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Summary: The effect of tea polyphenols (TP) on the physicochemical, structural and digestive properties of Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight starch (C. auriculatum starch) was studied. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that a looser and more porous structure was observed in C. auriculatum starch‐TP. Rheological results revealed that G′ and G″ of C. auriculatum starch were decreased with TP addition. X‐ray diffraction pattern showed TP could inhibit the relative crystallinity structure of C. auriculatum starch, thereby delaying the retrogradation of starch. Fourier‐transform infrared analysis confirmed that TP and C. auriculatum starch molecules formed non‐inclusive complexes through hydrogen bonding interaction. Moreover, TP could reduce the digestibility of the gelatinised C. auriculatum starch. These findings provide a theoretical information on C. auriculatum starch as a functional ingredient for regulating the postprandial glycemic response of starchy foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early Ediacaran Lantian Formation in South China contains some of the oldest known representatives of morphologically complex macroorganisms, including various macroalgae and putative animals. The macroalgal fossils have been described previously in several publications, but no taxonomic treatment has been published for the putative animal fossils. This hampers our ability to fully evaluate and communicate the significance of these potentially important Ediacaran macrofossils. To address this deficiency, here we provide a systematic description of these putative animal fossils from the Lantian Formation, including four new genera and five new species: Lantianella laevis gen. et sp. nov., L. annularis gen. et sp. nov., Piyuania cyathiformis gen. et sp. nov., Qianchuania fusiformis gen. et sp. nov. and Xiuningella rara gen. et sp. nov. Morphological comparisons of these fossils and potential modern analogues are provided and critically assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosporyl radicals are generated from the phosphite by oxidation with manganese(III) acetate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, iron and steel plants are confronted with increased demands to reduce their CO2 emissions. Data on CO2 emissions derived from iron and steel making is a basic requirement for a certificate of CO2 reduction. In the current paper, carbon flows from blast furnace and basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) steelmaking systems are analyzed using Material Flow Analysis (MFA). The computation method is built and used to calculate CO2 emissions in three steel works. The amount of carbon flow and CO2 emission per ton of product ( [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The controlled secondary self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules in solution is theoretically and practically significant in amphiphilic molecular applications. An amphiphilic β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) dimer, namely LA-(CD)2, has been synthesized, wherein one lithocholic acid (LA) unit is hydrophobic and two β-CD units are hydrophilic. In an aqueous solution at room temperature, LA-(CD)2 self-assembles into spherical micelles without ultrasonication. The primary micelles dissociates and then secondarily form self-assemblies with branched structures under ultrasonication. The branched aggregates revert to primary micelles at high temperature. The ultrasound-driven secondary self-assembly is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and Cu2+-responsive experiments. Furthermore, 2D NOESY NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy results indicate that the formation of the primary micelles is driven by hydrophilic-hydrophobic interactions, whereas host-guest interactions promote the formation of the secondary assemblies. Additionally, ultrasonication is shown to be able to effectively destroy the primary hydrophilic-hydrophobic balances while enhancing the host-guest interaction between the LA and β-CD moieties at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]