CHINA  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY
NEWSLETTER
The Ministry of Science and Technology
People's Republic of China

Injured Cotton Alarms

Plants, like humans, also have emotions, and they would alarm others in the vicinity for protection when getting hurt, discovered a research team headed by Prof. GAO Xiwu at the Chinese University of Agriculture.

Researchers found that when bitten by cotton bolls or injured by mechanicals, cotton would raise the activity of two kinds of proteins. The increased activity can stimulate cotton plants to send out sophisticated chemicals. The volatile chemicals emitted by cotton, including green leave volatiles, terpene, and oxalic acid, usually can affect insects’ eating and digesting functions.

In a further study, researchers placed two cotton seedlings in a sealed glass container. Only one of the seedlings is treated for insect bites and mechanical injury. Analysis of two seedlings and internal air of the container turned out a confusing phenomenon: not only the injured seedling reacts with self-defense, but also the uninjured one. A quantitative analysis of the injured plant at an interval of 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour show that the uninjured seedling reacts with self-defense chemicals more concentrated than the injured. The same experiment was repeated for three times with the same results. 

In the next phase, researchers will analyze the sophisticated chemicals emitted by the injured plant. Current research results show that a cotton seedling would emit somewhat different compositions of chemicals at differed levels, to match bites or injuries caused by different insects or machines. Researchers attempt to find out communication codes between plants, as they believe differences in plant’s reactions may carry coded messages for other plants.

Online RP&M Platform

An integrated online RP&M service system, developed by the Xi’an Jiaotong University, has recently passed the verification check. In a move to address both domestic and international technological requirements for developing new products, the new system offers a simplified rapid prototype manufacturing model catering for commercial operations. It also makes an automatic match between different RP&M techniques, and creates a web based RP&M decision making and optimizing process, using the socalled expert system and fuzzy evaluation theory. With online service program as the core, the said RP&M service platform is integrated with numerous supporting tools, including RP&M cost calculation, manufacturing time calculation, technique selections, manufacturing resources, model database, and knowledge database.

With the proven technologies, the project team has, in collaboration with productivity promotion centers in Shan’xi, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Henan, established an online RP&M service alliance. In the last couple of years, the alliance has provided online RP&M service for 161 enterprises, using the same system. The efforts have created an additional production value worth RMB 6.88 million, and profits and taxes RMB 3.55 million. The online RP&M service has also created a dozen million RMB worth value for the enterprises using the service. The new system greatly facilitates the development of new products at small and medium-sized enterprises, and helps manufacturing technology providers to use equipment in a more efficient manner.

The project team plans to establish corresponding resource systems for both industrial design and mould making, in an attempt to work out a complete online service line to support the development of digital and innovative products at small and medium-sized enterprises. 

Diagnostic Tools for Process Industry

A project to develop failure diagnosis, prediction and maintenance tools for typical process industry equipment, undertaken by the Tsinghua University, has recently passed the verification check. Researchers have worked out the proprietary oil pipeline failure diagnosis system, and intelligent health diagnosis system for aluminum electrobath. Both diagnosis systems are able to detect or predict equipment abnormalities or failures that may cause heavy economic losses or security accidents, helping users to keep huge potential economic returns. The oil pipeline failure diagnosis system is designed with major functions of an SCADA system, having real-time automatic detecting and positioning functions for possible pipeline leakage.  The intelligent health diagnosis system for aluminum electrobath can effectively predict anticathode effects of aluminum electrobath, a desirable tool for monitoring and controlling anticathode effects, and playing a positive role in energy efficiency enhancement and product quality assurance. In addition, the technology creates a ground for developing and using similar diagnosis systems for the generic equipment in process industry.

The oil pipeline failure diagnosis system has so far found successful applications in Shaan’xi Yanchang Oilfield Administration and Shengli Oilfields. The intelligent health diagnosis system for aluminum electrobath has been used on a trial basis in both Gansu Baiyin Aluminum Works, and Henan Shenhuo Aluminum Works. 

River Inflow Associates with Sunspots

Researchers at the Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, a part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have compared out a close association between the upper reach inflows of the Yellow River and sunspot activities. Researchers worked out the findings using two groups of data: flow charts of Tangnaihai, an upper reach site of the Yellow River since 1736, and the SCL variation curves of sunspots since 1734. Comparative studies show that the beginning of the dry period of the site is very close to the extremely short SCL years of sunspots.

The Longyangxia Reservoir, with a volume of 24.6 billion m³, is a reservoir sitting at the head of the Yellow River, capable to house a year’s inflow from the upper reaches. Tangnaihai, a water flow measuring station monitoring the inflow into the Longyangxia Reservoir, reflects important information on the inflow from the upper reaches of the Yellow River through its own variations. In the past 270 years, sunspots have experienced 9 extremely long years, and 8 extremely short years. The site enjoys a wet year in each extremely long SCL year, while deploring for a dry year around each extremely short SCL year.

Research findings indicate that extremely long and short SCL years are desirable indicators to predict wet and dry years over the upper reaches of the Yellow River.  Physical measurements at Tangnaihai confirm that 1994-2004 makes the latest dry year period that lasts for 11 years, also the longest one. The latest extremely short SCL year started from 1996. The first half of 2005 data show that the inflow of the upper reaches of the Yellow River has approached a normal year level, which makes researchers believe that the dry year period will soon come to an end. The upper reaches will turn for wet years through an interval of several normal years.

Huawei Multi-service Control Gateway

Not long ago, Huawei unveiled a Multi-service Control Gateway (MSCG) system for telecommunication application, the first of its kind in the world. With a name of Quidway®ME60, the system is a reliable multi-service control gateway, a desirable tool in helping telecommunication vendors to upgrade their services, without compromising network service quality and security.

According to a briefing, ME60 is designed with a powerful handling and control capability for large-volume, high performance, strong service integration, and diverse operational functions. It caters for diverse broadband connections, terminal accessibility identification, and sub-service operations, which makes it the world first 10-Gigabit multi-service control system with a queue number reaching 256K. The new system offers five IP service controls, including marginal router, firewall, DPI, SBC, and BAS, integrated with service quality strategy, operation management, and network security, and supporting vendors’ breakdown service strategies. Having passed the strict verification test by authoritative agencies, the novel product plans for massive commercial applications at the end of the year.

520-million Year Lichen-like Plants Discovered

Prof. YANG Ruidong at the Guizhou University announced recently that he and his team have found a lichen like plant dated back to 520 million years ago. Named as Parafunaria sinensis Yang, the plant is the earliest lichen like plants discovered so far in the world. The finding advances the fossilized record of lichen plants by 70 million years. The specimen collected show leave-shape ring growing process, capsule and sophisticated roots that are uniquely possessed by lichen plants. These plants are believed heading for a transition to the lichen plants.

Discovered among massive fossilized algae unearthed from the early and mid Cambrian shales in Taijiang, Guizhou Province, Parafunaria sinensis Yang have the blades grown in cluster on in ring form, with each ring leave made up of 4 blades, supported by ribs and whisker like rhizoid, an apparent association with the algae family. Scientists say that alga is the most ancient ancestor of plants, while lichen makes a most ancient higher plant. In this context, researchers believe Parafunaria sinensis Yang is possibly an ancestor of lichen plants.  

New Drug for Liver Cancer

China No. 4 Military Medical School and Chengdu Hoist Inc. Ltd. have made a major technical progress in developing Metuximab injection, an Iodine 131I based monoclonal antibody. The State Food and Drug Administration issued a new drug certificate for the invention on April 20, 2005. The new drug will soon be used for strategic purposes.

Made of highly specific anti liver cancer sections and Iodine 131I based monoclonal antibody, the new drug constitutes an innovative biological missile for liver cancers. Easily adhered to liver cancer cells, the injection can trigger Iodine 131I to emit high-energy βparticles to kill cancerous cells. Clinical trials have found the injection effective in treating primary liver cancers that cannot be treated with surgery or are in relapse, desirable for both near and long term therapeutic effects, with a clinical remission rate of 8.22%, clinical effectiveness of 27.4%, and clinical control rate of 86.3%.

The new drug works on a clearly defined mechanism (targeting at liver cancer and sealing roles) for both antibody genes and target particles. Produced with an advanced technique, the new drug has obtained 4 national invention patent grants, with 3 PCTs into substantive examination phase in the United States, Europe and Japan. 

Bacteria Remove Pesticide Residuals

A project to remove pesticide residuals from traditional medicinal herbs using biological means has passed its verification check. Researchers at the Tianjin University of Science and Technology use bacteria based biological repairing technique to decompose pesticides made of organic chlorine, in an attempt to improve the ecological environment of herb plantations. The technique has found a fundamental solution to removing pesticide residuals in traditional medicinal herbs from soil sources.

Researchers tested the new technique at a gen-seng growing field in an experimental plot affiliated to Beijing Huairou Institute of Medicinal Plants for 3 years. Testing results show that the technique can remove DDT by  37.3%-68.65% , and BHC by 36.45%-62.55%. The successful applications in gen-seng make the technique feasible for other traditional medicinal herbs, vegetables and crops. With numerous merits including simple operation, low-cost and high economic returns, the innovative technique not only removes pesticide residuals, but also helps to reduce the attacks of pests and improve produce quality.

Desertification Slowed

The 3^rd nationwide survey on desertification ended in last April has turned out results showing that China’s desertification process has been slowed down, recently announced ZHU Lieke, Deputy Administrator of China State Forestry Bureau.

Survey results show four major changes in desertification process: 1) both desertification and desert lands have seen net decreases in areas. During a period of 5 years, China’s desertification process registered a new drop by 37,924m², or 7,585 km² for a yearly average. During the same period, desertified areas also saw a net decrease of 6,416 km², with a yearly average of 1,283 km²; 2) desertification process has been slowed down. In the context of desertification, light and heavily desertified areas are increased by 208,000 km², with a decrease of 245,900 km² for heavily and extremely desertified areas. In view of desert lands, moving sand and semi-fixed sand areas reported a net decrease of 38,749 km², with an increase of fixed sand areas by 32,265 km²; 3) desertification process has been slowed down in most part of the country; and 4) desert lands have seen an increased vegetation coverage.  

Airbus Engineering Center in Beijing

China Aviation Industry Corporation I recently inked with Airbus a package agreement on establishing a joint engineering center in Beijing. Named Airbus Beijing Engineering Center, the new entity expects to become operational at the mid-year, with 50 Chinese engineers sitting on duty before the end of the year. The center plans to augment the Chinese engineer team to 200 people by 2008. According to the agreement, the center will work on design part for A350 aircraft. Chinese aircraft manufacturers will secure 5% of the A350 workloads, through the engineering center in Beijing.

Creating an engineering center in China makes Chinese aircraft manufacturers not only a full-fledged partner, but also a party to share the risks in making new generation of airbus aircraft. Chinese aircraft makers will become part of the airbus’s new aircraft program, including design, manufacturing, investment, and profit distribution. In addition, transfer of technology to manufacture A320 wings, a joint project between Airbus and Chinese aircraft makers, has moved into phase III.

Deep Ocean Core Drilling

A deep-sea rock core driller, jointly developed by a number of Chinese makers, has successfully made a hundred rounds of underwater drilling for rock cores. Aboard Oceanic I, a Chinese marine expedition boat that launched its yearlong transoceanic survey on April 2, 2005, the driller will prospect cobalt rich minerals over some 150 sites on the sea floor.

Designed to collect solid mineral cores on the shallow surface of the sea floor using cable-drilling devices, the driller can make several core collections in one diving, desirable for mapping cobalt rich mines. With a length of 1.8m, width 1.8m, height 2.8m, and weight 2.8 tons, the driller can reach a maximum depth of 4,000m, with a boring depth of 700mm and core diameter 60mm.

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