Synthesis of self-pillared zeolite nanosheets by repetitive branching

Hierarchical zeolites are a class of microporous catalysts and adsorbents that also contain mesopores, which allow for fast transport of bulky molecules and thereby enable improved performance in petrochemical and biomass processing. We used repetitive branching during one-step hydrothermal crystal growth to synthesize a new hierarchical zeolite made of orthogonally connected microporous nanosheets. The nanosheets are 2 nanometers thick and contain a network of 0.5-nanometer micropores. The house-of-cards arrangement of the nanosheets creates a permanent network of 2- to 7-nanometer mesopores, which, along with the high external surface area and reduced micropore diffusion length, account for higher reaction rates for bulky molecules relative to those of other mesoporous and conventional MFI zeolites.     

Methionine Requirement of Juvenile Japanese Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Abstract.— Growth studies were conducted to determine the dietary methionine requirement of juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus . A basal diet was formulated to contain 50% crude protein from casein and gelatin, as intact protein sources, supplemented with crystalline L-amino acids (CAA), to correspond to the amino acid pattern found in the whole body protein of the juvenile Japanese flounder, except methionine. Test diets contained six graded levels of L-methionine 0.53, 0.83, 1.13, 1.43, 1.73, and 2.03% of diet (dry matter basis) or 1.06, 1.66, 2.26, 2.86, 3.46 and 4.06% of protein. To prevent leaching losses of water-soluble amino acids, CAA were pre-coated with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and diets were further bound with both CMC and κ-carrageenan after addition of the pre-coated CAA. Weighing about 2.80 g, each triplicate group of the juvenile flounder were fed test diets twice a day (5% of body weight) for 40 d. Survival rate, specific growth rate, feed conversion efficiency and apparent protein retention were significantly ( P < 0.05) affected by dietary methionine concentrations. The optimum dietary level of methionine in the presence of 0.06% of dietary cystine for Japanese flounder juvenile was estimated by using break point analysis. The values determined based on weight gain and feed efficiency were 1.49% of diet (or 2.98% of protein) and 1.44% of diet (or 2.88% of protein), respectively. These requirement values are close to the methionine level of flounder whole body protein.     

Optimum Dietary Level of L-ascorbic Acid for Japanese Eel, Anguilla japonica

A feeding experiment was conducted to determine the optimum dietary level of ascorbic acid (AsA) for Japanese eel juveniles using L-ascorbic acid Ca based on growth, AsA content in tissues, hematology, and bactericidal activity of serum with Escherichia coli . Test diets with six levels of AsA (3, 10, 27,126, 645, and 3,135-mg/kg diet) as Ca ascorbate were fed to juvenile Japanese eels (11.0 ± 0.2 g) once a day for 8 wk. High survival rates (> 80%) were observed among all dietary treatment groups. The specific growth rates of the fish fed diets containing 3 and 10-mg AsA/kg were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of other groups. Liver and brain AsA contents of the fish fed diets containing 3, 10, and 27-mg AsA/kg were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the fish fed diets containing 645 and 3,135-mg AsA/kg. Hemoglobin content tended to be higher in the fish fed diets containing 645 and 3,135-mg AsA/kg than those of the fish fed other diets. Hematocrit value and total serum protein content of the fish fed diets containing 645 and 3135 mg AsA/kg were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of the other groups. The fish fed diets containing more than 27-mg AsAlkg showed a higher bactericidal activity of serum than the fish fed the diets containing 3-mg and 10-mg AsA/kg. The optimum dietary level of AsA for the Japanese eel juveniles growth was estimated to be more than 27-mg AsA/kg. Furthermore, the inclusion of 645-mg AsA/kg or more also increased the hematocrit, hemoglobin, total serum protein value, and liver and brain vitamin C concentrations.     

Production of mahogany sawdust reinforced LDPE wood-plastic composites using statistical response surface methodology

We produced wood–plastic composite board by using sawmill wastage of mahogany(Swietenia macrophylla) wood and low density polyethylene.We used multi-response optimization to optimize the process parameters of composite board production including mixing ratio,fire retardant(%) and pressing time(min).We investigated the effects of these three process parameters in the mechanical and physical properties of the composite board.Afterwards,Box–Behnken design was performed as response surface methodology with desirability functions to attain the optimal level of mixing ratio,fire retardant and pressing time(min).The maximum modulus of elasticity(MOE) and modulus of rupture(MOR) were achieved at the optimal conditions of wood plastic mixing ratio of60:40,pressing time of 9 min and zero fire retardant percentage.The optimized MOR and MOE were 13.12 and1,781.0 N mm-2,respectively.     

Heritability estimates and response to selection for the pungency and single center traits in onion

Summary Heritabilities of the pungency and single center traits were estimated in onion breeding populations using selection response and half-sib family analyses. Pungency was determined indirectly by measuring enzymatically produced pyruvic acid in individual bulbs. After one generation of selection, pungency was lowered by 8.1% and 8.9% in the populations 90-61-1 and 89-69-8, respectively, and realized heritabilities of 0.21 and 0.51 were estimated.Selection had no effect in lowering the pungency of population 90–62. Heritability estimates calculated through half-sib progeny analysis were 0.53, 0.48, and 0.25 for pungency in the populations 90-61-1, 90–62 and 89-69-8, respectively. The number of single centered onions was increased by 19% and 22% in populations 90–62 and 89-69-8, respectively, after one generation of selection, and the realized heritability estimates were 0.37 and 0.34, respectively.     

Genetic Analysis of Resistance to Brown Planthopper in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Seventeen rice cultivate resistant to brown planthoppers were genetically analyzed using the Bangladesh insect population. Seven cultivars were found to have a single dominant gene for resistance. These genes segregated independently of the recessive resistance gene bph-5. Tae dominant resistance gene of ‘Swarnalata’ was designated Bph-6. In ten cultivars, resistance is conferred by single recessive genes. In eight cultivars, the resistance genes are allelic to bph-5. However, the recessive genes o: two cultivars are non-allelic to bph-5. The recessive gene of T12 is designated bph-7.     

Path analysis of the relationships between seed yield and some morphological and phenological traits in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Path analysis was performed on plant characters of six safflower genotypes grown in a two year field experiment to determine for seed yield, the direct and indirect effects of the following traits: total biomass, stem yield, number of primary branches/plant, number of secondary branches/plant, number of seeds/m², number of seeds/capitulum, number of capitula/plant, capitulum diameter, 1000-seed weight, seed weight/capitulum, distance between ground level and the first fertile branch, plant height, number of days to the beginning of branching, number of days to the beginning of flowering, number of days to 50% flowering, number of days to full flowering and flowering duration. Seed yield was significantly correlated with the following traits: total biomass, stem yield, capitulum diameter, 1000-seed weight, seed weight/capitulum, distance between ground level and the first fertile branch, number of days to the beginning of branching and flowering duration. Total biomass, seed weight/capitulum, distance between ground level and the first fertile branch, 1000-seed weight and flowering duration had substantial direct effects, in that order, on enhancement of seed yield. The significant positive correlation coefficient of capitulum diameter with seed yield resulted from positive indirect effects of total biomass, seed weight/capitulum and 1000-seed weight. Conversely, the significant negative correlations between number of days to the beginning of branching and distance between ground level and the first fertile branch and seed yield resulted from negative indirect effects of the same three traits. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that 94% of the total variation in seed yield could be explained by variation in total biomass and by number of days to the beginning of branching (84 and 10%, respectively). Results suggest that total biomass and number of days to the beginning of branching are primary selection criteria for improving seed yield in safflower.