Ramapithecines from China: evidence from tooth dimensions

Data obtained from ramapithecine specimens found in Asia, Africa and Europe have suggested the existence of two major subgroups, Ramapithecus and Sivapithecus, with Ramapithecus having pre-human status. Recently, however, it has been proposed that the fossils all belong to a single group, Sivapithecus, which is more closely related to the apes, in particular the orang-utan. Here we analyse data from a series of similar fossils which have been found in late Miocene coalfields in Lufeng, Yunnan Province, China. These include a number of almost complete jaws and five partial skulls which are more complete than any others so far known. A statistical analysis of the overall dimensions of the large number of teeth included in these finds shows that the differences between the groups previously assigned to Ramapithecus and Sivapithecus are greater than those found between the sexes in the most sexually dimorphic of the living great apes. Within the groups the distribution is bimodal and we suggest each group contains sex subgroups.     

来自自然界的可再生能源-生物质乙醇重整制氢

在镧系金属氧化物载镍催化剂上通过催化重整乙醇和乙醇水溶液可以直接转化为H2，H2的选择性达到60％，乙醇的转化率达到100％。优化催化剂及降低重整反应的温度以使水汽转化反应同时发生来降低产物气中CO的含量。该过程对于生产小型燃料电池的低成本燃料H2，以及便携燃料电池系统需要液态燃料存储的应用具有巨大的潜在价值。     

Postcranial evidence from early Homo from Dmanisi, Georgia

The Plio-Pleistocene site of Dmanisi, Georgia, has yielded a rich fossil and archaeological record documenting an early presence of the genus Homo outside Africa. Although the craniomandibular morphology of early Homo is well known as a result of finds from Dmanisi and African localities, data about its postcranial morphology are still relatively scarce. Here we describe newly excavated postcranial material from Dmanisi comprising a partial skeleton of an adolescent individual, associated with skull D2700/D2735, and the remains from three adult individuals. This material shows that the postcranial anatomy of the Dmanisi hominins has a surprising mosaic of primitive and derived features. The primitive features include a small body size, a low encephalization quotient and absence of humeral torsion; the derived features include modern-human-like body proportions and lower limb morphology indicative of the capability for long-distance travel. Thus, the earliest known hominins to have lived outside of Africa in the temperate zones of Eurasia did not yet display the full set of derived skeletal features.     

由鸡西烟煤制备炭分子筛的研究

以鸡西烟煤为原料综合使用炭化法和碳沉积法进行了空气分离生产富氮空气用炭分子筛的制备研究,考虑了炭化和碳沉积工艺条件对产品空气分离性能的影响。结果表明,鸡西烟煤是制备炭分子筛的优良原料。最佳工艺条件为粘结剂用量35%,升温速度为10℃/min,炭化终温为900℃,恒温时间为60min。     

Greater contribution to blood lead from water than from air

Concern about the levels of lead in blood is widespread. There is uncertainty, however, about the relative importance of the various environmental sources. Lead in petrol is widely assumed to be one of the most important sources and air and dust have been identified as the main routes to man. Water is regarded as an important source in areas with a plumbosolvent water supply, but of little or no importance in other areas. In order to evaluate the contribution to blood lead by various environmental sources, we have conducted surveys of random samples of women in areas of Wales chosen to represent very different levels of exposure to traffic. We report here that lead in air makes a small, but significant, contribution to blood lead but there is no evidence of any contribution from dust. Although in none of the areas were high levels of lead detected in water, water emerges as an important contributor to blood lead.     

Radioprotectors from pyrodextrins

Cornstarch heated in the range of 230–280°C depolymerized into pyrodextrins characterized by two-component EPR signals of relatively stable free radicals. These thermally generated radicals could serve as efficient scavengers for free radicals generated from pyrodextrins with the 200 Gy dose of γ-radiation. The most efficient traps/scavengers were produced from cornstarch at 250–280°C. IR data indicated incorporation of the OH groups to the pyrodextrins. These groups most probably originated from the OH· radicals formed by the radiolysis of water. EPR spectra provided evidence for trapping free radicals generated by γ-irradiation and for their subsequent annihilation on contact with pyrodextrins. Water affected radical processes occurring in pyrodextrins caused by γ-irradiation.