The natural abundance of "$C and "&N was measured in basidiocarps of at least 115 species in 88 genera of ectomycorrhizal, wood-decomposing and litter-decomposing fungi from Japan and Malaysia. The natural abundance of "$C and "&N was also measured in leaves, litter, soil and wood from three different sites. "&N and "$C were enriched in ectomycorrhizal and wood-decomposing fungi, respectively, relative to their substrates. Ectomycorrhizal and wood-decomposing fungi could be distinguished on the basis of their δ"$C and δ"&N signatures. Although there was high variability in the isotopic composition of fungi, the following isotopeenrichment factors (ε, meanpSD) of the fungi relative to substrates were observed : ε ectomycorrhizal fungi/litter l 6.1p0.4= "&N ε ectomycorrhizal fungi/wood l 1.4p0.8= "$C ε wood-decomposing fungi/wood l k0.6p0.7= "&N ε wood-decomposing fungi/wood l 3.5p0.9= "$C The basis of isotope fractionation in C metabolism from wood to wood-decomposing fungus is discussed.

Outdoor performances of a polyurethane varnish and an alkyd-based synthetic varnish coated over chromium-copper-boron (CCB)-impregnated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) [10 (R) × 100 (T) × 150 (L) mm] were investigated. These varnishes were also applied to the wood surface as sole coatings or impregnated into wood as water-repellent (WR) solutions. Outdoor exposure was performed in the Black Sea region of northern Turkey (41°N, 39.43°E) where humid weather predominates throughout the year and accelerates decomposition of coated wood surfaces. The wood panels were exposed at 45 ° south on their tangential surfaces. After 9 months of exposure to summer, autumn, and the following winter season, the color and glossiness changes of the exposed surface, adhesion of the coating layer to the wood surface, water absorption through the coating layers, mass loss, and the hardness of the board surface were studied. CCB impregnation greatly stabilized the surface color of varnish-coated panels of both wood species. Gradual decreases of adhesion between varnished layers and preimpregnated surfaces were attributed to probable weakening of interactions at the interface of the treated wood and the film layer. A superficial cleaning process of treated wood is suggested to improve glossiness and adhesion. The coated wood surface became harder with time on outdoor exposure until a maximum hardness occurred followed by softening, whereas the uncoated surface softened steadily. Polyurethane varnish yielded a harder surface than synthetic varnish. Mass losses of wood panels after 9 months of exposure were negligible for all treatments compared with the untreated controls, which were

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The factors that cause weather-induced deterioration of wood surfaces were determined by chemical and spectroscopic analyses. Albizzia (Paraserianthes falcata Becker.) and sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) were exposed to two temperate conditions of natural weathering with and without rainfall and to accelerated conditions of artificial weathering coupled with ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation and water flashing. Infrared spectroscopic analysis showed that the oxidative reaction of lignin was observed under all conditions of weathering for both wood species. However, a marked decrease in lignin and hemicellulose content were recognized when albizzia woods were exposed to weathering with water. Lignin content in the softwood sugi did not decrease as much as in albizzia even in the presence of water, but the modification of lignin macromolecules was assumed to be accelerated by water, as seen by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. These results showed that the presence of water promotes the weathering deterioration of wood under UV irradiation.