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Kernel size is an important agronomic trait for grain yield in maize. The purpose of this study is to map QTLs and predict candidate genes for kernel size in maize. A total of 199 F2and its F2:3lines from the cross between SG5/SG7 were developed. A composite interval mapping (CIM) method was used to detect QTLs in three environments of F2and F2:3populations. The result showed that a total of 10 QTLs for kernel size were detected, among which were five QTLs for kernel length (KL) and five QTLs for kernel width (KW). Two stable QTLs,qKW-1, andqKL-2, were mapped in all three environments. Three QTLs,qKL-1, qKW-1, andqKW-2, were overlapped with the QTLs identified from previous studies. In order to validate and fine mapqKL-2, near-isogenic lines (NILs) were developed by continuous backcrossing between SG5 as the donor parent and SG7 as the recurrent parent. Marker-assisted selection was conducted from BC2F1generation with molecular markers nearqKL-2. A secondary linkage map with six markers around theqKL-2region was developed and used for fine mapping ofqKL-2.Finally,qKL-2was confirmed in a 1.95 Mb physical interval with selected overlapping recombinant chromosomes on maize chromosome 9 by blasting with the Zea_Mays_B73 v4 genome. Transcriptome analysis showed that a total of 11 out of 40 protein-coding genes differently expressed between the two parents were detected in the identifiedqKL-2interval. GRMZM2G006080 encoding a receptor-like protein kinase FERONIA, was predicted as a candidate gene to control kernel size. The work will not only help to understand the genetic mechanisms of kernel size of maize but also lay a foundation for further fine mapping and even cloning of the promising loci.

A stable and efficient Pd(OAc)2/P(1-Nap)3[tri(1-naphthyl)phosphine] catalytic system for the addition of arylboronic acids to aldehydes has been developed. In the presence of Pd(OAc)2 and P(1-Nap)3, the addition reaction of arylboronic acids with aldehydes was carried out smoothly at 65 °C to give a variety of carbinol derivatives in good to excellent yields using a mixture of [bmim][PF6] and water as the solvent. The isolation of the products was readily performed by the extraction with diethyl ether, and the Pd(OAc)2/P(1-Nap)3/[bmim][PF6]/H2O system could be easily recycled and reused six times without significant loss of catalytic activity. Our system not only avoids the use of easily volatile THF or toluene as solvent but also solves the basic problem of palladium catalyst and these phosphine ligand reuse.

A stable and efficient Pd(OAc)2/PPh3/PEG-2000 catalytic system for homocoupling of arylboronic acids has been developed. In the presence of Pd(OAc)2 and PPh3, the homocoupling reaction of arylboronic acids was carried out smoothly in PEG-2000 at 70 °C under air without base to afford a variety of symmetric biaryls in good to excellent yields. The isolation of the products was readily performed by extraction with diethyl ether, and the Pd(OAc)2/PPh3/PEG-2000 system could be easily recycled and reused six times without significant loss of catalytic activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The NiCo@Pt nanoallys from icosahedrons to hollow spheres are synthesized through the element lithographic process based on NiCo nanoicosahedrons. The morphology, structure, magnetic property, and its synergistic photocatalysis of nano-ZnO have been investigated by scan electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, vibration sample magnetometry measurement, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The as-prepared NiCo@Pt magnetic hollow nanospheres have the UV- and visible-light-driven synergistic photocatalysis for ZnO toward the degradation of dye wastewater. Especially the different coorporation photocatalysis can be observed under UV- and UV-filtered visible-light illumination, in which Ni45Co37@Pt18 under UV-light and Ni31Co26@Pt43 under visible-light exhibit the strongest enhancement for the photocatalytic reactivity of ZnO, respectively. The coercivity Hc and saturation magnetization Ms first decrease with the ...

New dimensional NiCo alloy icosahedral nanocrystals with controllable size have been first reported and synthesized through an Ostwald ripening process in a template-absent solvothermal reaction system. The proposed synthesis is corroborated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The as-obtained NiCo icosahedral nanocrystals exhibit the size- and component-dependent magnetic behaviors. The coercivity (H(c)) depends on both the magnetocrystalline and structure anisotropy, and the saturation magnetizations (M(s)) decided by the content of Co. H(c) decreases from 189.02 to 147.95 Oe with the increase of the icosahedral NCs size from 200 to 850 nm. Especially, the H(c) of the icosahedral NCs at 157.38 Oe is higher than that of nanospheres at 104.02 Oe. In addition, M(s) and H(c) increased with the increasing Co content. It can be an ideal building block for applications in magnetic media, sensors, and other devices.

Newly designed magnetic FeNi-Pt match-like heterostructured nanorods were synthesized by means of induced growth of FeNi nanorods on Pt nanotips. The proposed synthesis mechanism is corroborated by SEM, TEM, XRD and XPS. The magnetic behavior shows that the magnetic saturation and coercivity are strongly dependent on both the shape and the alloy composition. The saturation magnetizations (Ms) and the coercivity (Hc) of nanorods synthesized are larger than those of nanoparticles because of the relatively large anisotropy of nanorods. Maximum saturation magnetization is obtained for Fe(82) Ni(15) -Pt(3) at 226.6 emu g(-1), whereas maximum coercivity is obtained for Fe(20)Ni(77)-Pt(3) at 136.8 Oe. Shape-dependent reactivity toward the reduction of chlorinated solvents was observed for the FeNi-Pt heterostructured nanomaterials. In particular, the Fe(82)Ni(15)-Pt(3) nanorods are highly reactive in the dechlorination process of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane.

Assembling-controlled synthesis is carried out for fabrication 0 & 2D NiCu amorphous nanoalloys through the cooperation of hard-soft interfacial templates in different template-assist routes at room temperature. The controlled fabrication of 0D nanospheres and 2D ultrathin nanofilms of NiCu amorphous alloys is attributed to the synergistic effect between structure-inducing of hard collodion membrane and the reactor volume adjusting of reverse microemulsion as well as coordination of ethylenediamine ligand. The hard artificial active collodion membrane lost the structure-inducing activity after ligand ethylenediamine coordinated with metal ions. The phase transformation behavior recordings indicate that the replacement of Ni by Cu can delay phase transformation. And as the Cu concentration increases, the kinetic ordering temperature increases. The magnetic property shows that the saturation magnetizations (Ms) and coercivities (Hc) of annealed nanoalloys decrease with the increasing of Cu concentration in NiCu system.

A stable and efficient Pd(OAc)2/PPh3/PEG-2000 catalytic system for homocoupling of arylboronic acids has been developed. In the presence of Pd(OAc)2 and PPh3, the homocoupling reaction of arylboronic acids was carried out smoothly in PEG-2000 at 70 °C under air without base to afford a variety of symmetric biaryls in good to excellent yields. The isolation of the products was readily performed by extraction with diethyl ether, and the Pd(OAc)2/PPh3/PEG-2000 system could be easily recycled and reused six times without significant loss of catalytic activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The catalytic system can be reused six times without significant loss of catalytic activity.

PdCl2(PPh3)2 in a mixture of water and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-2000) is shown to be an extremely active catalyst for the carbonylative Sonogashira coupling reaction of aryl iodides with terminal alkynes. The reaction can be conducted under an atmospheric pressure of carbon monoxide at 25 °C with Et3N as a base, yielding a variety of alkynyl ketones in good to excellent yields. Application of this synthetic method to prepare flavones from o-iodophenol and terminal alkynes was also achieved. The isolation of the products is readily achieved by extraction with diethyl ether, and the PdCl2(PPh3)2/PEG-2000/H2O system can be easily recycled and reused six times without any loss of catalytic activity.

(Z)-α,β-Unsaturated esters can be stereoselectively synthesised in one pot under mild conditions and in good yields, by the hydrostannylation of alkynyl esters followed by Stille cross-coupling wit...

A Pt―NiCo nanomaterial has been synthesized for developing the sensitive electrochemical determination of biological thiols that include L-cysteine (CySH), homocysteine (HCySH), and gluthione (GSH) with high sensitivity and long-term stability, in which the Pt nanoparticles are well supported on amorphous NiCo nanofilms. The electrochemical oxidation of thiols has been successfully facilitated on the optimized Pt―NiCo nanostructures, that is, two oxidation peaks of CySH have been clearly observed at potentials of +0.06 and +0.45 V. The experimental results demonstrate that the first peak for CySH oxidation may be attributed to a direct oxidation from CySH to L-cystine (CySSCy), whereas the second peak possibly results from a sequential oxidation from CySSCy to cysteic acid (CySO 3 H), together with a direct oxidation of CySH into CySO 3 H. The enhanced electrocatalytic activities at the Pt 23 ―NiCo nanostructures have provided a methodology to determine thiols at a very low potential of 0.0 V with relatively high sensitivity (637 nA μM cm ―2 ), a low detection limit (20 nM), and a broad linear range. The striking analytical performance, together with the characteristic properties of the Pt―NiCo nanomaterial itself, including long-term stability and strong antipoisoning ability, has established a reliable and durable approach for the detection of thiols in liver cancer cells, Hep G2.

PdCl2(PPh3)2 in a mixture of water and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-2000) is shown to be an extremely active catalyst for the carbonylative Sonogashira coupling reaction of aryl iodides with terminal alkynes. The reaction can be conducted under an atmospheric pressure of carbon monoxide at 25 °C with Et3N as a base, yielding a variety of alkynyl ketones in good to excellent yields. Application of this synthetic method to prepare flavones from o-iodophenol and terminal alkynes was also achieved. The isolation of the products is readily achieved by extraction with diethyl ether, and the PdCl2(PPh3)2/PEG-2000/H2O system can be easily recycled and reused six times without any loss of catalytic activity.