ZHAO Huijun and colleagues at the Institute of Solid State Physics has developed an instrument, in which three kinds of reactors (fluidized bed reactor, fixed bed reactor, and slurry phase reactor) can be integrated and connected in a serial or in parallel manner. The instrument can be applied to biomass catalytic conversion by gasification, pyrolysis, liquefaction, hydrolysis, bio-oil refinery and so on. The operation parameters can be adjusted in a wide range (reaction temperature 25-800 oC, and pressure 0-10 MPa). In addition, a software system for real-time monitoring and analysis of the reaction process is integrated. Thus, the instrument provides a research platform for the development and evaluation of catalysts in the process of biomass conversion.

CAS news release, August 29, 2017

The companies comprise pharmaceutical and fermentation companies, e. g., Ninxia Eppen Biotech Co., a major MSG producer. The authority reclaimed that malodorous gas pollution prevention and control facilities were imperfect, environmental management was lacking, and in one case a sewage treatment station was closed. The companies were admonished to speed up the progress of governance, in strict accordance with the Central Eigth Environmental Protection Plan, and complete by the end of this year measures for a comprehensive treatment of malodor.

China Bio news release, August 28, 2017

Sina Publisher has published a detailed map on Chinese antibody producers. The authors come to the conclusion that a) the number of producers is consolidating, b) autoimmune diseases and cancer application accounts for 78% market share of antibody drugs, c) for the next 10 years, domestic producers will focus on the development of generic or me-better antibodies

China Bio news release, August 28, 2017

Hangzhou VivaChek Co. was founded in 2013 by YANG Qinggang and WANG Chengchao and within two years succeeded to get certificates from US FDA, CE, Australia and other countries. In Germany, the company is certified by TÜV Rheinland. VivaChek at present sells 2 million sets of blood glucose meters annually, and its production line for test strips has a capacity of 300 million. The readers connect via bluetooth to smartphones and computers and allow interaction with doctors and blood sugar management apps. The Chinese point-of-care testing (POCT) market for blood sugar monitoring is over 50 billion Yuan.

China Bio news release, August 25, 2017

According to the China National Space Administration, China plans to send a robotic probe to Mars around 2020. It will conduct scientific research on the soil and atmosphere and search for signs of water, The probe will consist of three parts－an orbiter, lander and rover. The rover will have six wheels and four solar panels, and will carry 13 scientific instruments, weighing about 200 kilograms. It will work 92 days on the planet, according to the probe’s chief designer. A larger probe will set off for Mars around 2030 to take samples and return to Earth. As to OUYANG Ziyuan, former chief scientist of China’s lunar program, robots will be essential in supporting human activity during Mars missions. As the Martian environment has low atmospheric pressure and low temperatures, robots can help astronauts produce and transport construction materials, build facilities and operate bases. In the long term, human explorers can figure out ways to increase greenhouse gases in the Martian atmosphere to warm up the planet and to melt ice on the surface. Then they can farm and mine from permanent bases.

CAS news release, August 28, 2017

In a human-computer interaction demonstration experiment, a woodpecker-like sampling robot equipped with convolution neural networks (CNNs) was able to communicate with an astronaut who directed the robot by hand gestures.

CAS news release, August 24, 2017

Acording to Bloomberg, China bought 90,000 robots in 2016, nearly 1/3d of all robots sold that year. According tot he International Federation of Robotics, this number will nearly double to 160,000 in 2019. China still lags behind regarding robot density, with about 50 robots for every 10,000 workers, compared to the global average of about 75.

CAS news release, August 24, 2017

China’s most important train connection between Beijing and Shanghai will be served at a top speed of 350 km/h starting from Sept. 21, 2017, reducing the travel time to about four and a half hours for this 1300 km distance. The new Fuxing trains (“Renaissance”) have more arm and leg room, offer free Wi-Fi and better-placed charging plugs for phones and computers near the armrests instead of below the seats.

CAS news release, August 22, 2017

The association has 86 members, of which 36 form a standing committee. The main task is to promote the clinical implementation of precision medicine. Within three years, 30 provincial and 300 urban stem cell laboratories will be built, in addition to a national cell repository, a national precision medicine database and a national cell therapy base.

China Bio news release, August 22, 2017

China produces annually over 100 million tons of sweet potato, 80 % of the world’s harvest. The plant’s genome is hexaploid. By phylogenetic tree analysis of homologous chromosomes, it was shown that about 500,000 years ago, a diploid and a tetraploid ancestor formed an interspecific hybrid leading to todays crop. The team used Illumina sequencing technology and developed a new set of polyploid haplotype analysis software.

China Bio news release, August 21, 2017

Due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, fungal food poisoning and other factors, there is a relatively high level of liver failure in China leading to a high mortality rate. The group of Hui Lijian at CAS Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology http://www.sibcb.ac.cn/ePI.asp?id=124 has developed an extracorporal bio-artificial liver on the basis of allogenic hepatocytes developed from human fibroblasts (hiHEP”) which have been clinically tested on 5 patients in a Nanjing hospital since 2016. By end of July 2017, the condition of the patients had improved significantly, biochemical indicators, liver function and coagulation index had gradually improved, as had appetite and physical strength, and no adverse reactions were observed. The technology has been licensed to Shanghai Juwuel, http://www.juwuel.com, which has built a production line with an estimated annual output of 300 to 500 test units and expects to market the product within three to five years.”

China Bio news release, August 16, 2017

Jianxing GENG from the CAS Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry and colleagues have developed a non-burning polyimide foam that is strong enough to support a beaker of liquid weighing 6kg, but light enough to balance on a rose. Its flame-retardant properties come from 2% of red phosphorus-hybridised graphene produced by ball milling. The tiny phosphorus particles oxidise quickly when heated and promote char formation. Combined with graphene platelets, which are chemically stable even at high temperatures, the material forms an oxygen-proof layer on the surface. This stops the underlying material from burning. 

CAS news release, August 15, 2017

In 2015, the government has initiated a graphene industry technology innovation strategic alliance”, which has 53 members. The alliance is concerned with graphene technology, standards, patent issues, international cooperation and industry support and guidance. The 2016 annual report of the alliance concludes that at present some of the graphene companies have the ability to produce graphene powder, slurry, thermal film, functional coatings, inks and touch screens, but there is still room for improvement in product quality improvement and downstream market development – China’s domestic graphene industry has not yet formed a complete, mature industry chain. in 2014, China’s graphene market size was about 1.5 million US dollars but reached 16.3 million US dollars in 2015, with advances in graphene production and the expansion of downstream markets. It is estimated that by 2020 China’s graphene market size will reach 200 million US dollars, and will have become the world’s largest graphene consumer country.”

China Bio news release, August 15, 2017

The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration has issued the draft of a Cell and Gene Therapy Product Management Act” which defines cell and gene therapy products, regulates the suitability of donors, and regulates security conditions. The draft is expected to be sent to the Executive Yuan by the end of the year. Before listing, cell and gene therapy products must pass three clinical trials and an audit, but under urgent circumstances (risk of life) a temporary license can be issued. “

China Bio news release, August 14, 2017

The cooperation includes three tests in the field of intensive care, and four immunoassays on risk prediction in the field of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. In intensive care, the cooperation is on biomarker-based detection of acute renal injury (AKI), vascular dysfunction and septic shock. Shuwen Biotech is a Sino-American company focused on molecular tests and in-vitro diagnostics; the Chinese affiliation is based near Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, http://shuwenbiotech.com

China Bio news release, August 14, 2017

The base will be in the red cliff region of the Mongolian-Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Haixi in Qinghai. The base, which features a Mars-like landscape, will host a Mars community” and a “Mars campsite” which are intended as tourist space for astronomical education, film shooting and scientific research.”

CAS news release, August 9, 2017

The consortium consists of SDIC Biotech Investment Co. (90 %) and the Tiefa Coal Group (10 %), who plan to invest 3,99 billion Yuan in a plant in Diaobingshan City, Liaoning Province. Production capacity is aimed at 306,000 t of fuel ethanol, 276,300 t of protein-rich feed, and 20,000 t of corn oil. The project builds on the abundant corn resources in the Tieling area.

China Bio news release, August 7, 2017

The group of WANG Haowai has obtained a novel lightweight material suitable for aircraft and space applications by distributing nano ceramic particles into an alumnium alloy. During the process, the size, shape and distribution of the nanoparticles was carefully controlled. The new material is light, exhibits high stiffness and damping, low expansion, and no fatigue. If processed in 3D printers, the parts perform like forged materials. Nano-ceramic aluminum alloys are produced at 1000 t/y in a dedicated company, Anhui Xiangbang Composite Materials Co., and performance is already being investigated in China’s space program and b COMAC, China’s aviation industry.

CAS news release, August 7, 2017

According to a survey by the China Investment Advisory Network, the market for monoclonal antibodies and insulin-like drugs will grow rapidly and is expected to account for 46% of the total biotech market in 2018. In 2016, the global bio-similar drug market is estimated at about 4.2 billion US$. Due to the high threshold of market access, biosimilar drugs are expected to maintain a good market competitiveness, and their price will generally only decline by 10% -30%, whereas prizes of chemical generic drugs are expected to decline over 50 %.

China Bio news release, August 4, 2017

In the concept explored by Chenguo HU, a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) detects motions of the skin around the corners of an eye, leading to an electric signal which controls devices or even types texts once the blinking of an eye is connected to a computer screen where a cursor passes over different keys. The sensor device is extremely sensitive, stable and inexpensive, and a patent application has been filed.

CAS news release, August 3, 2019