Sequencing and Analysis of Approximately 40 000 Soybean cDNA Clones from a Full-Length-Enriched cDNA Library

A large collection of full-length cDNAs is essential for the correct annotation of genomic sequences and for the functional analysis of genes and their products. We obtained a total of 39 936 soybean cDNA clones (GMFL01 and GMFL02 clone sets) in a full-length-enriched cDNA library which was constructed from soybean plants that were grown under various developmental and environmental conditions. Sequencing from 5′ and 3′ ends of the clones generated 68 661 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). The EST sequences were clustered into 22 674 scaffolds involving 2580 full-length sequences. In addition, we sequenced 4712 full-length cDNAs. After removing overlaps, we obtained 6570 new full-length sequences of soybean cDNAs so far. Our data indicated that 87.7% of the soybean cDNA clones contain complete coding sequences in addition to 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions. All of the obtained data confirmed that our collection of soybean full-length cDNAs covers a wide variety of genes. Comparative analysis between the derived sequences from soybean and Arabidopsis, rice or other legumes data revealed that some specific genes were involved in our collection and a large part of them could be annotated to unknown functions. A large set of soybean full-length cDNA clones reported in this study will serve as a useful resource for gene discovery from soybean and will also aid a precise annotation of the soybean genome

In-situ infrared cure monitoring combined with two-trace two-dimensional (2T2D) correlation analysis to elucidate the matrix-filler interaction of nanocomposites: Case of thermosetting urethane/silica nanospheres

A novel technique, in-situ infrared (IR) cure monitoring coupled with two-trace two-dimensional (2T2D) correlation analysis, is developed to probe the property-enhancement mechanism of a newly developed thermosetting nanocomposite comprising an acrylic-urethane network (AUN) and silica nanospheres (SNS). The IR spectra were collected in real-time during the curing process at 100 degrees C. We employ the 2T2D correlation analysis to identify the spectral variations of the interfacial interaction. The curing reaction initially proceeds throughout the sample solution. After the network percolation, the unreacted sites react near the SNS surface and yield additional hydrogen-bonded C = O groups that interact with the surface silanol groups. The matrix-filler interactions play a key role in enhancing the hardness and thermal stability of the AUN/SNS nanocomposites by restricting the mobility of the polymer molecules. The proposed technique provides sequential mechanisms in the curing process and a picture of the interfacial interaction for the thermosetting nanocomposite system

Network Degradation Assessed by Evolved Gas Analysis–Mass Spectrometry Combined with Principal Component Analysis (EGA–MS–PCA): A Case of Thermo-Oxidized Epoxy/Amine Network

To study the degradation of thermosetting polymers, we apply a novel method to simultaneously study the chemical structural changes and network topology: evolved gas analysis–mass spectrometry combined with principal component analysis (EGA–MS–PCA). This technique was applied to thermo-oxidative aging of an epoxy/amine network. The signals of various pyrolyzates remain overlapped in the complicated EGA–MS profiles. The key fragments of thermally evolved gases derived from the components of the network are effectively selected by PCA from the complicated EGA–MS profiles. EGA–MS–PCA provides information on the network structure: (i) the oxidized fraction of cross-links (i.e., chemically damaged cross-links), (ii) the relative quantification of unbonded chains, and (iii) the formation of dangling chains. The proposed technique can simultaneously characterize chemical degradation and network structural properties. This characterization technique can be utilized as a generally applicable tool for determining the structural durability of thermosetting polymers