Over-Expression of GmGIa-Regulated Soybean miR172a Confers Early Flowering in Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

Flowering is a pivotal event in the life cycle of plants. miR172 has been widely confirmed to play critical roles in flowering time control by regulating its target gene expression in Arabidopsis. However, the role of its counterpart in soybean remains largely unclear. In the present study, we found that the gma-miR172a was regulated by a GIGANTEA ortholog, GmGIa, in soybean through miRNA metabolism. The expression analysis revealed that gma-miR172a has a pattern of diurnal rhythm expression and its abundance increased rapidly as plants grew until the initiation of flowering phase in soybean. One target gene of gma-miR172a, Glyma03g33470, was predicted and verified using a modified RLM 5′-RACE (RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of 5′ cDNA ends) assay. Overexpression of gma-miR172a exhibited an early flowering phenotype and the expression of FT, AP1 and LFY were simultaneously increased in gma-miR172a-transgenic Arabidopsis plants, suggesting that the early flowering phenotype was associated with up-regulation of these genes. The overexpression of the gma-miR172a-resistant version of Glyma03g33470 weakened early flowering phenotype in the toe1 mutant of Arabidopsis. Taken together, our results suggested that gma-miR172a played an important role in GmGIa-mediated flowering by repressing Glyma03g33470, which in turn increased the expression of FT, AP1 and LFY to promote flowering in soybean.     

Complete Mitochondrial Genome Sequence and Identification of a Candidate Gene Responsible for Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Celery (Apium graveolens L.)

Celery (Apium graveolens L.) is an important leafy vegetable worldwide. The development of F₁ hybrids in celery is highly dependent on cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) because emasculation is difficult. In this study, we first report a celery CMS, which was found in a high-generation inbred line population of the Chinese celery “tanzhixiangqin”. Comparative analysis, following sequencing and assembly of the complete mitochondrial genome sequences for this celery CMS line and its maintainer line, revealed that there are 21 unique regions in the celery CMS line and these unique regions contain 15 ORFs. Among these ORFs, only orf768a is a chimeric gene, consisting of 1497 bp sequences of the cox1 gene and 810 bp unidentified sequences located in the unique region, and the predicted protein product of orf768a possesses 11 transmembrane domains. In summary, the results of this study indicate that orf768a is likely to be a strong candidate gene for CMS induction in celery. In addition, orf768a can be a co-segregate marker, which can be used to screen CMS in celery.     

Genetic Mapping of ms1s,a Recessive Gene for Male Sterility in Common Wheat

The utilization of heterosis is an important way to improve wheat yield, and the production of wheat hybrid seeds mainly relies on male-sterile lines. Male sterility in line 15 Fan 03 derived from a cross of 72,180 and Xiaoyan 6 is controlled by a single recessive gene. The gene was mapped to the distal region of chromosome 4BS in a genetic interval of 1.4 cM and physical distance of 6.57 Mb between SSR markers Ms4BS42 and Ms4BS199 using an F₂ population with 1205 individuals. Sterile individuals had a deletion of 4.57 Mb in the region presumed to carry the Ms1 locus. The allele for sterility was therefore named ms1s. Three CAPS markers were developed and verified from the region upstream of the deleted fragment and can be used for ms1s marker-assisted selection in wheat hybrid breeding. This work will enrich the utilization of male sterility genetic resources.     

The superstructure of C3S from synchrotron and neutron powder diffraction and its role in quantitative phase analyses

We have synthesised the room temperature MIII form of alite stabilised by doping with Mg and Al. The complex disordered superstructure of this tricalcium silicate [Ca₃SiO₅ (C₃S)] sample has been studied by a joint Rietveld refinement of ultra-high-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, medium-resolution neutron powder diffraction data and soft constraints of interatomic distances. Alite crystallises in a monoclinic cell with dimensions a=33.1078(6) Å, b=7.0355(1) Å, c=18.5211(4) Å, β=94.137(1)° and V=4302.9(2) ų. The final R factors were R_WP=8.76% and R_F(C₃S)=3.45% for the synchrotron data and R_WP=6.09% and R_F(C₃S)=5.10% for the neutron data. The reported superstructure is simpler than those previously reported, and it fits properly to a variety of Portland clinker and cement patterns. The Rietveld analyses of four clinkers with variable Mg contents have shown that the refinements are good. The Bogue approach gave quite poor results when compared to these state-of-the-art powder diffraction analyses. Bogue method slightly underestimates the C₃S+C₂S content, overestimates the C₃A fraction and underestimates the C₄AF content. Similar analyses of Portland cements with nine crystalline phases are shown to be feasible.     

Male Fertility Genes in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Their Utilization for Hybrid Seed Production

Hybrid varieties can provide the boost needed to increase stagnant wheat yields through heterosis. The lack of an efficient hybridization system, which can lower the cost of goods of hybrid seed production, has been a major impediment to commercialization of hybrid wheat varieties. In this review, we discuss the progress made in characterization of nuclear genetic male sterility (NGMS) in wheat and its advantages over two widely referenced hybridization systems, i.e., chemical hybridizing agents (CHAs) and cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). We have characterized four wheat genes, i.e., Ms1, Ms5, TaMs26 and TaMs45, that sporophytically contribute to male fertility and yield recessive male sterility when mutated. While Ms1 and Ms5 are Triticeae specific genes, analysis of TaMs26 and TaMs45 demonstrated conservation of function across plant species. The main features of each of these genes is discussed with respect to the functional contribution of three sub-genomes and requirements for complementation of their respective mutants. Three seed production systems based on three genes, MS1, TaMS26 and TaMS45, were developed and a proof of concept was demonstrated for each system. The Tams26 and ms1 mutants were maintained through a TDNA cassette in a Seed Production Technology-like system, whereas Tams45 male sterility was maintained through creation of a telosome addition line. These genes represent different options for hybridization systems utilizing NGMS in wheat, which can potentially be utilized for commercial-scale hybrid seed production.     

Electrolysis of mixed melt of (CH3)4NF·mHF+x wt.% CsF·2.0HF with nickel anode

A new process for electrolytic synthesis of a perfluorinated compound using mixed melts of (CH₃)₄NF·4.0HF+x wt.% CsF·2.0HF as electrolytes and Ni sheet anode at room temperature was developed. The addition of CsF·2.0HF reduced the overvoltage of the Ni anode. The surface film on the anode formed in the presence of CsF·2.0HF consisted of inorganic compounds of NiF₂, CsNi₂F₆, and an organic compound of (CH₃)₄NF. The presence of CsNi₂F₆, which is a highly oxidized nickel compound, gave a high electronic conductivity to the film and decreased the anode overvoltage. The gas evolved on the anode was composed of (CF₃)₃N and CF₄ as main products with small amounts of NF₃, C₂F₆, CHF₃, C₂HF₅, CF₃N(CF₂H)₂, and (CF₃)₂NCHF₂. The addition of 20 wt.% CsF·2.0HF gave the highest ratio of (CF₃)₃N of 40.5% when the electrolysis was carried out at 5 mA cm⁻² at room temperature.     

Ignition of vapor-air mixtures of ammonia and haloids of saturated hydrocarbons with nitrogen trifluoride and fluorine

The flammability limits of the mixtures NH₃/NF₃/air, CCl₃H/NF₃/air, CCl₄/NF₃/air, CF₂ClCCl₂H/NF₃, and C₈F₁₆/NF₃ are determined. The temperatures of self-ignition of the mixtures CCl₃H/NF₃, CCl₄/NF₃, CF₂ClCCl₂H/NF₃, and C₈F₁₆/NF₃ at atmospheric pressure are found. The character of interaction of ammonia and fluorine conditioned by the rate of ammonia input into the fluorine-air mixture is considered. __________ Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 18–22, March–April, 2007.     

Identification of a Candidate restorer-of-fertility Gene Rf3 Encoding a Pentatricopeptide Repeat Protein for the Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Soybean

The cytoplasmic male sterility/restorer-of-fertility (CMS/Rf) system plays a vital role in high-efficiency hybrid seed production in crops, including soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). The markers linked to fertility restoration and the restorer-of-fertility (Rf) genes are essential because they can facilitate the breeding of new CMS lines and production of commercial hybrid soybean seeds. To date, several soybean Rf genes have been mapped to various genetic loci in diverse genetic populations. However, the mapping range of restorer genes remains narrow, with relatively limited practical applicability. Therefore, in the present study, F₂ and F₃ segregating populations derived from the CMS line JLCMS5A crossed with the restorer line JLR2 were developed and used for Rf3 gene fine mapping. Genetic investigation indicated that the restorer line JLR2 was controlled by a single dominant gene, Rf3. By integrating bulk-segregant analysis and next-generation sequencing, a 4 Mb region on chromosome 9 was identified, which was most likely the target region harboring the candidate gene responsible for fertility restoration. This region was further narrowed down to 86.44 Kb via fine mapping in F₂ and F₃ populations using SSR, InDel, and dCAPS markers. This region contained 10 putative genes (Glyma.09G171100–Glyma.09G172000). Finally, Glyma.09G171200, which encodes a mitochondria-targeted pentatricopeptide repeat protein, was proposed as the potential candidate for Rf3 using sequence alignment and expression analysis in restorer and CMS lines. Based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms in Glyma.09G171200, a CAPS marker co-segregated with Rf3 named CAPS1712 was developed. Our results will be fundamental in the assisted selection and creation of potent lines for the production and rapid selection of novel restorer lines.     

High capacity synergistic immobilization of simulated trivalent actinides by zirconia/zircon multiphase ceramics

Zircon (ZrSiO₄) ceramics are candidate waste form for immobilizing actinides. However, ZrSiO₄ with single phase suffers from the low actinides solubility. Herein, 0.2Zr_1-aNd_aO_2-a/2/Zr_1-bNd_bSiO_4-b/2 (0≤a+b ≤ 0.3) multiphase ceramics were fabricated and their actinides immobilization ability and aqueous stability were evaluated. The evolutions of phase and microstructure affected by Nd doping were investigated. 0.2Zr_1-aNd_aO_2-a/2/Zr_1-bNd_bSiO_4-b/2 ceramics with 0≤a+b?0.1 exhibited monoclinic ZrO₂, tetragonal ZrO₂ and ZrSiO₄ mixed phases, while monoclinic ZrO₂, tetragonal ZrO₂, ZrSiO₄ and Nd₂Si₂O₇ phases with 0.1≤a+b ≤ 0.3. The increase of lattice volume revealed the successful lattice immobilization of Nd by ZrO₂/ZrSiO₄. Due to synergistic immobilization effect, the Nd immobilization capacity of ZrO₂/ZrSiO₄ is up to 10 at%, which is higher than that of single-phase ZrSiO₄ (4 at%). Furthermore, the obtained ceramics waste form exhibited good compactness and excellent aqueous stability. The results indicated that zirconia/zircon multiphase ceramics can be a potential candidate waste form for actinides.     

Effect of YF3 on the phase stability and sinterability of hydroxyapatite—Partially stabilized zirconia composites

Pure hydroxyapatite (HA), HA and partially stabilized zirconia composites (PSZ) with YF₃ and HA–PSZ composite containing 5 wt% PSZ without YF₃ were sintered in air at 900 °C, 1100 °C and 1300 °C for 1 h. The reactions and transformation of the phases in the composites were determined by X-ray diffraction. All the composites with or without YF₃ showed desirable thermal stability below 1300 °C and besides various amounts of CaZrO₃, any amount of tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) was not observed. Above 1100 °C, composites with YF₃ showed higher thermal stability than the composites without YF₃. On the other hand, pure HA started to decompose and TCP was observed at 1300 °C. Composites with YF₃ showed improved thermal stability than the composite containing 5 wt% PSZ without YF₃ and pure HA at lower sintering temperatures such as 900 °C and 1100 °C. However, it was observed that the increasing amount of YF₃ addition caused negative effect on the thermal stability of the composites. 5ZHA composites with YF₃ showed the highest relative density among all of the composites with or without YF₃.     

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Knockout of GmFATB1 Significantly Reduced the Amount of Saturated Fatty Acids in Soybean Seeds

Soybean (Glycine max) oil is one of the most widely used vegetable oils across the world. Breeding of soybean to reduce the saturated fatty acid (FA) content, which is linked to cardiovascular disease, would be of great significance for nutritional improvement. Acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterases (FATs) can release free FAs and acyl-ACP, which ultimately affects the FA profile. In this study, we identified a pair of soybean FATB coding genes, GmFATB1a and GmFATB1b. Mutants that knock out either or both of the GmFATB1 genes were obtained via CRISPR/Cas9. Single mutants, fatb1a and fatb1b, showed a decrease in leaf palmitic and stearic acid contents, ranging from 11% to 21%. The double mutant, fatb1a:1b, had a 42% and 35% decrease in palmitic and stearic acid content, displayed growth defects, and were male sterility. Analysis of the seed oil profile revealed that fatb1a and fatb1b had significant lower palmitic and stearic acid contents, 39–53% and 17–37%, respectively, while that of the unsaturated FAs were the same. The relative content of the beneficial FA, linoleic acid, was increased by 1.3–3.6%. The oil profile changes in these mutants were confirmed for four generations. Overall, our data illustrate that GmFATB1 knockout mutants have great potential in improving the soybean oil quality for human health.     

Carbosilane Metallodendrimers with Cyclopentadienyldichlorotitanium(IV) End Groups

Dendritic polyols of the second and third generation 2G-OH₈ (1), 2G-OH₁₆ (2), and 3G-OH₁₆ (3) were prepared by hydroboration/oxidation of allyl-terminated carbosilane dendrimers and used as supports for the immobilization of cyclopentadienyltrichlorotitanium(IV) complexes via alcoholysis. The reaction of 1–3 with CpTiCl₃ gave metallodendrimers 2G-(OTiCpCl₂)₈ (4a), 2G-(OTiCpCl₂)₁₆ (5a), and 3G-(OTiCpCl₂)₁₆ (6a), respectively, whereas the reaction of 1 and 3 with CpSi^FTiCl₃ (CpSi^F = C₅H₄SiMe₂CH₂CH₂C₈F₁₇) yielded peripherally fluorinated metallodendrimers 2G-(OTiCpSi^FCl₂)₈ (4b) and 3G-(OTiCpSi^FCl₂)₁₆ (6b). All metallodendrimers were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The suggested structures were supported by comparison with model 1-propoxycomplexes 10a,b. To identify side products of the alcoholysis reaction, hydrolytic behavior of the starting trichloro complexes was studied both in solid state and in solution. The main products of hydrolysis in solution were identified as μ-oxocomplexes 8a,b whereas hydrolysis in solid state yielded mainly hydroxycomplexes 7a,b.     

Facile synthesis and luminescence properties of highly uniform YF3:Ln (Ln = Eu, Tb, Ce, Dy) nanocrystals in ionic liquids

Uniform YF₃ nanocrystals were prepared through a facile ethylene glycol (EG)/ionic liquid interfacial synthesis route in a imidazolium ionic liquids (1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) with the ionic liquids acting as both reagents and templates. The partial hydrolysis of PF₆⁻ was utilized to introduce a fluoride source. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been used to study the morphologies and crystal structure. The detailed growth mechanism of the YF₃ nanocrystals was researched. Furthermore, under ultraviolet exaltation, the phosphor of YF₃:Eu³⁺ and YF₃:Tb³⁺ shows red and green emission, corresponding to ⁵D₀-⁷F₁ transition of Eu³⁺ and ⁵D₄-⁷F₅ transition of Tb³⁺. The emission spectrum of YF₃:Ce³⁺ phosphor exhibits one dissymmetrical band extending from 350 to 500 nm with a maximum at about 383 nm. A bright fluorescent yellow emission at 574 nm and blue emission at 487 nm were observed in the YF₃:Dy³⁺. These novel nanocrystals could be potentially used in biolabels and light emitting diodes (LEDs).     

Interaction of nitrogen with iron surfaces: II. Fe(110)

Previous work on the interaction of N₂ with Fe(100) and (111) single-crystal planes was extended to the most densely packed (110) face. The dissociative chemisorption proceeds even slower than with the two other planes and is associated with an activation energy of about 7 kcal/mole at low coverages. At 683 K the initial rates of adsorption have a ratio of about 60:3:1 for Fe(111):(100):(110). The activation energy for desorption is estimated to be about 50 kcal/mole and is thus slightly smaller than on Fe(100)(58 kcal/mole), but higher than on Fe(111) (51 kcal/mole). The formation of two ordered surface structures (I and II) was observed. Their unit cell vectors b₁, b₂ are related with the (unreconstructed) substrate lattice vectors a₁, a₂ through: b₁ = 3a₁, b₁ = 2a₁ (I) (which may also be designated as 2 × 3 structure), and b₁ = 4a₁, b₁ = a₁ + 3a₂ (II). Both phases appear with two equivalent domain orientations with the mirror plane along the [001] direction. Structure I appears at lower surface concentrations than structure II; however their kinetics of formation is also influenced by the concentration of dissolved nitrogen. It is most probably that these large unit cells reflect the reconstruction of the topmost layer of Fe atoms [as in the case of the (111) plane]. For both surface structures quasihexagonal arrangements of Fe atoms may be constructed the nearest-neighbor distances for which agree to within ±3% with those in the (111) plane of fcc Fe₄N. Thus the concept of the formation of “surface nitrides” is further supported. Dissolution of nitrogen atoms in the bulk again interferes with the surface processes.     

Synthesis, structure, and photovoltaic property of a nanocrystalline 2H perovskite-type novel sensitizer (CH3CH2NH3)PbI3

A new nanocrystalline sensitizer with the chemical formula (CH₃CH₂NH₃)PbI₃ is synthesized by reacting ethylammonium iodide with lead iodide, and its crystal structure and photovoltaic property are investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms orthorhombic crystal phase with a = 8.7419(2) Å, b = 8.14745(10) Å, and c = 30.3096(6) Å, which can be described as 2 H perovskite structure. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy determine the valence band position at 5.6 eV versus vacuum and the optical bandgap of ca. 2.2 eV. A spin coating of the CH₃CH₂NH₃I and PbI₂ mixed solution on a TiO₂ film yields ca. 1.8-nm-diameter (CH₃CH₂NH₃)PbI₃ dots on the TiO₂ surface. The (CH₃CH₂NH₃)PbI₃-sensitized solar cell with iodide-based redox electrolyte demonstrates the conversion efficiency of 2.4% under AM 1.5 G one sun (100 mW/cm²) illumination.     

Synthesis of a New Modification of Aluminum Oxide, Gahnite, and Zincite in Detonation

Results of studying the products of explosion of aluminum and octogen charges enclosed by a brass shell under conditions of complete burning out in air are described. Gahnite ZnAl₂O₄, a new (metastable) modification of aluminum oxide, and small quantities of zinc oxide were identified in the condensed explosion products. The x-ray pattern of the aluminum oxide was indexed in a face-centered cubic lattice with the parameters a = 7.854(1) Å, V = 484.4(2) ų. The possible Fedorov groups are Fm3m, F432, and F43m.     

Morphology and crystal structures of poly(2,6-naphthalene terephthalate) and poly(2,6-naphthalene naphthalate)

The morphology and crystal structures of poly(2,6-naphthalene terephthalate) (PNT) and poly(2,6-naphthalene naphthalate) (PNN), prepared by confined thin film melt/solution polymerization (CTFMP/CTFSP), were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction and molecular modeling. The unit cells of PNT and PNN are both monoclinic (P12₁/a1 space group) with parameters a=8.18 Å, b=5.80 Å, c=14.9 Å and β=101.9° for PNT, and a=7.85 Å, b=5.97 Å, c=17.1 Å and β=99.5 for PNN, respectively. Simulated ED patterns from the proposed unit cells agree well with the observed ED patterns. The crystal structures of PNT and PNN are also compared with those of poly (p-phenylene naphthalate) (PPN) and poly(2,6-oxynaphtalate) (PONA).     

A radiometric method for the characterization of particulate processes in colloidal suspensions Part 1. Theoretical approach

A theoretical approach to a new radiometric method for the characterization of particulate processes in stable colloidal suspensions is given. Following Rajagopal's studies of Brownian coagulation, the change of particle volume during the Brownian coagulation of sols is correlated with the particle size before the coagulation process. It is proved that the ratio (F_b/F_a)_o of mean particle size before the coagulation process is equal to the ratio (^*F_b/F_a)_tE of imaginary particle size. The ratio of imaginary particle sizes is calculated from heterogeneous exchange fractions attained in sols during the exchange fractions attained in sols during the exchange process (proceeding simultaneously with the coagulation process) using the graphic form of Wagner's solution of differential equation of diffusion. It is shown that this method is suitable for determining the change of the relative mean particle size during the ageing of systems, and thus for the characterization of particulate processes in colloidal suspensions.