Introduction 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF), as diformylfurane precursor (DFF), is obtained from fructose or glucose dehydration. DFF is a versatile chemical, and there are numerous reports describing various applications as a monomer, as starting materials for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and antifungal agents [1]. To date, few reports describe the use of air to oxidize (HMF) with het...

The grafting and sulfation of zirconia conformal monolayers on SBA-15 to create mesoporous catalysts of tunable solid acid/base character is reported. Conformal zirconia and sulfated zirconia (SZ) materials exhibit both Brönsted and Lewis acidity, with the Brönsted/Lewis acid ratio increasing with film thickness and sulfate content. Grafted zirconia films also exhibit amphoteric character, whos...

We propose a generalized framework for the study of voter models in complex networks at the heterogeneous mean-field (HMF) level that (i) yields a unified picture for existing copy/invasion processes and (ii) allows for the introduction of further heterogeneity through degree-selectivity rules. In the context of the HMF approximation, our model is capable of providing straightforward estimates ...

The selective transformation of hexose and pentose sugars to intermediate platform chemicals, such as furans, is an essential step in the conversion of cellulosic and hemicellulosic biomass to biofuels and biochemicals. Yet, many challenges in achieving commercially viable processes remain. In this feature article, we outline challenges that need to be overcome to enable these transformations. ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Development of a method to continuously assess cerebrovascular autoregulation of patients with traumatic brain injury would facilitate therapeutic intervention and thus reduce secondary complications. METHODS Changes in arterial blood pressure (ABP), intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV), and pial arteriolar diameter (PAD) induced by acute pre...

The diamagnetic levitation as a novel ground-based model for simulating a reduced gravity environment has recently been applied in life science research. In this study a specially designed superconducting magnet with a large gradient high magnetic field (LG-HMF), which can provide three apparent gravity levels (μ-g, 1-g, and 2-g), was used to simulate a space-like gravity environment. Osteocyte...

Mango nectar is a commercially familiar and preferred product. The traditional processing of mango nectar has been by thermal processing which resulted in the alteration of the flavour of the product due to the effect of high temperature. The thermal processing of the nectar also resulted in the production of byproducts of non-enzymatic browning such as 5hydroxy methyl furfural (HMF). These pro...

Fermentatively produced ethanol from lignocellulose by yeast is a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. However, inhibitors originating from the breakdown process of the raw material decrease the fermentation rate. Previous studies have made known inhibition effects by the furan compounds furfural and hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF). In the current work, the kinetics and inhibition effect of furf...

The industrial yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a traditional ethanologenic agent and a promising biocatalyst for advanced biofuels production using lignocellulose materials. Here we present the genomic background of type strain NRRL Y-12632 and its transcriptomic response to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF), a commonly encountered toxic compound liberated from lignocellulosic-biomass pretr...

The formation of toxic fermentation inhibitors such as furfural and 5-hydroxy-2-methylfurfural (HMF) during acid (pre-)treatment of lignocellulose, calls for the efficient removal of these compounds. Lignocellulosic hydrolysates can be efficiently detoxified biologically with microorganisms that specifically metabolize the fermentation inhibitors while preserving the sugars for subsequent use b...