JQuery Sortable UI with MySql

JQuery Sortable UI with MySql

If anyone could help, I have worked hours on this and am still a little lost.
I have implemented http://camohub.github.io/jquery-sortable-lists/ into an app I am bulding.  While I can get the static HTML to work  I am having problem building it from a database.

Does anyone know of a class or function I could apply to this that would either support a Nested Set Database structure or a Adjacent ordered structure.

any help on building this <ul><li> structure from a database that would work with the drag drop functions would be greatly appreciated!