for studies on the properties of CM, which is relatively less studied than other species.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the effects of changes in farm management on daily milk yield (DMY), milk composition and microbiological quality of CM.MethodsYearly changes in milk fat (MFC), protein (MPC), ash (MAC), totals solid (TSC) contents, total bacteria (TBC), coliform (CC), yeast and mould (YMC), somatic cell (SCC) counts and fatty acid profile of CM were determined by monthly taken milk samples and analyses.ResultsThe means of DMY, MFC, MPC, MAC, TSC, TBC, CC, YMC and SCC of milk were 3.53 ± 0.290 kg, 3.80% ± 0.285%, 4.36% ± 0.212%, 0.81% ± 0.013%, 11.95% ± 0.380%, 7.24 × 105 cfu/mL, 1.31 × 105 cfu/mL, 912 cfu/mL and 2.45 × 105 cells/mL, respectively. The effect of the changes (Year 2 vs. Year 1) was statistically significant for MFC, MPC, TSC and Log10TBC (p < 0.05), and significant effects of lactation stage were determined for DMY, MFC, MAC, TSC, Log10TBC and Log10YMC (p < 0.05). The highest fatty acid (FA) amount in CM was found for palmitic (C16:0), oleic (C18:1n9c), stearic (C18:0), myristic (C14:0) and palmitoleic (C16:1) acids with the concentrations of 31.59% ± 0.45%, 21.88% ± 0.81%, 13.43% ± 0.67%, 12.22% ± 0.26% and 12.18% ± 0.34% of fat, respectively. The correlation coefficients of MFC, MPC and TSC with SCFA and MCFA were moderate and negative but with long chain Fas (LCFA) were positive and moderate. Log10SCC was also negatively correlated with total polyunsaturated FAs (PUFA) (−0.414; p < 0.05), SCFA (−0.475; p < 0.01), MCFA (−0.573; p < 0.01) and positively correlated with LCFA (0.588; p < 0.01).ConclusionAlthough management causes significant changes in composition, TBC and FA profile, CM has high UFA, low SCFA, high LCFA and better atherogenic index (AI). The high microbiological level at the beginning and middle of lactation and the negative correlation of these traits with milk components reveal that various measures should be taken to improve hygienic conditions to process CM into quality products.

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe increasing interest in camel milk (CM) worldwide in recent years has increased the need for studies on the properties of CM, which is relatively less studied than other species.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the effects of changes in farm management on daily milk yield (DMY), milk composition and microbiological quality of CM.MethodsYearly changes in milk fat (MFC), protein (MPC), ash (MAC), totals solid (TSC) contents, total bacteria (TBC), coliform (CC), yeast and mould (YMC), somatic cell (SCC) counts and fatty acid profile of CM were determined by monthly taken milk samples and analyses.ResultsThe means of DMY, MFC, MPC, MAC, TSC, TBC, CC, YMC and SCC of milk were 3.53 ± 0.290 kg, 3.80% ± 0.285%, 4.36% ± 0.212%, 0.81% ± 0.013%, 11.95% ± 0.380%, 7.24 × 105 cfu/mL, 1.31 × 105 cfu/mL, 912 cfu/mL and 2.45 × 105 cells/mL, respectively. The effect of the changes (Year 2 vs. Year 1) was statistically significant for MFC, MPC, TSC and Log10TBC (p < 0.05), and significant effects of lactation stage were determined for DMY, MFC, MAC, TSC, Log10TBC and Log10YMC (p < 0.05). The highest fatty acid (FA) amount in CM was found for palmitic (C16:0), oleic (C18:1n9c), stearic (C18:0), myristic (C14:0) and palmitoleic (C16:1) acids with the concentrations of 31.59% ± 0.45%, 21.88% ± 0.81%, 13.43% ± 0.67%, 12.22% ± 0.26% and 12.18% ± 0.34% of fat, respectively. The correlation coefficients of MFC, MPC and TSC with SCFA and MCFA were moderate and negative but with long chain Fas (LCFA) were positive and moderate. Log10SCC was also negatively correlated with total polyunsaturated FAs (PUFA) (−0.414; p < 0.05), SCFA (−0.475; p < 0.01), MCFA (−0.573; p < 0.01) and positively correlated with LCFA (0.588; p < 0.01).ConclusionAlthough management causes significant changes in composition, TBC and FA profile, CM has high UFA, low SCFA, high LCFA and better atherogenic index (AI). The high microbiological level at the beginning and middle of lactation and the negative correlation of these traits with milk components reveal that various measures should be taken to improve hygienic conditions to process CM into quality products.

Malnutrition, particularly its impact on child morbidity and mortality, is one of the top five health effects of climate change. However, quantifying the portion of malnutrition attributed to climate remains challenging due to various confounding factors. This study examines the relationship between climate and acute malnutrition in Niger, a country highly vulnerable to climate change and disasters. Since climate’s effect on malnutrition is indirect, mediated by crop production, we combine rainfall data from TAMSAT satellite estimates with the SARRA-O crop model, which simulates the impact of rainfall variability on crop yields. Our analysis reveals a significant correlation between malnutrition and both rainfall and crop production from the previous year, but not within the same year. The strongest correlation (R = −0.72) was found with the previous year’s crop production. No significant links were found with temperature or intra-seasonal rainfall indices, like the start or duration of the rainy season. Although national correlations between global malnutrition, rainfall, and crop yields were stronger, they were weaker or absent at the regional level and, for Severe Acute Malnutrition crises, are less likely driven by climate variability. However, the one-year lag in the correlation allows for the prediction of future food crises, providing an opportunity to implement early intervention measures.