Fresh leaves of four Magnolia species (M. obovata, M. kobus, M. denudata, M. salicifolia) collected from May to October in Ishikawa prefecture were analyzed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine the composition of volatile compounds and seasonal variations. As a result, caryophyllene, which is bioactive sesquiterpenoids, and those analogs were commonly observed in the four species. α-Asarone was detected in M. salicifolia with a strong peak, and seasonal variation was observed for several volatile compounds. Based on these results, we elucidated the high value of using four Magnolia species fresh leaves.

The vibration method with additional mass (VAM), by which the mass of a specimen can be obtained without weighing the specimen, was applied to round bars to develop a simple testing method for estimating the deterioration of a cross beam in a timber guardrail without having to dismantle the cross beam from the posts of the guardrail. Small, clear round bars (diameter: 50, 75, 100 mm, length: 1000 mm) and cross beams from a timber guardrail (diameter: 200 mm, length: 1980 mm) were used as the specimens. Bending vibration tests were performed on the round bars with and without a concentrated mass. The estimation accuracy of the VAM was affected by the ideality of the end condition of the round bar and was improved based on the ideality of the end condition of the round bar. A simple method was proposed for the onsite estimation of the mass of a cross beam of a timber guardrail using the VAM.

The use of domestic timber as a horizontal structural material for wood frame construction lumber is desired. In this study, we assume that sugi (Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica) must be graded as a machine stress-rated (MSR) framing lumber, which conforms to Japanese agricultural standards for structural lumber and fingerjointed structural lumber for wood frame construction (JAS 0600). However, several technical issues must be addressed when using wider and thicker materials. The following conclusions were drawn from the study of various Young's moduli based on a sample with nominal sizes of 204 and 206. Results showed that the applied loading surface (the bark and pith sides) did not affect the Young's modulus bending. Furthermore, the effect of the presence of the largest knot on the Young's modulus bending was minor. The longitudinal and flexural vibration methods (flatwise) were considered useful for measuring Young's modulus for quality control. The classification of specimens based on the current MSR framing lumber grades indicated that Young's modulus bending, not the bending strength, was the determining factor for the grade.