Degradation kinetics of monacolin K in red yeast rice powder using multiresponse modeling approach

The effects of storage temperature (4, 20, 30, 40, 50 °C) and atmospheric conditions in packages (vacuum, atmospheric) on degradation kinetics of monacolin K, an antihypercholesterolemic agent, in red yeast rice powder were investigated using multiresponse modeling approach. Storage of red yeast rice powder at 4 °C under vacuum package was found to enhance retention of monacolin K. Multiresponse modeling revealed degradation path of monacolin K acid form into their dehydromonacolin K and unknown product under vacuum package, while oxidized product was also formed under atmospheric package. Monacolin K lactone form and precursor were degraded into dehydromonacolin K lactone form, while degradation of dehydromonacolin K lactone form to unknown was more pronounced at temperature higher than 30 °C. Oxidized product was also generated from monacolin K lactone form in atmospheric package. High activation energy of monacolin K degradation in acid form indicated that degradation of monacolin K to their dehydromonacolin K was more susceptible to temperature change as compared to lactone form.     

Self-Assembly of Mixed-Dimensional GeS1−xSex (1D Nanowire)–(2D Plate) Van der Waals Heterostructures

The integration of dissimilar materials into heterostructures is a mainstay of modern materials science and technology. An alternative strategy of joining components with different electronic structure involves mixed-dimensional heterostructures, that is, architectures consisting of elements with different dimensionality, for example, 1D nanowires and 2D plates. Combining the two approaches can result in hybrid architectures in which both the dimensionality and composition vary between the components, potentially offering even larger contrast between their electronic structures. To date, realizing such heteromaterials mixed-dimensional heterostructures has required sequential multi-step growth processes. Here, it is shown that differences in precursor incorporation rates between vapor–liquid–solid growth of 1D nanowires and direct vapor–solid growth of 2D plates attached to the wires can be harnessed to synthesize heteromaterials mixed-dimensional heterostructures in a single-step growth process. Exposure to mixed GeS and GeSe vapors produces GeS_1−xSe_x van der Waals nanowires whose S:Se ratio is considerably larger than that of attached layered plates. Cathodoluminescence spectroscopy on single heterostructures confirms that the bandgap contrast between the components is determined by both composition and carrier confinement. These results demonstrate an avenue toward complex heteroarchitectures using single-step synthesis processes.     

Electronic Properties of SiB Nanoribbons in Density Functional Theory

Silicon - The present study investigates the electronic and magnetic properties of hydrogenated armchair/zigzag SiB nanoribbons with different widths. The calculations are carried out within the...     

Solution-processed high-performance organic light-emitting diodes containing a green-emitting multiresonant thermally activated delayed fluorescent dendrimer

A multi-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) dendrimer emitter and a related reference MR-TADF compound were designed, synthesized, and characterized for use as narrowband emitters in solution-processed OLEDs. The 1 wt% doped films in PMMA film revealed that the compounds MR-D1 and MR-D2 showed narrowband green emission at λ_PL of 490 and 495 nm and with FWHM of 23 and 29 nm, respectively. The 50 wt% doped films in mCP still show narrowband green emission at λ_PL of 495 and 499 nm and with FWHM of 28 nm for MR-D1 and MR-D2 , respectively, while conserving the small ΔE_ST of 0.14 and 0.13 eV, respectively. OLEDs containing an emissive layer consisting of 50 wt% MR-D1 and MR-D2 in mCP showed high EQE_max of 27.7% and 21.0%, respectively, and low efficiency roll-off of 19% and 30% at a luminance of 2000 cd/m⁻².     

Polyethylene‐Palygorskite nanocomposite prepared via in situ coordinated polymerization

A polyethylene/palygorskite nano‐composite (IPC composite) was prepared via an in‐situ coordinated polymerization method, using TiCl₄ supported on palygorskite fibers as catalyst and alkyl aluminum as co‐catalyst. These composites were compared with those prepared by melt blending (MBC composites). It was found that in the IPC composites, nano‐size fibers of palygorskite were uniformly dispersed in the polyethylene matrix. In contrast, in the MBC composites, the palygorskite was dispersed as large clusters of fibers. Regarding the mechanical properties of the IPCs, the tensile modulus increased and the elongation at break decreased with increasing fiber content, while the tensile strength passed through a maximum. The tensile strength and elongation at break were much smaller for the MBC composites. The final degree of crystallinity of the IPC composites decreased with increasing palygorskite content. Regarding the kinetics of crystallization, the ratio between the degree of crystallinity at a given time and the final one was a universal function of time. It was found that large amouns of gel were present in the IPC composites and much smaller amountes in the MBC composites.     

“Magic Numbers” in Self-Faceting of Alcohol-Doped Emulsion Droplets

Oil-in-water emulsion droplets spontaneously adopt, below some temperature T_d, counterintuitive faceted and complex non-spherical shapes while remaining liquid. This transition is driven by a crystalline monolayer formed at the droplets' surface. Here, we show that ppm-level doping of the droplet's bulk by long-chain alcohols allows tuning T_d by >50 °C, implying formation of drastically different interfacial structures. Furthermore, “magic” alcohol chain lengths maximize T_d. This we show to arise from self-assembly of mixed alcohol:alkane interfacial structures of stacked alkane layers, co-crystallized with hydrogen-bonded alcohol dimers. These structures are accounted for theoretically and resolved by direct cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM), confirming the proposed structures. The discovered tunability of key properties of commonly-used emulsions by minute concentrations of specific bulk additives should benefit these emulsions' technological applicability.     

Synthesis and characterisation of antioxidant‐modified esters of dipentaerythritol as lubricating base oil

In this paper, five antioxidant‐modified esters were synthesised through two steps of simple esterification. Antioxidant‐modified multi‐hydroxyl compound was synthesised at the first step, and antioxidant‐modified esters were synthesised at the second step. This kind of esters is useful in many fields, such as lubricating oil and cutting compound, because of two important functions (antioxidant and lubricant) in the same compound. The active antioxidant group attached to these esters was 3‐(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxy‐phenyl)‐propionic acid. The esters were characterised with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The analytical results of FTIR demonstrates the changes of alcoholic hydroxyl and carboxyl and suggests that this synthesis was feasible. The TG analysis and rotating pressure vessel method show that this kind of esters has excellent oxidative stability. The physical properties of lubricating base oil, such as viscosity, viscosity index, pour point and flash point, suggested that this kind of esters can be used as lubricating base oil. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.