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The back-n project in China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) was launched primarily for nuclear data measurements. In the backscattering neutron hall, the neutron and gamma monitors were used for dose monitoring. Because of the dead time problem of monitors, performance of the monitors in such pulsed radiation field needs to be analyzed. In this research, experiments with dose monitors and personal dosemeters were conducted, and simulation by Monte Carlo code FLUKA was performed. Results showed that the values by monitors are smaller, and the larger the dose, the larger the difference. The reasons in term of energy response and dead time have been analyzed, and corrections were discussed. After corrections, the measured value can agree with the simulation results in the range of about a factor 3. Totally speaking, the values recorded by neutron and gamma monitors can be a reference for radiation safety management in CSNS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the development of a digital pulse analyzer (DPA) used for obtaining the pulse height distribution (PHD), pulse width distribution (PWD), and interval time distribution (ITD) simultaneously by processing output signals from an optical particle counter (OPC). The characterization was performed by testing the response of the DPA as a function of its input frequency and pulse height using dummy signals from a signal generator (model DG1022, Rigol Technologies Inc., People's Republic of China) and actual OPC signals (Model KC-03, Rion Co. Ltd, Japan). Polystyrene latex particles of various sizes yielded by a scanning mobility particle sizer were used during the calibration of the DPA. It was found that the geometric mean of the PHDs was in accordance with Mie theory and could be used for converting pulse height into data which represents the size of particles. Furthermore, by using the PWD and ITD, we could estimate the viewing volume and dead time of the OPC. The DPA could successfully discriminate particles from baseline noise or voltage spikes by applying a novel algorithm to detect pulses based on the pulse area (integral of the voltage–time curve). The results showed that the ranges of particle diameter, viewing volume, and dead time measured by the OPC-DPA system were 0.2–1 µm, (0.78 ± 0.09) mm3, and (45.9 ± 12.6) µs, respectively. The new algorithm can be applied to pulse height analyzers in general, in the measurement of aerosol particles or scintillator-based particle detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether the phosphorus removal chemical in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can be accurately dosed not only affects the compliance of the effluent total phosphorus but also has a huge impact on sludge production and energy consumption during the wastewater treatment process. For the effluent from the secondary sedimentation tank of a wastewater treatment plant in southern China, based on experimental screening of the optimal pH value, chemical types and concentrations of chemicals, coagulation time, etc., a dynamic dosage prediction feedforward model for chemical phosphorus removal agents in the effluent from the secondary sedimentation tank of the WWTPs was developed to predict the most economical dosage of the chemicals. Meanwhile, combined with the adaptive fuzzy neural network P feedback control algorithm, dynamic real-time control of chemical dosing was achieved. Through micro-control design, a software model for signal collection and feedback in a specific phosphorus removal scenario was formed, and an automatic control system for chemical dosing was ultimately developed for a WWTP in a city in southern China. After stable operation for two months, the system achieved a 100% compliance rate for effluent total phosphorus (TP) concentration and a 67% improvement in effluent stability, helping the wastewater treatment plant achieve stable and precise control of the phosphorus removal process in the secondary sedimentation tank effluent, which is conducive to further promoting its implementation of low-carbon pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing health awareness and the accelerating pace of life, whole-grain prepared foods have gained popularity due to their health benefits and convenience. However, the potential risk of type B trichothecene toxins has also increased, and these mycotoxins in such foods are rarely regulated. In this study, a quantitative method combining a single-valve dual-column automatic online solid-phase extraction system with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) was developed for the first time using restricted-access media columns. This method can simultaneously determine trace residues of seven type B trichothecenes within 15 min. The method is convenient, sensitive (limit of detection and quantification of 0.05–0.6 μg/kg and 0.15–2 μg/kg, respectively), accurate (recovery rates of 90.3%–106.6%, relative standard deviation < 4.3%), and robust (>1000 times). The established method was applied to 160 prepared food samples of eight categories sold in China. At least one toxin was detected in 70% of the samples. Whole-wheat dumpling wrappers had the highest contamination rate (95%) and the highest total content of type B trichothecenes in a single sample (2077.3 μg/kg). Exposure risk assessment indicated that the contamination of whole-grain prepared foods has been underestimated. The total health risk index of whole-wheat dumpling wrappers, which are susceptible to deoxynivalenol, reached 136.41%, posing a significant threat to human health. Effective measures urgently need to be taken to control this risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ARGO-YBJ experiment has been in stable data taking since November 2007 at the YangBaJing Cosmic Ray Laboratory (Tibet, China, 4300 m a.s.l.). Its main fields of research are \gamma-astronomy with an energy threshold of a few hundred GeV and cosmic ray physics in the 1\div 1000~TeV energy range. The ARGO-YBJ detector consists of a single layer of RPCs operated in streamer mode, housed in a large building of about 11\thinspace000~m^2). Signals from each RPC are picked up with 80 readout strips 61.8 cm wide and 6.75 cm long (23~strips/m^2) that allow the shower front reconstruction with a high space-time resolution. In order to fully investigate the PeV region, where the previous (digital) readout saturates, an analog one has been implemented by instrumenting each RPC with two large size electrodes of dimension 1.39 \times 1.23~m^2. The 130 Clusters of the central carpet have been instrumented with the charge readout hardware and software since November 2009. In this paper we describe the hardware solution that implements the real-time charge readout in the ARGO-YBJ experiment, paying a special attention to the synchronization with the central data acquisition system, which is also described. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Inlay celadon was a type of high-end ceramics of the Koryŏ dynasty (918–1392 AD) produced in the Korean Peninsula. It was conveyed to China during the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368 AD) as tribute or trade goods. In this study, the authors analyzed six samples of inlay celadon recently discovered at the prosperous Taicang Port of the Yuan and Ming dynasties in the lower Yangtze River, China. With scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the authors investigated the production technique, and compositional characteristics of these samples for the purpose of tracking their provenances. While the bodies are made of porcelain stone, the glazes are of porcelain stone and calcium-rich flux. The white inlay material in these samples is kaolinite-dominant, and the black one is made of quartz with high Fe content or a compound of quartz and raw materials with high Fe content. The results link the samples uncovered at the Taicang Port to the Samhǔngni Kiln in Kangjin-gun and the Uch'ǒlli and Chinsǒri Kilns in Buan-gun in Southern Korea. The products from these kilns were shipped to China in several shipments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genre of Chinese rural "self-" or "we-media" (zi meiti) has drawn ire for "spectacularizing" the "rural lifescape" for urban consumers of China's rapidly developing platform economy. This article focuses instead on how the videos of Li Ziqi and Qiaofu Jiumei recenter production as a key visual force in global capitalism. By depicting the dynamic reciprocities between traditionally rural, artisanal or craft-based, and immaterial or affective labor, and—on the other hand—more ostensibly commercial farm work and e-commerce, Chinese microcelebrities show that different labor relations can dialectically coexist and overlap under contemporary state capitalism despite developments in productivity and automation that impute a historical directionality to the nature of work. The article discusses this in relation to the historical context and theoretical design of the People's Republic of China's recent Rural Revitalization strategic plan, as well as the country's growing platform economy. Belying Li's aestheticized portrayal of craftsmanship and self-sufficiency is the notorious non-appearing of alienated labor, private property, and the continuous expropriation of nature—but also their potential reversibility. Jiumei's candid depictions of rural e-commerce evidence rural platformization's value-extraction; and yet, perceptible in her comparatively more impoverished images are hints of the return of more conventional forms of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To shed light on the genesis of the Dongping deposit and reveal the behaviour of CO2, Au and other ore elements (e.g., Cu, Fe, Zn, As, Sb, Co etc.) in ore‐forming fluids, petrographic, microthermometric and synchrotron radiation X‐ray fluorescence (SRXRF) analyses of fluid inclusions were conducted. The ore‐forming fluid is characterized as an H2O‐CO2‐NaCl system with medium‐high temperatures and low salinity. Four mineralization stages are identified, namely, feldspar‐quartz (stage 1); pyrite‐white quartz (stage 2); sulfide‐smoky grey quartz (stage 3); and carbonate‐quartz (stage 4). Three types of inclusions were distinguished, based on fluid composition, phase assemblages and mode of homogenization. Type A: H2O‐rich fluid inclusions show 2 phases (liquid H2O (LH2O) + vapour H2O (VH2O)) at room temperature and homogenize to the liquid phase. Type B: H2O‐CO2 fluid inclusions contain 2–3 phases (liquid H2O (LH2O) + vapour CO2 (VCO2); liquid H2O (LH2O) + liquid CO2 (LCO2)); liquid H2O (LH2O) + liquid CO2 (LCO2) + vapour CO2 (VCO2)) at room temperature and homogenized to the liquid H2O phase. Type C: H2O‐CO2 fluid inclusions show 2 phases (liquid H2O (LH2O) + liquid CO2 (LCO2) at room temperature and homogenize to a critical state. CO2 is clearly more enriched in the fluid inclusions of stages 2 and 3 than in stage 1. Stage 1 is dominated by type A (H2O‐rich) inclusions with homogenization temperatures (Th) of 220–359°C and salinities of 1.1–3.1 wt% NaCl equivalent. Type B (CO2‐rich) inclusions gradually increase in stages 2 and 3. The Th range of type B inclusions in stage 2 is 241–397°C with salinities of 2.2–6.9 wt% NaCl equivalent; the Th range of type A inclusions is 217–373°C with salinities of 1.2–8.1 wt% NaCl equivalent. The Th range of type B inclusions in stage 3 is 215–361°C with salinities of 2.9–6.1 wt% NaCl equivalent; the range of type A inclusions is 158–351°C with a salinity of 0.7–5.5 wt% NaCl equivalent. Stage 4 is characterized by type A with Th of 151–250°C and salinities of 0.9–8.3 wt% NaCl equivalent. The mapping results show that elements As, Te and Sb are more concentrated in vapour CO2 than in liquid H2O at room temperature, which suggests that vapour components are more able to transport elements when phase separation occurs. The SRXRF quantitative results show that Au, Cl, S and some other metals are obviously more enriched in the fluid inclusions of stages 2 and 3 than those in stage 1. Additionally, the contents of S in stages 1–3 are much lower than those of Cl, which suggests that gold might migrate mainly in the form of a gold‐chloride complex. Au is more enriched in type B fluid inclusions than in type A fluid inclusions, which suggests that the enrichment and migration of gold are closely related to CO2 and CO2 plays a critical role in the migration and enrichment of gold. The trace elements in the fluid have a similar change trend to those in the Yanshanian syenogranite distributed in the southeastern part of the mining area, which may provide some evidence for an intrusion‐related genesis for the Dongping gold deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the popular bullet-titling practice in contemporary China – typing and sending a layer of horizontally scrolling comments superimposed onto moving images. It first explicates bullet-titling practice as a retaliatory action against the tactile effects of moving images, reconceptualizing cinema's tactile quality and recovering its association with bullet-like intensity through the notion of tacti(ca)lity. Tracing the changed perception of touch in relation to the emergence of the touchscreen interface, the author then delineates the transformation of bullet-titles from offensive weapons against the optical attacks of moving images to a venue for real-time conversation and communication among spectator-cum-bullet-titlers. The article ends with a discussion of bullet-titles' construction of pseudo-real time, which constitutes a viewing community of 'diachronic simultaneity' that assimilates all temporally and geographically dispersed spectators into the unfolding 'now' of video playback. This 'nowness' reconciles contemporary media consumption's contradictory demands for globalized simultaneity and individualized flexibility, obliterating us anew. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols have unique advantages of enabling symmetric key sharing with information-theoretic security (ITS) between remote locations, which ensure the long-term security even in the era of quantum computation. QKD-based quantum secure communication (QSC) enhancing the security of key generation and update rate of keys, which could be integrated with a variety of cryptographic applications and communication protocols, has become one of the important solutions to improve information security. In recent years, the research on QKD has been active and productive, the performance of novel protocol systems has been improved significantly, and the feasibility of satellite-based QKD has been experimentally verified. QKD network construction, application exploration, and standardization have been carried out in China as well as other countries and regions around the world. Although QKD-based QSC applications and industrialization are still in the initial stage, the research and exploration momentum is positive and more achievements could be expected in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electron–neutron detector array (ENDA) is being created in China within the large high-altitude air shower observatory (LHAASO) project. The concept of the array is to simultaneously record the electromagnetic and hadronic components of extensive air showers (EAS) with EN detectors. To estimate the number of hadrons in an EAS, the array detectors record secondary thermal neutrons delayed relative to the shower front. Some of the delayed pulses are created by the simultaneous passage of several charged particles through the scintillator (the signal from one particle lies below the detection threshold) and by the photomultiplier noise. We propose a neutron pulse separation method for EN detectors using convolutional neural networks and make a comparison with the baseline method being currently applied at the installation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 14 December 2013 (UTC), China's Chang'E-3 (CE-3) succeeded in landing on the Moon's surface. The CE-3 landing site is in northern Mare Imbrium and several tens of meters away from the rim of a young crater with a few hundred meters in diameter. In-situ measurements of lunar soil around the roving area were conducted from Active Particle-induced X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) onboard Yutu rover. Three relatively young lunar soil samples in the CE-3 landing site were investigated. Previous studies suggested that these samples are a new type of basalt, not discovered yet in previous missions before the CE-3 in-situ measurements. It plays an essential role in promoting the understanding of lunar volcanic history. However, their results are deviated, and thus scrutinizing the data as per our optimized model to derive a more precise result is of necessity. In this paper, we present an optimized model for data analysis based on APXS measurements to derive the major elements concentrations. The optimized model has the advantages of reliability and being independent of calibration by ground standards. The particle size effect is applied in lunar X-ray fluorescence modeling for correction, improving the accuracy in determining the elemental concentrations for the actual measurement. Our results are distinct in the correlation plots by carrying out a comparison with previous lunar regolith samples from Apollo, Luna, and Chang'E-5 missions, indicating that the CE-3 landing site is a new region apart from previous in-situ or laboratory detection prior to the CE-3 measurements. It suggests a kind of young mare basalt with unusual petrological characteristics compared with previous samples and similar geochemical properties of CE-3 landing site and western Procellarum and Imbrium (WPI), with a signature of western Procellarum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of wellhead blockage increases operating costs and seriously affects the safe production of oil wells. It is crucial to correctly analyze the blockage composition and determine the reasons for wellhead blockage to improve the production efficiency of oil wells. In this study, the material composition and origin of the wellhead blockage in Well DH231 are systematically investigated by means of a thin-section observation, scanning electron microscope, energy spectrum analysis, and molecular geochemical characterization of organic matter. The results show that the wellhead blockage in Well DH231 consists of organic and inorganic materials. The inorganic material was mainly composed of dolomite, fine sand, and unknown black minerals. Four elements, Fe, O, Na, and Cl, could account for 95% of the total elemental content in the unknown minerals. It is speculated that they may have come from rust on the metal parts of the inner wall of the wellbore while being influenced by groundwater during the formation process. The organic matter in the blockage was an oil stain from the geological body. The coexistence of n-alkanes and 25-norhopanes in the oil stain was obvious. It indicated that the oldest crude oil in Well DH231 experienced severe biodegradation, followed by the secondary injection of hydrocarbons. The distribution characteristics of hopanes and steranes in oil stains in Well DH231 were comparable to those of the carboniferous crude oil in neighboring Wells DH4 and DH5. The oil stains in the wellhead blockage may be the product of oil and gas migration in Wells DH4 and DH5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutron-induced uranium fission reactions play an essential role in advanced nuclear energy research, basic and applied nuclear science. Based on the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) Back-streaming white neutron source (Back-n), the measurement of the 236,238U fission cross sections relative to 235U from the threshold to 200 MeV was carried out by using time-of-flight (TOF) method with a multi-cell fast fission ionization chamber in double-bunch mode. The TOF spectra in double-bunch mode were unfolded by using Bayesian method. The fission cross section ratios of 238U/235U and 236U/235U were obtained. The experimental data of the 236,238U/235U fission cross section ratios measured in single-bunch mode were re-analyzed in high energy region and the upper limit was extended to 200 MeV for comparison. The experimental results in double-bunch mode are in good agreement with those in single-bunch mode and the main evaluation data within experimental uncertainties. The 236,238U(n,f) cross sections were obtained from the measured ratios and the standard 235U(n,f) cross sections and they agree well with the theoretical calculation, previous experiments, main evaluations and IAEA NDS. The experimental results can provide technical support for further experimental researches in double-bunch mode and relevant nuclear data evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work compares the characteristics of the first echoes of thunderstorms and nonthunderstorms retrieved from S‐band polarimetric radar observations. Observations of 57 (39) isolated thunderstorm (nonthunderstorm) cells with roughly equivalent aerosol and water vapor conditions but different convective available potential energy were obtained with a S‐band polarimetric radar and three independent lightning location systems during 2016/2017 in southern China. Storms with the first echoes were divided into three types based on echo top heights, namely, type 1 (below 0°C layer), type 2 (0°C to −10°C), and type 3 (above −10°C layer). Our observations show median values of radar reflectivity (ZH) and differential reflectivity (ZDR) of type 1 and type 2 in warm phase layer (below 0°C layer) are obviously greater in nonthunderstorms than in thunderstorms, but this feature is not significant in type 3 storms. In the mixed 1 phase layer (0°C to −10°C), median ZH in type 2 is greater in nonthunderstorms while median ZDR in type 3 is slightly smaller. In the mixed 2 phase layer (−10°C to −38°C), median ZH is greater in thunderstorms while median ZDR is smaller, and ZDR values in nonthunderstorms are closer to zero. Although results of ZDR comparisons in the mixed phase are likely affected by random errors and/or residual bias errors, these different signatures suggest different characteristics of liquid or ice particles between thunderstorms and nonthunderstorms. This study is expected to advance our understanding of physical processes responsible for the generation of the first flash. Plain Language Summary: Thunderstorms generally show stronger convective activity than nonthunderstorms do. What are thunderstorms and nonthunderstorms like at the beginning of precipitation radar detection? Observations of 57 (39) isolated thunderstorm (nonthunderstorm) cells based on a S‐band polarimetric radar and three independent lightning location systems during 2016/2017 in southern China are investigated. We found that polarimetric radar parameters of the first echoes are different between thunderstorms and nonthunderstorms, especially, the larger echo intensity in nonthunderstorms below −10°C layer. Comparative results in different height layers suggest different characteristics of liquid/ice particles of the first echoes between thunderstorms and nonthunderstorms. This study would help us to understand the characteristics of microphysics in the formation of thunderstorms. Key Points: The first echoes of thunderstorms and nonthunderstorms determined using radar are manually retrievedThe parameters of polarimetric radar of the first echoes are different between thunderstorms and nonthunderstormsDifferent properties suggest different characteristics of liquid/ice particles of the first echoes between thunderstorms and nonthunderstorms [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to meet the demand of on-site measurement for radionuclides, a portable liquid scintillation TDCR system was developed at National Institute of Metrology (NIM), China. The system consists small size TDCR counter for the measurement of liquid scintillation sources, and digital electronics for pulse signal processing. The optical chamber adopts Teflon material with high diffuse reflection efficiency. Two independent signal processing solutions were used here for TDCR counting. One employed the on-line TDCR solution based on FPGA counting module named TDCR-DMCA, and the other adopted the off-line TDCR solution based on a stand-alone desktop digitizer of CAEN. Two solutions are applied to perform coincidence, dead-time and counting operations follow by MAC3 logic. The performance of the TDCR counting system was tested in benchmark comparison with the traditional custom-built TDCR counting system at NIM through activity measurements of 3H, 14C. Good agreement between these two systems was observed. • Portable liquid scintillation TDCR system at National Institute of Metrology (NIM). • On-line TDCR solution based on FPGA counting module named TDCR-DMCA. • Off-line TDCR solution based on a stand-alone desktop digitizer of CAEN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red slipped and painted wares (RSW and RPW) were manufactured to cook, serve, or store foods and liquids in the middle Yangtze River valley (MYRV) of China some 8500 and 7800 years ago, respectively. Their primary use narrowed down to serving and drinking in the Upper Qujialing (5300–4500 cal BP) and Shijiahe (4500–4200 cal BP) periods when initial states (bang guo) took shape and developed in the region. The increasing social complexity in MYRV correlated with the formation of community and neighborhood identity through rituals and socio-economic ties involving the widespread use of RSW and RPW. How the two wares were produced and used helps us understand the relationships among productive activities, identity, and social inequality in MYRV. This paper presents the first overview of RSW and RPW in the Neolithic MRYV. It introduces a multi-analytical study of the two wares—mostly dating to the Shijiahe period—unearthed from the site of Fenghuangzui in Xianyang City of Hubei Province, China. Optical microscopic examination revealed that the paint of RPW—50 μm thick on average—was applied using a brush while the slip of RSW is thinner and finer and possibly formed by self-slipping. Handheld X-ray fluorescence (hhXRF) and benchtop micro-XRF analyses ascribed the red paint or slip to iron and iron oxide. Raman and X-ray absorption fine structure analyses confirmed that iron was present in the paint or slip in the form of hematite with a poorly developed crystalline structure. Furthermore, thin-section petrography implied that different pastes were used to produce RPW and RSW, and hhXRF data indicated that the Upper Qujialing and Shijiahe pottery differ in the concentrations of five elements (Zr, Fe, Mn, Ti, and Ba), which might be helpful in future provenance studies of RSW and RPW. Our study discloses the complexity of the manufacture of RSW and RPW at Fenghuangzui. More details of RSW and RPW production and use from our ongoing project shall reveal the role of the two wares in the social dynamics of the Late Neolithic MYRV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DIRC-like time-of-flight detector (DTOF) at the Super Tau-Charm Facility (STCF) in China is a Cherenkov light detector that uses the TOF technique to identify charged particles. To achieve the expected target that provides a $3\sigma \pi $ /K separation at 2-Ge/c momentum, a single-photon time resolution of better than 50 ps is required, while the contribution from electronics should be lower than 15 ps. To meet the requirements with high channel count integration, the timing electronics using leading-edge discrimination and field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based time-to-digital converters (TDCs) are employed in the DTOF detector. This article reports the results of the first phase of project where the timing electronics with 128 channels has been constructed and its performance has been evaluated. Including the uncertainty of system clock distribution and synchronization, the intrinsic timing resolution of the electronics is better than 10-ps rms. Taking fast microchannel plate photomultiplier tubes (MCP-PMTs) as Cherenkov photodetectors and adopting time-over-threshold (TOT) measurement for time walk correction, the measured single-photon time resolutions are better than 40-ps rms. The test results confirm that the proposed timing electronics has advantages of high precision and high integration, which is highly demanded in future picosecond timing detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation and distribution of lunar surficial water remains ambiguous. Here, we show the prominence of water (OH/H2O) attributed to solar wind implantation on the uppermost surface of olivine, plagioclase, and pyroxene grains from Chang'E-5 samples. The results of spectral and microstructural analyses indicate that solar wind-derived water is affected by exposure time, crystal structure, and mineral composition. Our estimate of a minimum of 170 ppm water content in lunar soils in the Chang'E-5 region is consistent with that reported by the Moon Minerology Mapper and Chang'E-5 lander. By comparing with remote sensing data and through lunar soil maturity analysis, the amount of water in Chang'E-5 provides a reference for the distribution of surficial water in middle latitude of the Moon. We conclude that minerals in lunar soils are important reservoirs of water, and formation and retention of water originating from solar wind occurs on airless bodies. Lunar soils returned by China's Chang'E−5 (CE5) mission record the unique information of solar wind essential to understanding the preservation and distribution of lunar surficial water. Here the authors report abundant water formed by solar wind implantation in minerals of CE5 lunar soils; the water content in CE5 lunar soils is estimated to be ~ 170 ppm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to recent studies, it has been concluded that renewable electricity generation is being requested to replace all other fuels more often. In China and the USA, among renewable electricity sources, wind usage has increased significantly compared to 2020. Given these circumstances, the aim of this study was to develop a suitable speed control method for wind power systems in order to achieve maximum power generation while reducing mechanical loads. Several control strategies have been proposed in the literature, all of which offer a compromise between performance and robustness. The present research developed fractional order PID (FOPID) controllers and proved which would be the most suitable controller to address the challenges that wind turbine systems face. The parameters of the FOPID controllers (KP, KI, KD, λ and µ) were tuned with the help of the following optimization algorithms: a genetic algorithm (GA), a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The results from these three turning methods were then compared to find the method that offered the best performance and system robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brood care enhances offspring fitness and survival by providing protection or feeding through parents (commonly by females). It has evolved independently multiple times in animals, e.g. mammals, birds, dinosaurs and arthropods, especially various lineages of insects, and has significant implications for understanding the emergence of sociality of insects. However, few fossil insects document such an ephemeral behaviour directly. New exceptional fossils of the water boatman Karataviella popovi from the Middle–Late Jurassic Daohugou biota (ca 163.5 Ma, northeastern China), with adult females bearing clutches of eggs on their left mesotibia, provide a unique brooding strategy (asymmetric egg-carrying behaviour) unknown in all extinct and extant insects. Our discovery represents the earliest direct evidence of brood care among insects, pushing back by more than 38 million years, indicating that relevant adaptations associated with maternal investment of insects can be traced back to at least the Middle–Late Jurassic, and highlighting the existence of diverse brooding strategies in Mesozoic insects. In addition, our discovery reveals that a specialized trawl-like filter-capture apparatus of K. popovi probably represents pre-adaptions originally used for trapping coeval anostracan (fairy shrimp) eggs for food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: [18F]9-fluoropropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine ([18F]-FP-DTBZ) positron emission tomography (PET) provides reliable information for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we proposed a multi-atlas-based [18F]-FP-DTBZ PET image segmentation method for PD quantification assessment. Methods: A total of 99 subjects from Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University were included in this study, and both brain PET and magnetic resonance (MR) scans were conducted. Data from 20 subjects were used to generate atlases, based on which a multi-atlas-based [18F]-FP-DTBZ PET segmentation method was developed especially for striatum and its subregions. The proposed method was compared with the template-based method through striatal subregion parcellation performance and the standard uptake value ratio (SUVR) quantification accuracy. Discriminant analysis between healthy controls (HCs) and PD patients was further performed. Results: Segmentation results of the multi-atlas-based method showed better consistency than the template-based method with the ground truth, yielding a dice coefficient of 0.81 over 0.73 on the full striatum. The SUVRs calculated by the multi-atlas-based method had an average interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.953 with the standardized result, whereas the template-based method only reached 0.815. The SUVRs of HCs were generally higher than that of patients with PD and showed significant differences in all of the striatal subregions (all p < 0.001). The median and posterior putamen performed best in discriminating patients with PD from HCs. Conclusion: The proposed multi-atlas-based [18F]-FP-DTBZ PET image segmentation method achieved better performance than the template-based method, indicating great potential in improving accuracy and efficiency for PD diagnosis in clinical routine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crucial role that Xinjiang played in cultural communication across the Eurasian steppe in prehistory is evidenced by the large number of copper‐based objects that represent the early metallurgical technologies found across this region. Our research adds new chemical and isotopic analyses of 44 copper‐based objects dated to the early Iron Age of Ili in Xinjiang, western China. As noted in a number of publications, tin bronze and arsenic copper/bronze were the dominant alloying types across Xinjiang during the second and first millennium BC, whereas some specific types of objects such as cauldrons are often made from pure copper. The western Tianshan Mountain, including the well‐known mining site Nulasai, is the most likely copper source for the Ili metalworking. Meanwhile, a combination of lead isotopes, lead concentrations and trace elemental data reveals new evidence for the mixing and recycling of different sources of copper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The archaeological visibility of the production and consumption of gold and silver ornaments increased substantially during the Iron Age. A large number of precious metalworks rendered with distinctive 'animal style' motifs have been recovered from elite tombs in north‐west China, and have attracted great interest when investigating the dynamics of exchange, mobility and transcultural encounters in Eurasian antiquity. However, little scientific research has been undertaken to examine the manufacturing techniques and metal composition of such 'animal style' artefacts found in north‐west China and its neighbouring areas in a broader Eurasian context. Using multiple non‐invasive analytical methods, we conducted a detailed scientific analysis of two groups of precious metals excavated from Dongheigou Tomb 12 (fourth–second centuries bce) and Xigou Tomb 1 (third–second centuries bce) in present‐day Balikun county, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The results suggest that mould‐pressing technology was employed for the production of the 'animal style' appliqués found in these two tombs. The current analysis provides a definitive explanation for the traces of superficial crafting through their specific microstructure and the tool marks of manufacturing, and will thus be of significant interest for further research concerning the metallurgic knowledge and technological practice of precious metalworking industry in north‐west China and Central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Shangfanggou Mo–Fe deposit is a typical and giant porphyry–skarn deposit located in the East Qinling–Dabie molybdenum (Mo) polymetallic metallogenic belt in the southern margin of the North China Block. In this paper, three-dimensional (3D) multi-parameter geological modeling and microanalysis are used to discuss the mineralization and oxidation transformation process of molybdenite during the supergene stage. Meanwhile, from macro to micro, the temporal–spatial–genetic correlation and exploration constraints are also established by 3D geological modeling of industrial Mo orebodies and Mo oxide orebodies. SEM-EDS and EPMA-aided analyses indicate the oxidation products of molybdenite are dominated by tungsten–powellite at the supergene stage. Thus, a series of oxidation processes from molybdenite to tungsten–powellite are obtained after the precipitation of molybdenite; eventually, a special genetic model of the Shangfanggou high oxidation rate Mo deposit is formed. Oxygen fugacity reduction and an acid environment play an important part in the precipitation of molybdenite: (1) During the oxidation process, molybdenite is first oxidized to a MoO2·SO4 complex ion and then reacts with a carbonate solution to precipitate powethite, in which W and Mo elements can be substituted by complete isomorphism, forming a unique secondary oxide orebody dominated by tungsten–powellite. (2) Under hydrothermal action, Mo4+ can be oxidized to jordisite in the strong acid reduction environment at low temperature and room temperature during the hydrothermal mineralization stage. Ilsemannite is the oxidation product, which can be further oxidized to molybdite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stem of Picrasma quassioides (PQ) was recorded as a prominent traditional Chinese medicine, Kumu, which was effective for microbial infection, inflammation, fever, and dysentery, etc. At present, Kumu is widely used in China to develop different medicines, even as injection (Kumu zhusheye), for combating infections. However, the chemical basis of its antimicrobial activity has still not been elucidated. To examine the active chemicals, its stem was extracted to perform bioassay-guided purification against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In this study, two types of columns (normal and reverse-phase) were used for speedy bioassay-guided isolation from Kumu, and the active peaks were collected and identified via an UHPLC-Orbitrap-Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer, combined with MS Fragmenter and ChromGenius. For identification, the COCONUT Database (largest database of natural products) and a manually built PQ database were used, in combination with prediction and calculation of mass fragmentation and retention time to better infer their structures, especially for isomers. Moreover, three standards were analyzed under different conditions for developing and validating the MS method. A total of 25 active compounds were identified, including 24 alkaloids and 1 triterpenoid against S. aureus , whereas only β-carboline-1-carboxylic acid and picrasidine S were active against E. coli. Here, the good antimicrobial activity of 18 chemicals was reported for the first time. Furthermore, the spectrum of three abundant β-carbolines was assessed via their IC50 and MBC against various human pathogens. All of them exhibited strong antimicrobial activities with good potential to be developed as antibiotics. This study clearly showed the antimicrobial chemical basis of Kumu, and the results demonstrated that HRMS coupled with MS Fragmenter and ChromGenius was a powerful tool for compound analysis, which can be used for other complex samples. Beta-carbolines reported here are important lead compounds in antibiotic discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xiangshan uranium (U) ore field in South‐east China has been recognized as the largest volcanic‐related hydrothermal U deposit in China since its discovery in the 1950s. The U mineralization at Xiangshan is mostly hosted in felsic volcanic and sub‐volcanic rocks and occurs mainly in veins, which are controlled by high‐angle normal faults in association with haematite, quartz, fluorite, apatite, and pyrite. Likewise, diverse hydrothermal alterations such as haematitization, silicification, fluoritization, and illitization have been identified adjacent to the ore‐bearing faults and outward for tens to hundreds of metres into the volcanic rocks. Situated to the west in the Xiangshan ore field, the Shazhou deposit is the second‐largest U deposit in the Xiangshan volcanic basin. Based on geological field evidence and petrographic observations, the ore‐forming fluids in the Shazhou U deposit can be classified and separated into three stages (early, main, and late): (a) fluids associated with the early mineralization stage are characterized by the oxidizing feature with U‐O hydroxide complexes as the dominant species; (b) fluids from the main mineralization stage were reducing fluids with black–purple fluorite and sulphide complexes of U‐Ti‐O; and (c) fluids from the late‐stage were weakly oxidizing fluids with light purple fluorite and light red calcite complexes of U‐O as the dominant species in the fluid. Fluid inclusions in alteration minerals from the main and late mineralization stage recorded homogenization temperatures (Th) of 280–340°C and 200–260°C, with salinities of 5–17 and 6–10% NaCleqv, respectively. Ore‐forming fluids contain variable amounts of CO2, O2, and H2, in which the volatile content in the main mineralization stage is higher than that in the late stage. The temperature and salinity of the ore‐forming fluids were fluctuating and gradually decreased as the geologic history of the deposit progressed. The δDW‐SMOW values calculated for the ore‐forming fluids range from −97.4 to −65.1‰. The δ18O values of syn‐ore quartz occur mainly between 5.9 and 15.7‰; calculated δ18OW‐SMOW values are between −1.5 and +8.3‰. The δ34SCDT values of syn‐ore pyrite and galena range from 9.7 to 19.7‰. The ore‐forming fluids in the Shazhou U deposit are derived from different sources with a complex geological evolution history. The ore‐forming fluids from the early mineralization stage with high O2 contents may have been primarily derived from post‐volcanic hydrothermal activity. Subsequently, fluids from the main mineralization stage (with lower O2 and high H2 contents) might have originated from the deep‐sourced fluids, where sulphur was carried from the metamorphic basement. Finally, ore‐forming fluids from the late mineralization stage could have been produced by mixing meteoric hydrothermal fluids. Large‐scale fluid immiscibility and boiling occurred during the main mineralization stage, followed by fluid mixing during the late mineralization stage. Boiling and mixing of fluids were the two dominant mechanisms for the deposition of U in the Shazhou deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have caused frequent haze pollution episodes during winter in eastern China. Considering that the vertical profile of the aerosol properties changes significantly with altitude, investigating aerosol aloft information via satellite remote sensing is essential for studying regional transport, climate radiative effects, and air quality. Through a synergic approach between lidar, the AErosol RObotic NETwork sunphotometer observations, and WRF-Chem simulations, several transboundary aloft transport events of haze aerosols to Xuzhou, eastern China, are investigated in terms of source, type, and composition and the impact on optical properties. Upper-air aerosol layers are short-lived tiny particles that increase the total aerosol optical depth (AOD). The aloft aerosols not only play a critical role during the haze event, enhancing the scattering of aerosol particles significantly but also cause a rise in the AOD and the Ångström exponent (AE), which increases the proportion of fine particles, exacerbating the pollution level near the surface. Based on the model simulation results, our study highlights that the transported aloft aerosols lead to the rapid formation of secondary inorganic substances, such as secondary sulfates, nitrates, and ammonium salts, which strongly contribute to haze event formation. Moreover, the results provide evidence that the haze frequency events associated with polluted dust outbreaks were higher for 2014–2015 winter. A closer analysis shows that the advected dust layers over Xuzhou originated from Inner Mongolia and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The study of the occurrence frequency, height, thickness, and optical properties of aloft anthropogenic haze in China will further deepen our understanding and provide a strong basis to assess aerosol impact on transport and the Earth–atmosphere radiative balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The facility for delayed neutron counting was built at the China Institute of Atomic Energy in the 1980s. A method of normalized decaying curve of delayed neutron is proposed in this work. Preliminary experiments show that this method is suitable for the determinations of uranium in samples with a wide range of uranium concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urine-based formaldehyde has been reported to be a potential biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, there is a lack of research about the correlation between urine formaldehyde and cognitive abilities in the clinical spectrum of AD, especially the preclinical period. The relationship of urine formaldehyde with APOE genotype, brain Aβ status and plasma pathological markers in AD are also not clear. This study intends to explore the correlation between urine formaldehyde and cognitive abilities throughout the AD continuum, to evaluate the role of APOE genotype and Aβ accumulation on urine formaldehyde, and further to clarify the relationship between urine formaldehyde level and AD plasma pathological markers. We recruited 72 cognitively normal controls (NC), 110 subjective cognitive decline (SCD), 140 objectively defined subtle cognitive decline (Obj-SCD), 171 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 136 AD dementia participants. Next, we collected the data of clinical materials, neuropsychological examination, APOE genotyping, urine formaldehyde concentration, 18F-florbetapir PET imaging and plasma biomarkers. Compared with NC, Obj-SCD and MCI groups, the level of urine formaldehyde was found to be significantly upregulated in SCD group. In addition, the level of urine formaldehyde was significantly higher in AD group compared to both NC and MCI groups. Further subgroup analysis showed that, the level of urine formaldehyde was higher in APOE ε4+ subgroup compared to APOE ε4– subgroup in both NC and AD groups. There was no difference in urine formaldehyde level between the brain Aβ+ subgroup and Aβ– subgroup in each group. In addition, regression analysis showed urine formaldehyde level was correlated with gender, plasma Aβ42 and p-Tau181/T-tau. The dynamic change of urine formaldehyde in the AD continuum could be used as a potential biomarker, and combined with comprehensive cognitive evaluation could become a useful method to distinguish SCD from NC and Obj-SCD, and to distinguish MCI from AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of inlaid porcelain once prevailed in the Northern Song (960–1,127 AD) and Jin Dynasties (1,125–1,234 AD) across the north of China. During that time, the influence of the Cizhou kiln was considerable. However, we know little about the inlaying techniques used in ancient Chinese porcelain. In order to address this gap in knowledge, a total of seven pieces of inlaid porcelain sherds with the Cizhou style of the Northern Song Dynasty were analyzed by optical microscope (OM), X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) in association with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The results reveal that the material of inlay is identical with the slip, and the production process is also clearly shown. In addition, the international ceramic technological interaction of inlaid porcelain in Northeast Asia is discussed according to the analysis results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of the relative differential cross sections of the neutron-deuteron ( n - d) elastic scattering, i.e., the 2 H(n, el) 2 H reaction, for 12 neutron energies from 13.56 MeV to 52.48 MeV has been carried out at the Back-n White Neutron Source of the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). By detection of the recoil deuterons using the light charged particle detector array (LPDA) system, the relative differential cross sections of the neutrons in the center-of-mass frame were obtained and then compared with previous measurements, the theoretical calculations performed using the Nijmegen I nucleon-nucleon potential in the Faddeev formalism, and the evaluated from libraries including the ENDF-B/VIII.0, JEFF-3.3, JENDL-4.0, CENDL-3.2, and FENDL-3.2. The present work was the first measurement relative differential cross sections of the n-d scattering for the 30 MeV < E n ≤ 60 MeV neutron energy range using a white neutron source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed Virtual Reality (DVR) is a combination of network and virtual reality technology, it could facilitate to construct a uniformly shared Distributed Virtual Environment (DVE) by using network to connect geographically distributed multiplayers. This paper concentrates on the theoretical research and practical development about Multiplayer Virtual Intelligent System (MVIS), and the main contribution could be summarized as two points. (1) Based on the DVR technology, this paper presented some theoretical research on MVIS, including the classification of virtual entities, communication pattern of entities, and the behavioral consistency research. Furthermore, a Multiplayer Earliest Deadline First (MEDF) program was proposed in order to guarantee the consistency of entities. (2) A prototype algorithm experiment system, called Multiplayer Graph-algorithm Intelligent System (MGIS), was designed. MGIS not onlyefficiently solves many problems in traditional computer algorithm teaching, such as high-abstraction, difficulty to understand, and lack of interaction mechanism; but also extends the application of DVR to cultural tourism, because MGIS is developed on the 3D scene of Lushan Mountain, which is one of the notable tourist attractions in China, and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1996. What i's more, MGIS illustrates the ability of expression, applicability and generality of the theoretical research about MVIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stem of Picrasma quassioides (PQ) was recorded as a prominent traditional Chinese medicine, Kumu, which was effective for microbial infection, inflammation, fever, and dysentery, etc. At present, Kumu is widely used in China to develop different medicines, even as injection (Kumu zhusheye), for combating infections. However, the chemical basis of its antimicrobial activity has still not been elucidated. To examine the active chemicals, its stem was extracted to perform bioassay-guided purification against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In this study, two types of columns (normal and reverse-phase) were used for speedy bioassay-guided isolation from Kumu, and the active peaks were collected and identified via an UHPLC-Orbitrap-Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer, combined with MS Fragmenter and ChromGenius. For identification, the COCONUT Database (largest database of natural products) and a manually built PQ database were used, in combination with prediction and calculation of mass fragmentation and retention time to better infer their structures, especially for isomers. Moreover, three standards were analyzed under different conditions for developing and validating the MS method. A total of 25 active compounds were identified, including 24 alkaloids and 1 triterpenoid against S. aureus , whereas only β-carboline-1-carboxylic acid and picrasidine S were active against E. coli. Here, the good antimicrobial activity of 18 chemicals was reported for the first time. Furthermore, the spectrum of three abundant β-carbolines was assessed via their IC50 and MBC against various human pathogens. All of them exhibited strong antimicrobial activities with good potential to be developed as antibiotics. This study clearly showed the antimicrobial chemical basis of Kumu, and the results demonstrated that HRMS coupled with MS Fragmenter and ChromGenius was a powerful tool for compound analysis, which can be used for other complex samples. Beta-carbolines reported here are important lead compounds in antibiotic discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calibration process for a hybrid pixel detector designed for the High Energy Photon Source in China, called HEPS-BPIX, is presented in this article. The relationship between the energy and threshold is quantified for the threshold calibration based on a threshold scanning. For threshold trimming, a precise algorithm based on local digital to analog converter (LDAC) characteristics and a fast algorithm based on LDAC scanning are proposed in this article to study the performance of threshold digital to analog converters (DACs) that will be applied to pixels. The threshold dispersion was reduced from 46.28 mV without the algorithm to 6.78 mV with the precise algorithm, whereas it was 7.61 mV with the fast algorithm. For temperatures from 5 °C to 60 °C, the threshold dispersion of the precise algorithm varies in the range of 5.69 mV. In contrast, it is 33.21 mV with the fast algorithm, which can be recorrected to 1.49 mV. The measurement results show that the fast algorithm could obtain the applicable threshold dispersion for a silicon pixel module and took less time. In comparison, the precise algorithm could obtain better threshold dispersion but was time-consuming. The temperature dependence of the silicon pixel module noise was also studied to assess the detector working status. The minimum detectable energy threshold could be reduced to 0.83–4.36 keV at a temperature of 5 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The concept of field philosophy challenges a common self-understanding in Western philosophy. One question regarding this challenge is the extent to which it might be relevant to a philosophical and cultural tradition other than that in which it originated. The birth of gene-edited babies in late 2018 in Shenzhen and subsequent response within China offer an occasion for considering such a question. A narrative review, emphasizing how discussions in China itself have unfolded, rather than the course of international discussions of this real-world problem, suggests a need to qualify the applicability of field philosophy beyond American and European contexts. Many English language reports fail to note the broad involvement from government agencies, scientific institutions, professional organizations, news media, and netizens (both academics and the public). What we called field philosophical journalism can help identify limitations in some non-Chinese perspectives and complement if not directly contribute to field philosophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The ARGO-YBJ detector has been completely installed at the YangBaJing High Altitude Cosmic Ray Observatory (Tibet, China), at 4300m a.s.l., and is taking data with a trigger rate of about 4kHz and a dead time of about 4%. The ARGO-YBJ Data Acquisition System is based on a two-layer readout architecture implementing an event-driven data collection. In order to sustain a high data throughput and have a good readout efficiency or keep the dead time as low as possible, the decoupling FIFOs have been housed on the data packet processing modules. In this paper, the hardware solution to monitor the DAQ system and to track in real-time anomalous data transfers is presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Technology employed by the ancient goldsmiths is traceable through archaeometallurgy. Using non-destructive analytical methods, namely, a 3D digital microscopy and a scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM–EDS), we investigated the manufacturing techniques and chemical composition of gold and silver artefacts recovered from Tomb 2 (M2), the richest find from Xigoupan cemetery (fourth-third century BCE) in the northern part of Jungar Banner, Inner Mongolia. The present research contributes to a better understanding of the inventive nature of precious metal working industry in early China (eighth-third century BCE). First, cultural interchange was evidenced in the metalwork examined, notably as being closely linked to techniques emerging from the Eurasian steppes. In Xigoupan M2, the ornamentation of sheet works in the Scytho-Siberian animal style was seen to be clearly influenced by the central Asian steppe goldsmithing practice, while certain cast items were typical of the Chinese tradition. Second, our analysis reveals that the gold appliqués with raised animal figures that were previously thought to be repoussé work have actually been made with double-sided carving. We consider such a new technology as one of local inventions that was inspired by methods arriving from the central Asian steppes. In addition, our analysis of elemental composition reveals that the gold artefacts found in Xigoupan M2 to be made of natural gold, while the horse harness ornament is made of pure silver. These results, combined with the study of the existing data pertaining to comparable examples, attest to the shared craftsmanship in prestige metal production across the northern Chinese states, especially with regard to the pre-imperial period Qin workshop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angelicae Sinensis Radix is a world‐renowned herbal medicine originating in China. Owing to many environmental and geographical factors, Angelicae Sinensis Radix from various origins may have a difference in the content of ingredients, which made the confusion in the clinical practice and market. Herein, a binary chromatographic fingerprinting analysis method is developed via hydrophilic interaction chromatography and reversed‐phase liquid chromatography to obtain more chemical information. Following that, an ultra‐performance liquid chromatography with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method is furnished to simultaneously detect 17 ingredients of Angelicae Sinensis Radix gathered from six geographic zones in China. Eventually, the principal component analysis is successfully carried out to classify and differentiate the Angelicae Sinensis Radix from different origins, meanwhile the quantitative volcano plots was used to observe the changes of ingredient trends vividly. Accordingly, the proposed binary chromatography and triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry coupled with multivariate statistical analysis can be utilized as a facile and reliable method for origin tracing and quality control of Angelicae Sinensis Radix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intra-industry trade (IIT) is prominent to have potential benefits to improve the economic prospects of countries and has gradually been pivotal in understanding developing countries’ trade, including those in Africa. This study evaluates the extent of IIT between China and 18 major African trading partners across 10 Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) industries, and examine the influencing factors of China-Africa IIT between the periods 2007 – 2018. Using a non-weighted Grubel–Lloyd index, the overall level of China-Africa IIT remains low but has certain level of potential between some partners. Among the 10 SITC classified industries, SITC 0 (Food and live animals), SITC 2 (Crude materials, inedible, except fuels), SITC 5 (Chemicals and related products, n.e.s.) and SITC 6 (Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material) had potential for IIT. In addition, the influencing factors of China-Africa IIT were examined using an improved gravity model estimated by Feasible Generalised Least Squares (FGLS) in a panel data framework. The main empirical regression model results reveals that, China’s IIT with major African trading partners are significantly influenced by gross domestic product (GDP), foreign direct investment (FDI), real exchange rate, trade intensity, distance, and landlocked countries. The study further reveals that, GDP and FDI boost China-Africa IIT whereas real exchange rate, trade intensity, distance, and landlocked depress IIT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking a close look at Zhao Liang's 2015 documentary Behemoth, this article argues that the film employs the aesthetic of slow cinema and combines it with Marxist critique in order to generate an ecological awareness that pushes the boundaries of ecocinema. By suturing the slow aesthetic to the environmental destruction of Inner Mongolia's landscape and the exploitation of China's migrant workers, Behemoth reorients the viewing gaze from the spectacular and the exotic towards the self-aware and the introspective. The article argues that Zhao's film, which featured in the main competition for the Golden Lion at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival, self-consciously manoeuvres between a critique of China's environmental devastation and the western audience's expectation of viewing such a catastrophe as a sign of self-expression and self-critique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The placement of the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary in deep-water realm in South China and the high-precision temporal framework for the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition in this region have not yet been completely solved. Recently, we have found two K-bentonite beds in the top of the Liuchapo Formation at the Pingyin section, Guizhou Province. It provides an opportunity for constructing the temporal framework of the transitional strata on the Yangtze Platform in South China and for determining the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary in this area. In this study, we conducted high-precision CA-ID-TIMS U-Pb dating on zircons from the two K-bentonites. The ages of the two K-bentonites were precisely constrained at 536.40±0.47/1.1/1.2 Ma (2σ, n=7, MSWD=0.92) and 541.48±0.46/1.1/1.2 Ma (2σ, n=8, MSWD=1.3). Combining the geochronological results with organic carbon isotope data of chert in the topmost Liuchapo Formation from the section, we suggest that the EdiacaranCambrian boundary should be consistent with a significant negative organic carbon isotope excursion between the two K-bentonites. The scheme of the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary in this study is of great significance for global correlation, and further for unravelling the information of the terminal Ediacaran-early Cambrian ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hunshandake Sandy Land (HSL) is a well-known water-rich sandy region in China that is home to many lakes. Most of these lakes are sustained by groundwater inflow. However, due to the limited hydrogeological survey data, the mechanism by which the lakes interact with groundwater is not well understood. Magnetic resonance sounding (MRS) is a geophysical method that has emerged in recent years that can directly detect the distribution of groundwater and determine the lithology of the aquifer medium. Compared with drilling, this method is convenient, rapid, and inexpensive. In this study, to determine how the lakes are recharged by groundwater, a field experiment using MRS was conducted on Haoletuyin Lake, which is located in the central HSL. The results showed that compared with borehole data, the MRS-derived aquifer depth has an uncertainty of 6.88%. Additionally, the lithology of the media derived from the MRS is consistent with that derived from the borehole data. This finding suggests that the MRS-derived results are highly accurate. Based on the MRS-derived results, two hydrogeological profiles were plotted, and they show that the lake in the experimental area is recharged primarily by shallow groundwater and not by deep groundwater. This study is significant because it not only reveals the mechanism by which Haoletuyin Lake is maintained, but also proves that MRS is an excellent tool for studying lake-groundwater relations in desert (sandy land) regions with limited hydrogeological survey data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past two decades, the in situ X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) technology has been developed rapidly in China, which is mainly due to the rapid development of China's economy and the great demand for rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis of elements in geological exploration, environmental protection, and industrial process analysis. In this article, the development of in situ XRF analysis technology in China is reviewed from three aspects, namely in situ XRF analyzers, in situ XRF analysis technology, and applications of in situ XRF analysis technology. The in situ XRF analyzers are divided into four generations, and the technical characteristics of each generation of analyzers are discussed from the perspectives of X‐ray excitation source, detector, electronic circuit unit, and digital signal processing. The progress of X‐ray spectrum analysis, matrix effect correction, and correction of uneven effect and humidity effect is reviewed. The representative applications of XRF analysis technology in geological and mineral survey, environmental pollution investigation, cultural relic identification, and alloy analysis are introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tianshanbeilu is the largest Bronze Age site in eastern Xinjiang, China. Stretching across the entire second millennium BC, it performed a prominent role in connecting the Hexi corridor, Central China and the steppe. A further insight into the metallurgical tradition and the metal supply network is of vital importance to improve our understanding of its multi‐connected nature. This paper offers a new set of chemical and isotopic data on the copper‐based objects at Tianshanbeilu, including alloying elements, trace elements (impurities) and lead isotopes. Combining the concentrations of arsenic and antimony reveals that arsenic was introduced to copper partially due to the use of specific minerals tethrahedrite‐tennantite. Lead isotopes demonstrate that multiple sources of copper were employed at Tianshanbeilu and a majority of them are characterized by common lead, which appears rather different from those of the Central Plains and the Hexi corridor, but highly consistent with local ores. Surprisingly, one object at Tianshanbeilu contains the well‐known highly radiogenic lead. This object undoubtedly marks the westernmost boundary of the distribution of the highly radiogenic lead. We also anticipate that more lead isotopic analyses in NW China will further contribute to the study of the highly radiogenic lead in Central China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is common in cardiovascular disease. It is associated with adverse clinical outcomes for patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass and valve operations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on the midterm outcomes of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who underwent septal myectomy. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 67 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who underwent septal myectomy from two medical centers in China from 2011 to 2018. A propensity score–matched cohort of 134 patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus was also analyzed. Results: During a median follow-up of 28.0 (interquartile range: 13.0–3.0) months, 9 patients died. The cause of death of all of these patients was cardiovascular, particularly sudden cardiac death in 3 patients. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had a higher rate of sudden cardiac death (4.5% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.04). The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed that the rates of predicted 3-year survival free from cardiovascular death (98.1% vs. 95.1%, p = 0.14) were similar between the two groups. However, the rates of predicted 3-year survival free from sudden cardiac death (100% vs. 96.7%, p = 0.01) were significantly higher in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus than in those with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, after adjustment for age and sex, only N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (hazards ratio: 1.002, 95% confidence interval: 1.000–1.005, p = 0.02) and glomerular filtration rate ≤ 80 ml/min (hazards ratio: 3.23, 95% confidence interval: 1.34–7.24, p = 0.047) were independent risk factors for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus have similar 3-year cardiovascular mortality after septal myectomy. However, type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with higher sudden cardiac death rate in these patients. In addition, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and glomerular filtration rate ≤ 80 ml/min were independent risk factors among hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composition, microstructure, and binding media of the decorative earthen plaster fragments from the Buddhist cave temple of Bezeklik (fifth–fourteenth century CE), China, were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, sieve analysis, and other methods. In addition, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used for identification of the organic adhesive found mixed in the earthen plaster. Studies indicated the presence of proteinaceous material, mainly beeswax, with animal glue, pine resin, and plant sterol mixed in the earthen plaster as the biopolymer. The organic additives improved the basic qualities of the mud by acting as stabilizers, hardeners, and water proofers. The loamy sand soil sourced for Bezeklik plasters shows low cohesion and disaggregation of grains occurred for want of clay-sized particles in the plaster. Due to frequent handling and transportation, the fragments are now showing distress in the form of loss of earthen support and paint layers. Based on the analytical findings, traditional binders such as sepiolite clay, slaked lime, and fish glue were introduced and fragments consolidated for display. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to Permian magmatic Ni-Cu sulfide deposits in the eastern part of the Northern Tianshan, such as Huangshan and Huangshandong, those in the western part (e.g., Baixintan and Lubei) are poorly documented. Zircon ID-TIMS U-Pb age data (279.7 ± 0.2 Ma) of lherzolite and LA-ICPMS U-Pb age data (277.8 ± 3.4 Ma) of a hornblende gabbro suggest the Lubei intrusion was emplaced in the Early Permian. The Baixintan and Lubei mafic-ultramafic intrusive rocks are characterized by enrichments of large ion lithophile elements and Th and U relative to the high field strength elements, as well as depletion of Nb and Ta relative to mid-ocean ridge basalt. The (87Sr/86Sr)t (0.70354–0.70713), εNd(t) (2.80 to + 7.05), and εHf(t) (2.50–18.4) values for the intrusions indicate that they have assimilated Tianshan basement rocks, whereas the Se/S ratios (181 × 10−6–418 × 10−6) and δ34SCDT values (− 0.13‰ to 0.90‰) of the sulfides suggest that crustal sulfur has not been incorporated into the magma. The decrease in Pd/Zr with increasing (Th/Nb)PM indicates that sulfide saturation accompanied crustal contamination. The olivine compositions and whole-rock chalcophile elements of the Baixintan and Lubei intrusions imply that the parental magma of the intrusive rocks in the west contains higher chalcophile elements than those in the east, which suggests that the mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the western part of the Northern Tianshan should be regarded as favorable Ni-Cu sulfide exploration targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salts have been part of human nutrition since 2,000 b.C., having originated in the Zhongba region, in China. Itssubstantial availability in food markets and stores specialized in condiments led us, curiously, to compare its elemental chemical composition with that of salt extracted from a floating aquatic macrophyte, known commonly as "water hyacinth" (Eichhornia crassipes), whose product, after extraction from dry matter, was popularly denominated"indigenous salt". The objective of the present study was to evaluate the chemical composition of gourmet salts in comparison with indigenous salt using the energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) technique. Eichhornia crassipes exhibited higher concentrations of chloride (35.834%), potassium (62.146%), sulfur (1.095%), calcium (0.450%), bromine (0.177%), silicon (0.124%), copper (0.029%), magnesium (0.123%), and rubidium (0.023%) than the gourmet salts. Our results indicate that this indigenous salt should be consumed under medical guidance due to its high concentration of potassium chloride, a salt whose properties are used for specific human treatment and not daily consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]