Rural biogas plays a significant role in China’s plans to strengthen alternative energy sources. The 13th 5years plan calls for the construction of 386 large-scale biogas pilot projects based on agricultural waste. The share of biogas expenditure will be 22 billion Yuan.

China Bio news release, August 2, 2017

The company has independent IP for nucleic acid molecular detection technology (ADx-ARMS ®) and is specialized in the detection of tumor-related genes such EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, EML4-ALK, PIK3CA, ROS1, NRAS, Her-2 and other.

China Bio news release, August 2, 2017

The group of Zhaobing GAO has found that a channel protein in the neuron cell membrane, TRPA1, mediates organophosphate-induced neuropathy and that TRPA1 can be targeted effectively with existing drugs such as duloxetine and ketotifen (screened from over 2000 approved drugs) to alleviate effects. TRPA1 is a channel protein that mediates the movement of calcium ions into neurons, an important part of the process that leads to activation of a neuron and physiological effects such as smell, taste, vision and temperature sensation.

CAS news release, August 2, 2017

The group of ZHU Yongguan from the CAS Institute of Urban Environment has mapped 381 antibiotic resistance genes in 116 urban sewage samples taken from 32 wastewater treatment plants across 17 Chinese major cities. Urban sewage had high levels of antimicrobial resistance genes – around 1011-1012 copies per liter – with a distinct seasonal pattern. The graph shows log antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) in copies/day divided by total urban population.

CAS news release, July 28, 2017

The Energy Bureau, composed of members of the development and reform commission, provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, Xinjiang and State Grid representatives and others, has published directives how to develop wind, photovoltaic and biomass power plants further during the present 13th 5-years plan. Improved consumption monitoring, better inter-provincial power transmission lines and better access to the grid are some of the guiding principles.

China Industrial Biotech Network, July 28, 2017

The team of ZHU Zuyan has combined the actin gene promoter of the carp with the carp actin gene and the grass carp growth hormone gene coding region to form a whole fish” recombinant gene construct. Microinjection of this gene construct into fertilized carp eggs led to carps which grow 40 % faster than controls and achieve 2fold adult weight. Feed conversion rate was increased by about 20%. Safety testing at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety did not reveal any problems, but public concerns about ecology have prevented marketing so far. Tests in a 6,7 ha artificial lake and simulated ecological environments of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River suggest that transgenic carps in a natural environment have very poor viability. However, so far transgenic carps have not been cleared for human consumption.”

China Bio news release, July 27, 2017

According to a review by China Pharmaceutical Network, the world production of amino acids in 2016 was close to 8 million t and is expected to reach 11 million t in 2022. Amino acids used as feed additives such as lysine or threonine constituted about 52.5 % of the global market, with China as a major supplier. As of non-essential amino acids used in food production, China produces 50 % of all citrulline (10.000 t global market) and 80 % of all taurine (80.000 t world).

China Bio news release, July 26, 2017

In cooperation with Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Human Province, the company will launch a collection of stem cells isolated from maternal umbilical cords, which are cultivated and released on demand to the maternal donor and to Xiangya Hospital for stem cell clinical research and application. The stem cells will be stored at – 196 °C for 3 years free of cost, prolongation for payment is possible. Stem cell products can be used for the treatment of, e. g., endocrine diseases (premature ovarian failure, Intrauterine adhesions and menopausal syndrome, etc.), immune system diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus and ulcerative colitis), ischemic diseases (diabetic foot and ischemic cardiomyopathy), neurological diseases (Parkinson’s disease and stroke), degenerative osteoarthritis, type II diabetes, hypertension, and other.

China Bio news release, July 24, 2017

As a foundation for a future stronger clinical research in China, the nation now has available 32 national clinical medical research centers, about 260 at the prefecture- or city level, and more than 2,100 at all levels. They are usually specialized on either cardiovascular, nervous system, malignant tumor, respiratory diseases, and nine other nine areas of diseases and serve as a clinical research platform and for collaborative innovation networks

China Bio news release, July 24, 2017

China carries out a major underwater exploration in the South China Sea. To this end, the research vessel Kexue carries unmanned underwater gliders which are equipped with cameras, Raman spectrometers and other instruments. In the 1st phase of the program, 12 such gliders carried out observations and sent back data in real time. The home naval ports of this flotilla are Xiamen and Qingdao.

CAS news release, July 23, 2017

The floating device is in operation since 2 years and has since supplied electricity to Dawanshan Island offshore Guangdong. Dawanshan island has an area of 8.1 km2 and a population of about 3,000. 36 m long Sharp Eagle” is equipped with 4 wave energy absorbers symmetrically mounted on a semi-submersible platform, and 2 independent sets of hydraulic systems with a multi-power complementary system generating up to 200 kW wave power, a 50 kW photovoltaic system, batteries, inverters, and devices for data acquisition, monitoring equipment and satellite transmission.”

China Bio news release, July 24, 2017

The groups of LIU Jinhuai and KONG Lingtao’s from the Institute of Intelligent Machines, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, prepared β-cyclodextrin polymers crosslinked with rigid aromatic groups and tested for lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) removal. The negatively charged β-CD polymers showed adsorption capacities at 25 oC for Pb, Cu and Cd of 196, 164 and 136 mg/g when the initial concentration was 200 mg/L. The adsorption process was completed in 5 min.

CAS news release, July 21, 2017

According to a master plan published by the State Council, China will strive to build an AI-based industry worth 148 billion USD by 2030, highlighting China’s determination to achieve breakthroughs in core AI technologies and accelerate its application in the manufacturing, service, agriculture and other sectors. Zhang Yaqin, president of Baidu, said China is highly likely to outpace the United States in the application of AI, as local companies scramble to experiment with new ideas and benefit from the country’s huge user base. The company plans to mass-produce its driverless vehicles within four years.

CAS news release, July 21, 2017

The insurance which is controlled by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and includes representatives from the provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions has defined 36 drugs which are now included in the 2017 drug catalogue. The 36 drugs include 31 Western and 5 Chinese pharmaceuticals. Compared with the average retail price in 2016, the average prize reduction reached 44%, the highest reached 70%, and most of the imported drugs are lower compared to international market prices. Half of the drugs are antitumor drugs, 15 of them from Western companies. The article contains a list of all 36 drugs and the negotiated prices.

China Bio news release, July 20, 2017

Simvastatin (Zocor) is among the top pharmaceuticals on the market. A group at CAS QIBEBT, in cooperation with Hisun Pharmaceuticals, has elaborated an improved pathway for the production of this chemical which includes microbial production of lovastatin through Aspergillus terreus fermentation, alkaline hydrolysis of lovastatin to produce monacolin J, and chemical transformation of monacolin J to simvastatin. Engineered mutants of an Aspergillus terreus strain cleave the side-chain of lovastatin with high selectivity and hydrolyze about 95% of the biosynthesized lovastatin to monacolin J.

CAS news release, July 20, 2017

The book gathers nearly 3,000 species of medicinal plants from 22 families which have been used as phytomedical resource for generations in regions throughout China, including Tibet, Taiwan and Hongkong. The 10 volume study was published on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Zhejiang Province’s Food and Drug Research Institute.

China Bio news release, July 19, 2017

WU Zhongshuai, BAO Xinhe and others from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) and REN Wencai and CHENG Huiming from CAS Institute of Metal Research have developed a flexible micro-supercapacitor for energy storage. They stacked phosphorene nanosheets and electrochemically exfoliated graphene in ionic liquid electrolyte by layer-by-layer deposition. A customized interdigital mask assistance is needed during this process. The films were then directly transferred onto a flexible substrate who showed good uniformity, flexibility, conductivity (319 s/cm) and structural integration. The energy density of such micro-supercapacitors can reach up to 11.6 mWh cm-3 in ionic liquid electrolyte. They are considered promising power sources candidates for fully integrated electronics

CAS news release, July 19, 2017

The center will be built in Liaoning’s medical industry clinical demonstration base and focus on medical robot R&D including clinical applications.

China Bio news release, July 18, 2017

After public concerns on the import of 61,000 t of genetically modified corn by COFCO, the government has clarified that currently 11 kinds of genetically modified corn are allowed for import. A Development and Reform Commission official said that the import of genetically modified corn cannot affect the domestic market, because the import quota is only 7.2 million tons, less than 5%. of the total domestic consumption of 150 million tons. The import is strongly opposed by Greenpeace China, with arguments that even if the genetically modified crop itself does not seem the problem temporarily, there are lots of uncertainties in the process of traveling through the sea to China.

China Bio news release, July 14, 2017

According to an NFDA official, China produces nearly 5,000 drug raw materials (APIs) providing an annual income of over 2.5 trillion yuan. Cose to 50 pharmaceutical companies are certified by European and American agencies and export APIs for over 13.5 billion US$. Problems to be solved are excess product production capacity caused by low-cost competition, export tax rebates, the pressure of RMB appreciation, and lack of extension of the value chain within China.

China Bio news release, July 13, 2017