scholarly journals Designed peptides for biomineral polymorph recognition: a case study for calcium carbonate

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (22) ◽  
pp. 3511-3518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timo Schüler ◽  
Jochen Renkel ◽  
Stephan Hobe ◽  
Moritz Susewind ◽  
Dorrit E. Jacob ◽  
...  

Peptides possess a unique ability for substrate recognition and sequence-specific self-assembly properties, and thus play a pivotal role in soft materials assembly and the mineralization of inorganic materials in natural systems.

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. e1600417 ◽  
Author(s):  
William S. Y. Wong ◽  
Minfei Li ◽  
David R. Nisbet ◽  
Vincent S. J. Craig ◽  
Zuankai Wang ◽  
...  

One of the innate fundamentals of living systems is their ability to respond toward distinct stimuli by various self-organization behaviors. Despite extensive progress, the engineering of spontaneous motion in man-made inorganic materials still lacks the directionality and scale observed in nature. We report the directional self-organization of soft materials into three-dimensional geometries by the rapid propagation of a folding stimulus along a predetermined path. We engineer a unique Janus bilayer architecture with superior chemical and mechanical properties that enables the efficient transformation of surface energy into directional kinetic and elastic energies. This Janus bilayer can respond to pinpoint water stimuli by a rapid, several-centimeters-long self-assembly that is reminiscent of the Mimosa pudica’s leaflet folding. The Janus bilayers also shuttle water at flow rates up to two orders of magnitude higher than traditional wicking-based devices, reaching velocities of 8 cm/s and flow rates of 4.7 μl/s. This self-organization regime enables the ease of fabricating curved, bent, and split flexible channels with lengths greater than 10 cm, demonstrating immense potential for microfluidics, biosensors, and water purification applications.


2013 ◽  
Vol 683 ◽  
pp. 647-650
Author(s):  
Yi Ping Wu

In this paper, a kind leaf of fresh plant  bamboo, was used as template to control the growth of calcium carbonate at room temperature. The products were characterized by SEM, XRD and FTIR. The nucleation and growth of aragonite crystals were induced by making use of the bamboo leaves containing a lot of biomacromolecules in the presence of Mg2+. Different morphologies and structures of the products were obtained by adjusting the concentration ratio of Mg2+ to Ca2+. The results show that crystal morphologies of CaCO3 produced on the bamboo leaves and glass in the presence of Mg2+ were changed. The products with self-assembly and self-similarity superstructures were gained in bamboo leaves/Mg2+ system. This study may supply a new method for the synthesis of inorganic materials with superstructures.


Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 253
Author(s):  
Anna Sokolova

This article explores regional Buddhist monasteries in Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) China, including their arrangement, functions, and sources for their study. Specifically, as a case study, it considers the reconstruction of the Kaiyuan monastery 開元寺 in Sizhou 泗州 (present-day Jiangsu Province) with reference to the works of three prominent state officials and scholars: Bai Juyi 白居易 (772–846), Li Ao 李翱 (772–841), and Han Yu 韓愈 (768–824). The writings of these literati allow us to trace the various phases of the monastery’s reconstruction, fundraising activities, and the network of individuals who participated in the project. We learn that the rebuilt multi-compound complex not only provided living areas for masses of pilgrims, traders, and workers but also functioned as a barrier that protected the populations of Sizhou and neighboring prefectures from flooding. Moreover, when viewed from a broader perspective, the renovation of the Kaiyuan monastery demonstrates that Buddhist construction projects played a pivotal role in the social and economic development of Tang China’s major metropolises as well as its regions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 284 ◽  
pp. 253-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guang Yuan ◽  
Xiaofeng Chen ◽  
Xian Li ◽  
Qiming Liang ◽  
Guohou Miao ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankit Malik ◽  
Amitosh Tiwari ◽  
Prashant Fartiyal ◽  
Sarang Lele ◽  
Chandran Manickavasagam ◽  
...  

Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 732
Author(s):  
Alexander A. Bredikhin ◽  
Aidar T. Gubaidullin ◽  
Zemfira A. Bredikhina ◽  
Robert R. Fayzullin ◽  
Olga A. Lodochnikova

Chiral recognition plays an important role in the self-assembly of soft materials, in particular supramolecular organogels formed by low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs). Out of 14 pairs of the studied racemic and enantiopure samples of alkyl-substituted phenyl ethers of glycerol, only eight enantiopure diols form the stable gels in nonane. The formation of gels from solutions was studied by polarimetry, and their degradation with the formation of xerogels was studied by the PXRD method. The revealed crystalline characteristics of all studied xerogels corresponded to those for crystalline samples of the parent gelators. In addition to those previously investigated, crystalline samples of enantiopure para-n-alkylphenyl glycerol ethers [alkyl = pentyl (5), hexyl (6), heptyl (7), octyl (8), nonyl (9)] and racemic 3-(3,5-dimethylphenoxy)propane-1,2-diol (rac-14) have been examined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Among 22 samples of compounds 1-14 studied by SC-XRD, seven different types of supramolecular motifs are identified, of which only two are realized in crystals of supramolecular gelators. An attempt was made to relate the ability to gel formation with the characteristics of the supramolecular motif of a potential gelling agent, and the frequency of formation of the motif, required for gelation, with the chiral characteristics of the sample.


2000 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 1819-1834 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Prausnitz

At liquid-like densities, molecules of complex fluids can assume a variety of structures (or positions) in space; when the molecules contain many atoms as, for example, in polymers, that variety becomes very large. Further, when confined to a narrow space, it is possible to achieve structures that are not normally observed. Thanks to recent advances in statistical mechanics and molecular physics, and thanks to increasingly fast computers, it is now possible to calculate a fluid's structure, that is, the positions of molecules at equilibrium under given conditions. Calculation of fluid structure is useful because thermodynamic properties depend strongly on that structure, leading to possible applications for new materials. Three examples illustrate some recent developments; each example is presented only schematically (with a minimum of equations) to indicate the physical basis of the mathematical description. The first example considers the effect of branching on self-assembly (micellization) of copolymers (with possible long-range applications in medicine). The second and third examples consider the effect of confinement on fluid structure: first, crystallization in a narrow, confined space to produce a desired crystal structure (with possible applications for light-emitting diodes) and second, suppression of micellization of a diblock copolymer in a thin film (with possible application in lithography). Whenever possible, theoretical calculations are compared with experimental results.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 416
Author(s):  
Hristina Bancheva-Preslavska ◽  
Jochen Dallmer

The European Environment Agency warns that Europe consumes too many resources and causes environmental degradation all over the world. This leads to growing demands on natural systems for food, water and energy. To achieve sustainability and ecological resilience it is necessary to complement technology-focused measures with approaches addressing consumption behaviors, changing lifestyles, enhancing knowledge and education. There are environmental communication approaches stimulating responsible consumption and ecofriendly behaviors, conducted by science and educational institutions, non-governmental organizations and others. Among them, originating from Germany, are the alternative city tours, spread also in other western countries. The aim of this case study is to design and verify urban eco tours for an eastern country - Bulgaria in order to increase young people's sensitivity to sustainability through responsible consumption and to encourage them for ecofriendly alternatives of everyday goods and services. An approach for their implementation in Bulgaria is developed and proved through qualitative and quantitative analysis, involving two different groups of youth – multipliers leading the tours and teenagers taking part. The case study presents urban eco tours as an environmental protection tool, using information about environmental impact of consumption, combined with motivational activities, to change attitudes and encourage young people for ecofriendly lifestyles.  Keywords: environmental communication, education for sustainable development, eco tour, consumption, ecology


2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Jenny Calabrese ◽  
Cesare Pacini ◽  
Concetta Vazzana ◽  
Mariana Nikolla

Dependence of conventional agricultural systems on chemical fertilizers and pesticidesmakes agricultural systems less stable and important drift polluters influencing to theregional and global sustainability. This problem made human being think about thealternative systems: agricultural systems that mimic natural systems and are friendly to theenvironment; those have higher economical efficiency concerning production level andcosts. The objective of the present study was sustainability assessment and comparison oforganic and conventional system with special focus environmental and economicalperformance. The case study consisted of two organic and conventional olive producingfarms in the South of Italy. The method used for sustainability assessment wasEnvironmental Accounting Information System (EAIS) that integrates togetherenvironmental (soil organic matter, soil erosion, genetic and landscape biodiversity,EPRIP, etc ) and economical indicators (gross margin). Data used for assessment ofEAIS indicators values were mainly collected from: farm economic-accounting systems,interviews, farm maps, area public organizations, bibliographical sources, farm nutrientaccounting systems, observations and field assessments and chemical soil analyses. Theindicator values measured into two farms were compared to theoretical or referenceindicator values. Based on indicator assessment it was concluded that organic olivegrowing farm had better performance than conventional farm.


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