Hydrochar Pelletization towards Solid Biofuel from Biowaste Hydrothermal Carbonization

Hydrothermal carbonization is highly applicable to high moisture biomass upgrading due to the fact that moist-ure involved can be directly used as reaction media under the subcritical-water region.With this,value-added utilization of hydrochar as solid fuel with high carbon and energy density is one of the important pathways for biomass conversion.In this review,the dewatering properties of hydrochar after the hydrothermal carbonization of biowaste,coalification degree with elemental composition and evolution,pelletization of hydrochar to enhance the mechanical properties and density,coupled with the combustion properties of hydrochar biofuel were discussed with various biomass and carbonization parameters.Potential applications for the co-combustion with coal,cleaner properties and energy balance for biowaste hydrothermal carbonization were presented as well as the challenges.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1(PGC-1)family in physiological and pathophysiological process and diseases

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1(PGC-1)family(PGC-1s),consisting of three members encompassing PGC-1a,PGC-1β,and PGC-1-related coactivator(PRC),was discovered more than a quarter-century ago.PGC-1s are essential coordinators of many vital cellular events,including mitochondrial functions,oxidative stress,endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis,and inflammation.Accumulating evidence has shown that PGC-1s are implicated in many diseases,such as cancers,cardiac diseases and cardiovascular diseases,neurological disorders,kidney diseases,motor system diseases,and metabolic disorders.Examining the upstream modulators and co-activated partners of PGC-1s and identifying critical biological events modulated by downstream effectors of PGC-1s contribute to the presentation of the elaborate network of PGC-1s.Furthermore,discussing the correlation between PGC-1s and diseases as well as summarizing the therapy targeting PGC-1s helps make individualized and precise intervention methods.In this review,we summarize basic knowledge regarding the PGC-1s family as well as the molecular regulatory network,discuss the physio-pathological roles of PGc-1s in human diseases,review the application of PGC-1s,including the diagnostic and prognostic value of PGC-1s and several therapies in pre-clinical studies,and suggest several directions for future investigations.This review presents the immense potential of targeting PGC-1s in the treatment of diseases and hopefully facilitates the promotion of PGC-1s as new therapeutic targets.

Etoposide,dexamethasone,and pegaspargase with sandwiched radiotherapy in early-stage natural killer/T-cell lymphoma:A randomized phase III study

Methotrexate,etoposide,dexamethasone,and pegaspargase(MESA)with sandwiched radiotherapy is known to be effective for early-stage extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma,nasal type(NKTCL).We explored the efficacy and safety of reduced-intensity,non-intravenous etoposide,dexamethasone,and pegaspargase(ESA)with sandwiched radiotherapy.This multicenter,randomized,phase III trial enrolled patients aged between 14 and 70 years with newly diagnosed early-stage nasal NKTCL from 27 centers in China.Patients were randomly assigned(1:1)to receive ESA(pegaspargase 2,500 IU/m^(2)intramuscularly on day 1,etoposide 200 mg orally,and dexamethasone 40 mg orally on days 2–4)or MESA(methotrexate 1 g/m^(2)intravenously on day 1,etoposide 200 mg orally,and dexamethasone 40 mg orally on days 2–4,and pegaspargase 2,500 IU/m^(2)intramuscularly on day 5)regimen(four cycles),combined with sandwiched radiotherapy.

Applications of sum-frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy in friction interface

Sum-frequency generation(SFG)vibrational spectroscopy is a second-order nonlinear optical spectroscopy technique.Owing to its interfacial selectivity,SFG vibrational spectroscopy can provide interfacial molecular information,such as molecular orientations and order,which can be obtained directly,or molecular density,which can be acquired indirectly.Interfacial molecular behaviors are considered the basic factors for determining the tribological properties of surfaces.Therefore,owing to its ability to detect the molecular behavior in buried interfaces in situ and in real time,SFG vibrational spectroscopy has become one of the most appealing technologies for characterizing mechanisms at friction interfaces.This paper briefly introduces the development of SFG vibrational spectroscopy and the essential theoretical background,focusing on its application in friction and lubrication interfaces,including film-based,complex oil-based,and water-based lubricating systems.Real-time detection using SFG promotes the nondestructive investigation of molecular structures of friction interfaces in situ with submonolayer interface sensitivity,enabling the investigation of friction mechanisms.This review provides guidance on using SFG to conduct friction analysis,thereby widening the applicability of SFG vibrational spectroscopy.

Regulation mechanism of biomolecule interaction behaviors on the superlubricity of hydrophilic polymer coatings

Hydrophilic polymer coatings can improve the surface characteristics of artificial implants.However,because they are used in vivo,they inevitably come into contact with biomolecules that affect their interfacial tribological properties.In this paper,the friction behaviors of poly(vinylphosphonic acid)(PVPA)-modified Ti6Al4V and polytetrafluorethylene balls were analyzed using albumin,globulin,aggrecan,and hyaluronic acid as lubricants.The interaction properties and dynamic adsorption characteristics of the biomolecules and PVPA molecules were explored by a quartz crystal microbalance to identify the cause of the friction difference.It was found that protein molecules disturbed the superlubricity of the PVPA-phosphate-buffered saline system because of the formation of a stable adsorption film,which replaced the interfacial characteristics of the PVPA coating.Polysaccharides,with their excellent hydration properties and polymer structure,had an unstable dynamic interaction or zero adsorption with PVPA molecules,and hardly changed the superlubricity of the PVPA and phosphate-buffered-saline system.The influence mechanism of the specific friction of proteins and polysaccharides was analyzed.Interactions were observed among different biomolecules.Polysaccharides can potentially reduce protein adsorption.The result of the synergistic regulation of the friction coefficient for PVPA-modified Ti6Al4V is approximately 0.017.The results of this study will provide a theoretical basis for the use of polymer coatings in vivo.