Weight Location Moderates Weight-Based Self-Devaluation and Perceived Social Devaluation in Women

Overweight and obese (“heavyweight”) people devalue themselves because, it has been proposed, they are socially devalued. However, for women, social valuation depends not only on how much weight they carry but also on where on their bodies they carry it. Here, we investigated whether weight-based self-valuation and perceived social valuation similarly depend on body shape. Study 1, using a nationally representative sample from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; N = 1,093 reproductive-aged women), showed that, controlling for body fat, weight labeling (by self and others) and wanting to lose weight depended on body shape. Study 2, in a direct test of predictions using an undergraduate sample of women ( N = 215), showed that with increased body fat, women with an abdominal weight distribution reported more self-devaluation (e.g., lower self-esteem) and perceived social devaluation (e.g., higher perceived weight discrimination); women with a gluteofemoral weight distribution, however, were shielded—partially or fully—from these adverse effects of increased body fat.

Thermal Pyrolysis of Polystyrene Aided by a Nitroxide End-Functionality Improved Process and Modeling of the Full Molecular Weight Distribution

A significantly improved thermal pyrolysis process for polystyrene (PS) is reported and mathematically modeled, including the description of the time evolution of the full molecular weight distribution of the polymer during its degradation by direct integration of the balance equations without simplifications. The process improves the styrene yield from 28–39%, reached in our previous report, to 58–75% by optimizing the heating ramp during the initial stage of the pyrolysis process. The process was tested at 390 and 420 °C on samples of conventional PS synthesized via free-radical polymerization (FRP) and PS with a nitroxide end-functionality synthesized via nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP) with three levels of the nitroxide to initiator (N/I) molar ratio: 0.9, 1.1 and 1.3. The NMP-PS produced with N/I = 1.3 generates the highest styrene yield (75.2 ± 6.7%) with respect to the best FRP-PS yield (64.9 ± 1.2%), confirming the trends observed in our previous study. The mathematical model corrects some problems of a previous model that was based on assumptions that led to significant errors in the predictions; this is achieved by solving the full molecular weight distribution (MWD) without assumptions. The model provides further insight into the initial stages of the pyrolysis process which seem to be crucial to determine the chemical paths of the process and the styrene yield, as well as the influences of the initial heating ramp used and the presence of a nitroxide end-functionality in the polymer.

Improved EOR Polymer Selection Using Field-Flow Fractionation

Various polyacrylamide polymers have been successfully applied in chemical EOR projects. These polymers are characterised by high molecular weights (MW) to achieve high viscosifying power. The molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the polymers has a major impact on polymer properties and performance. Measuring the molecular weight distribution is challenging using conventional methods. Field-Flow Fractionation (FFF) enables the determination of the distribution to select and quality check various polymers. Polymers with high molar masses (> 1 MDa) are used for EOR to obtain highly viscous aqueous solutions. The MWD of the polymers is crucial for the solution characteristics. Conventional analysis of polymers is performed using either viscometry – which is able to determine the average MW but does not give information on MWD, or size-exclusion chromatography – which is restricted to molecular weights of < 20 MDa. FFF is based on the analytes flowing at different speeds in a channel dependent on their size and mass. This effect leads to separation, which is then used to determine the MWD. FFF allows to determine the MW and MWD of various ultra-high molecular weight polyacrylamides (HPAAMs). The FFF measurements showed, that despite similar MWs are claimed, substantial differences in MWD are observed. This technology offered the quantification the MWD of HPAAMs up to a MW of 5 GDa. Furthermore, gyration radii of the HPAAM molecules were determined. Selecting polymers on viscosifying power only is not addressing issues related to different MW and MWDs such as selective polymer retention and degradation of the high molar mass part of the distribution. The results were used to improve the polymer selection for chemical EOR projects. Overall, this work presents a new technique for analysis of ultra-high molecular weight EOR polymers, which enables the possibility to determine the full range of polymer MWD. This available information enhances the EOR polymer selection process addressing selective polymer retention and mechanical degradation in addition to the viscosifying power of polymers.

Certain Types of Linear Codes over the Finite Field of Order Twenty-Five

The aim of the paper is to compute projective maximum distance separable codes, -MDS of two and three dimensions with certain lengths and Hamming weight distribution from the arcs in the projective line and plane over the finite field of order twenty-five. Also, the linear codes generated by an incidence matrix of points and lines of were studied over different finite fields.

Molecular Weight Distribution and Dissolution Behavior of Lignin in Alkaline Solutions

Lignin, as the sole renewable aromatic resource in nature, has great potential for replacing fossil resources. However, the complexity of its structure limits its high value utilization, and the molecular weight distribution and dissolution behavior of lignin in alkaline solutions is still unclear. In this study, a conventional lignin separation during the pulping process in an alkaline hydrothermal system was performed by controlling the amount of NaOH, reaction temperature and holding time. Various analysis methods, including GPC, 2D–HSQC NMR and FTIR were used to study the characteristics of lignin fragments dissolved from wood. We were aiming to understand the rule of lignin dissolution and the recondensation mechanism during the process. The results showed dissolution of lignin due to ether bond fracturing by OH− attacking the Cα or Cβ positions of the side chain with penetration of NaOH, and the lignin fragments in solution recondensed into complex lignin with more stable C–C bonds. The experimental results also prove that the average molecular weight increased from 4337 g/mol to 11,036 g/mol and that holding time from 60 min to 120 min at 150 °C with 14 wt% of NaOH.