Editor’s note

The XXth International Congress on Sexual Plant Reproduction （SPR） was held from August 4 to 8, 2008, in Brasilia, Brazil. Shortly afterward, ＂Frontiers in Sexual Plant Reproduction Ⅲ＂ was held on October 17-19, 2008, in Tucson, Arizona. Both conferences demonstrated that the richly historic field of SPR remains dynamic and full of promise. There has been a significant acceleration in our under- standing of the molecular processes behind plant reproductive processes in recent years. The inves- tigations in this field are not only aided by modern molecular and cell biology technology but are also stimulated by current ideas from multiple viewpoints, especially evolutionary and epigenetic thought. Cross-talk among multiple disciplines has become a notable feature and has triggered rapid development in SPR research.     

Editor’s note

This year is the 80th anniversary of the discovery of the first skull-cap of Homo erectus from Zhoukoudian （Peking Man）. The first fossil of Peking Man was found in 1921 or 1923. Among the specimens unearthed at Zhoukoudian and transported to Sweden a premolar of hominid was identified in 1926. The announcement of this finding made Zhoukoudian well known in the world. A well preserved hominid molar was found in 1927 in situ based on which the new genus and species, Sinanthropus pekinensis was proposed. On December 2, 1929 a complete skull-cap was found.     

Editor’s note

The past several decades have witnessed great progress in the research on coordination polymers since the conception of supramolecular chemistry was advanced by Prof. Lehn, especially after the report of Prof. Robson on coordination polymers. Thanks to the development in several related fields, such as crystal engineering, supramolecular chemistry, material chemistry and solid state chemistry, the rational design and construction of coordination polymers with multiple functions has become one of the most active arenas in inorganic and material chemistry.     

Editor’s note

In 1961, the Global Network Isotopes in Precipitation （GNIP） was operated by the IAEA in collaboration with WMO, and over 500 stations across the globe participated in this program. The initial objective of this program was the systematic collection of isotope data in precipitation to provide the basic isotopic data for the use of basic environmental isotopes in the hydrology within the scope of hydrological and geochemical cycle and water resources management. During the implementation of the program the close relationship between precipitation isotopes and air temperature was found. This finding was subsequently used in the paleoclimate study, and air temperature change had been reconstructed from isotopes in the ice sheets. Meanwhile, precipitation isotopes were also used to verify and improve atmospheric circulation models.     

Editor’s note

We have here today published an article by Professor Boulton (former Vice Principal of the University of Edinburgh) and Sir Colin Lucas (former Principal of Oxford University) regarding several issues in university education. Issues mentioned in this     

Editor’s note

Biodiversity is abundant in China,but human activities have endangered many species,reducing numbers to the brink of extinction [1].The Chinese government has increased financial funding for various conservation projects over the past decade,but although every biological conservation study and     

Editor’s note

Norman (Norm) H. Sleep is Professor of Geophysics in the School of Earth Sciences at Stanford University. He received a BSc (1967) in Mathematics from Michigan State University     

Editor’s note

The coastal zone spans both land and water, extending landward up to the highest water line that occurs on shore during storms and seaward to the point at which storm waves no longer move sediments on the seafloor. The specific contact line between land and sea is the shoreline and adjacent land is considered     

Editor’s note

The past two decades have witnessed great progress in development of ultrashort laser pulse in laser science, often at an unexpected speed. It has found various applications, both theoretical and practical, in the frontiers of science.     

Editor’s Note

Wallace (Wally) S. Broecker is Newberry Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at La- mont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, New York. He received his PhD (1958) from Columbia University. He is a fellow of numerous renowned scientif…     

影响各向异性导电胶粘结可靠性的因素与工艺分析

各向异性导电胶作为近年来一种新型的可以用在微电子组件制造当中的连接材料,具有低污染,低温键合、低成本、可进行柔性连接的特点,而且它还适合高密度、极细间距的封装连接,在一定程度上取代了传统的锡铅焊料连接,而且还不失其原有的特性。所以,一直以来,这种连接材料在徽电子领域的应用都比较广泛。而现代社会,基本上所有的方面都会涉及到电子器件的使用,人们已经无法离开电子产品了。所以,保证电子器件的安全和稳定,将有助于科技的发展和趣会的进步。本文对各种影响各向异性导电胶粘结可靠性的部分进行了详细的分析,以实际的试验数据来进行说明。     

光电子技术及产业发展

光电子器件和部件广泛应用于长距离大容量光纤通信、光存储、光显示、光互联、光信息处理、激光加工、激光医疗和军事武器装备,预期还会在未来的光计算中发挥重要作用。本文将介绍国内外光电子技术及光电子产业的发展。     

微电子系统光开关

本文以光开关为切入点叙述了微电子机械系统技术的特点和优点,并介绍了几种新近开发的光开关实例。