Article
Food Science & Technology
Anne-Laure Dinel, Celine Lucas, Julie Le Faouder, Elodie Bouvret, Veronique Pallet, Sophie Laye, Corinne Joffre
Summary: The study found that fish hydrolysate can reduce anxiety and stress reactivity, decrease corticosterone levels, and modulate the expression of stress-related genes, including those involved in hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis regulation, circadian rhythm, and aging processes.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Ethan A. Gormong, Theresa M. Reineke, Thomas R. Hoye
Summary: Incorporating renewable feedstocks into polymer backbones is crucial in modern polymer science. This study demonstrates the synthesis of 1,3-diyne polymers from bispropargyl ethers of isosorbide, isomannide, and isoidide, with varying glass transition temperatures. The saturated analogues show similar trends in Tg values compared to the diyne polymers, based on the stereochemical features of the isohexide unit in the backbone.
Article
Polymer Science
Nazila Yaghini, Remco Tuinier, Jaap den Doelder
Summary: We present a comprehensive computational model to study the molecular structure development in the recycling extrusion process of LDPE and provide initial guidance based on reported experiments. The model incorporates the effects of scission and crosslinking reactions and offers effective strategies to mitigate computational complexity. The simulations show the shift of molecular weight distribution and branching distribution in recycled LDPE with increasing residence time, with implications for derived properties.
Article
Polymer Science
Jingyu Jin, Guoqiang Lu, Jun Nie, Xiaoqun Zhu
Summary: Photopolymerization technology is limited in the fields of food packaging and biomedicine due to the high migration of small molecules from photoinitiators. In this study, a polymerizable 2-vinyl thioxanthone (ETX) was synthesized to improve the migration stability of photoinitiators. Macromolecular photoinitiators (PPI1, PPI2) were also prepared to further reduce migration. The results showed that the ETX/TEOA system had higher initiation performance and PPI2 displayed favorable initiation ability. Additionally, the migration of ETX, PPI1, and PPI2 in photocured film was significantly reduced. These low-migration photoinitiators have potential applications in the fields of food packaging and biological materials.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Alejandra Rubio Hernandez-Sampelayo, Rodrigo Navarro, Angel Marcos-Fernandez
Summary: This article presents a method for synthesizing PUUs using deactivated diamines within the polymer chain, which have attractive properties for biomaterial applications. By activating these diamines with Cl-TMS during the polymerization reaction, high-performance PUUs are obtained with increased molecular weights and mechanical features. The experimental work is supported by calculations of electronic parameters using quantum mechanical methods.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Srihith Polimera, A. Gali, Ariful Rahaman, Mohammed Rehaan Chandan, S. J. Balakumaran, Susanta Kumar Nath
Summary: In this study, low cost and environment friendly fly ash particles and silica particles were used as additives in the rigid polyurethane foam composite. The addition of fly ash increased the compressive strength and glass transition temperature, and decreased water absorption of the foam composite. The FTIR spectra showed no aggregation of hard urea domains in the polyurethane matrix after the addition of silica/fly ash.
JOURNAL OF VINYL & ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Bowen Yan, Junping Deng, Jie Gu, Yuheng Tao, Caoxing Huang, Chenhuan Lai, Qiang Yong
Summary: In this study, two types of low-molecular-weight galactomannans from Sesbania cannabina were obtained and their structures were identified. The antioxidant and neuroprotective activities of these galactomannans were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the galactomannans have good free radicals scavenging ability and could protect zebrafish with neurological damage induced by Bisphenol AF.
Article
Thermodynamics
Xu Han, Fuping Feng, Jianwei Zhang
Summary: Cement seal failure is common in heavy oil thermal recovery wells, and the impact of steam stimulation on wellbore interface seal performance is unclear. A finite element model is developed to study the plastic zone formation of the cement sheath during high temperature circulation. The study quantifies the interfacial debonding and microannulus size caused by thermal stress cycling, and clarifies the effects of key parameters on the change of interface integrity. The results provide valuable insights for the design of cement parameters and engineering parameters under thermal stress cycles.
Article
Polymer Science
Yu Zhang, Xiang Yan, Chunlin Ye, Gan Tao, Letian Zhang, Jinheng Xing, Wei Li, Jingdai Wang, Yongrong Yang
Summary: In this study, LLDPE was reinforced with low-entanglement UHMWPE using different melt processing methods. The results showed that within a low addition range, the low-entanglement UHMWPE had good compatibility with LLDPE, resulting in improved crystallinity and mechanical properties of the composites. Injection molding and hot drawing further enhanced the thermal conductivity of the materials.
POLYMER INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mariona Battestini Vives, Johan Thuvander, Anders Arkell, Frank Lipnizki
Summary: This study evaluates the use of nanofiltration for the separation and concentration of low-molecular-weight lignin from ultrafiltration permeate. The results show that nanofiltration process can produce a concentrated lignin fraction.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiaming Feng, Guoqiang Li
Summary: This study introduces an intrinsically flame-retardant high-temperature shape memory photopolymer with ultrahigh glass transition temperature and record-breaking recovery stress, addressing the need for photopolymers with high Tg, flame-retardancy, and high recovery stress in various industries. The novel HTSMP demonstrates excellent thermal stability, intrinsic flame retardancy, and 3D printability, making it promising for applications in deployable structures, damage self-healing, actuators, proppants, 4D printing, and robotics.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Eun Joo Shin, Ye Jin Song, Yang Sook Jung, Imjoo Jung, Sunhee Lee
Summary: Reversible deformation structures fabricated by 4D printing have various applications in fields such as actuators, intelligent mechanisms, and soft robots. In this study, 4D filaments for use in fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printers were prepared by melt extrusion process, using a blend of polylactic acid (PLA) and soft actuator grade thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) 75 Shore A. The properties of TPU/PLA samples were investigated, and 4D auxetic reentrant TPU/PLA samples were 3D printed to assess their shape-memory characteristics. The results showed that the properties of TPU/PLA samples varied with the PLA to TPU ratio, and different conditions were optimal for shape recovery depending on the ratio.
ADVANCES IN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Leelawattie Persaud, Raju Bheemanahalli, Ramdeo Seepaul, K. Raja Reddy, Bisoondat Macoon
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of low and high temperatures on the physiological and morphological characteristics of carinata genotypes. The responses and tolerance mechanisms differed between low and high temperatures. Some genotypes showed higher root-to-shoot ratios under low temperature, making them suitable for late planting windows or regions with low-temperature spells. Other genotypes accumulated higher biomass under both low and high temperature, making them suitable for planting in later summer or early winter. These stress-tolerant carinata genotypes are valuable for improving stress tolerance during the early developmental stage.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ling Sun, Lei Yang, Meixiang Yue, Xialiang Ding, Yazhen Wang, Yuhan Liu, Wenjing Sun
Summary: This study obtained low molecular weight Gellan gum (L-GG) directly produced by a mutant strain of Sphingomonas paucimobilis ATCC 31461. The L-GG had a lower molecular weight and higher yield compared to the initial GG (I-GG). Analysis showed similar monosaccharide composition and structural patterns between L-GG and I-GG, indicating a decrease in molecular weight. L-GG also exhibited improved texture and taste properties.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Bo Fan, Lan Liu, Ying Zheng, Yang Xing, Weiguang Shen, Qian Li, Ruyi Wang, Guixian Liang
Summary: LMWH has a great anticoagulant effect, but its oral administration is hindered. A pH-responsive delivery system was developed to protect LMWH and facilitate absorption. The system showed good nanoparticle shape and stability, and controlled drug release in different pH environments, leading to enhanced bioavailability and antithrombotic effect.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Guoqiang Cao, Yue Xiao, Wei-Min Huang, Chien-Hua Chen, Jonas Baltrusaitis
Summary: This study investigates the production of hydrogen (H2) through ethanol steam reforming (ESR) in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor. A response surface methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate the effects of discharge power, total flow rate, and ethanol-to-water (EtOH/H2O) molar ratio on the plasma-assisted ESR reaction. The results showed that the EtOH/H2O molar ratio had the most significant effect on EtOH conversion and H2 selectivity, while the total flow rate determined the specific energy requirement (SER) for H2 production. Process optimization resulted in the identification of the optimal conditions for the ESR reaction.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Xuelian Wu, Jiaxing Zou, Jian Yang, Jiang Jiang, Qin Feng, Zihao Ye, Weimin Huang
Summary: Electrically conductive IPN composed of PVC and PANI is achieved with slightly different mechanical and shape memory properties compared to PVC alone. Non-uniform distribution of PANI in the thickness direction is observed. Heating and programming lead to a reduction in electrical conductivity, with further decrease during shape recovery.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Rong Li, Wenge Chen, Kai Zhou, Yana Yang, Longlong Dong, Ahmed Elmarakbi, Yong-Qing Fu
Summary: Tungsten skeleton reinforced copper matrix composites (TRC) were fabricated using selective laser melting (SLM) and infiltration sintering. The deformation and fracture mechanisms were found to vary at different temperatures, including cleavage of tungsten, intergranular fracture of tungsten particles, tearing of copper, and separation between copper and tungsten.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hanhui Lei, Lei Xing, Hai Jiang, Yucheng Wang, Ben Bin Xu, Jin Xuan, Terence Xiaoteng Liu
Summary: The graded distribution of Pt loading and the porosity of the gas diffusion layer significantly affect the performance and durability of the fuel cell. A physics-based model and a machine learning algorithm are used to study and optimize the design of the functionally graded electrode.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ziyu Xing, Haibao Lu, Yong-Qing Fu
Summary: Understanding the mechanical behavior and toughening mechanisms of soft elastomers is a challenge due to their scaling effects. In this study, a Kelvin model is developed to investigate the properties of elastomers undergoing scaling effects. The model incorporates Sierpinski fractal and scaling theory to explain the diffusion and relaxation behaviors of molecular segments. The effectiveness of the model is verified through finite-element analysis and experimental results, providing insights into the toughening mechanisms of elastomers.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jingyun Liu, Haibao Lu, Ahmed Elmarakbi, Yong-Qing Fu
Summary: This study investigates the dynamic fluctuation of glass transition in amorphous shape-memory polymers using a shoving model. A constitutive relationship between potential energy and cooperatively rearranging region (CRR) volume is developed, exploring the working principle of phase transition in the thermodynamic shape-memory effect. The effect of CRR volume is further formulated and employed to develop a constitutive stress-strain equation. The working principles of cooperative shape-memory effect and dynamic relaxation behaviors have been explored and verified using experimental results.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shimna Shafeek, Neethu T. M. Balakrishnan, Bushara Fatma, Ashish Garg, M. J. Jabeen Fatima, Danny Morton, Jikui Luo, Prasanth Raghavan
Summary: This research conducts a comprehensive analysis on a novel nanocomposite of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/silicon car-bide (SiC) nanoparticles as a triboelectric material, and fabricates triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) using the SiC-PVDF nanocomposite and polyamide (PA6) membrane combination. The results show that the inclusion of SiC nanoparticles greatly enhances the beta-phase content of the PVDF films and increases surface roughness and porosity of the SiC-PVDF nano-composites. The TENG made with a PVDF film with 6 wt% of SiC exhibits high-power output, which is four times higher than that of the TENG using the film prepared using the solution casting method.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Taixin Liang, Xuejun Yang, Bo Liu, Ruidong Song, Fei Xiao, Yajun Yang, Dong Wang, Mengyao Dong, Junna Ren, Ben Bin Xu, Hassan Algadi, Yuanyuan Yang
Summary: The combustion behavior of ammonium perchlorate (AP) can be influenced by the addition of catalyst, as well as the combination mode of catalyst and AP. This study investigated different catalysts and AP prepared by mechanical mixing and spray drying composite. The results showed that the spray drying composites exhibited better catalytic performance on the thermal decomposition of AP compared to mechanical mixing. All catalysts passivated the low-temperature decomposition process of AP and catalyzed the high-temperature decomposition process.
ADVANCED COMPOSITES AND HYBRID MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rong Li, Wenge Chen, Kai Zhou, Yuxuan Sun, Yahui Wen, Zhe Wang, Ahmed Elmarakbi, Yong-Qing Fu
Summary: In this paper, copper-tungsten composites were synthesized by preparing porous tungsten skeletons through directional solidification, ice sublimation, and heat treatment, followed by infiltration of copper. The Cu-15 vol% W composites exhibited alternately patterned Cu and W microstructures and showed a good combination of electrical conductivity and hardness. The strengthening mechanisms were attributed to the tungsten network structures formed in the copper matrix.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ziwei Gan, Xiaohe Ren, Mengxuan Sun, Yongxiu Sun, Yijun Yan, Baobao Cao, Wenzhong Shen, Zhijie Li, Yongqing Fu
Summary: Due to the synergistic reaction mechanism among Co(OH)2 and Ni3S4 and the increased active sites by the addition of Mn, the Mn-Co(OH)2/Ni3S4 electrode material exhibits excellent electrochemical properties, including a superior specific capacitance of 1107.0 C g-1 and a capacity retention rate of 72.7% at 10 A g-1. When combined with activated carbon, the Mn-Co(OH)2/Ni3S4 compound achieves a specific capacitance of 157.2 F g-1 and retains 88.9% of its original capacity after 35,000 cycles at 8 A g-1. Furthermore, the assembled hybrid supercapacitor device shows an energy storage capacity of 58.8 W h kg-1 at a power density of 410.4 W kg-1, indicating the great application potential of Mn-Co(OH)2/Ni3S4 in the future.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Binglin Zeng, Haichang Yang, Ben Bin Xu, Detlef Lohse, Xuehua Zhang
Summary: According to Archimedes' principle, a submerged object with a lower density is more buoyant than a smaller one. In this study, a remarkable phenomenon is reported where a dissolving drop on a surface rises in water only after it has diminished to a smaller size. This phenomenon is controlled by the stick-jump behavior during drop dissolution and the Archimedes number greater than 1, signifying that buoyancy overcomes the viscosity of the surrounding medium. The study suggests that this novel mechanism for programmable drop rise may have important applications in microfluidics, microrobotics, and device engineering.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jian Zhou, Ming Wen, Rong Huang, Qingsheng Wu, Yixing Luo, Yakun Tian, Guangfeng Wei, Yongqing Fu
Summary: The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NitRR) into ammonia is a promising route for sustainable ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions. Researchers have found that using materials (e.g., copper-based materials) which are inert in water splitting can enhance the conversion efficiency of nitrate into ammonia by suppressing the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This study investigates the potential of HER active metals (e.g., nickel) for the NitRR and proposes a strategy of grain boundary (GB) defect engineering of nickel nanoparticles to achieve high NH3 rate and faradaic efficiency by regulating the consumption of H*.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Junhua Li, Lingshu Gao, Junmao Hong, Xiaofeng Shi, Sifang Kong, Jingyu Wang, Hassan Algadi, Benbin Xu, Zhanhu Guo
Summary: Terephthalic acid reformed Al/Zn metal organic nanoflake functionalized with trie-thylamine (T-AlZn) exhibits remarkable performance in removing trace lead (II) ions (Pb2+), with an adsorption equilibrium reached within 35 min and a removal rate ≥ 97%. After four regenerations, the decline in removal rates of T-AlZn for Pb2+ is only 16.73%. The adsorption of T-AlZn for Pb2+ follows the Langmuir isotherms model and pseudo-second-order dynamics model, with the utmost adsorption competence of 215.27 mg g-1. T-AlZn adsorbent shows a bright prospect in the adsorption for Pb2+ and is a considerable candidate in the disposal of industrial sewage.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xin-Yu Huang, Ya-Ru Kang, Shu Yan, Ahmed Elmarakbi, Yong-Qing Fu, Wan-Feng Xie
Summary: Metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived trimetallic FeCoNi oxides (FCN-MOS) with a mesoporous structure were synthesized through one-step hydrothermal reaction and calcination. The FCN-MOS system consists of three main phases, alpha-Fe2O3 (n-type), CoFe2O4, and NiFe2O4 (p-type), and the nanostructure and pore size can be controlled by altering the content of alpha-Fe2O3, CoFe2O4, and NiFe2O4. The sensors based on FCN-MOS exhibit a high response of 71.9, good selectivity towards 100 ppm ethanol at 250 degrees C, and long-term stability up to 60 days. Additionally, the FCN-MOS-based sensors show a p-n transition gas sensing behavior with the alteration of the Fe/Co/Ni ratio.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ren Luo, Rui Wang, Yi Cheng, Zihan Meng, Yuan Wang, Zhanhu Guo, Ben Bin Xu, Yannan Xia, Haolin Tang
Summary: Introduction of yttrium enables the integration of nanoparticles, nanoclusters, and atomic sites in atomically dispersed iron nitrogen co-doped carbon materials, resulting in outstanding oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. FeY-NC exhibits high half-wave potential, kinetics current density, and peak power density in a Zinc-air battery.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
