A Process Study of Lactic Acid Production from Phragmites australis Straw by a Thermophilic Bacillus coagulans Strain under Non-Sterilized Conditions

Phragmites australis straw (PAS) is an abundant and renewable wetland lignocellulose. Bacillus coagulans IPE22 is a robust thermophilic strain with pentose-utilizing capability and excellent resistance to growth inhibitors. This work is focused on the process study of lactic acid (LA) production from P. australis lignocellulose which has not been attempted previously. By virtue of thermophilic feature of strain IPE22, two fermentation processes (i.e., separated process and integrated process), were developed and compared under non-sterilized conditions. The integrated process combined dilute-acid pretreatment, hemicellulosic hydrolysates fermentation, and cellulose utilization. Sugars derived from hemicellulosic hydrolysates and cellulose enzymatic hydrolysis were efficiently fermented to LA in a single vessel. Using the integrated process, 41.06 g LA was produced from 100 g dry PAS. The established integrated process results in great savings in terms of time and labor, and the fermentation process under non-sterilized conditions is easy to scale up for economical production of lactic acid from PAS

Highly efficient and selective hydrogenation of quinolines at room temperature over Ru@NC-500 catalyst

Selective hydrogenation of quinolines into 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines under mild conditions holds tremendous promise for the green synthesis of a multitude of fine chemicals. Herein, we describe nitrogen-doped carbon supported ruthenium nanoparticles were robust for the mide and selective hydrogenation of quinolines to the corresponding 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines with both excellent activity and selectivity at 30 similar to 50 degrees C and 10 bar H-2

Awareness and knowledge about human papillomavirus vaccination and its acceptance in China: a meta-analysis of 58 observational studies

Abstract Background The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines have been widely introduced in immunization programs worldwide, however, it is not accepted in mainland China. We aimed to investigate the awareness and knowledge about HPV vaccines and explore the acceptability of vaccination among the Chinese population. Methods A meta-analysis was conducted across two English (PubMed, EMBASE) and three Chinese (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Database and VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals) electronic databases in order to identify HPV vaccination studies conducted in mainland China. We conducted and reported the analysis in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results Fifty-eight unique studies representing 19 provinces and municipalities in mainland China were assessed. The pooled awareness and knowledge rates about HPV vaccination were 15.95 % (95 % CI: 12.87–19.29, I 2  = 98.9 %) and 17.55 % (95 % CI: 12.38–24.88, I 2  = 99.8 %), respectively. The female population (17.39 %; 95 % CI: 13.06–22.20, I 2 = 98.8 %) and mixed population (18.55 %; 95 % CI: 14.14–23.42, I 2 = 98.8 %) exhibited higher HPV vaccine awareness than the male population (1.82 %; 95 % CI: 0.50–11.20, I 2 = 98.5 %). Populations of mixed ethnicity had lower HPV vaccine awareness (9.61 %; 95 % CI: 5.95–14.03, I 2 = 99.0 %) than the Han population (20.17 %; 95 % CI: 16.42–24.20, I 2 = 98.3 %). Among different regions, the HPV vaccine awareness was higher in EDA (17.57 %; 95 % CI: 13.36–22.21, I 2 = 98.0 %) and CLDA (17.78 %; 95 % CI: 12.18–24.19, I 2 = 97.6 %) than in WUDA (1.80 %; 95 % CI: 0.02–6.33, I 2 = 98.9 %). Furthermore, 67.25 % (95 % CI: 58.75–75.21, I 2  = 99.8 %) of participants were willing to be vaccinated, while this number was lower for their daughters (60.32 %; 95 % CI: 51.25–69.04, I 2  = 99.2 %). The general adult population (64.72 %; 95 % CI: 55.57–73.36, I 2 = 99.2 %) was more willing to vaccinate their daughters than the parent population (33.78 %; 95 % CI: 26.26–41.74, I 2 = 88.3 %). Safety (50.46 %; 95 % CI: 40.00–60.89, I 2  = 96.6 %) was the main concern about vaccination among the adult population whereas the safety and efficacy (68.19 %; 95 % CI: 53.13–81.52, I 2  = 98.6 %) were the main concerns for unwillingness to vaccinate their daughters. Conclusions Low HPV vaccine awareness and knowledge was observed among the Chinese population. HPV vaccine awareness differed across sexes, ethnicities, and regions. Given the limited quality and number of studies included, further research with improved study designis necessary

Ultrahigh cyclability of a large elastocaloric effect in multiferroic phase-transforming materials

Multiferroic phase-transforming alloys demonstrate intriguing multicaloric effects, but they are intrinsically brittle and their elastocaloric effect shows poor cyclability, which remains a major challenge for exploiting more efficient multicaloric refrigeration. Here, by employing a novel strategy of strengthening grain boundary, the cyclability of elastocaloric effect in the prototype Ni-Mn-based multiferroic phase-transforming alloys is strikingly enhanced by two orders of magnitude. Ultrahigh cyclability of a large elastocaloric effect is achieved. This not only paves the way for exploiting multicaloric effects for more efficient cooling, but also provides a strategy for overcoming the cyclability issues in the ubiquitous brittle intermetallic phase-transforming materials

Strain glass-induced switch from transformation plasticity to reversible superelasticity in Ti-Zr-Ni-Cu alloys

Reversibility of phase transformation, a basic requirement for functional properties of shape memory alloys, such as superelasticity, is severely affected by plastic deformation. Here, strain glass has been utilized to improve the reversibility of phase transformation. The incorporation of Al into Ti-Zr-Ni-Cu induces strain glass and endows the alloy with reversible phase transformation and thus ideal superelasticity. In situ x-ray diffraction and dynamic mechanical experiments were utilized to verify the mechanism for the conversion from transformation plasticity to superelasticity. This work provides a new way to improve the reversibility of phase transformation and expands the practical implications of strain glass