Fermentation processes using taxol-producing fungi other than Taxus spp. may be an alternative way to produce taxol, which is an important antitumor agent used widely in the clinic setting. In this study, a taxol-producing endophytic fungus strain MD2 was isolated from the inner bark of Taxus media. Strain MD2 produced taxol when grown in potato dextrose liquid medium. The fungal taxol-which was analyzed by ultraviolet, high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry-was shown to be identical to authentic taxol and 10-deacetylbaccatin III. Further analysis with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to show the chemical structure of the fungal taxol indicated that the fungal taxol produced an NMR spectrum identical to that of authentic taxol. Strain MD2 was identified as Cladosporium cladosporioides according to morphology of the fungal culture, characteristics of the spores, and analysis of 18S rDNA sequence. In addition, 10-deacetylbaccatin III-10-O-acetyl transferase gene of C. cladosporioides MD2 was cloned for the first time and was shown to share 99% identity with that of T. x media and 97% identity with that of T. wallichiana var. mairei.

Polyacrylonitrile/lignin sulfonate (PAN/LS) blend fibers were spun via a wet spinning process. The fiber structure, mechanical properties and thermal stability of the precursor fibers were studied by FT-IR, SEM, tensile tester, and TG-DSC. Results indicated that there was no chemical crosslinking between PAN and LS during the process of wet spinning. PAN and LS had good compatibility in the blend fibers. LS could weaken the skin of the blend fibers and reduce the fiber structure defects. The increase of dope concentration could improve the fiber structure and mechanical properties. LS blending with PAN could reduce fiber weight loss in the thermal stabilization process, and most importantly the precursor fibers could be stabilized rapidly without fiber fusion. Through polymer blending and wet spinning, this study provided a promising way to prepare a precursor fiber for carbon fiber.

Groundwater is undoubtedly important for water supplies and eco-environment protection, especially for arid and semi-arid regions. Analyzing the characteristics and evolution of groundwater is significant for the rational management of groundwater resources. This study investigated the hydrogeochemical characteristics and evolutions of groundwater in the Delingha area, northeast of the Qaidam Basin, northwest China, with a total of 123 water samples, including 105 unconfined groundwater samples, 12 confined groundwater samples, and 6 surface water samples. Hydrochemical results showed that the unconfined and confined groundwater presented diversity in ion concentration. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of the unconfined groundwater increased from 146.5 to 8954 mg/L along the groundwater flow direction. The groundwater hydrochemical types were HCO3-Ca·Mg and HCO3·SO4-Ca·Mg in the mountain front area, SO4·HCO3-Ca·Mg and SO4·Cl-Ca·Mg types in the alluvial-lacustrine plain, and Cl·SO4-Na and Cl-Na types in the lacustrine plain. The saturation index showed that parts of the groundwater samples were supersaturated with carbonate minerals (calcite and dolomite); however, all the samples were undersaturated with evaporite minerals (halite and gypsum). Groundwater chemical evolution is mainly controlled by evaporite and carbonate mineral dissolutions, aluminosilicates weathering, and cation exchange.

A novel diisocyanate-modified lignin-based polyurethane (LPU) film was facilely prepared using renewable lignin as the only hydroxyl group provider at ambient temperature and pressure for the first time. The lignin was extracted through a modified high boiling solvent (HBS) method with 1,4-dioxane as the solvent, and then dried through freeze drying. The ash content of the HBS lignin sample was about 0.25%, which was lower than for other lignins. The HBS lignin had a large number of hydroxyl groups, which indicated the potential value in substitution of polyols in the synthesis of polyurethane (PU). From the results, the LPU film possessed high performance in hardness, solvent resistance and hydrophilicity with no need for further modification. The LPU film also had high tensile strength with a maximum value of 41.6 MPa. In order to investigate the thermal properties of the LPU film, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and thermogravimetric infrared analysis (TGA-FTIR) were performed, and the LPU film was stable at 114 C in air and an N 2 atmosphere. This study developed a novel LPU film which could show promising future applications as a coating and base.