Higher Orderliness Research Articles

Effects of Microwave Treatment on Physicochemical Attributes, Structural Analysis, and Digestive Characteristics of Pea Starch-Tea Polyphenol Complexes.

Addressing the challenge of blood glucose fluctuations triggered by the ingestion of pea starch, we have adopted an eco-friendly strategy utilizing microwave irradiation to synthesize the novel pea starch-tea polyphenol complexes. These complexes exhibit high swelling capacity and low solubility, and their thermal profile with low gelatinization temperature and enthalpy indicates adaptability to various processing conditions. In vitro digestion studies showed that these complexes have a small amount of rapidly digestible starch and a large amount of resistant starch, leading to a slower digestion rate. These features are particularly advantageous for diabetics, mitigating glycemic excursions. Structurally, the pea starch-tea polyphenol complexes exhibited a B + V-shaped dense network with low crystallinity, high orderliness, and a prominent double helix content, enhancing its stability and functionality in food applications. In summary, these innovative complexes served as a robust platform for developing low glycemic index foods, catering to the nutritional needs of diabetics. It offers an environmentally sustainable approach to food processing, fostering human well-being and propelling innovation in the food industry.

A Universal Biomineralization‐Like Interfacial‐Confined Strategy Enables Practicable, Meter‐Scale, Transmittance‐Adjustable, Highly‐Ordered, Photothermal‐Capable, 2D Conducting Polymers

AbstractConducting polymers (CPs) encompass various cutting‐edge fields owing to their combination of polymer and conducting properties. However, the mismatch between the polymer growth process and the carrier mobility design leads to poor material and device consistency, and insufficient long‐term device stability, thus hindering the practical application of CPs. Although 2D construction has been explored to address these challenges, it typically leads to materials instability and lacks methods for large‐scale synthesis, making it unsuitable for many application scenarios. Here a universal biomineralization‐like strategy relying on the joint impaction of hydrogen‐bond and gravity for large‐scale fabrication of 2D CPs is developed. As‐fabricated meter‐scale Polypyrrole films exhibit high orderliness and can be assembled into multilayers, allowing for adjustable thickness and transparency. Notably, these films demonstrate exceptional photothermal properties and remarkable long‐term stability, as their surface temperature can reach 140 °C when irradiated with an 808 nm laser at 0.7 W cm−2, with almost no attenuation after 170 days. Furthermore, under sunlight, the temperature can reach nearly 100 °C, showcasing significant potential in smart building and energy management applications. Importantly, this strategy can be extended to the 2D design of numerous light organic compounds, thus opening up possibilities for their practical applications.

Non-Equilibrium Crystallization of Monotectic Zn-25%Bi Alloy under 600 g.

This study investigated the influence of supergravity on the segregation of components in the Zn–Bi monotectic system and consequently, the creation of an interface of the separation zone of both phases. The observation showed that near the separation boundary, in a very narrow area of the order of several hundred microns, all types of structures characteristic for the concentration range from 0 to 100% bismuth occurred. An additional effect of crystallization in high gravity is a high degree of structural order and an almost perfectly flat separation boundary. This is the case for both the zinc-rich zone and the bismuth-rich zone. Texture analysis revealed the existence of two privileged orientations in the zinc zone. Gravitational segregation also resulted in a strong rearrangement of the heavier bismuth to the outer end of the sample, leaving only very fine precipitates in the zinc region. For comparison, the results obtained for the crystallization under normal gravity are given. The effect of high orderliness of the structure was then absent. Despite segregation, a significant part of bismuth remained in the form of precipitates in the zinc matrix, and the separation border was shaped like a lens. The described method can be used for the production of massive bimaterials with a directed orientation of both components and a flat interface between them, such as thermo-generator elements or bimetallic electric cell parts, where the parameters (thickness) of the junction can be precisely defined at the manufacturing stage.

The facets of conscientiousness and body mass index: Potential mediation by eating factors

High Conscientiousness (C) is linked to lower body mass index (BMI); however, the facets of C have not yet been analyzed in relation to BMI while adjusting for other personality domains or one another. The objectives of this study were to examine: 1) the BMI-C relationship within the broader context of the Five Factor Model (FFM) domains, 2) unique BMI-C relationships at both the C domain and facet levels, and 3) the role of eating factors as potential mediators of observed relationships. The sample was 542 young adults (20.2 ± 3.6 years) from a Midwestern university. Personality was assessed using the IPIP-NEO-120. BMI was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Eating factors were measured with the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. Linear regressions were used to investigate associations between personality domains/facets and BMI adjusting for covariates. The C domain score was not associated with BMI (β = −0.03, p = .187). Facet-level analysis showed that the high orderliness C facet was uniquely associated with lower BMI (β = −0.22, p = .005). Indirect effects analysis revealed that disinhibited eating potentially mediates the orderliness-BMI relationship (β = 0.56, SE = 0.07, CI[0.43, 0.70], p < .001). If corroborated with prospective studies, low orderliness may be a key risk factor for problematic weight regulation and a valuable treatment target.

Structural analysis of the neuropeptide substance P by using vibrational spectroscopy.

Substance P (SP) is one of the most studied peptide hormones and knowing the relationship between its structure and function may have important therapeutic applications in the treatment of a variety of stress-related illnesses. In order to obtain a deeper insight into its folding, the effects of different factors, such as pH changes, the presence of Ca2+ ions, and the substitution of the Met-NH2 moiety in the SP structure, was studied by Raman and infrared spectroscopies. SP has a pH-dependent structure. Under acidic-neutral conditions, SP possesses a prevalent β-sheet structure although also other secondary structure elements are present. By increasing pH, a higher orderliness in the SP secondary structure is induced, as well as the formation of strongly bound intermolecular β-strands with a parallel alignment, which favour the self-assembly of SP in β-aggregates. The substitution of the Met-NH2 moiety with the acidic functional group in the SP sequence, giving rise to a not biologically active SP analogue, results in a more disordered folding, where the predominant contribution comes from a random coil. Conversely, the presence of Ca2+ ions affects slightly but sensitively the folding of the polypeptide chain, by favouring the α-helical content and a different alignment of β-strands; these are structural elements, which may favour the SP biological activity. In addition, the capability of SERS spectroscopy to detect SP in its biologically active form was also tested by using different metal nanoparticles. Thanks to the use of silver NPs prepared by reduction of silver nitrate with hydroxylamine hydrochloride, SP can be detected at very low peptide concentration (~ 90nM). However, the SERS spectra cannot be obtained under alkaline conditions since both the formation of SP aggregates and the lack of ion pairs do not allow a strong enough interaction of SP with silver NPs. Graphical abstract.

Cognitive and personality correlates of trait disgust and their relationship to condemnation of nonpurity moral transgressions.

Past research has found that individuals who are more sensitive to physically disgusting stimuli also condemn moral transgressions more harshly. However, there is debate about whether this condemnation includes transgressions that do not involve impure behaviors. We present a meta-analysis of 6 studies (N = 1082) which suggests that trait disgust is associated with condemnation of nonpurity transgressions. This relationship was primarily explained by sensitivity toward the very core disgust stimuli that those transgressions lack. We next tested whether this relationship might be mediated by a third variable. We found that trait core disgust was associated with higher orderliness, lower deviance sensitivity, and preference for intuitive thinking; these variables also correlated with moral condemnation. Trait disgust was also associated with lower generalized social trust, but trust was not correlated with moral condemnation. Neither trait disgust nor moral condemnation were associated with ethnocentrism. Further, none of these variables mediated the relationship between trait disgust and condemnation. Taken together, our results support a role for trait disgust in moral judgments outside of the purity domain, but leave unexplained its association with condemnation of nonpurity transgressions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Determination of kinetic parameters and thermodynamic properties for ash (Fraxinus) wood sawdust slow pyrolysis by thermogravimetric analysis

ABSTRACTAsh (Fraxinus) wood sawdust pyrolysis under nitrogen was conducted using 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20°C/min heating rates. Friedman and Starink methods were used for kinetic analysis while y(α) master plots were used for pyrolysis mechanisms prediction. The mean activation energy were 198 and 202 kJ/mol for Friedman and Starink, respectively. The master plots predicted that the pyrolysis process could be a combination of diffusion, geometrical contraction, nucleation, and reaction order models. The pre-exponential factors were in the range 1012 to 1019 s−1. Gibbs free energy was 180 −185 kJ/mol. The entropy values were negative up to α = 0.75 indicating high orderliness of products relative to reactants but changed to positive at higher conversions implying likely disorderliness of the products compared to reactants. The calorific value of Ash (Fraxinus) wood sawdust was 18.3 MJ/kg.

Toward Total Synthesis of Thiolate-Protected Metal Nanoclusters.

Total synthesis, where desired organic- and/or biomolecules could be produced from simple precursors at atomic precision and with known step-by-step reactions, has prompted centuries-lasting bloom of organic chemistry since its conceptualization in 1828 (Wöhler synthesis of urea). Such expressive science is also highly desirable in nanoscience, since it represents a decisive step toward atom-by-atom customization of nanomaterials for basic and applied research. Although total synthesis chemistry is less established in nanoscience, recent years have witnessed seminal advances and increasing research efforts devoted into this field. In this Account, we discuss recent progress on introducing and developing total synthesis routes and mechanisms for atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs). Due to their molecular-like formula and properties (e.g., HOMO-LUMO transition, strong luminescence and stereochemical activity), atomically precise metal NCs could be regarded as "molecular metals", holding potential applications in various practical sectors such as biomedicine, energy, catalysis, and many others. More importantly, the molecular-like properties of metal NCs are sensitively dictated by their size and composition, suggesting total synthesis of them as an indispensable basis for reliably realizing their practical applications. Atomically precise thiolate-protected Au, Ag and their alloy NCs are employed as model NCs to exemplify design strategies and governing principles in total synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles. This Account starts with a brief summary of total synthesis methodologies of atomically precise metal NCs. Following the methodological summary is a detailed discussion on the mechanisms governing these synthetic strategies, which is the main focus of this Account. Based on unprecedented precision (at atomic resolution) and ease (ensured by size-dependent properties) of tracking clusters' size/structure changes, mechanisms driving growth (e.g., reduction growth and seeded growth) and functionalization (e.g., alloying reaction and ligand exchange) of metal NCs have been explored at molecular level. With definitive step-by-step reaction routes, two-electron (2 e-) reduction (driving the growth reactions) and surface motif exchange (SME, prompting alloying and ligand exchange reactions) are discussed in depth and details. In addition to those sub- and/or individual-cluster level understandings, the self-assembly chemistry delivering high orderliness and enhanced materials performance in NC assemblies/supercrystals is also deciphered. This Account is then concluded with our perspectives toward potential development of cluster chemistry. Advances in total synthesis chemistry of metal NCs could not only serve as guidelines for future synthetic practice of NCs, but also provide molecular-level clues for many pending fundamental puzzles in nanochemistry, including nucleation growth, alloying chemistry, surface engineering and evolution of metamaterials.

The use of music often has a crucial role in the everyday life of patients with mental disorders

Background: Until now little has been known about the relationship between emotion modulation through music listening habits and personality dimensions, especially in patients with mental disorders. Objective: To explore relations between the use of music in everyday life and personality dimensions in patients with mental disorders. Methods: A population of patients suffering from mental disorders (n=190) was examined using one inventory on emotion modulation by music (IAAM) and another assessing personality dimensions (SKI). Results: Patients with high ego-strength used music less for relaxation, cognitive problem solving or for reduction of negative activity, similarly patients with high orderliness used it less for cognitive problem solving or for reduction of negative activity, but patients with high confidence used music more for fun stimulation. Patients who reported that they listened to music which improved their symptoms of mental illness showed more ego-strength and orderliness than patients who listened to music that worsened their emotional condition. Conclusions: The study suggests that the personality variables confidence, ego-strength and orderliness are variables for the use of music in a helpful way for emotion modulation.

Coadsorption, desorption hysteresis and sorption thermodynamics of sulfamethoxazole and carbamazepine on graphene oxide and graphite

Although the simultaneous presence of multiple pollutants is common, the behaviors of the pollutants as affected by other chemicals are still unclear. Graphite (GP) and graphene oxide were applied as model adsorbents to study the coadsorption of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and carbamazepine (CBZ). For the first time, desorption hysteresis and thermodynamic analysis were incorporated in studying the coadsorption. Competitive sorption was observed as indicated by the decreased adsorption of the primary adsorbates with adding competing adsorbate. The absolute sorption inhibition of the primary sorbate (ΔQpri) was compared with the amount (Qsec) of competitor sorbed. Complementary sorption was evidenced as the generally observed ΔQpri<Qsec. Stronger interactions between CBZ and adsorbents resulted in stronger competition of CBZ to SMX than that of SMX to CBZ, lower release ratio of the adsorbed CBZ, more energy released and higher orderliness during CBZ sorption than SMX sorption. CBZ does not have any preference of sorption sites on GP as suggested by Langmuir-type sorption and insignificant change of SMX sorption nonlinearity and SMX release ratio after CBZ addition. Competitive sorption was observed at a wide pH range and in the presence of DOM, suggesting ubiquitous presence of this phenomenon in the environment.

Initial hydro‐geomorphic development and rill network evolution in an artificial catchment

ABSTRACTThe formation of erosion rills and gullies is a critical step in land surface development, but possibilities to study initial unaffected surface development under natural conditions and with well‐defined initial and boundary conditions are rare. The objective of this study was to characterize rill network development from ’point zero’ in the artificially‐created catchment ‘Hühnerwasser’. To ensure unaffected development, the study was largely restricted to the analysis of remotely‐sensed data. We analyzed a series of photogrammetry‐based digital elevation models (DEMs) for 10 points in time, over a period of five years and beginning with the initial state. The evolving erosion rill network was quantitatively described based on mapping from aerial photographs. DEMs and rill network maps were combined to specifically analyze the development of morphometry for different parts of the network and to characterize energy dissipation and connectivity. The restriction to remote‐sensing data did not allow for analyzing specific processes governing rill network development, nevertheless, two major development phases could be characterized. We observed a phase of growth of the rill network along with variations in drainage patterns during the first two years of development and a subsequent phase of reduction of its area along with comparably stable patterns. Region‐specific analysis of morphometry indicates that, besides effects of changing sediment characteristics and vegetation cover development, locally evolving hydro‐geomorphic feedback cycles influenced this development. Results show an increasing similarity of overall statistical characteristics (e.g. drainage density) for two parts of the catchment, but a persistent influence of initial conditions on specific rill geometry. The observed development towards higher orderliness and increased connectivity is consistent with experiments and concepts on drainage network evolution across scales; however, we did not observe major influences of rill piracy and cross grading or a reduction of energy dissipation with network development. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Structure and properties of highly stereoregular isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) and syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) blends treated with supercritical CO2

The structure and properties of highly stereoregular isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (it-PMMA) and syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (st-PMMA) blends with crystalline stereocomplex formed by supercritical CO2 treatment at temperatures ranging from 35 to 130°C were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measurements. The melting temperature, Tm, and the heat of fusion, ΔHm, had maximum values at about 200°C and 25J/g, respectively. The degree of crystallinity evaluated by WAXD ranged in value from 32 to 38%. The fringed-micellar stereocomplex crystallites were formed in case of treatment temperatures below 90°C, and the orderliness perpendicular to the helix axis of the fringed-micellar crystallites was considered to be increased with increasing treatment temperature. In case of treatment temperature of 130°C, the fringed-micellar crystallites and the lamellar crystallites with high orderliness parallel to the helix axis coupled with the perpendicular orderliness were formed, and the respective double endothermic peaks, Tm1 and Tm3, were observed in DSC due to the melting of the two kinds of stereocomplex crystallites. The it-PMMA/st-PMMA blends containing the fringed-micellar crystallites maintained high values of storage modulus, E′, up to higher temperature compared with the amorphous blends. The E′ of the blend treated with CO2 at 130°C decreased twice at temperatures corresponding to Tm1 and Tm3.

Effect of organic amine type on the structure and properties of the complex Zn(II) salts of ethylene–methacrylic acid copolymer with organic amines

AbstractThe complex Zn(II) salts of ethylene–methacrylic acid copolymer (EMAA) were synthesized by using various organic amines from monoamines to polyamines, from primary amines to tertiary amines, and from molecular amines to polymer amines. Thermal analyses by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the measurement of stiffness, melt flow rate (MFR), and dielectric properties were employed for the complex salts. It was found that the valence, strength of base, rigidity and flexibility, and bulkiness of the organic amines affect the degree of crystalline order of the ionic crystallites, which governs the stiffness of the complex ion ionomers. The stiffness is higher for the complex salts which form the higher orderliness in the ionic aggregates. The organic amines with two or more primary aliphatic amino groups and higher boiling temperatures from more rigid ionic crystallites in the complex ion ionomers leading to the enhanced modulus. Monoamines or polyamines with amino groups attached to flexible chains such as polyether and polysiloxane scarcely develop ionic crystallites and preferentially solvate the amorphous region including ionic groups leading to the decreased modulus. These results provide us with the fundamental information to control the modulus of ionomers.

Gelation of oligocarbodiimides in organic solvents

The gelation of oligocarbodiimides (degree of polycondensation 20) in three organic solvents: DMAA, chlorobenzene and sovol (chlorinated diphenyl), in the concentration range 6–15% and temperature interval —10 to + 140°C has been studied by rheological and DSC methods. The kinetics of the rise in the viscosity of the solutions of the oligocarbodiimides to the gel point and the elasticity modulus of the gels formed to the equilibrium value have been measured. The thermoreversible nature of the gels of the oligocarbodiimides determined both by the intermolecular interaction and raised rigidity of the molecules has been established. The latter leads to high orderliness of the packing of the molecules of the oligocarbodiimides to the point of crystallization.