Review
Biology
Hiroyuki Shimoji, Shigeto Dobata
Summary: Reproductive division of labour is a characteristic of eusocial insects, but can be disrupted by reproductive potential of otherwise sterile nest-mates. Dominance hierarchy plays a crucial role in regulating reproduction in some species, and dominance hierarchies in eusocial insects involve more individuals than in vertebrates, requiring unique selective forces. This article provides an overview of studies on dominance hierarchies in eusocial insects, specifically focusing on paper wasps and ponerine ants. It explains the emergence of dominance hierarchies as a self-organizing process through individual memory and local behavioral interactions, which can be captured using network analyses. The adaptive significance of dominance hierarchies is also discussed from the perspective of sterile subordinates, emphasizing the importance of kin selection.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shang-Wu Zhou, Fei Tong, Meng Chen, Ruirui Gu, Chen-Yu Shi, Cheng-Yuan Yu, Qi Zhang, Da-Hui Qu
Summary: A novel dry-network polythiourethane thermoset with excellent mechanical performance was designed and synthesized in this study. It was found that the polymer film can evolve into a neat and well-organized object with a macroscopic hollow interior structure after being immersed in an aqueous NaOH solution. The swelling and thickness growth of this material could be controlled by the NaOH concentration and the immersion time. This unique self-evolution behavior was further utilized to produce a series of macroscopic 3D hollow-containing molds, which could be potentially applied in the production of smart materials.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Qinyue Zheng, Zhenjun Liu, Xiaomin Liang, Yun Zhou, Guohua Zhao
Summary: Post-gelation soaking is an important step in gel-based foods processing, which influences the physicochemical properties of konjac glucomannan (KGM) gels. This study compared the gel network, KGM aggregates, and molecular chemistry of different soaking gels. The results showed that post-gelation soaking promoted network rearrangement, increased elasticity, and cross-linking density. The structural changes during soaking facilitated molecular aggregation and improved the compactness of aggregate structures.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Keivan Rahmani, Alireza Haghighat Mamaghani, Zaher Hashisho, David Crompton, James E. Anderson
Summary: Determining the long-term performance of adsorbents is crucial for air treatment system design. Machine learning algorithms, such as XGBoost and neural network, were used to predict cyclic heel buildup on activated carbons. The neural network algorithm showed better performance in predicting heel buildup compared to XGBoost. Partial dependency plots were generated to analyze the interaction between heel buildup and different factors. These ML-based prediction methods can help optimize adsorption/desorption conditions and screen efficient adsorbents.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Hwabin Jung, Lester C. Geonzon, Won Byong Yoon, Shingo Matsukawa
Summary: The gelation mechanism of agarose solution on cooling was investigated using a dynamic rheometer, multiple particle tracking, and pulsed-field-gradient stimulated echo (PGSTE) 1H NMR. The results revealed the gradual increase of G' and the formation of micro domains obstructing particle diffusion in the temperature range from 55 to 40 degrees C. Detailed information about the change of molecular mobility and the overall network structure was obtained from NMR measurements. These findings provide insights into the gelation mechanism and gel network structure of agarose solution.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
M. Ahmad, B. Rappengluck, O. O. Osibanjo, A. Retama
Summary: This study uses machine learning models to analyze data from Mexico City and rank air quality and meteorological variables, identifying the important factors contributing to the build-up of ground-level ozone. The best model accurately captures ozone peak levels and provides insights into the functional dependency of ozone on its predictors.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Poh Yee Ong, Siti Nur Fathiyah Jamaludin
Summary: This paper aims to reduce uncertainty in the fracture architecture of Central Luconia karstified reservoirs by narrowing observational gaps between seismic and well data using the discrete fracture models of exposed limestone outcrops as analogues.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Eike Joeres, Stephan Drusch, Stefan Topfl, Andreas Juadjur, Ute Bindrich, Thore Volker, Volker Heinz, Nino Terjung
Summary: The influence of moderate electric fields (MEF) on the gelation and network structures of patatin enriched potato protein (PPI) during thermal heating was investigated. It was found that heating via OH produced self-standing gels with less protein denaturation. OH gels exhibited more gap-like structures and frayed areas, resulting in lower water holding capacity.
INNOVATIVE FOOD SCIENCE & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Luca Caricchi, Meredith Townsend, Eleonora Rivalta, Atsuko Namiki
Summary: Understanding the storage, release, and ascent of magma is crucial for predicting volcanic activity, and requires an interdisciplinary approach that combines real-time monitoring and geophysical surveys with petrology and volcanic eruptive history.
NATURE REVIEWS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Yu-Ting Lan, Qian-Pu Cheng, Junpeng Xu, Shih-Ho Lin, Jhih-Min Lin, Shan-hui Hsu
Summary: Mussel-inspired adhesive hydrogels have been developed using catechol-functionalized chitosan, which demonstrated self-healing properties due to hydrogen bonding, cationic-pi interactions, Michael addition, and Schiff base reactions. The gelation mechanism and properties of the catechol-grafted chitosan hydrogels were studied, showing strain-dependent behavior and enhanced adhesive strength after immersion in physiological saline. The research provides insights into utilizing chitosan-catechol for designing hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties in biomedical applications.
Article
Business
Fabian Reck, Alexander Fliaster, Michael Kolloch
Summary: This paper examines the relationship between a firm's propensity to be embedded in a network with advantageous structural attributes and its capabilities for network management. It identifies two different network management practices and their effects on network structure, highlighting the importance of intra-firm network management for structural network advantages. The study also demonstrates the distinct effects of relationship management and portfolio management on network structure, contributing to theory on strategic networks and innovation performance.
JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Hengrui Liu, Xiao Sun, Zhenghong Tian, Jingwu Bu, Xian Zuo, Jiajie Li, Junzheng Xiang, Haoyue Fan
Summary: In this study, the structural build-up characteristics of cementitious suspensions containing attapulgite were investigated. The effects of different attapulgite types (burning followed by grinding and grinding followed by burning) on the flow, viscosity, adhesiveness, and segregation resistance of the suspensions were examined. Small-amplitude oscillating shear tests were used to analyze the structural build-up of the suspensions over time. The bonding strength coefficient was found to be a key factor in determining the properties of the suspensions, and its relationship with macroscopic experimental parameters and structural build-up characteristics was studied. The results showed that the attapulgite types influenced the properties of the suspensions by altering the flocculent structures, and the bonding strength coefficient played a crucial role in this process.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
S. Ito, M. Schueler, M. Meierhofer, S. Schlauderer, J. Freudenstein, J. Reimann, D. Afanasiev, K. A. Kokh, O. E. Tereshchenko, J. Guedde, M. A. Sentef, U. Hoefer, R. Huber
Summary: Strong light fields create novel functionalities of solids and enable exotic quantum phases by driving electrons to form Floquet-Bloch states. In this study, the ultrafast build-up of Floquet-Bloch bands was visualized using time-resolved and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The simultaneous occurrence of Floquet states with intraband and interband dynamics was explained through quantum non-equilibrium calculations.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Danxuan Wu, Hengpeng Wang, Xiuyun Guo, Zhaoli Zhang, Ziwu Gao, Sumin Gao, Zongzhen Liu, Shengqi Rao, Xiangren Meng
Summary: The effects of ultrasonic treatment combined with insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) from oat on gelation and structure of myofibrillar protein (MP) were investigated in this study. The ultrasonic treatment combined with IDF promoted the deployment of MP chain and increased the solubility of MP. The U120 + IDF group showed the highest values of gel hardness, chewiness, and a three-dimensional network structure.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bo Qin, Siyuan Liu, Zehuan Huang, Lingda Zeng, Jiang-Fei Xu, Xi Zhang
Summary: Researchers have developed a dynamic maleic acid tertiary amide bond that allows for the construction of polymer networks with tunable mechanical performance and recyclability. The bond can be depolymerized in an acidic aqueous solution, leading to efficient monomer recovery, and the recovered monomers can be used to remanufacture cross-linked polymeric materials without losing their original mechanical performance.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Adria Roig, Aina Petrauskaite, Xavier Ramis, Silvia De la Flor, Angels Serra
Summary: This study developed new acylhydrazone vitrimeric-type materials with high T-g and fast relaxation through imine metathesis. These materials showed good thermomechanical properties, high thermal stability, and the ability to be recycled and self-healed.
Article
Polymer Science
J. Casado, O. Konuray, A. Roig, X. Fernandez-Francos, X. Ramis
Summary: Polymer networks with dynamic bonds, known as covalent adaptable networks (CANs), combine the mechanical properties and chemical resistance of thermosets with the ability to be reprocessed. In this study, a thermoset material with high concentration of dynamic bonds was designed to facilitate repair and recycle at feasible temperatures. The material was partially cured through UV light and further improved by a thermal treatment. The effect of thermal post-treatment and catalyst choice on the material's properties was investigated, showing that transesterification reactions increased the overall crosslinking density. The material demonstrated the ability to be fully repaired and recycled due to the presence of dynamic bonds.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
David Santiago, Angels Serra
Summary: Hyperbranched polymers and multiarm star polymers, as dendritic polymers, have unique properties. By using these polymers to modify epoxy resins, the final properties of materials can be controlled, such as increasing toughness, flexibility, and fire retardancy.
Article
Polymer Science
Federico Guerrero, Silvia De la Flor, Xavier Ramis, Jose-Ignacio Santos, Angels Serra
Summary: The present study demonstrates the synthesis of nanocomposites with a polymeric matrix and silsesquioxane-type structures, aiming to combine the advantages of hardness and strength from the inorganic phase and elasticity and toughness from the organic matrix. The incorporation of POSS improved the vitrimeric behavior of the materials by reducing relaxation times and increasing storage moduli. The modified materials showed high transparency and enhanced toughness.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Dora Straus, Maria Caballol, Francesc Serrado, Josep Oliveras, Xavier Ramis, Jonas Oliva
Summary: The decline of trees caused by exotic Phytophthora pathogens is a significant problem worldwide. This study found that forests with high recreational use are more susceptible to Phytophthora attack compared to forests with low recreational use in Catalonia. The presence of Phytophthora is associated with defoliation and low regeneration of trees.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
B. Pascual-Jose, S. De la Flor, A. Serra, A. Ribes-Greus
Summary: The dielectric spectra of the poly(thiourethane) network, HDI-S3, were analyzed to understand the nature and cooperativity of each observed dielectric process. The Y1, Y2, and fi dielectric relaxations at low temperatures were attributed to noncooperative local motions in the glassy state, with apparent activation energies of 30, 36, and 60 kJ/mol, respectively. At higher temperatures, three dielectric relaxations were observed (alpha Tg, alpha*, p), with alpha Tg being attributed to the glass transition and overlapping with the alpha* relaxation. The molecular origin of the alpha* relaxation was associated with a bond exchange reaction, while the p relaxation was ascribed to sample heterogeneity, although its origin remained uncertain. The DC conductivity (sigma DC) was found to be a suitable variable for analyzing the bond exchange reaction, indicating a molecular exchange mechanism of dissociative nature in HDI-S3.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
David Santiago, Dailyn Guzman, Jesu's Padilla, Pere Verdugo, Silvia De la Flor, Angels Serra
Summary: Epoxy-based vitrimers with high Tg values and a homogeneous network structure were developed as recyclable and reprocessable adhesives for automotive structural applications. The materials showed complete stress relaxation in just 3.6 minutes at 180 degrees C, with the presence of TBD catalyst resulting in the fastest relaxation. They were successfully recycled and reprocessed through alcoholysis and mechanical grinding, and demonstrated high single-lap shear stress values for mono- and multimaterial joints. Overall, this study presents a comprehensive investigation of recyclable and reprocessable epoxy-based vitrimers.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Osman Konuray, Xavier Fernandez-Francos, Xavier Ramis
Summary: In this work, a model is proposed to reproduce the stress relaxation dynamics of relaxation processes in covalent adaptable networks (CANs) produced by stepwise polymerization. The model captures the elastic response of the material under initial stress by simulating a network decrosslinking process. By using a combination of a recursive structural model and a kinetic model for the bond exchange reaction, the model can predict the stress relaxation profile in different CAN-based materials based on their network structure, bond exchange rate, and presence of permanent bonds. The model's prediction capabilities are validated through simulations of scenarios taken from the literature, demonstrating the flexibility in designing CAN-based materials through tailored network architecture.
Article
Polymer Science
Federico Guerrero, Xavier Ramis, Silvia De la Flor, Angels Serra
Summary: A series of poly(thiourethanes) (PTUs) have been synthesized from biobased monomers. Limonene and squalene were transformed into polyfunctional thiols which were then reacted with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) to prepare bio-based poly(thiourethane) vitrimer-like materials. The proportions of the two thiols in the reactive mixture can change the characteristics of the final material. The materials exhibited good self-healing efficiency.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Osman Konuray, Sasan Moradi, Adria Roig, Xavier Fernandez-Francos, Xavier Ramis
Summary: In order for covalent adaptable networks to be fully recyclable, they need to overcome all topological restrictions and flow. A statistically based method showed that the relaxation of stress in disulfide-containing thiol-ene polymers is closely related to the fraction of permanent cross-links. Even with low disulfide content, the materials can be recycled at moderate temperatures without losing tensile properties by triggering transesterification reactions through increased reprocessing temperature, due to the presence of ester bonds.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Adria Roig, Marco Agizza, Angels Serra, Silvia De la Flor
Summary: This study synthesized bio-based disulfide vitrimers through an epoxy-amine polycondensation process and characterized them using FTIR, TGA, and thermomechanical analysis. The addition of TREN increased the crosslinking density, resulting in a maximum relaxation rate at a proportion of 25%. The relaxation times of the vitrimers were decreased by catalyzing the disulfide metathesis and achieving a balance between the proportion of disulfide bonds and the content of nucleophilic tertiary amines.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Adria Roig, Xavier Ramis, Silvia De la Flor, Angels Serra
Summary: This paper aims to enhance sustainability in the thermosetting polymeric field through the use of bio-based monomers and environmentally friendly processing technologies based on dual-curing. By transforming eugenol into acrylate epoxy eugenol (AEEU), which can take part in thio-Michael additions and thiol-epoxy reactions, the authors have developed a sequential dual-curing process. The addition of a basic catalyst helps facilitate the curing process. Through the selection of three thiols, including one derived from eugenol and others derived from pentaerythritol, the authors have demonstrated the ability to tailor and improve the intermediate material characteristics in the dual-curing process. Rheology, DSC, and FTIR were used to evaluate the curing steps, while TGA and DMTA were employed to assess the thermal characteristics of intermediate and final materials. Tensile tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Mustafa Kalay, Abidin Esidir, Mahmut Ruzi, N. Burak Kiremitler, Mustafa Serdar Onses
Summary: This study proposes stable and addressable polymer PUFs, utilizing a cross-linkable polymer system, which demonstrates high stochastic characteristics and low-cost production. The performance of the polymer features is evaluated through various analyses, and direct image authentication is achieved using feature matching algorithms.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
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
Weijie Li, Jun Nie, Yingying Zhao, Xiaoqun Zhu
Summary: This study focuses on the development of high-performance, low-migration photoinitiators. A polymerizable photoinitiator (VBP) was synthesized by introducing an ethylene group into benzophenone, and three different molecular weight single-component photoinitiators (PVBN1-3) were synthesized based on VBP. The results show that these new photoinitiators have stronger absorption ability compared to benzophenone and significantly reduce the migration of initiators and co-initiators, addressing the safety concerns caused by migration.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Seira Morimune-Moriya, Yuki Iwahashi, Mitsuru Nakamura, Daisuke Ogawa, Keiji Nakamura
Summary: This study investigates the effect of plasma treatment on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the structure/properties of polyimide (PI) nanocomposites with ultra-low content of CNTs. The results show that plasma treatment introduces isocyanate groups on the surface of CNTs and enhances the interfacial interaction between PI and treated CNTs. This leads to a significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, with even a small addition of treated CNTs showing a substantial increase in Young's modulus, tensile strength and toughness.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Yuanlong Li, Chaojie Chen, Guoqing Cui, Li Liu, Chao Zhou, Guangfeng Wu
Summary: In this study, a novel ion-conducting hydrogel was fabricated using a straightforward approach. The hydrogel showed excellent tensile properties and high toughness due to physical interactions and covalent binding. Additionally, the introduction of hydroxyethyl cellulose and lithium chloride improved the biocompatibility, mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, and frost resistance of the hydrogel, demonstrating its potential for cold climate applications.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Dengwei Yan, Jinxian Yang, Xuejun Pan, Xiaozheng Duan, Lianwei Li, Mo Zhu
Summary: The influence of backbone length on grafting efficiency during the graft-onto reaction process was investigated. It was found that the polydispersity effect of backbone length does not affect the final grafting efficiency, indicating that the local dynamics of chain segments dominate the graft-onto process.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Zhaoyi Luo, Xianjie Pan, Fanqi Liu, Quanxi Yi, Yanning Zeng, Yunhua Chen, Chaoyang Wang
Summary: This study provides a method to prepare high-performance epoxy materials with good malleability and thermal stability. The materials have self-healing and welding capabilities, thanks to the addition of specific chemical bonds and network structures. They exhibit mechanical properties comparable to commercial epoxy resins and show great potential for sustainable industrial development.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Chaoji Xiong, Hao Wang, Lihua Deng, Kun Liang, Chunhua Wu, Wei Wu, Qian Chen
Summary: In this study, four polyamides were synthesized and their adsorption performances for Hg2+ in aqueous systems were investigated. The polyamides exhibited high adsorption capacities and excellent reusability, with the involvement of sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen in the chemical adsorption process of Hg2+.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Siim Laanesoo, Olivier Bonjour, Rauno Sedrik, Iris Tamsalu, Patric Jannasch, Lauri Vares
Summary: The insertion of rigid aliphatic or aromatic building blocks in polymer structures is an effective way to synthesize high -Tg polymer materials. In this study, a series of isosorbide-2-aryl carboxylate-5-methacrylate monomers (ArIMAs) were synthesized by functionalizing isosorbide 5-methacrylate with various aromatic lignin-inspired esters. These monomers were polymerized to obtain high molecular-weight poly(aryl carboxylate isosorbide methacrylates) (PArIMAs). The resulting polymers showed high glass transition temperatures and thermal stability, making them suitable for use as high-performance plastics and coatings.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Yuqian Wu, Weijie Xu, Jianliang Li, Zhangfeng Zhong, Liqing Huang, Shengke Li, Huaping Tan
Summary: This study investigates the improvement of degradation and drug release characteristics of dynamic Schiff base-mediated natural polysaccharide hydrogels using tannic acid (TA), leading to enhanced stability and functionality.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Xi Zhang, Xiangli Kong, Xin Zhou, Yiyan Gao, Yibo Sun, Guanghui Gao, Wei Liu, Kai Shi
Summary: Conductive hydrogels have great development prospects in flexible strain sensors, but long-term direct contact with human skin can cause bacterial infection. A hydrogel with antibacterial, biocompatibility, and toughness was designed and manufactured using a freeze-thaw method. The hydrogel maintains tensile properties and fatigue resistance at low temperatures and is resistant to bacteria. Therefore, hydrogel sensors can be used to monitor human movements.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Wei Zhang, Jiangang Yu, Mingyang Wu, Rui Li, Anqiang Zhang, Yaling Lin
Summary: In this study, polyacrylamide containing quaternary ammonium salts (PAM-X) were synthesized and found to effectively inhibit soil-borne pathogenic fungi while maintaining the balance of microbial population in soil. PAM-X also showed low toxicity to earthworms and fish, providing a new method for the prevention and control of soil-borne fungal diseases.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Jiawen He, Haojie Yu, Li Wang, Jian Yang, Yanhui Zhang, Wenbing Huang, Chenguang Ouyang
Summary: This review discusses the use of polymeric hydrogels for atmospheric water harvesting (AWH), including the mechanism of water sorption, fabrication methods, and strategies for optimizing the structure of hydrogels. The extended applications of hygroscopic photothermal hydrogels, such as agricultural irrigation and dehumidification, are also explored. The challenges and prospects of using polymeric hydrogels for AWH are summarized.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Ying Du, Shuaishuai Lu, Yuanna Sun, Qingshan Li, Xinhai He
Summary: This study introduces a method to improve the performance of hydrogels by incorporating proline, resulting in hydrogels with excellent stretchability, high conductivity, and long-term stability. The hydrogel remains flexible and conductive even at ultra-low temperatures.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
