Catalase (CAT) Gene Family in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.): Genome-Wide Analysis,Identification, and Expression Pattern in Response to Multiple Hormones and Abiotic Stress Conditions

Catalase (CAT) is an antioxidant enzyme expressed by the CAT gene family and exists in almost all aerobic organisms. Environmental stresses induce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that eventually hinder plant growth and development. The CAT enzyme translates the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to water (H₂O) and reduce the ROS levels to shelter the cells’ death. So far, the CAT gene family has not been reported in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Therefore, a genome-wide comprehensive analysis was conducted to classify the CAT genes in the rapeseed genome. The current study identified 14 BnCAT genes in the rapeseed genome. Based on phylogenetic and synteny analysis, the BnCATs belong to four groups (Groups I–IV). A gene structure and conserved motif analysis showed that Group I, Group II, and Group IV possess almost the same intron/exon pattern, and an equal number of motifs, while Group III contains diverse structures and contain 15 motifs. By analyzing the cis-elements in the promoters, we identified five hormone-correlated responsive elements and four stress-related responsive elements. Further, six putative bna-miRNAs were also identified, targeting three genes (BnCAT4, BnCAT6, and BnCAT8). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that the BnCAT genes were largely related to cellular organelles, ROS response, stimulus response, stress response, and antioxidant enzymes. Almost 10 BnCAT genes showed higher expression levels in different tissues, i.e., root, leaf, stem, and silique. The expression analysis showed that BnCAT1–BnCAT3 and BnCAT11–BnCAT13 were significantly upregulated by cold, salinity, abscisic acid (ABA), and gibberellic acid (GA) treatment, but not by drought and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Notably, most of the genes were upregulated by waterlogging stress, except BnCAT6, BnCAT9, and BnCAT10. Our results opened new windows for future investigations and provided insights into the CAT family genes in rapeseed.     

Microfluidic behavior in melt-spun hollow and liquid core fibers

The development of thermoplastic fibers containing a liquid core is described. Internal morphology analysis confirms that the liquid-containing core is composed of a continuous cylindrical microchannel of constant diameter. Microfluidic experiments on both liquid core and reference hollow fibers were conducted by pumping distilled water through several filaments simultaneously. The observed fluid motions are satisfactorily described by the Hagen-Poiseuille law, indicating that the hollow and liquid core fibers have internal diameters of 31.6 and 14.8 µm, respectively. Flushing the liquid core fibers with a surfactant solution efficiently removes the saturated ester initially used during the melt spinning of the fiber.     

A novel solvent-impregnated resin containing 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid for stepwise extraction of Th(IV) and U(VI) over other coexistence ions

A new solvent-impregnated resin (SIR) was constructed using Amberlite XAD-2 and 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (3H2NA). The SIR was applied for stepwise extraction of Th(IV) and U(VI) from the coexistence ions dissolved in aqueous media at pHs of 3.0 and 7.0, respectively. The U(VI) and Th(IV) ions adsorbed on the minicolumn were consecutively eluted with 0.5 M and 4 M HCl solutions. They were then measured by Arsenazo III at their maximum absorption wavelengths. The characteristic parameters for the successful separation of these ions from the aqueous media were investigated. The SIR showed excellent reproducibility during the 800 subsequent extraction cycles.     

Miscibility enhancement of poly(vinyl chloride)/polystyrene blend: Application to membrane separation of benzene from benzene/cyclohexane mixture by pervaporation

In order to improve the miscibility of poly(vinyl chloride)/polystyrene (PVC/PS) system and to use the prepared material as a membrane to separate benzene from benzene/cyclohexane mixture by pervaporation technique, two poly(styrene-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PSVP) copolymers containing 6.67 and 13.55 mol% of N-vinylpyrrolidone (N-VP) contents were synthesized through a radical polymerization. A comparative study of the miscibility of the PVC/PSVP blends with different compositions was carried out using differential scanning calorimetry, viscosimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy methods in which the interaction parameters between the two components were widely investigated. To improve the pervaporative flux of PVC membrane to separate benzene from benzene/cyclohexane mixture, a preliminary test of swelling and sorption was performed on PVC/PSVP7 membranes using an azeotropic benzene/cyclohexane mixture. It was revealed that the PVC/PSVP7 membrane containing 10 wt% of PSVP7 showed the best performance and the diffusion behaviour of this mixture through PVC and PVC/PCVP7 membranes has a Fickian behaviour. The pervaporation parameters of this membrane support those of the swelling and selective sorption data and reveal that this membrane could enhance the total flux without significantly affecting its selectivity to benzene.     

Investigation of the Binding Behavior between the S-heterocyclic Aromatic Palladium(II) Complex and Human Serum Albumin: Spectroscopic Approach

The interaction of 1, 10-phenanthroline octhyldithiocarbamato palladium(II) nitrate ([Pd(Oct-dtc)(phen)]NO₃) with human serum albumin (HSA) has been investigated by various spectroscopic techniques under physiological conditions. Here, HSA was titrated with the Pd(II) complex, followed by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy to estimate a binding constant (K_b) and other thermodynamic parameters. The results indicate that the Pd (II) complex has a high affinity for bind HSA. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy changes (ΔS°) are positive and Gibbs free energy change (ΔG°) is negative which indicated that hydrophobic interactions played the predominant role in the binding process. Fluorescence spectroscopy were used to show the mechanism and binding parameters of this interaction. Utilizing the Stern–Volmer equation, the Pd(II) complex quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA via a static quenching procedure. The specific binding distances between the tryptophan (donor) proteins and Pd(II) complex (acceptor) were estimated by Forster resonance energy transfer. The CD results also showed the conformational changes on serum albumin upon binding with the Pd(II) complex.     

Fabrication of self-ordered nanoporous alumina with 500–750 nm interpore distances using hard anodization in phosphoric/oxalic acid mixtures

A hard anodization (HA) technique is employed using different mixtures of phosphoric/oxalic acid for fast fabrication of alumina nanopore arrays in voltages higher than 200 V. The mixtures enable to avoid the breakdown of porous anodic alumina (PAA) in the high voltages. It is revealed for the first time that continuously tunable pore intervals (D_int) from 500 to 750 nm can be controlled by varying the concentrations of oxalic acid at anodization voltages (U_anod) from 230 to 360 V, far beyond the U_anod in the single electrolyte of phosphoric acid or oxalic acid. The ratios of interpore distance, pore diameter and barrier layer thickness to anodization voltage are in the range of conventional HA process for each acid mixture. In this approach, the PAA film growth rate is 26 µm/h, being 7 times larger than that in typical mild anodization.     

Dithiocarbamate as an efficient intermediate for the synthesis of 2-(alkylthio)thiazol-4(5H)-ones

An effective approach for the synthesis of 2-(alkylthio)thiazol-4(5H)-ones from alkyl dithiocarbamates and chloroacetyl chloride in the presence of NaHCO₃ has been developed. Good to excellent yields of products, simple reaction conditions and general applicability are the most important advantages of this protocol.     

Preparation and characterization of PPRC/EPDM thermoplastic vulcanizates: A comparative study

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) of polypropylene random copolymer (PPRC) with ethylene–propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) were prepared through in situ and ex situ compatibilization techniques. Silanized silica as nanofiller was incorporated in the ex situ compatibilized TPVs. Mechanical properties were measured for different formulated TPVs with increasing loading of EPDM from 10 to 30 phr. A comparative data is generated to discuss the effect of two compatibilization techniques and addition of silica filler in the TPVs. The degradation studies were also carried out to check the stability of the blends under harsh ultraviolet environment. The in situ compatibilized TPVs provided better overall mechanical properties. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that the properties of ex situ compatiblized TPVs were enhanced by incorporation of silanized silica filler. Silanized silica filler helped in reducing the die swell significantly. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46726.