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

Human Evolution Pace Measured

Chinese scientists at the People’s Liberation Army General Hospital and Beijing Genomics Institute (Shenzhen), in collaboration with the scientists from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, have for the first time measured the pace and speed of human evolution. Researchers selected a large family from a remote village in Jiangxi Province. In the family, two male members have carried blood lines from the same ancestor for 13 generations, an ideal study subject. Researchers compared more than 10 million nucleotides in two male members, and sorted out 12 differences. 8 of the differences were produced in the in-vitro cell culture process. As a result, only 4 real mutations were found in 10 million nucleotides in the past 13 generations, which means each generation would have 1 mutation in each 30 million nucleotides, or 200 new mutations for each member. The measurement allows people to have an insight of the pace and speed of human evolution.

Fully Operated Quantum Communication Network

A team, led by Prof. PAN Jianwei with the University of Science and Technology of China, has recently put a quantum teleportation network into full operation, in an attempt to eventually make it a commercial network. The proprietary star-shaped 5-node quantum teleportation network, the first of its kind in the world, made its debut before the public on August 29, 2009 in Hefei.

The study, financed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, has resulted in the key technologies and components that accommodate practical and industrial application needs. PAN and his team created the world’s first quantum phone call network in Hefei in May 2009. According to a briefing, users may communicate with each other through an optic-fiber based commercial quantum phone call network, without fearing being tapped, a real value offered by quantum teleportation. PAN and his team are now working with other collaborators to establish a 40-node quantum teleportation demonstration system for Hefei and its adjacent areas.    

New Anti Hepatitis B Mechanism Found

A team, led by Prof. XIONG Sidong at Fudan University Institute for Immunobiology, found through their more than 4-year study that tripartite motif-containing 22 (TRIM22) inhibits the activity of hepatitis B virus core promoter. Researchers explain that members of TRIM family is a part of the innate immune system to counter intracellular pathogens. When infected by hepatitis B viruses, TRIM22 are disarmed, allowing the disease to become chronic, or develop into a cancer. Repeated experiments have shown that TRIM22 is able to inhibit the duplication of hepatitis B virus, implying a role to prevent hepatitis B infections. Researchers also found that TRIM22 inhibits the activity of hepatitis B virus core promoter. The finding was published in the recent issue of HEPATOLOGY.

Green Printing System Promotion

Not long ago, CAS Institute of Chemistry put a green printing system into operation. Made of nanomaterials, the new printing system has found a solution to eliminate darkroom based operation and waste liquid emission in the sensitization process. SONG Yanlin, head of the study and a research fellow at Institute of Chemistry told reporters that the new technology has saved the processes of pre-sensitization coating and developing, which reduces the cost by a large margin while protecting the environment. It also simplifies the plate making workflow by eliminating a number of links that have to be operated in a darkroom, including exposure, developing, and plate burning. Furthermore, it reduces the shifts of images and rolls out fine quality pictures, without make-up and modification, which greatly enhances the quality of texts and pictures. The project has so far resulted in 10 invention patent applications, 5 grants, and 2 PCTs.  

The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen Municipal Government, and Beijing Huairou District jointly inked on September 6, 2009 a letter of intention to establish a strategic alliance for promoting nanomaterial based green printing technology and associated industry.

Improved Methanol Fuel Cells

Direct methanol fuel cell, a project initiated by the National 863 Program and jointly implemented by CAS Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, CAS Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Nanjing Normal University, and Nantong Haiyang Novel Materials, has led to the breakthroughs in a range of key technologies for manufacturing novel catalysts, and for improving the structures, performance, electrodes, and membrane-electrode integration of fuel cells.

Thanks to more than two-year efforts started from May 2007, scientists at the above-mentioned institutions have rolled out an array of catalysts with fine performance. Some of the catalysts have outperformed the one available in the marketplace. They also produced high performance membrane-electrode integrators, air-breathing cells, and realized the connectivity between air-breathing methanol fuel cells and notebook computers.

Removing Oxygen from Coal Mine Gas

Not long ago, a study team, headed by WANG Shudong at Chinese Academy of Sciences Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, has successfully removed oxygen from coal mine gas at a scale of 300Nm³/h in Yangquan, Shanxi. It takes many-year efforts for the team to work out novel deoxygenation catalysts and associated techniques. The team inked an accord with Hong Kong China Coal in July 2008 to jointly develop the catalysts for removing oxygen from coal mine gas. Scientists completed the design, installation, integration, testing, and smooth operation of the new system in one year. 50-odd day consecutive operation shows that the new system has met all required technical indicators. The new catalyst has an enhanced performance that fully meets with the operational needs, with a flexible deoxygenation process that can be easily controlled and stabilized. The new technology is able to effectively recover gases from coal mines and reduce the greenhouse effects caused by CH₄ emissions, while yielding economic, environmental, and social benefits. Collaborators are now working on the commercial applications of the new technology.   

Man Made Algae Crusts for Deserts

Scientists at CAS Institute of Hydrobiology developed a technique to artificially form algal crusts on deserts, based on 8-year explorations and previous soil algae studies. In collaboration with Inner Mongolia Forestry Institute, Wuhan High Tech Agriculture, and Inner Mongolia Gaolin Biotechnology, they rolled out the techniques that can be used to form algal crusts over deserts, created a new approach for desertification control.

Researchers at CAS Institute of Hydrobiology and Inner Mongolia Forestry Institute started to work on algae based sand fixation from 2001, and developed a comprehensive sand control technique utilizing algae, grass, and bushes. In 2006, they completed an array of studies, including biological study of desert algae, forming algal crusts on deserts, algae seeds preparation, artificial formation of algal crusts on deserts, industrial production of desert algae, mechanized grafting, moisture supply and associated protection. Meanwhile, they staged pilot projects in five different desert environments, including Dalateqi of Kubuqi Desert in Inner Mongolia. Up to date, they have formed algal crusts over 30,000 mu (1 mu= 0.0667 hectare) of deserts.

Chinese Made Large Aircraft

C919, a Chinese made large airplane, made the debut of its model (1:10) at an international air show staged on September 8, 2009 in Hong Kong.

The airplane has 168 seats, and is able to fly 4075 km, with an extended range up to 5555 km.  Started to build in 2008, the new large airplane expects to have its maiden flight at the end of 2014, and be delivered to its users in 2016. According to a briefing, C919 model will become a competitive short and medium range single aisle commercial commuter that is safe, comfortable, energy efficient, and environment friendly in 8-10 years.

Large Amphibian Aircraft

Chinese Institute of Special Aircraft kicked off on September 5, 2009 a project to develop large amphibian aircraft. The multifunctional aircraft is scheduled to fly its maiden journey in 2013.Designed with a maximum take-off weight of 49 tons, a horizontal flight speed up to 560km an hour, and a 5150 km maximum range, the 4-turbine aircraft is supposed to work for fire fighting or rescue missions. It is able to take off or touch down on a middle sized airfield, or a water surface of 1500mx200mx2.5m.

The mission oriented aircraft can fill up its 12-ton water tank from a water body on route in less than 20 seconds. It is able to hit 98% of the targets from a drop height ranging from 30m to 50m. It enjoys the flexibility of running from water sources to fire sites back and forth. Equipped with patients beds, stretchers, speedy boats, simple operation facilities, emergency medicines, it is able to rescue up to 50 people from water surface.

World’s First Human H1N1 Vaccination

Chinese State Food and Drug Administration announced on September 3, 2009 that it has approved the registration application of SINOVAC BIOTECH CO.,LTD. for Panflu.1, an H1N1 vaccine that can be used in human being. The development marks the world’s first official application of H1N1 vaccine in humans. The clinical trials conducted before the approval show that the H1N1 vaccine produced by SINOVAC BIOTECH has worked safely, with an immune protection produced ranging from 81.4% to 98.0% (70% on average) in three age groups (children, teenage, and adult), agreed with internationally recognized criteria. Designed for age groups from 3 to 60 years old, the new vaccine will be used for H1N1 vaccination starting from September 2009. The vaccine maker will produce a dosage for 5 million people before October.

Multifunctional Survey Boat Launched

Haiyang-6, a proprietary Chinese made multifunctional expedition boat has recently completed its ocean-going test run. With a length of 106m and width 17.4m, the new boat, the first of its kind in the world, is designed with a tonnage of 4600 tons, able to cruise for 15,000 sea miles on a consecutive basis, mainly for geology and geophysics related expeditions,. Test run shows that the new boat has performed well, with a desired stability. It had only a 4.5 degree tilt in a full wheel turning. Equipped with large winches and lifting units, and work quarters for different purposes, the boat is nice platform for comprehensive survey activities. 

New Energy Auto Design Center

A new energy auto design center was inaugurated on August 28, 2009 at the Headquarters of Forland Auto. According to a plan, the new center will work on the design and R&D of new energy autos, consolidating the existing R&D resources and using the R&D platforms that combine both individual technologies and auto systems, so as to benefit industrial chains at both ends. Meanwhile, it welcomes new collaborators to join the existing conglomerate of industry, universities, and research institutes. 

As the largest green energy R&D and design center in the country, it will house a range of labs for new energy auto, energy efficiency and emission reduction, and green energy, meeting the needs of different industrial phases, including R&D, design, prototype making, and manufacturing. The new center has mastered major techniques for chassis and body making, electrophoresis/coating, assembling, testing, and engine making. Its passenger car making capability has reached an internationally advanced level. It has become a light auto engine manufacturing center enjoying the most advanced level in the world for an annual capacity of 400,000 auto engines, and raised emission standards in line with major European emission standard (IV, V, and VI). 

New Anti Hepatitis B Mechanism Found

A team, led by Prof. XIONG Sidong at Fudan University Institute for Immunobiology, found through their more than 4-year study that tripartite motif-containing 22 (TRIM22) inhibits the activity of hepatitis B virus core promoter. Researchers explain that members of TRIM family is a part of the innate immune system to counter intracellular pathogens. When infected by hepatitis B viruses, TRIM22 are disarmed, allowing the disease to become chronic, or develop into a cancer. Repeated experiments have shown that TRIM22 is able to inhibit the duplication of hepatitis B virus, implying a role to prevent hepatitis B infections. Researchers also found that TRIM22 inhibits the activity of hepatitis B virus core promoter. The finding was published in the recent issue of HEPATOLOGY.

Large Semiconductor R&D and Industrial Center

On September 8, 2009, an R&D and industrial center was put into official operation to produce large sized power semiconductor at Zhuzhou Times Electronics, after 22-month construction.  In recent years, Times Electronics has landed laudable breakthroughs in developing large sized power semiconductors, through technology import and proprietary innovations. It has rolled out 6-inch crystal shutter tubes with an internationally advanced level. To expand the capacity, Times Electronics has built the new center for producing more 5-6 inch semiconductor components, with some workshops having a purification clearance reaching 100 degree.

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