Self-(in)compatibility inheritance and allele-specific marker development in yellow mustard (Sinapis alba)

Yellow mustard (Sinapis alba) has a sporophytic self-incompatibility reproduction system. Genetically stable self-incompatible (SI) and self-compatible (SC) inbred lines have recently been developed in this crop. Understanding the S haplotype of different inbred lines and the inheritance of the self-(in)compatibility (SI/SC) trait is very important for breeding purposes. In this study, we used the S-locus gene-specific primers in Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea to clone yellow mustard S-locus genes of SI lines Y514 and Y1130 and SC lines Y1499 and Y1501. The PCR amplification results and DNA sequences of the S-locus genes revealed that Y514 carried the class I S haplotype, while Y1130, Y1499, and Y1501 had the class II S haplotype. The results of our genetic studies indicated that self-incompatibility was dominant over self-compatibility and controlled by a one-gene locus in the two crosses of Y514 × Y1499 and Y1130 × Y1501. Of the five S-locus gene polymorphic primer pairs, Sal-SLGI and Sal-SRKI each generated one dominant marker for the SI phenotype of Y514; Sal-SLGII and Sal-SRKII produced dominant marker(s) for the SC phenotype of Y1501 and Y1499; Sal-SP11II generated one dominant marker for Y1130. These markers co-segregated with the SI/SC phenotype in the F(2) populations of the two crosses. In addition, co-dominant markers were developed by mixing the two polymorphic primer pairs specific for each parent in the multiplex PCR, which allowed zygosity to be determined in the F(2) populations. The SI/SC allele-specific markers have proven to be very useful for the selection of the desirable SC genotypes in our yellow mustard breeding program. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11032-013-9943-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

pH-responsive gas–water–solid interface for multiphase catalysis

© 2015 American Chemical Society. Despite their wide utility in laboratory synthesis and industrial fabrication, gas-water-solid multiphase catalysis reactions often suffer from low reaction efficiency because of the low solubility of gases in water. Using a surface-modification protocol, interface-active silica nanoparticles were synthesized. Such nanoparticles can assemble at the gas-water interface, stabilizing micrometer-sized gas bubbles in water, and disassemble by tuning of the aqueous phase pH. The ability to stabilize gas microbubbles can be finely tuned through variation of the surface-modification protocol. As proof of this concept, Pd and Au were deposited on these silica nanoparticles, leading to interface-active catalysts for aqueous hydrogenation and oxidation, respectively. With such catalysts, conventional gas-water-solid multiphase reactions can be transformed to H 2 or O 2 microbubble reaction systems. The resultant microbubble reaction systems exhibit significant catalysis efficiency enhancement effects compared with conventional multiphase reactions. The significant improvement is attributed to the pronounced increase in reaction interface area that allows for the direct contact of gas, water, and solid phases. At the end of reaction, the microbubbles can be removed from the reaction systems through changing the pH, allowing product separation and catalyst recycling. Interestingly, the alcohol oxidation activation energy for the microbubble systems is much lower than that for the conventional multiphase reaction, also indicating that the developed microbubble system may be a valuable platform to design innovative multiphase catalysis reactions

Electrochemical Sensor for o-Nitrophenol Based on β

An electrochemical sensor for the quantification of o-nitrophenol (o-NP) has been developed based on the β-cyclodextrin functionalized graphene nanosheets modified glassy carbon electrode (CD-GNs/GCE). The results indicated that CD-GNs showed good electrochemical behavior to the redox of o-NP which is attributed to the combination of the excellent properties of graphene and cyclodextrin. The peak currents possess a linear relationship with the concentration of o-NP in the range of 5–400 μM. The detection limit of o-NP reached to 0.3 μM on the basis of the signal-to-noise characteristics (S/N=3). The peak potentials for the reversible redox waves are not affected by other nitrophenol isomers (m, p-NP), illustrating good selectivity. Furthermore, the developed electrochemical sensor exhibited good stability and reproducibility for the detection of o-NP and could be used to determine o-NP in real water sample

Hydrothermal Synthesis of SBA-15 Using Sodium Silicate Derived from Coal Gangue

Well-ordered SBA-15 was prepared with a hydrothermal route by sodium silicate derived from coal gangue. The as-prepared sample was analyzed by SAXRD, BET, TEM, and SEM, respectively. The results indicate that at a low hydrothermal temperature of 100∘C the well-ordered mesoporous SBA-15 could be synthesized. The surface area, pore volume, and pore size of the sample are 552 m2/g, 0.54 cm3/g, and 7.0 nm, respectively. It is suggested that coal gangue could be used in obtaining an Si source to prepare mesoporous materials, such as SBA-15

Study on Thermal Insulation Zeolite by Coal Fly Ash

This paper takes the coal fly ash as the material and makes zeolite with low thermal conductivity under a two-step synthesis for the purpose of thermal insulation. It studies main factors affecting zeolite such as the different concentration of NaOH, the solidliquid ratio, the silica-alumina ratio, and the crystallization temperature. The optimal conditions were obtained that the NaOH concentration was 3 mol/L, the solid-liquid ratio was 10 : 1, the silica-alumina ratio was 2, and the crystallization temperature was 12 ∘ C. Zeolites have multiple pores and skeletal structures under SEM observation. The mean particle size was 2.78 um of concentrated distribution. The pore volume was 0.148 m 3 /g measured by BET analysis, the specific surface was 118.6 m 2 /g, and the thermal conductivity was 0.153 W/(m⋅K). Zeolite was proved to be a qualified insulation material which can be used in thermal insulation coating as a new material of energy conservation

Solubility of Li2CO3 in Na-K-Li-Cl brines from 20 to 90 degrees C

The solubility of Li2CO3 in Na-K-Li-Cl brines was measured by isothermal dissolution method within the temperature range of 20 to 90 degrees C. It was found the solubility of Li2CO3 in all systems investigated decreased with increasing temperature. In NaCl and KCl solutions, the solubility of Li2CO3 initially increased to a maximum value and then decreased gradually with increasing solution concentration. However, the solubility of Li2CO3 in LiCl solutions decreased with increasing LiCl concentration due to the common ion effect of added Li+. New Pitzer activity coefficient model parameters for the Li+-CO32- ion pair were obtained by using experimental solubility data of Li2CO3 in pure water, and a new chemical model was built with the aid of Aspen Plus platform. The new model was shown to successfully predict the solubility of Li2CO3 in NaCl, KCl, LiCl and mixed NaCl-KCl solutions. Moreover, the new model could aid in analyzing the separation of lithium and magnesium in brines. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Superwetting Polymeric Three Dimensional (3D) Porous Materials for Oil/Water Separation: A Review

Oil spills and the emission of oily wastewater have triggered serious water pollution and environment problems. Effectively separating oil and water is a world-wide challenge and extensive efforts have been made to solve this issue. Interfacial super-wetting separation materials e.g., sponge, foams, and aerogels with high porosity tunable pore structures, are regarded as effective media to selectively remove oil and water. This review article reports the latest progress of polymeric three dimensional porous materials (3D-PMs) with super wettability to separate oil/water mixtures. The theories on developing super-wetting porous surfaces and the effects of wettability on oil/water separation have been discussed. The typical 3D porous structures (e.g., sponge, foam, and aerogel), commonly used polymers, and the most reported techniques involved in developing desired porous networks have been reviewed. The performances of 3D-PMs such as oil/water separation efficiency, elasticity, and mechanical stability are discussed. Additionally, the current challenges in the fabrication and long-term operation of super-wetting 3D-PMs in oil/water separation have also been introduced

Bio-Inspired Polymeric Structures with Special Wettability and Their Applications: An Overview

It is not unusual for humans to be inspired by natural phenomena to develop new advanced materials; such materials are called bio-inspired materials. Interest in bio-inspired polymeric superhydrophilic, superhydrophobic, and superoleophobic materials has substantially increased over the last few decades, as has improvement in the related technologies. This review reports the latest developments in bio-inspired polymeric structures with desired wettability that have occurred by mimicking the structures of lotus leaf, rose petals, and the wings and shells of various creatures. The intrinsic role of surface chemistry and structure on delivering superhydrophilicity, superhydrophobicity, and superoleophobicity has been extensively explored. Typical polymers, commonly used structures, and techniques involved in developing bio-inspired surfaces with desired wettability are discussed. Additionally, the latest applications of bio-inspired structures with desired wettability in human activities are also introduced