The Brønsted acidity of isomorphously substituted ZSM-5 by B, Al, Ga, and Fe has been studied at the B3LYP level of density functional theory. On the basis of the calculated proton affinity, natural charge on the acidic proton, and the adsorption energy of NH3, the Brønsted acidity increases in the order:  B−(OH)−Si < Fe−(OH)−Si < Ga−(OH)−Si < Al−(OH)−Si, in agreement with the experiment. In both Al and Ga modified clusters, the adsorbed NH3 becomes ammonium (NH4 +) stabilized by two N−H···O hydrogen bonds, while the physisorbed NH3 is stabilized by one N···H−O hydrogen bond in Fe and B substituted clusters. It is also found that NH3 adsorption changes the B coordination sphere.

Ba ( Co x , Ti 1 − x ) O 3 thin films were prepared on fused quartz substrate by a sol-gel method. The results of x-ray diffraction showed that the films are perovskite phase and the change of lattice constant caused by different Co concentration is undetectable. Optical transmittance measurement indicated that Co doping has effect on the energy band structure. The energy gap of Ba(Cox,Ti1−x)O3 decreased linearly with the increase of Co concentration. It is inferred that the energy level of conduction bands decline with the Co content increasing. This result is similar to the phenomena found in binary semiconductor where the band gap decreases with the increasing of average atomic number.

Using synchrotron angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy techniques in a diamond anvil cell, we have examined the structural behaviors of the cubic (anti-C) Ca 3 N 2 at high pressures and room temperature. Two first-order phase transformations were observed at 9.6 and 19.5 GPa accompanied by large volume collapses of 7 and 9%, respectively. The two high pressure phases were identified as monoclinic (anti-B) and hexagonal (anti-A) structures by Rietveld refinement. With the pressure derivatives fixed at 4, the bulk modulus of anti-C, anti-B, and anti-A type structures were determined as 53.1(2), 61.6(4), and 83.9(2) GPa, respectively, indicating the increased incompressibility of Ca 3 N 2 under high pressure. The phase sequence observed in Ca 3 N 2 is in accordance with the systematic behavior of C f B f A phase transitions occurring in most sesquioxides.

Significant progress has been made in understanding the structure of high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunits and their role in determining the end use quality of wheat grains. However, few reports have dealt with the development and characterization of knock out mutants for HMW glutenin subunit genes. Here, the molecular analysis of MB14, a mutant derived from an elite Chinese wheat variety Xiaoyan 54 through chemical mutagenesis is described. SDS-PAGE and Western blot experiments revealed that, in the seeds of homozygous MB14 plants, the expression of the 1Bx14 subunit was specifically blocked whereas the remaining four subunits (1Ax1, 1By15, 1Dx2, 1Dy12) accumulated to levels comparable to those in the wild type plants. The 5¢-flanking region and the open reading frame (ORF) of the mutant 1Bx14 allele were amplified and compared to the corresponding regions of wild type 1Bx14. The nucleotide sequences of the 5¢-flanking regions from the mutant and wild type 1Bx14 alleles were identical. However, the ORF of the mutant allele differed from that of the wild type 1Bx14 by three point substitutions, one of which resulted in a premature stop codon in the mutant ORF. Interestingly, the mutant 1Bx14 allele was still transcribed in the developing seeds, but no truncated translation product could be detected by Western blot analysis. Potential application of the 1Bx14 knock out mutant in studying the biological function of 1Bx14 and its contribution to the end use quality control in hexaploid wheat is discussed.

Of the 16 known biotypes of the Hessian fly [ Mayetiola destructor (Say)], biotype L is recognized as being the most virulent. We have previously reported the development of near-isogenic lines (NILs) (BC(3)F(3:4)) by backcross introgression (Coker797*4/Hamlet) that differed by the presence or absence of the H21 gene on 2RL chromatin. Florescence in situ hybridization analysis revealed introgressed 2RLs in NILs possessing the H21 gene, but no signal was detected in NILs lacking 2RL. As part of an approach to elucidate molecular interactions between plants and the Hessian fly, a cDNA library from NILs with H21 infested by larvae of biotype L of the Hessian fly was constructed for expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis. Of 1,056 sequenced reactions attempted, 919 ESTs produced some lengths of readable sequences. Based on their putative identification, 730 ESTs that showed significant similarity with amino acid sequences registered in the gene bank were divided into 13 functional categories. Defense- and stress-related genes represented about 16.1%, including protease inhibition, oxidative burst, lignin synthesis, and phenylpropanoid metabolism. EST clones obtained from the cDNA library may provide a clue to the molecular interactions between plant and larva of the Hessian fly larval infestation.

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Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease characterized by coughing, the production of excess sputum, and dyspnea. Patients with excessively thick sputum may have frequent attacks or develop more serious disease. The guidelines recommend airway clearance for patients with excessive sputum who are hospitalized with COPD. The active cycle of breathing technique is the most common non-pharmacological airway clearance technique used by physiotherapists. However, the effectiveness of the technique is not always guaranteed. Active cycle of breathing techniques require the initial dilution of the sputum, usually by inhalation drugs, which may have limited effects. Recent studies have found that phonophoresis decreases inflammation, suggesting the potential of the combined usage of active cycle of breathing techniques and phonophoresis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness and safety of combining active cycle of breathing technique and phonophoresis in treating COPD patients. Methods and analysis We propose a single-blind randomized controlled trial using 75 hospitalized patients diagnosed with COPD with excessive sputum production. The patients will be divided into three groups. The intervention group will receive active cycle of breathing techniques combined with phonophoresis. The two comparison groups will be treated with active cycle of breathing techniques and phonophoresis, respectively. The program will be implemented daily for 1 week. The primary outcomes will be changes in sputum viscosity and production, lung function, and pulse oximetry. Secondary outcomes include the assessment of COPD and anxiety, measured by the COPD Assessment Test scale and the Anxiety Inventory for Respiratory Disease, respectively; self-satisfaction; the degree of cooperation; and the length of hospital stay. All outcome measures, with the exception of sputum production and additional secondary outcomes, will be assessed at the commencement of the study and after 1 week’s intervention. Analysis of variance will be used to investigate differences between the groups, and a p-value of less than 0.05 (two-tailed) will be considered statistically significant. Discussion This study introduces a combination of active cycle of breathing techniques and phonophoresis to explore the impact of these interventions on patients hospitalized with COPD. If this combined intervention is shown to be effective, it may prove to be a better treatment for patients with COPD. Trial registration The trial was registered prospectively on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on 24 December 2019.ClinicalTrials.gov ChiCTR1900028506. Registered on December 2019.

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