Optimizing hemicelluloses pre-extraction in eucalyptus kraft pulping:A pathway towards enhancing pulp mill biorefineries

A critical pathway towards enhancing pulp mill biorefineries is to integrate the extraction and utilization of hemicelluloses into the pulping processes.Hence,an industrial pre-extraction strategy for hemicelluloses targeting eucalyptus kraft pulping process was developed.Alkaline solution or pulping white liquor was used to pre-extract hemicelluloses before the actual pulping process.The response surface methodology(RSM)technique was applied to investigate the most suitable conditions to maximize the yield of these hemicelluloses while simultaneously minimizing the damage to pulp yields and properties.Temperature(105 to 155℃),alkali concentration(3%to 8%),sulfidity(20%to 30%)and retention time(19 to 221 min)were combined to evaluate their effects on hemicellulose yields and chemical structures.The optimal pre-extraction conditions identified in this work(5.75%NaOH concentration,25%sulfidity at 135℃for 60 min)successfully allowed recovering 4.8%of hemicelluloses(based on the wood dry mass)and limited damages to pulp yields and properties.The cellulose content in pulp can even be increased by about 10%.Hemicellulose emulsification properties were also evaluated,which were comparable to synthetic emulsifiers.This study provides an industrial pathway to effectively separate and utilize wood hemicelluloses from the pulping process,which has the potential to improve the economy and material utilization of pulp and paper mills.

Mono Ethanol Amine (MEA) Pulping of Wheat Straw: An Environmentally Friendly Suggestion for the Fluff Pulp Production

This research aimed to investigate the effect of pulping conditions and refining intensities of wheat straw to be recommended for fluff pulp production.For this purpose,mono ethanol amine(MEA)was selected as a de-lignification agent at three levels of 50:50,25:75,and 15:85(MEA/water,W/V%),and soda-AQ 14 W/V%was used as a reference pulping.To investigate the optimal refining intensity,the obtained pulp was passed through a single disk laboratory refiner from 0 to 6 times and in two different consistencies(1.5 and 2.5 W/V%).Total yield,kappa number,ash content,and the Schopper-Riegler(SR°)freeness of the prepared pulps were investigated.Finally,hand sheets with a targeted basic weight of 70 g/m^(2) were made according to the related standards.The hand sheets were characterized using Fourier transform infrared(FTIR)spectroscopy and a field emission scanning electron microscope(FE-SEM).Sheet density,brightness,and mechanical properties such as burst,tensile,and tear indices were also investigated.The FE-SEM photographs showed that the texture of the hand sheet became denser as the refining intensity increased.External fibrillation on the surface of the fibers was also observed,especially on those refined with 2.5%consistency.The results of the chemical composition of wheat straw indicated that wheat straw containing a high percentage of holocellulose is an excellent candidate for the production of fluff pulp.The total yield and kappa number of MEA pulps increased with the decrease in MEA concentration.FTIR results indicated the presence of a peak related to amino groups in the pulp related to MEA pulp.The results also indicated that the mechanical properties of the papers,except for the tear index,were enhanced as the intensity of refining and the pulp consistency during refining increased.

Co-Production of High-Grade Dissolving Pulp,Furfural,and Lignin from Eucalyptus via Extremely Low Acid Pretreatment and Pulping Technologies and Catalysis

Hemicellulose and lignin are not reasonably utilized during the dissolved pulp preparation process.This work aimed to propose a process for the co-production of dissolving pulp,furfural,and lignin from eucalyptus.High-grade dissolving pulp was prepared from eucalyptus using a combination of extremely low acid(ELA)pretreatment,Kraft cooking,and elementary chlorine-free(ECF)bleaching.The obtained pre-hydrolysate was catalytic conversion into furfural in a biphasic system,and lignin during Kraft cooking and ECF was recovered.The process condition was discussed as well as the mass flow direction.The results showed that ELA pretreatment could effectively remove 80.1%hemicellulose.Compared with traditional hydrothermal pretreatment,the ELA pretreatment significantly increased the xylose yield from 5.05 to 14.18 g/L at 170℃ for 2 h,which had practical significance for furfural production.The 82.7%furfural yield and 82.9%furfural selectivity were obtained from xylose-rich pre-hydrolysate using NaCl as a phase modifier in a biphasic system with 4-methyl-2-pentanone(MIBK)as an organic phase by ion exchange resin catalysts at 190℃ for 2 h.Subsequently,the pretreated eucalyptus was subjected to Kraft cooking,and the optimal alkali amount was 14%.Then,the Kraft pulp was bleached using the O-D1-EP-D_(2) sequence,and dissolving pulp was obtained with an ISO brightness of 86.0%,viscosity of 463 mL/g,andα-cellulose content of 95.4%.The Kraft lignin which has a potential application was investigated by 2D-HSQC NMR and 31P NMR.The results showed that the S/G ratio of Kraft lignin was 1.93,and the content of phenolic hydroxyl groups was 2.53 mmol/g.Moreover,based on the above proposed process,30.5 g dissolving pulp,5.5 g furfural,and 21.2 g lignin per 100 g eucalyptus chips(oven dry)were produced.This research will provide new catalysis and pulping technical routes for dissolving pulp,furfural,and Kraft lignin products,which are in great demand in the chemical industry.

Biodegradation Behavior of Starch in Simulated White Water System of Old Corrugated Cardboard Pulping Process

Considering the serious barriers/issues induced by the accumulated starch generated in white water system of old corrugated cardboard(OCC)pulping process,large amounts of accumulated starch in white water would be decomposed by microorganisms and could not be utilized,thereby resulting in severe resource wastage and environmental pollution.This study mainly explored the effects of biodegradation/hydrolysis conditions of the two types of starch substrates(native starch and enzymatically(α-amylase)hydrolyzed starch),which were treated via microorganism degradation within the simulated white water from OCC pulping system and their biodegradation products on the key properties were characterized via X-ray diffraction(XRD),Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),and gel permeation chromatography(GPC)technologies.The effects of system temperature,pH value,starch concentration,and biodegradation time on starch biodegradation ratio and the characteristics of obtained biodegradated products from the two types of starches were studied.In addition,the effect ofα-amylase dosage on the biodegradation ratio of enzymatically hydrolyzed starch and its properties was investigated.It was found that the native starch presented a maximal degradation ratio at a system temperature of 55℃and pH value range of 5-7,respectively,the corresponding starch concentration within simulated white water system was 200 mg/L.Whereas the enzymatically hydrolyzed starch exhibited a highest degradation ratio at a system temperature of 50℃and pH value of 5.5,respectively,and the corresponding starch concentration within simulated white water system was 100 mg/L.It was verified that native starch is more readily bio-hydrolyzed and biodegradation-susceptive by microorganisms in simulated white water system of OCC pulping process,while the enzymatically hydrolyzed starch exhibits better biodegradation/hydrolysis resistance to the microbial degradation than that of native starch.This study provides a practical and interesting approach to investigate the starch hydrolysis or biodegradation behaviors in white water system of OCC pulping process,which would greatly contribute to the full recycling and valorized application of starch as a versatile additive during paperboard production.

Conditioned medium from human dental pulp stem cells treats spinal cord injury by inhibiting microglial pyroptosis

Human dental pulp stem cell transplantation has been shown to be an effective therapeutic strategy for spinal cord injury.However,whether the human dental pulp stem cell secretome can contribute to functional recovery after spinal cord injury remains unclear.In the present study,we established a rat model of spinal cord injury based on impact injury from a dropped weight and then intraperitoneally injected the rats with conditioned medium from human dental pulp stem cells.We found that the conditioned medium effectively promoted the recovery of sensory and motor functions in rats with spinal cord injury,decreased expression of the microglial pyroptosis markers NLRP3,GSDMD,caspase-1,and interleukin-1β,promoted axonal and myelin regeneration,and inhibited the formation of glial scars.In addition,in a lipopolysaccharide-induced BV2 microglia model,conditioned medium from human dental pulp stem cells protected cells from pyroptosis by inhibiting the NLRP3/caspase-1/interleukin-1βpathway.These results indicate that conditioned medium from human dental pulp stem cells can reduce microglial pyroptosis by inhibiting the NLRP3/caspase-1/interleukin-1βpathway,thereby promoting the recovery of neurological function after spinal cord injury.Therefore,conditioned medium from human dental pulp stem cells may become an alternative therapy for spinal cord injury.

Multiple pulp stones emerge across all teeth during mixed dentition:A case report

BACKGROUND This paper reports a rare presentation of multiple pulp stones(PSs)emerging in all teeth during mixed dentition.It offers valuable insights into the clinical diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis of multiple PSs,shedding light on their occurrence during the mixed dentition period.CASE SUMMARY A 10-year-old girl presented with repeated pain in the mandibular right posterior teeth.Intraoral examination revealed carious lesions,abnormal tooth shapes,and anomalies in tooth number.Radiographic examinations showed multiple PSs with diverse shapes,sizes,and quantities in all teeth,alongside anomalies in tooth shape and number.Root canal therapy was initiated,but the patient initially lacked timely follow-up.Upon return for treatment completion,an extracted tooth revealed irregular calculus within the pulp cavity.CONCLUSION This case underscores the importance of considering multiple PSs in mixed dentition,necessitating comprehensive evaluation and management strategies.

Adrenaline in pulp capping treatment of reversible pulpitis

BACKGROUND The role of epinephrine in the treatment of pulp capping in patients with reversible pulpitis is not clear.AIM To explore the role of epinephrine in the treatment of pulp capping in patients with reversible pulpitis.METHODS A total of 100 patients with reversible pulpitis who were treated in Anhui Jieshou People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2021 were included in the study.They were categorized into an observation group(n=50;treatment with adrenaline)and a control group(n=50;treatment with zinc oxide eugenol paste).The 24-h postoperative pain,regression time of gingival congestion and redness,clinical efficacy,and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the groups.Patients were further categorized into the ineffective and effective treatment groups based on clinical efficacy.Logistic multiple regression analysis explored factors affecting the efficacy of pulp capping treatment.RESULTS A significant difference in 24-h postoperative pain was observed between the groups(P<0.05),with a higher proportion of grade I pain noted in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.01).The regression time of gingival congestion and swelling was lower in the observation group(2.61±1.44 d and 2.73±1.36 d,respectively)than in the control group(3.85±1.47 d and 4.28±1.61 d,respectively)(P<0.05).The 2-wk postoperative total effective rate was lower in the control group(80.00%)than in the observation group(94.00%)(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions was not significantly different between the control(14.00%)and observation(12.00%)groups(P>0.05).The proportion of adrenaline usage was lower(P<0.05)and that of anaerobic digestion by Streptococcus and Fusobacterium nucleatum was higher in the ineffective treatment group than in the effective treatment group(P<0.05).Logistic multiple regression analysis revealed adrenaline as a protective factor(P<0.05)and anaerobic digestion by Streptococcus and F.nucleatum as risk factors for pulp capping in reversible pulpitis(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Adrenaline demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in pulp capping treatment for reversible pulpitis,reducing pain and improving clinical symptoms safely.It is a protective factor for pulp capping,whereas Streptococcus and F.nucleatum are risk factors.Targeted measures can be implemented to improve clinical efficacy.

RPLP0/TBP are the most stable reference genes for human dental pulp stem cells under osteogenic differentiation

BACKGROUND Validation of the reference gene(RG)stability during experimental analyses is essential for correct quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)data normalisation.Commonly,in an unreliable way,several studies use genes involved in essential cellular functions[glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydro-genase(GAPDH),18S rRNA,andβ-actin]without paying attention to whether they are suitable for such experimental conditions or the reason for choosing such genes.Furthermore,such studies use only one gene when Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments guidelines recom-mend two or more genes.It impacts the credibility of these studies and causes dis-tortions in the gene expression findings.For tissue engineering,the accuracy of gene expression drives the best experimental or therapeutical approaches.We cultivated DPSCs under two conditions:Undifferentiated and osteogenic dif-ferentiation,both for 35 d.We evaluated the gene expression of 10 candidates for RGs[ribosomal protein,large,P0(RPLP0),TATA-binding protein(TBP),GAPDH,actin beta(ACTB),tubulin(TUB),aminolevulinic acid synthase 1(ALAS1),tyro-sine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein,zeta(YWHAZ),eukaryotic translational elongation factor 1 alpha(EF1a),succinate dehydrogenase complex,subunit A,flavoprotein(SDHA),and beta-2-micro-globulin(B2M)]every 7 d(1,7,14,21,28,and 35 d)by RT-qPCR.The data were analysed by the four main algorithms,ΔCt method,geNorm,NormFinder,and BestKeeper and ranked by the RefFinder method.We subdivided the samples into eight subgroups.RESULTS All of the data sets from clonogenic and osteogenic samples were analysed using the RefFinder algorithm.The final ranking showed RPLP0/TBP as the two most stable RGs and TUB/B2M as the two least stable RGs.Either theΔCt method or NormFinder analysis showed TBP/RPLP0 as the two most stable genes.However,geNorm analysis showed RPLP0/EF1αin the first place.These algorithms’two least stable RGs were B2M/GAPDH.For BestKeeper,ALAS1 was ranked as the most stable RG,and SDHA as the least stable RG.The pair RPLP0/TBP was detected in most subgroups as the most stable RGs,following the RefFinfer ranking.CONCLUSION For the first time,we show that RPLP0/TBP are the most stable RGs,whereas TUB/B2M are unstable RGs for long-term osteogenic differentiation of human DPSCs in traditional monolayers.

Hepatocyte growth factor enhances the ability of dental pulp stem cells to ameliorate atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice

BACKGROUND Atherosclerosis(AS),a chronic inflammatory disease of blood vessels,is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease.Dental pulp stem cells(DPSCs)are capable of exerting immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects by secreting cytokines and exosomes and are widely used to treat autoimmune and inflam-mation-related diseases.Hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a key role in many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.AIM To modify DPSCs with HGF(DPSC-HGF)and evaluate the therapeutic effect of DPSC-HGF on AS using an apolipoprotein E-knockout(ApoE-/-)mouse model and an in vitro cellular model.METHODS ApoE-/-mice were fed with a high-fat diet(HFD)for 12 wk and injected with DPSC-HGF or Ad-Null modified DPSCs(DPSC-Null)through tail vein at weeks 4,7,and 11,respectively,and the therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms were analyzed by histopathology,flow cytometry,lipid and glucose measurements,real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at the different time points of the experiment.An in vitro inflammatory cell model was established by using RAW264.7 cells and human aortic endothelial cells(HAOECs),and indirect co-cultured with supernatant of DPSC-Null(DPSC-Null-CM)or DPSC-HGF-CM,and the effect and mechanisms were analyzed by flow cytometry,RT-PCR and western blot.Nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)activators and inhibitors were also used to validate the related signaling pathways.RESULTS DPSC-Null and DPSC-HGF treatments decreased the area of atherosclerotic plaques and reduced the expression of inflammatory factors,and the percentage of macrophages in the aorta,and DPSC-HGF treatment had more pronounced effects.DPSCs treatment had no effect on serum lipoprotein levels.The FACS results showed that DPSCs treatment reduced the percentages of monocytes,neutrophils,and M1 macrophages in the peripheral blood and spleen.DPSC-Null-CM and DPSC-HGF-CM reduced adhesion molecule expression in tumor necrosis factor-αstimulated HAOECs and regulated M1 polarization and inflammatory factor expression in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway.CONCLUSION This study suggested that DPSC-HGF could more effectively ameliorate AS in ApoE-/-mice on a HFD,and could be of greater value in stem cell-based treatments for AS.

Human dental pulp stem/stromal cells in clinical practice

Dental pulp stem/stromal cells(DPSCs)are fibroblast-like,neural crest-derived,and multipotent cells that can differentiate into several lineages.They are relatively easy to isolate from healthy and inflamed pulps,with little ethical concerns and can be successfully cryopreserved and thawed.The therapeutic effects of DPSCs derived from animal or human sources have been extensively studied through in-vitro and in-vivo animal experiments and the findings indicated that DPSCs are effective not only for dental diseases but also for systemic diseases.Understanding that translational research is a critical step through which the fundamental scientific discoveries could be translated into applicable diagnostics and therapeutics that directly benefit humans,several clinical studies were carried out to generate evidence for the efficacy and safety of autogenous or allogeneic human DPSCs(hDPSCs)as a treatment modality for use in cell-based therapy,regenerative medicine/dentistry and tissue engineering.In clinical medicine,hDPSCs were effective for treating acute ischemic stroke and human exfoliated deciduous teeth-conditioned medium(SHED-CM)repaired vascular damage of the corpus cavernous,which is the main cause of erectile dysfunction.Whereas in clinical dentistry,autologous SHED was able to rege-nerate necrotic dental pulp after implantation into injured teeth,and micrografts enriched with autologous hDPSCs and collagen sponge were considered a treatment option for human intrabony defects.In contrast,hDPSCs did not add a significant regenerative effect when they were used for the treatment of post-extraction sockets.Large-scale clinical studies across diverse populations are still lacking to provide robust evidence on the safety and efficacy of hDPSCs as a new treatment option for various human diseases including dental-related problems.

Self-assembly of differentiated dental pulp stem cells facilitates spheroid human dental organoid formation and prevascularization

BACKGROUND The self-assembly of solid organs from stem cells has the potential to greatly expand the applicability of regenerative medicine.Stem cells can self-organise into microsized organ units,partially modelling tissue function and regeneration.Dental pulp organoids have been used to recapitulate the processes of tooth development and related diseases.However,the lack of vasculature limits the utility of dental pulp organoids.AIM To improve survival and aid in recovery after stem cell transplantation,we demonstrated the three-dimensional(3D)self-assembly of adult stem cell-human dental pulp stem cells(hDPSCs)and endothelial cells(ECs)into a novel type of spheroid-shaped dental pulp organoid in vitro under hypoxia and conditioned medium(CM).METHODS During culture,primary hDPSCs were induced to differentiate into ECs by exposing them to a hypoxic environment and CM.The hypoxic pretreated hDPSCs were then mixed with ECs at specific ratios and conditioned in a 3D environment to produce prevascularized dental pulp organoids.The biological characteristics of the organoids were analysed,and the regulatory pathways associated with angiogenesis were studied.RESULTS The combination of these two agents resulted in prevascularized human dental pulp organoids(Vorganoids)that more closely resembled dental pulp tissue in terms of morphology and function.Single-cell RNA sequencing of dental pulp tissue and RNA sequencing of Vorganoids were integrated to analyse key regulatory pathways associated with angiogenesis.The biomarkers forkhead box protein O1 and fibroblast growth factor 2 were identified to be involved in the regulation of Vorganoids.CONCLUSION In this innovative study,we effectively established an in vitro model of Vorganoids and used it to elucidate new mechanisms of angiogenesis during regeneration,facilitating the development of clinical treatment strategies.

Formulation of Infant Flours Based on Fonio Enriched with Bambara Groundnut Anacardium (Cashew) and African Locust Bean Fruit Pulp

Infant malnutrition is a significant issue in Côte d’Ivoire, and this study aims to address it by formulating infant flours using local ingredients. Fermentation, germination, and malting methods were used to enhance the quality of six formulated flours, all based on Fonio and supplemented with Bambara groundnut, African locust bean fruit pulp, and cashew kernels. Results showed that Fonio had the highest carbohydrate content, while Bambara groundnut and Cashew kernels were rich in protein and lipid content. African locust bean fruit pulp was rich in fiber and Vitamin C, with a high β-carotene value. The cashew kernel had the highest energy value. Regarding mineral composition, African locust bean fruit pulp had the highest potassium content, while Bambara groundnut and African locust bean fruit pulp were rich in sodium. Cashew kernel and Fonio had higher iron and calcium content. Bambara groundnut had a higher zinc content, while cashew kernel had a higher magnesium content. The formulated flours made from fermented Fonio grains and enriched with Bambara groundnut, African locust bean fruit pulp, and cashew kernel had varying protein, fiber, carbohydrate, ash, and fat contents. The flour formulated with sprouted Fonio and enriched with the same ingredients had higher protein content and energy value than the other fermented seed-based flours. The mixed flours produced with fermented seeds and the flour produced from sprouted seeds met international standards. Overall, these findings offer valuable insights into the nutritional composition of the formulated flours and their potential to combat infant malnutrition in Côte d’Ivoire.

Reducing Effect of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. ex G. Don Fruit Pulp on Food Intake in Healthy NMRI Mice

Obesity is a chronic condition characterised by excess body fat that leads to increased body weight. One of the most effective ways to treat obesity is to use appetite suppressants to reduce food intake. This study aimed to evaluate in vivo reduction of food intake and weight gain caused by Parkia biglobosa (Pb) fruit pulp. Twenty-four healthy NMRI mice divided into four groups were used for the experiment. Group 1, considered the negative control, received distilled water. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were administered daily with 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight of Pb fruit pulp powder suspension, respectively. The reduction in food intake was assessed in two phases: acute food intake for one day (24 h) and long-term food intake for seven weeks. Nutrient parameters and phenolic compounds in Pb fruit pulp were quantified. The results showed that Pb fruit pulp had a significant effect on reducing acute food intake. At a dose of 250 mg/kg, Pb had the best activity in reducing acute food intake, with an overall reduction rate of approximately 47.98% ± 1.17% compared to the control. Repeated daily administration inhibited food intake with all three doses for 13 days compared to control. Food intake was significantly decreased for up to 31 days by taking a 100 mg/kg dose of Pb (p = 0.0174). Weight gain was significantly lower (p = 0.0003) in mice treated with 100 mg/kg Pb than in controls at the end of 7 weeks. According to the nutritional composition study, Pb fruit pulp contains an abundance of total carbohydrates (68.81% ± 0.32%) and crude fiber (14.35% ± 0.21%). This study demonstrated that Pb fruit pulp effectively reduces food intake in healthy mice. Pb pulp’s richness in crude fiber and phenolic compounds makes it a potential aid in managing obesity.

A field experimental study of lignin sand stabilizing material(LSSM) extracted from spent-liquor of straw pulping paper mills

A new technique was introduced for sand stabilization and re-vegetation by use of lignin sand stabilizing material(LSSM). LSSM is a reconstructed organic compound with lignin as the most dominant component from the extracts of black-liquor issued by straw pulp paper mills. Unlike the polyvinyl acetate or foamed asphalt commonly used for dune stabilization, the new material is plant-friendly and can be used with virescence actions simultaneously. The field experimental study was conducted since 2001 in China's Northwest Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and has been proved that LSSM is effective in stabilizing the fugitive dunes, making the arenaceous plants survive and the bare dune vegetative. The advisable solution concentration is 2% and the optimal field spraying quantity is 2 5 L/m^2 The soil nutrients of the stabilized and greened dune, such as organic matter, available phosphorous and total nitrogen are all increased compared with the control treatment, which is certainly helpful to the growth of arenaceous plants. The technique is worthwhile to be popularized because it is provided not only a new method for desertification control but also an outlet for cleaning contaminants issued from the straw paper mills.

Pulping of Wheat Straw with Caustic Potash-Ammonia Aqueous Solutions and Its Kinetics

A pulping technology of wheat straw with aqueous ammonia and diluent caustic potash was investigated.Because its strong alkalinity, the addition of caustic potash not only reduced the quantity of NH3 consumed and cooking time, but also enriched the black liquor with nutrients such as potassium and nitrogen, which could be used as fertilizer for agriculture. Various pulping conditions including composition of cooking liquor, liquor-to-solid ratio,maximum cooking temperature, time to reach the maximum temperature and time at the maximum temperature were studied systematically to determine the suitable pulping conditions. Results of the cooking course showed that there were three distinct delignification phases, namely, the bulk delignification phase from the beginning of cooking to 100 ℃, the supplementary delignification phase from 100 ℃ to 155 ℃ for 45min and the third delignification phase till the end of cooking. The rate of delignification was found to be first order with respect to residual lignin and 0.34 order with respect to [OH-]. The activation energy of the delignification reaction was 29.75 kJ·mol-1 and the rate equation of delignification was also obtained.

Combustion and Sulfur-fixing Performance of Pulping Black Liquor Coal-water Slurry

The effects of adding pulping black liquor and other additives to coal-water slurry(CWS) on the sulfur-fixing performance of the resultant mixture(pulping black liquor coal-water slurry) were evaluated. The experimental results demonstrated that the ash content of the black liquor coalwater slurry decreased as the addition of pulping black liquor in the mixture increased. Nevertheless, the addition amount should be appropriately selected to ensure that the black liquor coal-water slurry had a moderate calorific value. Addition of black liquor improved the combustion performance of CWS by lowering the ignition point and stabilizing the combustion process; moreover, the sulfur-fixation ratio after combustion increased by 12 to 16 percentage points than that of CWS, and the content of high-melting-point salt in the ash from CWS after adding black liquor was low. The sulfur-fixing ratio of CWS after adding a sulfur-fixing agent was effectively increased by 25 to 30 percenatge points, but with compromise of the fluidity and stability of the CWS; thus, the addition amount of a sulfur-fixing agent should be optimized.

Sulfite-Formaldehyde Pulping and Oxygen Delignification of Wheat Straw

In this study,wheat straw pulp was prepared by sulfiteformaldehyde(SF) pulping combined with oxygen delignification to develop a sustainable methodology for chemical pulping of straw materials.The bleachability of oxygen-delignified SF pulp was also evaluated by hypochlorite bleaching.The results indicated that the Na_2SO_3 charge played an important role in lignin removal during SF pulping as well as oxygen delignification.The efficiency of oxygen delignification of wheat straw SF pulp was markedly high.After the oxygenation stage,the Kappa number decreased by over 50%(the original Kappa number of SF pulp was lower than 30) when the Na OH charge was in the range of 3%~5%.The optimal conditions for preparing bleached pulp via combined SF pulping and oxygen delignification involved the use of 12% of Na_2SO_3 and 3% of Na OH,respectively.Pulp with relatively high brightness,a low Kappa number,as well as an acceptable viscosity could be obtained when oxygen-delignified SF pulp was bleached with hypochlorite under a low active chlorine dosage.

Study on Refining Performances in Chemi-mechanical Pulping of Mixed Poplar and Eucalypt Woodchips

The refining performances of mixed poplar and eucalyptwoodchips(mixture ratio 6:4)were investigated at medium and highpulp consistency via chemi-mechanical pulping(CMP).The specificrefining energy consumption(SEC),fiber fraction proportion,andCanadian standard freeness(CSF)were determined to evaluate the effectsof pulp consistency and NaOH dosage on the refining performancesof mixed poplar and eucalypt woodchips.While the dosage of NaOHfor impregnation was maintained constant,the SEC and shive contentincreased with increasing pulp consistency.Different fractions obtainedfrom the Bauer-McNett classifier showed that higher pulp consistencycould be expected to yield more long fibers and shive in the stock.Upon increasing the NaOH dosage,the shive content and SEC reducedsignificantly.When the NaOH dosage was increased to 6%,the resultsindicated that it was difficult to reduce the shive content to less than 1%athigh pulp consistencies(25%~35%),whereas 0.18%shive fraction couldbe achieved at a medium pulp consistency(15%).

Effects of Ethanol Addition and Biological Pretreatment on Soda Pulping of Eulaliopsis binata

Morphological characteristics and proximate chemical analysis of E. binata showed it as a suitable raw material for writing and printing grade paper. Maximum pulp yield (43.58%) of kappa number 17.38 with 0.9% screening rejects was obtained at 12% of active alkali (as Na2O) pulping temperature 130&degC, cooking time 120 min and solid to liquor ratio 1:4. During bio-soda pulping of E. binata, pulp yield decreased slightly while pulp brightness, tensile index, burst index and double fold numbers were improved by 4.1%, 24.94%, 14.03% and 48.45% respectively compared to soda pulping. During ethanol-soda pulping of E. binata, pulp yield, pulp brightness, tensile index, burst index and double fold numbers were improved by 3.9%, 6.6%, 32.18%, 35.40% and 77.31% respectively compared to soda pulping.

Wnt pathway inhibitors are upregulated in XLH dental pulp cells in response to odontogenic differentiation

X-linked hypophosphatemia(XLH)represents the most common form of familial hypophosphatemia.Although significant advances have been made in the treatment of bone pathology,patients undergoing therapy continue to experience significantly decreased oral health-related quality of life.The following study addresses this persistent oral disease by further investigating the effect of DMP1 expression on the differentiation of XLH dental pulp cells.Dental pulp cells were isolated from the third molars of XLH and healthy controls and stable transduction of full-length human DMP1 were achieved.RNA sequencing was performed to evaluate the genetic changes following the induction of odontogenic differentiation.RNAseq data shows the upregulation of inhibitors of the canonical Wnt pathway in XLH cells,while constitutive expression of full-length DMP1 in XLH cells reversed this effect during odontogenic differentiation.These results imply that inhibition of the canonical Wnt pathway may contribute to the pathophysiology of XLH and suggest a new therapeutic strategy for the management of oral disease.