Neolithic rice paddy from the Zhaojiazhuang site, Shandong, China

To identify and study the Neolithic rice paddy in Shandong, eastern China, is not only an important issue in the development of Chinese rice agriculture, but also a key part of the study on rice spread in East Asia. Due to the limitation of archaeological materials and the research methods, there have been no discoveries about the Neolithic rice paddy in Shandong Province for a long time. Based on the identification of possible rice paddy by archaeological excavation, phytolith analysis of soil samples from this "paddy" has been systematically carried out and the results have shown a 4600—4300 years old rice paddy preserved at the Zhaojiazhuang site. This is the first examination and study of the rice paddy in North China by systematic phytolith analysis, which is very important for the Neolithic archaeological research and the study of the eastward spread of rice agricultural techniques in East Asia.     

PIXE and INAA studies on ancient potteries from Guangfulin relics in Shanghai

This paper reports the study of ancient potteries unearthed from the Guangfulin site in Shanghai. From the external features of these potteries, archeologists can classify them into two different cultural types: Liangzhu culture (local culture) and a new culture which might be derived elsewhere, but they can not recognize whether they were produced in the same place. Proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) were used to measure the chemical compositions of the samples and the results were analyzed using multivariate statistics. We found that the two methods can complement each other and their database can be mutually referenced in the study of ancient potteries. Experimental results show that the compositions of the potteries from the two cultural types are different, which means that the materials for ancient potteries of new culture originate from elsewhere. This supports the archaeologists’ speculation that a group of ancient people migrated to Shanghai from some other places 4000 years ago.     

PIXE and INAA studies on ancient potteries from Guangfulin relics in Shanghai

This paper reports the study of ancient potteries unearthed from the Guangfulin site in Shanghai. From the external features of these potteries, archeologists can classify them into two different cultural types: Liangzhu culture (local culture) and a new culture which might be derived elsewhere, but they can not recognize whether they were produced in the same place. Proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) were used to measure the chemical compositions of the samples and the results were analyzed using multivariate statistics. We found that the two methods can complement each other and their database can be mutually referenced in the study of ancient potteries. Experimental results show that the compositions of the potteries from the two cultural types are different, which means that the materials for ancient potteries of new culture originate from elsewhere. This supports the archaeologists’ speculation that a group of ancient people migrated to Shanghai from some other places 4000 years ago.     

On the Holocene sea-level highstand along the Yangtze Delta and Ningshao Plain,East China

The temporal-spatial distribution of Neolithic sites shows a long period of absence of human settlements during the early Holocene on the Yangtze Delta, and the area has not been colonized until 7000 aBP, corresponding to the onset of the Majiabang culture. Besides the regions east to the sandbar of Maqiao Site in Shanghai, foraminifera are not found in Neolithic cultural layers since 7000 aBP, indicating a widespread transgression between 10000 and 7000 aBP Evidence of radiocarbon-dated cultural relics, foraminifera and pollen records from the Hemudu Site suggests that the Hemudu culture emerged and developed during the mid-Holocene Climatic Optimum. Therefore, the hypothesis of a mid-Holocene sea-level highstand along the Yangtze Delta and Ningshao Plain from 7000 to 5000 aBP is an open debate. New evidence from archaeological excavations and bio-stratigraphy suggests that, prior to 7000 aBP, a high sea level occurred along the Ningshao Plain. Subsequently, the sea level was lowered between 7000 and 5000 aBP, and the area suffered from freauent floods from 5000 to 3900 aBP.     

U-series dating of Zhangkou Cave in Yiliang,Yunnan Province:Evidence for human activities in China during 40—100 ka

The cultural deposits at pits T1 and T2 in Zhangkou Cave are intercalated with several flowstone layers. U-series dates show that the capping and 2rid flowstone layers are Holocene of age. The 4th and 5th flowstone layers are ca. 55 and 110 ka old respectively. The lithic artifacts bracketed by them provide unequivocal evidence for hominid presence during this time interval. The ““temporal gap““ of hominid fossil, widely quoted as in support of the out-of-Africa hypothesis, is most probably an artifact due to systematic errors of dating techniques. The infillings under 6th flowstone layer date to ＞300 ka, much older than the previous estimate at 15 ka based on classical 14C dating of fossil bones, providing one more example of the limited reliability of this chronometer. With rich relics and favorable conditions for precise dating, this site is promising for further multidisciplinary studies to address issues concerning recent human evolution in China.     

Ancient DNA sequences of rice from the low Yangtze reveal significant genotypic divergence

Rice (Oryza sativa) was first domesticated in the lower and middle Yangtze regions of China, and rice remains have been found in many Chinese archaeological sites. Until now, only phenotypic archeobotanical evidence, such as the spikelet bases of ancient grains, has been used to speculate on the domestication process and domestication rate of rice. In this study, we sequenced 4 genomic segments from rice remains in Tianluoshan, a site of the local Hemudu Neolithic culture in the low Yangtze and two other archaeological sites (~2400 and 1200 BC, respectively). We compared our sequences with those of the current domesticated and wild rice (O. rufipogon) populations. At least two genotypes were found in the remains from each site, suggesting a heterozygotic state of the rice seeds. One ancient genotype was not found in the current domesticated population and might have been lost. The rice remains belonged to the japonica group, and most if not all were japonica-type, suggesting that the remains might be at an early stage of indica-japonica divergence or an indica-japonica mixture. We also identified sequences with significant similarity to those from species of Sapindales, Zygophyllales, and Brassicales, which is consistent with the identification of other plant remains in the Tianluoshan site and the common rice field weeds such as mustards in southern China.     

Heat treatment and associated early modern human behaviors in the Late Paleolithic at the Shuidonggou site

Unearthed artifacts and cultural relics from the Shuidonggou site revealed extensive information and insights regarding the activities of early modern humans.A series of experimental research and physical analysis suggest that stone artifacts from Locality 2 and Locality 12 have undergone heat treatment.The utilization ratio and knapping properties of raw materials were consequently enhanced.Heat treatment technology reflects the production capacities and the survival strategies in the Upper Paleolithic period.This discovery indicates the earliest existence of this technology in the East Asia and thus confirms a wider geographic distribution of this technology which provides new perspectives and evidence for understanding the associated early modern human behaviors.     

Probing the properties of individual nanostructures by novel techniques

Nanomaterials are the fundamental components of nanoscience and nanotechnology, and they are different from bulk materials in grain size, surface/interface-to-volume ratio and grain shape, which are the origins of their unique electrical, optical, thermodynamic, mechanical and chemical properties. The small size of nanostructures hampers the applications of well-established testing and measurement techniques, thus new methods and approaches must be developed for their synthesis, property characterization and device fabrication. This has been the focus of our research, aiming at exploring state-of-the-art techniques for materials processing and characterization. This paper reviews our progress in nanomaterials research.     

The temporal and spatial distribution of ancient rice in China and its implications

The relics of ancient rice have been regarded as the most important objective evidence of the origina- tion and spread of rice cultivation.Based on the records of 280 rice relics sites and the rice cropping regionalization as well as the distribution map of paddy soils,the current study compiled the temporal and spatial distribution map of ancient rice distribution in China.The map shows that the distribution of ancient rice is spatially extensive and meantime comparatively concentrated,temporarily covering a long and relatively continuous time-span.The rice relics in the Central China double and single rice cropping regions are among the earliest and the most abundant ones,possessing continuity in time sequence.Combined with the discovery of ancient rice and paddy filed relics,soil micromorphology, pollen combination and element geochemistry,it is suggested that Central China was the origin center of rice cultivation in China.Rice had been spread to the rest part of China in three major waves,also to the East Asian part like Korea and Japan.The temporal and spatial distribution of ancient rice reflects the past environmental change,which is also meaningful to the current rice regionalization and plan- ning as well as food security in China.     

Fabrication of metal/metal functionally graded materials with a high melting point difference

Three kinds of full compositional distribution (from 0 to 100wt%W) W/Cu FGMs (functionally graded materials) with high density is fabricated by resistance sintering under ultra-high pressure. Microstructure analysis showed that the good grading composition of all FGMs has been obtained. The sintering mechanism of W is mainly solid state sintering. Thermal shock test in air demonstrated that the grading at the interface between W and Cu is effective for the reduction of thermal stress, but obvious transverse and vertical cracks occur in the pure W layer. The oxidation of the W60Cu40 layer and the W40Cu60 layer is heavier than that of the other layers.     

THE DEINKING OF NON-IMPACT PRINTED PAPER BY COMBINING ENZYME WITH MECHANICAL ACTION

INTRODUCTIONRecycled fiber has become an important source of raw material for the pulp and paper industry due to the plummeting of resources and depleting of environment. Worldwide utility of secondary fibers is 44.24% of total paper and paperboard in 1999. Waste paper is widely used in the production of packaging paperboard and its application in cultural papers is developed in recent years. Old magazine,old newsprint and mixed office waste (MOW) are the major source materials used to p…     

Lower Cambrian small shelly faunas from Zhejiang (China)and their biostratigraphical implications

Despite a long history of research on the Early Cambrian in China most available data on small skeletal fossils concern fossil associations of the shallow carbonate platform. Information on skeletal fossils from marginal shelf environments of the Yangtze Platform is scanty, which may reflect the rarity of fossils in deeper sedimentary environments but is also due to limitation of carbonate distribution and outcrops, difficulties in fossil extraction, and a general research focus on the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary beds on the carbonate platform. Here we present a documentation of Meishucunian to Qiongzhusian small skeletal fossils from the lower Hetang Formation and the chert unit at its base from the Jiangshan region, Zhejiang Province, representing a relatively deep shelf environment compared to the inner shelf region. The earliest association (Meishucunian) from the chert unit underlying the Hetang Formation is mainly characterized by the occurrence of Protohertzina anabarica, P. unguliformis, Fengzuella zhejiangensis, and Kaiyangites novilis, which differs somewhat in composition from SSF-associations of typical inner shelf deposits. The enigmatic skeletal fossil Fengzuella zhejiangensis, which exhibits an unusual secretional growth mode previously unrecognized from the Early Cambrian, is described in detail. A younger (Qiongzhusian) fossil association contains numerous arthropod remains, such as disarticulated spines of arthropods (Jiangshanodus- and Kijacus-type), which have previously been considered as conodont-like fossils, and bradoriid valves.     

Understanding supercapacitors based on nano-hybrid materials with interfacial conjugation

The recent fast development of supercapacitors,also known scientifically as electrochemical capacitors,has benefited significantly from synthesis,characterisations and electrochemistry of nanomaterials.Herein,the principle of supercapacitors is explained in terms of performance characteristics and charge storage mechanisms,i.e.double layer(or interfacial) capacitance and pseudo-capacitance.The semiconductor band model is applied to qualitatively account for the pseudo-capacitance in association with rectangular cyclic voltammograms(CVs) and linear galvanostatic charging and discharging plots(GCDs),aiming to differentiate supercapacitors from rechargeable batteries.The invalidity of using peak shaped CVs and non-linear GCDs for capacitance measurement is highlighted.A selective review is given to the nano-hybrid materials between carbon nanotubes and redox active materials such as electronically conducting polymers and transition metal oxides.A new concept,"interfacial conjugation",is introduced to reflect the capacitance enhancement resulting from π-π stacking interactions at the interface between two materials with highly conjugated chemical bonds.The prospects of carbon nanotubes and graphenes for supercapacitor applications are briefly compared and discussed.Hopefully,this article can help readers to understand supercapacitors and nano-hybrid materials so that further developments in materials design and synthesis,and device engineering can be more efficient and objective.     

Recurrence of Yuan Dynasty sluice from Zhidanyuan relics and paleostream evolution

The excavation of Shanghai Zhidanyun relics makes the recurrence of a splendid Yuan Dynasty sluice. It is a good example for the study of Shanghai history in the Wusongjiang River irrigation, the ancient shipping and the town development. Based on the data of microfossil Pediastrum,Zygnema, Concentricystes, diatom, foraminifera and ostracods from the sediment section of the relics, the paleostrcam change after the construction of the sluice was guessed. The paleastream was influenced by the sea water due to the connection with the sea in the earlier stage. The upstream of the sea water was enhanced in the middle stage that was indicated by the increase of marine diatoms and foraminifera.The decrease of marine diatoms and foraminifera in abundance reflected that the connection of the paleostream with the sea was reduced, and the sea influence was decreased gradually in the later stage.     

Plant crop remains from the outer burial pit of the Han Yangling Mausoleum and their significance to Early Western Han agriculture

A large amount of carbonized plant remains were discovered in one of the outer burial pits of the Han Yangling Mausoleum, which was built more than 2000 years ago for the Jing Emperor, Liu, Qi (188―141 cal a BC), the fourth emperor of the Western Han Dynasty. The remains are identified by phytolith analysis and macrofossil morphological features. Seeds from foxtail millet (Setaria italica), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), rice (Oryza sativa) and chenopod (possible Chenopodium giganteum) are identified...     

Nanomaterials for renewable hydrogen production, storage and utilization

An ever growing demand for energy coupled with increasing pollution is forcing us to seek environmentally clean alternative energy resources to substitute fossil fuels. The rapid development of nanomaterials has opened up new avenues for the conversion and utilization of renewable energy. This article reviews nanostructured materials designed for selected applications in renewable energy conversion and utilization. The review is based on the authors’ research, with particular focus on solar hydrogen production, hydrogen storage and hydrogen utilization. The topics include photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting and photocatalytic hydrogen production, solid-state hydrogen storage, and proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). It is expected that the rational design of nanomaterials could play an important role in achieving a renewable energy based economy in the coming decades.     

Archaeological discovery and research on the remains of the paleoflood of the Yuxi site

The research of the paleoflood remains from archaeological sites is one of the most important jobs in the environmental archaeology.Based on the traditional archaeological methods and the archaeological finds from the Yuxi site,Fengdu County of Chongqing,the paper analyzes the difference between the cultural layers and the possible paleoflood layers from various angles,such as contents,shapes of gravels,pottery,etc.,identifies the possible paleoflood deposit layers,i.e.the paleoflood remains of the Yangtze River,and discusses the periodicity of the floods.     

Cultural Differences and Words Translation

This paper focuses on the relationship between culture and translation research which aim of communication activity cross culture , and the effect of cultural difference to words translation. The focus is not only on theory, but also studies used as illustration. First, this paper analyses the development and effect of Nida＇s translation theories. It is then analyzed the problems in words translation caused by cultural differences and the methods which can be used to solve these problems. At last, this paper also prospects the effect produced by translation research which under the condition of cultural research to the world.     

Preliminary study on the living environment of hominids at the Donggutuo site, Nihewan Basin

The Donggutuo site, situated in the east margin of Nihewan basin, is one of the most important Paleolithic sites in China, characterized by the longest excavation seasons and the most abundant cultural remains recovered in the region. Based on well-constructed sporopollen, sediment grain size analysis, magnetic susceptibility, and iron oxide analysis of the 2000--2001 excavated section, four stages of environmental change in the Nihewan Beds are identified by the authors. The results indicate four major stages of environment and climate change from 1） warm and humid forest grass to 2） temperate and humid forest grass to 3） temperate and dry forest grass to 4） warm and humid forest, which is suitable for hominid occupation. The changes correspond to the stages of lake transgression and regression. The environment after the lake died out away has been cold and dry boschveld. The hominid activities at the site took place in the Early Pleistocene （1.10 Ma）, which corresponds to the early three environmental stages. Therefore, it can be inferred that the early hominids adapted to the relatively low lake level episodes through activities involving sporadic stone tool making, procuring of raw materials for tools, concentrating stone artifacts, and hunting and butchering. In conclusion, the results will be of great significance to research regarding the relationship between hominid occupation and environmental changes as well as the adaptive behaviors of early humans at the Donggutuo site.     

Discovery of sponge body fossils from the late Meishucunian (Cambrian) at Jinsha, Guizhou, south China

Here we report discovery of a sponge body fossil Triticispongia sp. from the base of lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation at Jinsha, Guizhou. Stratigraphically, the fossil horizon is located below Ni-Mo ore layer with the Niutitang Biota above, and is equivalent to the late Meishucunian. The species is global in shape with skeletons composed of stauractins and monaxons. Triticispongia sp. reported here may be the earliest sponge body fossils of Cambrian, which provides new information for understanding early evolution and radiation of sponge animals.