Short-range Order Research Articles

Debranched rice starch with highly enriched B1 chains enhanced the encapsulation of aroma molecules.

Three debranched rice starch (DBS) with varying chain lengths were isolated in the hydrolysate solution-to-ethanol ratio of 1:3, 1:1.5, and 1:0, which were named as DBS1:3, DBS1:1.5, and DBS1:0, respectively. Three C8 aroma molecules with distinct functional groups, namely 1-octanol, 1-octen-3-ol, and γ-octalactone, were selected as the research objects. DBS1:1.5 exhibited a narrow chain length distribution and the content of B1 chains with degree of polymerization 13-24 was 58.77%. The inclusion rates of DBS1:1.5 with the aforementioned aroma molecules ranged from 42.30% to 68.09%, which were higher than those of DBS1:0 (8.72%-12.16%) and DBS1:3 (24.26%-48.24%). Additionally, DBS1:1.5-aroma complexes showed high crystallinity, short-range order, and thermal stability. DBS1:0-aroma and DBS1:3-aroma complexes possessed a hybrid crystal structure combining B-type and V-type arrangements, characterized by low short-range order and thermal stability. The mechanism by which aroma molecules affected their interaction with starch was associated with their structure and hydrophobicity. High hydrophobicity and linear structure facilitated the interaction of 1-octanol with starch, thereby enhancing its encapsulation effect. Contrastingly, the low hydrophobicity and large size of the lactone ring attenuated the interaction between γ-octalactone and DBS. This research held significant implications for improving aroma quality in starch-based food processing.

Temperature-dependent short-range order formation and its effects on yield strength in single crystals of the equiatomic Cr-Mn-Fe-Co-Ni high-entropy alloy

Temperature-dependent short-range order formation and its effects on yield strength in single crystals of the equiatomic Cr-Mn-Fe-Co-Ni high-entropy alloy

Chemical short-range order and its influence on selected properties of non-dilute random alloys

In recent years, non-dilute random alloys (NDRAs) have been gaining interest as promising materials for high-temperature structural applications due to their unique ability to form solid solution phases that portray exceptional mechanical properties and resilience under extreme conditions. This study deals with the effects of chemical short-range order (CSRO) on selected material properties including lattice parameters, lattice distortion (LD), unstable stacking fault energy (USFE), and melting points (MPs). The main body of this study is on 21 ternary alloys, where the interatomic interactions are described by an embedded-atom method potential. Our results demonstrate that random structures generally exhibit larger lattice parameters and greater LD compared to CSRO structures, while CSRO structures possess higher USFEs and MPs. Furthermore, there is no discernible pattern in the segregation of the same and different atom pairs in the NDRAs, as revealed by the notably varying local ordering or segregation for most of them. Last, the effects of interatomic potential and the number of constituent elements are studied using other interatomic potentials and/or non-ternary systems, suggesting that our finding is consistent across different potentials/alloys.

Solubility of cellulose derivatives is a limited indicator of their function on retarding starch digestion.

Cellulose and its derivatives have been utilized as additives and functional fibers in food industries. The solubility has been traditionally used to categorize cellulose derivatives, whilst their complex effects within food matrix are less understood. In this study, insoluble forms i.e., cellulose and ethyl cellulose (EC), and soluble forms i.e., methylcellulose (MC) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) were selected to investigate the mechanisms by which the two groups of cellulose ingredients regulate in vitro digestibility of starch-based foods. In the Michaelis-Menton analysis, the addition of insoluble cellulose or EC as inhibitors tended to decrease the Vmax of α-amylase at a non-significant level compared to the value without inhibitors (p>0.05). Starch-based matrix with insoluble cellulose or EC became less porous, but did not consistently resulting in an increased level of resistant starch content. Soluble MC and Na-CMC as inhibitors not only significantly reduced the Vmax (decreased from 1.0 to 0.8 and 0.9mg/min, respectively) and kcat/Km (catalytic efficiency, decreased from 30.9 to 22.2 and 23.3, respectively) of α-amylase (p<0.05), but the formed matrices had higher level of short-range ordering (R1047/1022). The soluble forms of cellulose derivatives resulted in higher level of resistant starch (up to 6%), compared to insoluble cellulose. In summary, this study provides new insights into the complexity in the effects of cellulose derivatives on the digestion of food matrix, and suggests that solubility is a limited indicator of their function on retarding starch digestion. The structural changes in starch-based food matrix induced by cellulose derivatives should be considered in the development of functional foods with low glycemic index.

Decoding Anionic Organization of Hydroxide-Fluorides in a Diaspore-Type Network.

The diaspore-type crystalline structure is historically well-known in mineralogy, but it has also been widely studied for various applications in the field of catalysis, electrocatalysis, and batteries. However, once two anions of similar ionic size but different electronegativity, such as F- and O2- or more precisely OH-, are combined, the knowledge of the location of these two anions is of paramount importance to understand the chemical properties in relation with the generation of hydrogen bonds. Coprecipitation and hydrothermal routes were used to prepare hydroxide-fluorides that crystallize all in an orthorhombic structure with four formula units per cell. By coupling X-ray scattering techniques for both long- and short-range order (XRD and PDF) and by using multiple complementary spectroscopic probes (Raman, FTIR, and 1D/2D 19F and 1H MAS NMR measurements), preferential anionic site occupancy by hydroxyl groups and fluoride ions is demonstrated. Moreover, in the Mg(OH)F diaspore network, 10% of Mg2+ is located in the tunnels, resulting in cationic vacancies in the main site. The preference for OH at the edges is clearly marked in the case of Mg(OH)F, whereas OH is preferred at the vertices in Zn(OH)F, regardless of the allotropic form. The dominant polar low-symmetry Pna21 form of Zn(OH)F has more OH groups at the vertices than the parent centrosymmetric Pnma variety, in agreement with its strongest hydrogen bonds. Given the remarkable flexibility of the diaspore-type network, the thermal stability of these hydroxide-fluorides is perfectly matched to the structural characteristics. The location of anionic groups within the diaspore framework should play a key role in understanding and optimizing physicochemical properties such as proton mobility for alkaline batteries and acid-base properties for heterogeneous catalysis.

Effect of microwave treatment on the structural and physicochemical properties of amylose partially removed sorghum starch.

This study aimed to probe the influence of amylose in starch granules on starch modification. Part of the amylose from sorghum starch was removed through warm water leaching, and the samples were then microwaved. The effects of treatments on starch structure, physicochemical properties, and digestibility were researched. Compared to sorghum starch without partial amylose removal, warm water leaching of amylose resulted in deeper concavity of sorghum starch granules and lower crystallinity, short-range ordering, setback and breakdown values, which disrupted the structure and thus rendered the starch granules more susceptible to microwave radiation, amplifying the advantages of microwave-modified starch. In addition, the ordered arrangement of amylose and amylopectin structures within the microwave-treated sorghum starch with pre-removed amylose were more readily disrupted, allowing enzymes to pass through more readily, thus increasing the fast-digestible starch content and digestibility of the starch. In summary, partial amylose removal can be used as a pretreatment method for modifying and expanding starch utilization in food and non-food industries while providing a new idea for developing baked foods.

Reinvestigating atomic ordering in K0.5Na0.5NbO3 and its impact on ferroelectric properties

In the present work, we reinvestigate the atomic ordering of a Pb-free morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) compositionviz.,K0.5Na0.5NbO3(KNN50) and its vicinity at various length scales using high-resolution x-ray diffraction and pair distribution function data. We have observed a monoclinic phase (Space Group: Pm) at long/short ranges differing from a very recent report by Sahaet al2024J. Phys.: Condens. Matter36425703. Moreover, the ferroelectric (polarization) dominance of short-range ordering (SRO) over long-range ordering (LRO) has been observed and quantified for the very first time using the amplitude of the ferroelectric frozen phonon mode (Γ4-) (corresponding to the high symmetry cubic phase), thereby structure is linked with ferroelectric (or polarization) property for a widely studied MPB systemviz.,KxNa(1-x)NbO3(KNNxforx= 0.40, 0.50, and 0.60). Two uniquely identified monoclinic phases has been observed for SRO (MSRO) and LRO (MLRO) for all the compositions. The amplitude of ferroelectric frozen phonon mode (Γ4-) corresponding toMSROis significantly higher (≈150%-180%) thanMLRO. A peak is observed in the amplitude ofΓ4-and intensity of prominent Raman peaks (ν1andν5) forx= 0.50, which is held responsible for high physical propertiesviz.,dielectric permittivity, piezoelectric coefficient, remnant polarization, electromechanical coupling coefficient, and many more widely reported in literature for KNN50.

Effects of Extrusion Treatment on the Physicochemical and Baking Quality of Japonica Rice Batters and Rice Breads

Gluten-free rice bread made from japonica rice finds challenge in achieving a good shape and structure, presenting a significant obstacle in the baking industry. This study aims to improve the quality of rice bread with japonica rice flour by hot extrusion treatment (without additives). The effects of extrusion on the amylose content, gelatinization degree, hydration capacity, short-range molecular ordering, and microstructure of japonica rice flour were investigated. The results show that the amylose content of the extruded flour increased by 12.43% and the gelatinization degree of it increased by 13.23 times, showing disrupted starch granules, numerous pores, and a better hydration capacity. The addition of extruded flour improved the overall viscoelasticity of the batter. Compared to the control group, the specific volume and porosity of the optimized rice bread were increased by 19.46% and 61.92%, respectively. The gas cell density was increased by 4.63 times, and the average gas cell area of rice bread was reduced by 47.14%. The correlations among the raw material properties of rice flour, the batter properties, and the quality of rice bread products were revealed by principal component analysis. This study demonstrates that the addition of moderate amounts of extruded japonica rice flour could improve the quality of rice bread products.

Proton Exchange Membrane with Dual-Active-Center Surpasses the Conventional Temperature Limitations of Fuel Cells.

High temperature-proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFC) call for ionomers with low humidity dependence and elevated-temperature resistance. Traditional perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomers encounter challenges in meeting these stringent requirements. Herein, this study reports a perfluoroimide multi-acid (PFMA) ionomer with dual active centers achieved through the incorporation of sulfonimide and phosphonic acid groups into the side chain. The fluorocarbon skeleton and multi-acid side chain structure facilitate the segregation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic microphases, augmenting the short-range ordering of hydrophilic nanodomains. Furthermore, the introduction of a rigid segment-benzene ring is employed to decrease side chain flexibility and raise the glass transition temperature. Notably, the prepared membrane exhibits a conductivity of 41 mS cm-1 at 40% relative humidity, showcasing a 1.8 times improvement over that of PFSA. Additionally, the power output of the H2-air fuel cell based on this membrane reaches 1.5W cm-2 at 105°C, marking a substantial 2.3 times enhancement compared to the PFSA. This work demonstrates the unique advantages of perfluorinated ionomers with multiple protogenic groups in the development of high-performance high-temperature electrolyte materials.

High-entropy assisted capacitive energy storage in relaxor ferroelectrics by chemical short-range order

Next-generation advanced high/pulsed power capacitors rely heavily on dielectric ceramics with high energy storage performance. Although high entropy relaxor ferroelectric exhibited enormous potential in functional materials, the chemical short-range order, which is a common phenomenon in high entropy alloys to modulate performances, have been paid less attention here. We design a chemical short-range order strategy to modulate polarization response under external electric field and achieve substantial enhancements of energy storage properties, i.e. an ultrahigh energy density of ~16.4 J/cm3 with markedly improved efficiency ~90% at an electric field of 85 kV/mm in Nb doped (Bi0.2Na0.2K0.2La0.2Sr0.2) TiO3 system. Atomic-scale scanning transmission electron microscopy observations show that Nb exhibits a chemical short-range order structure, with Nb enriched regions displaying ultrasmall polar nanoregions and more flexible polarization configurations, which is conducive to achieving high maximum polarization and low residual polarization. Moreover, refined grain size of ~0.25μm, suppressed oxygen vacancies and enhanced bandwidth contribute to a high breakdown field strength. These collective factors result in exceptionally high energy storage density and efficiency. This short-range order strategy is expected to enhance the functional performances in other high entropy relaxor ferroelectrics.

Two dimensional confinement induced discontinuous chain transitions for augmented electrocaloric cooling

Overheating remains a major barrier to chip miniaturization, leading to device malfunction. Addressing the urgent need for thermal management promotes the development of solid-state electrocaloric cooling. However, enhancing passive heat dissipation through two-dimensional materials in electrocaloric polymers typically compromises the electrocaloric effect. In this work, we utilize two-dimensional polyamide with porous structure and hydrogen bonding to achieve multiple polar conformations with short-range order in the electrocaloric composite polymers. The structure minimizes intermolecular interactions while reducing energy barriers for field-driven polar-nonpolar conformational transitions. The electrocaloric polymer exhibits doubled cooling efficiency at electric fields as low as 40 MV m−1. Additionally, the electrode design achieves a vertical deformation of 2 millimeters, demonstrating the feasibility of self-driven electric refrigeration devices. This porous organic two-dimensional material resolves cooling efficiency limitations from spatial confinement, advancing the integration of two-dimensional materials in flexible electronics.

Emergent quasicrystal in fermionic superradiance

Quasicrystal is state of matter with multiple crystalline orders, displaying a short-range density-wave order and a long-range disorder. As an exotic state lying in between crystals and Anderson insulators, its dynamical formation is little discussed. Here, we study the emergence of quasicrystalline order in fermionic superradiance, where Fermi statistics plays a crucial role, being distinct from its bosonic counterpart where interaction is the stabilizer. Owing to quasicrystalline orders, there exist multiple energy gaps opening at different quasicrystalline order strength, which can modify the density of states in excitation spectrum. As a result, the effective ground-state energy is strongly modified and the superradiant quasicrystal transition becomes first order and density dependent. This new mechanism leads to a linear V-shape kink of the fermionic superradiance transition line near a filling which uniquely relates to the quasicrystalline order. Our findings demonstrate that quasicrystal can be realized in fermionic superradiance as a result of Fermi statistics and be verified by characteristic density-dependent phenomena. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Morphology remodelling and membrane channel formation in synthetic cells via reconfigurable DNA nanorafts

The shape of biological matter is central to cell function at different length scales and determines how cellular components recognize, interact and respond to one another. However, their shapes are often transient and hard to reprogramme. Here we construct a synthetic cell model composed of signal-responsive DNA nanorafts, biogenic pores and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). We demonstrate that reshaping of DNA rafts at the nanoscale can be coupled to reshaping of GUVs at the microscale. The nanorafts collectively undergo reversible transitions between isotropic and short-range local order on the lipid membrane, programmably remodelling the GUV shape. Assisted by the biogenic pores, during GUV shape recovery the locally ordered DNA rafts perforate the membrane, forming sealable synthetic channels for large cargo transport. Our work outlines a versatile platform for interfacing reconfigurable DNA nanostructures with synthetic cells, expanding the potential of DNA nanotechnology in synthetic biology.

The Derivation of CRSS in pure Ti and Ti-Al Alloys

The work focuses on the determination of the critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) in titanium (Ti) and titanium-aluminum (Ti-Al) alloys, influenced by an array of factors such as non-symmetric fault energies and minimum energy paths, dislocation core-widths, short-range order (SRO) effects which alter the local atomic environment, and tension-compression (T-C) asymmetry affected by intermittent slip motion. To address these multifaceted complexities, an advanced theory has been developed, offering an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms underlying slip behavior. The active slip systems in these materials are basal, prismatic, and pyramidal planes, with the latter involving both 〈a〉 and 〈c+a〉 dislocations. Each slip system is characterized by distinct Wigner-Seitz cell configurations for misfit energy calculations, varying partial dislocation separation distances, and unique dislocation trajectories—all critical to precise CRSS calculations. The theoretical CRSS results were validated against a comprehensive range of experimental data, demonstrating a strong agreement and underscoring the model's efficacy.

Influence of irradiation on indicatory surface of anelastic-elastic body of AgZn alloy

Abstract The temperature dependence of internal friction Q −1 and elastic modulus Е (‘indicatory surface of anelastic-elastic body’) of Ag0.8Zn0.2 alloy was studied. After electron irradiation, sharp exponential growth of internal friction background Q −1 b was observed at temperatures T &gt; 610 K. The effect of radiation exposure on the temperature dependence of internal friction Q −1 and elastic modulus Е of Ag0.8Zn0.2 alloy, which is ordered, was studied. The temperature intervals of formation and rearrangement of the short-range order were determined. The influence of electron irradiation and thermomechanical treatment on the short-range ordering processes of AgZn solid solutions was studied. After electron irradiation, the temperature dependence of internal friction Q −1 and elastic modulus Е (‘indicatory surface of anelastic-elastic body’) of Ag0.8Zn0.2 alloy revealed internal friction maximum Q −1 М1 at temperature T М1 ≈ 560 K.

Enabling Type I Lattice-Matched Heterostructures in SiGeSn Alloys Through Engineering Composition and Short-Range Order: A First-Principles Perspective

Enabling Type I Lattice-Matched Heterostructures in SiGeSn Alloys Through Engineering Composition and Short-Range Order: A First-Principles Perspective

Effects of extrusion temperature on structure and physicochemical properties of proso millet starch.

Due to its thermal stability, and high viscosity, proso millet starch has limited practical applications. Extrusion can alter the functional properties of starch by pre-gelatinization, but the specific effects of extrusion temperature on starch behavior are not clear. In this study, proso millet starch was modified using extrusion at varying temperatures (70°C, 90°C, 110°C), and its structure as well as physicochemical properties were evaluated. As the extrusion temperature increased, the starch granules were gelatinized, and the particle size increased significantly. The relative crystallinity of extruded starch decreased and the short-range order was enhanced notably, but the starch still exhibited an A-type structure. Starch chains degraded, migrated, and aggregated, showing an increase in the double helix content, but there was no difference in the single helix structure with temperature. With the increase of extrusion temperature, the amorphous layer of extruded starch thickened. Moreover, the peak viscosity, breakdown viscosity and setback viscosity initially increased and then decreased, the peak temperature and enthalpy change increased. The water absorption index, water solubility and swelling power significantly decreased with increasing temperatures. The freeze-thaw stability and transparency of extruded starch decreased, and showed a downward trend with prolonged time. The above results indicate that extrusion treatment effectively modifies the thermal stability and viscosity of proso millet starch, laying a foundation for applying it different industrial applications.

Short-range order and hidden energy scale in geometrically frustrated magnets

In geometrically frustrated (GF) magnets, conventional long-range order is suppressed due to the presence of primitive triangular structural units, and the nature of the ensuing ground state remains elusive.

Effect of different thermal treatments on starch digestion of Tsamba (Highland barley products): Insights from starch structural properties and enzyme activity.

This study elucidated the mechanisms involved in the impact of Tsamba (a highland barley product) starch digestibility by different thermal treatments. The results demonstrate that different thermal processing methods (microwave, roasting, sand frying, frying, baking, and steaming) significantly alter the polyphenol content of highland barley, which in turn affects its ability to inhibit α-amylase activity. SEM, CLSM, XRD and FTIR were used to evaluate the effects on starch microstructure and digestibility. The microstructure, short-range order, and crystalline structure of starch would modify after different thermal treatments. Notably, the starch structure with the least disruption and improvement in resistance to enzyme hydrolysis suggests that microwaves may be an effective way to produce foods with higher resistant starch content. This study provides valuable insights into dietary strategies for the management of starch digestibility in people with diabetes.

Physicochemical characterization and in vitro digestibility of resistant starch from corn starch sugar residue.

This study sought to investigate the thermal stability and digestibility of corn starch sugar residue resistant starch (CSSR-RS) through comparative analysis of the physicochemical properties and structural characteristics among CSSR-RS, high-amylose corn starch (HS), and normal corn starch (NS). CSSR-RS contained 51.76% resistant starch (RS), with 42.6% remaining after high-temperature treatment, which was significantly higher than HS, demonstrating strong resistance to gelatinization. CSSR-RS is characterized by highly ordered aggregation of small molecules with a C-type crystalline structure, and irregular granular structures with wrinkled surfaces. Compared with NS and HS, the short-range and long-range order of CSSR-RS were significantly higher, indicating excellent thermal stability. In vitro simulated digestion revealed that the total hydrolysis rate of CSSR-RS was significantly lower than those of NS and HS, and the residual digesta of CSSR-RS also showed better resistance to digestion than HS. CSSR-RS exhibited significant development prospects in healthy food.