Article
Polymer Science
Mo-Kun Chen, Rong Zhang, Mao-Zhu Tang, Guang-Su Huang, Yun-Xiang Xu
Summary: In this study, a model compound polyisoprene-(polyisoprene-g-polylactide) (PI-PLA) was designed and synthesized to understand the branching structure-function relationship. The branching structure enhanced the entanglement between polyisoprene chains, improving the mechanical properties of the elastomer.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Aleksandr Vasilev, Tommy Lorenz, Cornelia Breitkopf
Summary: Thermal conductivities of vulcanized polybutadiene and polyisoprene were investigated for the first time based on their degree of crosslinking, with good agreement between molecular dynamics simulations and experimental results. The paper also discusses the influence of bonded and non-bonded interactions on the thermal conductivities of the two polymers.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Wanjun Han, Xiuhang Chai, Farah Zaaboul, Yanwen Sun, Chin-Ping Tan, Yuanfa Liu
Summary: The effect of different types of monoglycerides combined with palm kernel stearin and beeswax on the properties of aerated emulsions was studied. The results showed that the stability of crystals and the rate of crystallization were influenced by the monoglycerides. The emulsions with these monoglycerides exhibited a higher fraction of crystals adsorbed at the oil/water interface, leading to a higher degree of partial coalescence and stable aerated networks.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Quinten Thijssen, Sandra V. Vlierberghe
Summary: This study reports a straightforward approach to obtain photo-crosslinked, bioresorbable PCL networks with a range of mechanical properties by altering the network topology. Utilizing multifunctional thiols for crosslinking proves to be an effective method for changing the mechanical properties of the materials. By controlling the thiol to acrylate ratio, significant alterations in Young's modulus, elongation at break, and ultimate strength can be achieved. The materials described hold potential for light-based 3D-printing and tissue engineering applications.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aiwu Ding, Liang Fang, Chunyu Zhang, Heng Liu, Xuequan Zhang, Jianhe Liao
Summary: Nd-based polydiene elastomers are important raw materials for green tires, but the cost of Nd precatalysts limits their wide application. This study investigates the influence of external donors on the coordinative chain transfer polymerization (CCTP) behavior of isoprene. It is found that increasing the amount of external donors negatively affects chain transfer efficiencies and atom economies.
Article
Polymer Science
Ruibin Ma, Wenfeng Zhang, Yimin Wang, Haoxiang Li, Xiuying Zhao, Xiaolin Li, Liqun Zhang, Yangyang Gao
Summary: This study provides a clear and novel understanding of how grafted chains manipulate the rupture toughness of silica nanoparticle/polyisoprene nanocomposites at the molecular scale. The mechanics and deformation of the nanocomposites are analyzed, and the influence of grafted chains on the rupture toughness and void formation is quantified. The findings contribute to the design and fabrication of nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin Clauss, Mingyang Lu
Summary: This article introduces a new computational framework that allows systematic, high-throughput, and quantitative evaluation of the contribution of small transcriptional regulatory circuit motifs and their coupling to the overall functions of a biological system. By applying this method, the authors identified four-node gene circuits, circuit motifs, and motif coupling responsible for various gene expression state distributions, including those derived from single-cell RNA sequencing data. They also discovered seven major classes of four-node circuits through clustering analysis of state distributions. Additionally, the method was used to establish phenomenological models of gene circuits driving human neuron differentiation, uncovering important biologically relevant regulatory interactions. This study will provide insights into a better understanding of gene regulatory mechanisms in creating and maintaining cellular states.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Veysel Kobya, Kemal Karakuzu, Ali Mardani, Burak Felekog, Kambiz Ramyar
Summary: This study investigated the interaction between the polycarboxylate ether-based water reducing admixture (PCE) molecule chain length variation and cements with different C3A contents and water content. Seven PCEs were synthesized using three different methods, and paste and mortar mixtures were prepared. The rheological properties and compressive strength of the mixtures were determined, and the interaction between PCEs and cements was investigated using total organic carbon (TOC) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analyses. The results showed that increasing the main and side chain lengths of PCE had a positive effect on the fresh properties of cementitious systems up to a certain point, but beyond that point, it reduced the dispersion performance of the admixture.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Wei Sun, Haoyu Wu, Yanlong Luo, Bin Li, Lixin Mao, Xiuying Zhao, Liqun Zhang, Yangyang Gao
Summary: In this study, the effect of external pressure on the glass transition temperature of cis-1,4-polyisoprene was investigated through all-atom molecular dynamics simulation. The results showed that polymer density, non-bond energy, and torsional energy play important roles in the glass transition process. Increasing pressure decreases the mobility on the chain backbone, leading to an increase in the glass transition temperature. The glass transition temperature obtained from dynamic heterogeneity is the highest, and the percolation transition of the immobile domains helps understand the glass transition process.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hao Zhang, Pinxin Rui, Tao Wang, Wei Feng, Zhengxing Chen, Xing Zhou, Ren Wang
Summary: This study investigates the effect of chain length on the crystalline structure and thermal stability of hydrothermal-treated starches obtained through hydrothermal modification of chain-elongated starches.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jia Chen, Lingyan Zhang, Peng Zhao, Gaiqin Ma, Qi Li, Xiuzhu Yu
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant efficacy of alkyl ferulates with different chain lengths in soybean oil under frying conditions. It was found that the antioxidant effect of alkyl ferulates increased with the alkyl chain length, with hexadecyl ferulate showing the strongest effect. Therefore, long-chain alkyl ferulates can meet the industrial demands for ideal antioxidants with strong antioxidant capacity at high temperatures.
Article
Polymer Science
Yi Feng, Di Wu, Ruhao Li, Pinar Akcora
Summary: This work examines the impact of entanglements and particle loading on the viscoelastic properties of crosslinked polymer nanocomposites. The study reveals that entangled composite networks are not affected by particle loading, while unentangled networks experience an increase in both elastic moduli and crosslinking degree. The recovery analysis shows that entangled networks fully recover their initial moduli after large deformation, indicating their ability to sustain deformation even with high particle loadings. In contrast, unentangled networks do not recover their initial storage moduli, suggesting their non-deformability due to high crosslinking.
Article
Polymer Science
Maozhu Tang, Ran Xu, Rong Zhang, Si-Jie Bai, Guangsu Huang, Yun-Xiang Xu
Summary: In this study, a bioinspired strategy was developed to introduce pentaalanine groups in polyisoprene and retard the dissociation process of hydrogen bonding by adding Ca2+ ions, resulting in mechanically strong and stable thermoplastic polyisoprene. This approach represents a feasible method for tuning the viscoelastic response of elastomers.
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Dongqin Cheng
Summary: The alternating group graph has been extensively studied in recent years due to its many desirable properties. This paper proves that the n-dimensional alternating group graph is panyclic with a specific disjoint-cycle-cover property for n >= 4.
APPLIED MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Luyao Zhang, Qiong Xiao, Yonghui Zhang, Huifen Weng, Siyuan Wang, Fuquan Chen, Anfeng Xiao
Summary: Agar was chemically modified with C12-C18 anhydrides to investigate its physicochemical and emulsifying properties. The gel properties of the esterified agar decreased as the anhydrides' substitution degree and carbon chain length increased. Esterified agar with long hydrophobic chains and carboxyl groups exhibited good surface activity and high negative charge. Increasing the anhydrides' substitution degree and carbon chain length enhanced the emulsifying properties, resulting in small particle size and high emulsion stability. The study provides insights into the structural and amphiphilic properties of agar-based emulsions stabilized by anhydride-modified agars.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2023)