Investigation of Perovskite Oxide SrCo _0.8Cu _0.1Nb _0.1O _3–δ as a Cathode Material for Room Temperature Direct Ammonia Fuel Cells

Single‐phase perovskite oxide SrCo0.8Cu0.1Nb0.1O3–δ was synthesized using a Pechini method. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated a cubic structure with a=3.8806(7) Å. The oxide material was combined with active carbon, forming a composite electrode to be used as the cathode in a room temperature ammonia fuel cell based on an anion membrane electrolyte and NiCu/C anode. An open circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.19 V was observed with dilute 0.02 m (340 ppm) ammonia solution as the fuel. The power density and OCV were improved upon the addition of 1 m NaOH to the fuel, suggesting that the addition of NaOH, which could be achieved through the introduction of alkaline waste to the fuel stream, could improve performance when wastewater is used as the fuel. It was found that the SrCo0.8Cu0.1Nb0.1O3−δ cathode was converted from irregular shape into shuttle‐shape during the fuel cell measurements. As the key catalysts for electrode materials for this fuel cell are all inexpensive, after further development, this could be a promising technology for removal of ammonia from wastewater

In situ time-resolved FTIRS study of adsorption and oxidation of ethylene glycol on Pt(100) electrode

Adsorption and oxidation of ethylene glycol (EG) on Pt(100) electrode were studied by in situ time-resolved FTIRS (TRFTIRS). The TRFTIR spectra recorded at 0.10 V illustrate that an IR band appears near 2050 cm(-1) at t > 5 s, corresponding to linearly bonded CO formed in dissociative adsorption of EG The TRFTIR results have confirmed also that CO species are distributed uniformly on Pt(100) surface. Another band appears near 2342 cm(-1) at t < 70 s, associating with IR absorption of CO2 produced in the direct oxidation of EG With the increase of electrode potential, the direct oxidation of EG becomes gradually the main reaction. When the potential is above 0.40 V, the oxidation of EG occurs mainly via the reactive intermediates, i.e. species containing -COOH determined by in situ TRFTIRS

Studies of surface processes of electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 on Pt(210), Pt(310) and Pt(510)

Surface processes Of CO2 reduction on Pt(210), Pt(310), and Pt(510) electrodes were studied by cyclic voltammetry. Different surface structures of these platinum single crystal electrodes were obtained by various treatment conditions. The experimental results illustrated that the electrocatalytic activity of Pt single crystal electrodes towards CO2 reduction is decreased in an order of Pt(210)> Pt(310)> Pt(510), i.e., with the decrease of (110) step density on well-defined surfaces. When the surfaces were reconstructed due to oxygen adsorption, the catalytic activity of all the three electrodes has been enhanced to a certain extent. Although the activity order remains unchanged, the electrocatalytic activity has been enhanced more significantly as the density of (110) step sites is more intensive on the Pt single crystal surface. It has revealed that the more open the surface structure is, the more active the Pt single crystal electrode will be, and the easier for the electrode to be transformed into a surface structure that exhibits higher activity under external inductions. However, the relatively ordered surfaces of Pt single crystal electrode are comparatively stable under the same external inductions. The present study has gained knowledge on the interaction between CO2 and Pt single crystal electrode surfaces at a microscopic level, and thrown new insight into understanding the surface processes of electrocatalytic reduction Of CO2

A Functional Mutation in KIAA1462 Promoter Decreases Glucocorticoid Receptor Affinity and Affects Egg-Laying Performance in Yangzhou Geese

The identification of genetic markers is valuable for improving the egg-laying performance in goose production. The single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1714766362 in an intron of the goose KIAA1462 gene was found to be relevant to laying performance in our previous study. However, its function remains unclear. In this study, the full-length coding sequence of KIAA1462 gene was firstly characterized in Yangzhou geese. Q-PCR (Quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) results showed that KIAA1462 was highly expressed in the liver, ovary, and mature F1 follicles. For SNP rs1714766362, geese with the AA genotype showed better laying performance than the TT ones and exhibited a higher KIAA1462 expression level in the ovary. Gain- and loss-of function experiments in granulosa cells revealed that KIAA1462 affected the expression of the apoptosis marker gene caspase-3. Considering that rs1714766362 locates in an intron area, we compared the KIAA1462 promoter regions of AA and TT individuals and identified the SNP c.-413C&gt;G (Genbank ss2137504176), which was completely linked to SNP rs1714766362. According to the transcription factor prediction results, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) would bind to the SNP site containing the C but not the G allele. In this study, we proved this hypothesis by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). In summary, we identified a novel mutation in the promoter of KIAA1462 gene which can modulate GR binding affinity and affect the laying performance of geese

Evaluating the Effect of Expressing a Peanut Resveratrol Synthase Gene in Rice

<div><p>Resveratrol (Res) is a type of natural plant stilbenes and phytoalexins that only exists in a few plant species. Studies have shown that the Res could be biosynthesized and accumulated within plants, once the complete metabolic pathway and related enzymes, such as the key enzyme resveratrol synthase (RS), existed. In this study, a RS gene named <i>PNRS1</i> was cloned from the peanut, and the activity was confirmed in <i>E</i>. <i>coli</i>. Using transgenic approach, the <i>PNRS1</i> transgenic rice was obtained. In T₃ generation, the Res production and accumulation were further detected by HPLC. Our data revealed that compared to the wild type rice which <i>trans</i>-resveratrol was undetectable, in transgenic rice, the <i>trans</i>-resveratrol could be synthesized and achieved up to 0.697 μg/g FW in seedlings and 3.053 μg/g DW in seeds. Furthermore, the concentration of <i>trans</i>-resveratrol in transgenic rice seedlings could be induced up to eight or four-fold higher by ultraviolet (UV-C) or dark, respectively. Simultaneously, the endogenous increased of Res also showed the advantages in protecting the host plant from UV-C caused damage or dark-induced senescence. Our data indicated that Res was involved in host-defense responses against environmental stresses in transgenic rice. Here the results describes the processes of a peanut resveratrol synthase gene transformed into rice, and the detection of <i>trans</i>-resveratrol in transgenic rice, and the role of <i>trans</i>-resveratrol as a phytoalexin in transgenic rice when treated by UV-C and dark. These findings present new outcomes of transgenic approaches for functional genes and their corresponding physiological functions, and shed some light on broadening available resources of Res, nutritional improvement of crops, and new variety cultivation by genetic engineering.</p></div

Different phenotypes of wild-type and RS transgenic rice under dark treatment.

<p><b>A</b>, <b>B</b> two-week-old wild-type rice and L3 seedlings were treated solely in the dark for 6 days. <b>C</b> six-week-old rice leaves incubated solely in the dark for 6 days. <b>D</b> The 6 days dark treated six-week-old rice leaves were stained with DAB. <b>E</b> Changes of chlorophyll in six-week-old rice leaves after being treated solely in the dark. Each value represents the mean ± SD from three independent experiments (0.2 g leaves from 10 plants each). WT wild-type rice “Shengdao 13”; EV empty-vector transformed rice; L1–L3 <i>PNRS1</i> transgenic rice lines.</p

Different phenotypes of wild-type and RS transgenic rice under UV-C treatment.

<p><b>A</b>, <b>B</b> two-week-old wild-type rice and L3 seedlings were treated by short UV-C radiation, separately. “→” indicates the brown patches appeared on the rice leaves. <b>C</b> six-week-old rice leaves were treated by UV-C radiation. <b>D</b> DAB coloration using fragments of six-week-old rice leaves under different UV-C treatment conditions. 12 h and 24 h were the time after UV-C treatment. <b>E</b> Chlorophyll determination of six-week-old rice leaves after treated by UV-C radiation. Each value represents the mean ± SD from three independent experiments (0.2 g leaves from 10 plants each). WT wild-type rice “Shengdao 13”; EV empty-vector transformed rice; L1–L3 <i>PNRS1</i> transgenic rice lines.</p

Identification of trans-resveratrol in the seedlings and seeds of transgenic and wild-type rice by HPLC analysis.

<p>The chromatograms of standard <i>trans</i>-resveratrol (<b>A</b>), the extracts from L3 seedlings (<b>B</b>), wild-type rice seedlings (<b>C</b>), L3 seeds (<b>D</b>), wild-type rice seeds (<b>E</b>) and L3 seedlings treated by UV-C (<b>F</b>, introduced in the later section), were detected at 306 nm under the same conditions. The marker “↙”indicates the peak of <i>trans</i>-resveratrol.</p

Detection of trans-resveratrol contents in transgenic rice lines grown under UV-C or dark treatments.

<p>The Data of Res content of each line detected under normal grpwth condition, as shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0136013#pone.0136013.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>, was used as relevant control. Bars represent the mean values ± SD from three independent experiments (30 seedlings each). Statistical analysis was performed by using one-way ANOVA. <b>*</b> Significant variances existed under different conditions in each transgenic line (p<0.01). WT wild-type rice “Shengdao 13”; EV empty-vector transformed rice; L1–L3 <i>PNRS1</i> transgenic rice lines.</p