Window-to-China
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BP Beijing issues 2035 World Energy Outlook, China will then need 26 % of global energy resources
Based on the assumption of a world population of 8.7 billion and China as No. 1 economic power which produces 1/3 of the value of global goods, BP predicts that by 2035 China’s energy demand will increase by 60 %, but coal consumption will drop to 51 %. Import dependence of China will raise by 2035 from 15 – 23 %.
China Bio news release, May 5, 2015
CAS Institute of Acoustics develops new type of accelerometer based on a surface-acoustic wave (SAW) sensor
The sensor incorporates a ST-X quartz cantilever beam, utilizing a differential resonator-oscillator structure, and stability is improved using the phase modulation approach. A high frequency sensitivity of 29.7 kHz g-1, good linearity and a lower detection limit (<1×10-4 g) are achieved in the measured results.
CAS news release, April 30, 2015
CAS Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (TIB) group identifies key gene in lignocellulose degradation by Neurospora crassa
The group of Chaoguang TIAN at TIB, using transcriptome analysis for N crassa growing on five major crop residues, found that sporulation regulator rca-1, a transcription factor involved in sporulation, reduces expression of genes involved in cellulose degradation.
China Industrial Biotechnology Network, April 30, 2015
CAS Tianjin Institute of Biotechnology (TIB) studies synthesis of mogroside sweeteners by synthetic biology
Mogrosides are cucurbitan glycoside based sweeteners and have found to exhibit interesting pharmacological activities. The group around Yuanxia SUN at TIB has elucidated the biosynthetic pathway in mangosteen fruits using transcriptome analysis and have studied first steps to express relevant genes on the pathway in S. cerevisiae.
CAS news release, April 29, 2015
CAS Beijing Institute of Life Sciences improves genetic basis for kelp brown algae breeding
China owns about 90 % of the global seaweed production area and is an important producer of alginates. In collaboration with Fudan University, the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, and within an international project including Japan, Russia and Germany, several types of kelp were collected and genetically characterized, providing clues for breeding.
China Bio news release, April 29, 2015
Lawsuit of Ying Ding Bioenergy against Sinopec on biodiesel unresolved in second round
The case is on because Sinopec refused to sell biodiesel produced by Yunnan-based Ying Ding Bioenergy, and the key issue is if Sinopec abuses its monopoly in transportation oil or if fatty acid methyl esters are chemical products which belong to the plant oil market in which Sinopec holds no monopoly. Mediation was refused by Sinopec, but the Yunnan court seems to favor a mediated outcome of this conflict.
China Bioindustry news, April 28, 2015
State IP Office opens „Overseas IP information network“
As more Chinese companies become export-oriented, the central government has started an information platform which explains regulations and strategies of patents in 28 different countries, showing > 130 typical case studies.
China Industrial Biotechnology Network news release, April 28, 2015
Ministry of Finance passes „Interim Renewable Energy Development Fund“
The fund offers special budgets for large-scale capacity building and demonstration plants.
China Bio news release, April 28, 2015
CAS Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences develops rapid narcotic drug test in urine
The group around Jin-Huai LIU has developed a test based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) combined with chemometrics, which allows for an ultra-sensitive and rapid detection of drug metabolites in urine. The portable Raman instrument offers direct readout.
CAS news release, April 28, 2015
CAS Wuhan Botanical Garden establishs breeding rules for apple fruit flavor
The group analyzed acid and sugar content in 364 apple varieties and found that fruit acidity (malic acid content) was more correlated to good fruit flavor as compared to sugar content (glucose and fructose).
CAS news release, April 28, 2015
CAS Qingdao QIBEBT group resolves stoichometry of Clostridium cellulosome
The team of Chenggang HU has resolved, via mRNA sequencing, the stoichometry of this multienzyme complex which degrades cellulose to monosaccharides. They found that at least five post-transcriptional processed sites located in the intergenic regions of the cip-cel operon are specifically recognized by endonucleases, resulting in cleavage of the primary transcript into at least six secondary transcripts. Stability of these secondary transcripts varied widely due to their distinct terminal stem-loop structures, which quantitatively determine the observed stoichiometry.
CAS news release, April 27, 2015
Chinese Parliament passes revised „Food Safety Law“
The law which will come into effect on Oct. 1, 2015, limits pesticide residues in food and veterinary products and states inspection methods and procedures for risk assessment. It is the 3d amendment since 2009.
China Bio news release, April 27, 2015
China’s most advanced research vessel Kexue („Science“) ready for service.
The 4.700 t ship, which has an endurance of 15.000 nautical miles, is operated by the CAS Institute of Oceanology, Qingdao and will survey deep-sea extreme environments and deep-sea oil, gas and genetic resources.
CAS news release, April 27, 2015
Tsinghua researchers sequence microorganisms contained in Beijing polluted air
The group around Ting ZHU at Tsinghua University has sequenced metagenomic samples of microorganisms contained in Beijing smog samples. They have traced about 1300 microorganisms, mostly eukaryotes, including Aspergillus fumigatus (1 – 8 % abundance) with pathogenic potential. The relevance of this finding is debated in the media.
China Bio news release, April 23, 2015
Scientists at Sun Yat-sen Hospital apply genome editing to human embryonic cells, publication is rejected by Nature and Science journals.
Prof ZHOU Canquan and Associate Professor HUANG Jun have reported on the application of CRISPR/Cas9 system to the human HBB gene (β-globin gene) carrying gene mutations causing β thalassemia. They injected a gene construct into 86 three fertilized zygotes of which 71 survived, but no targeted genetic modifications could be observed. The findings were rejected from publication in Science and Nature on grounds of ethical concerns on genetic manipulation of human germ cells.
China Bio news release, April 24, 2015
Eli Lilly announces partnering with Innovent Co., Suzhou, on anticancer antibody drugs, initial payment 56 million USD
The contact comprises at least 3 antibody drugs and can be stepped up to 400 million USD investment upon reaching milestones, the largest US-China pharmaceutical deal ever.
Nikkei Biotech news release, April 20, 2014
CAS Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (TIB) develops synthetic pathway to allitol, a „garlic sugar“
The pathway expressed in E. coli starts from D-fructose and combines enzymes from E. coli, Ruminococcus sp., Klebsiella oxytoca and Candida methylica to arrive at a production of about 50 g/l allitol when 500 mM D-fructose were used as substrate. Allitol is an intermediate for API production but has also potential as a food additive.
CAS news release, April 21, 2015
Government plans environmental governance institutions to control pollution and energy transition.
Based on principles such as „polluter pays“ and clean combustion technology, the State Council recently issued an „opinion paper“ discussing the implementation of third party governance on environmental control, testing party liability, regulation of relationships, establishment of performance guarantees and supervision mechanism, and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of parties. In the energy sector, this would strengthen the use of, e. g., biodiesel.
China Bio news release, April 20, 2015
CAS Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) improves PLA composites by interface modification, good properties on injection molding
A group at CAS Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) has successfully investigated materials for improving interface properties and mechanical performance of PLA. Epoxidized soybean oil, cardanol shell oil, epoxy resins etc. were found good additives, approaching mass production on injection molding.
[i]Many details on product compositions, product properties and detailed description of results are available.[/i]
CAS news release, April 20, 2015
School test finds antibiotic metabolites in 58 % of school children
In a test on 1000 8-11 year old school children in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, over 58 % showed antibiotic metabolites in urine samples. In some cases, metabolites of antibiotics restricted to animal use such as chlorotetracycline, enrofloxacin and tylosin were found. In most cases, metabolites of more than one antibiotic were found, and in some cases concentrations exceeded 1000 ng/ml urine.
China Bio news release, April 17, 2015