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No.342

 
 
 


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


N0.342 September 10,2003
 
IN THIS ISSUE

* Climate Disasters Study Completed

* Optic Chip Detecting Breast Cancer

* Better Understanding of Brain Metabolism

* Large Sapphire Crystal Developed

* Better Testing Technique for Power Line Insulator

* World Engineers Conference

* Nankai-IBM for China's Supercomputer


 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 

Climate Disasters Study Completed  

Thanks to their 5-year painstaking efforts, Chinese scientists have finally completed the study of the genesis of China’s severe climate disasters and the associated prediction theory.

As one of the first study topics selected by the 973 Program sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, the study of the origins of China’s severe climate disasters and associated prediction theory has formed the core content of the international study of climate variations and associated interactions (CLIVAR). This study has made an in-depth analysis of the changes and interactions of different spheres of the climate system, especially the changes and interactions of the sub-climate systems in East Asia and their impact on the origins of China’s severe climate disasters. The study has resulted in a number of new theories relating to the origins of China’s severe climate disasters, such as “East Asia Climate System,” “East Asian Monsoon-Warm Sink-ENSO Cyclic Interactions,” and “Plateau Atmospheric Thermal Adaptability.” Scientists have made progress in the study of the ENSO cyclic mechanism and associated digital modeling, which has greatly raised China’s prediction capacity for ENSO events. Scientists have also established a digital prediction system for trans-seasonal climate abnormality and they have successfully predicted the severe drought and flood disasters that occurred during the summers of 1998-2002. 

In collaboration with the Marine Environment Prediction Center, attached to the State Oceanic Administration, the study project has sponsored several rounds of workshops on EL NINO events and co-sponsored, with the Marine Environment Prediction Center and National Climate Center, the seminar on Chinas Severe Climate Disasters Prediction. The seminar successfully predicted the evolution of La Nina events during the period of 1999-2001, the occurrence of EL NINO events in 2002, and the severe droughts of North China in 1999-2002. The study has proposed drought predictions for North China for the coming 5-10 years, which has provided scientific evidence for national economic planning and sustainable development.

Optic Chip Detecting for Breast Cancer  

The Microcirculation Institute of China Xiehe Medical University, a part of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, has applied the optic protein chip to test the TP in breast cancer cells and achieved results similar to those produced by a testing method that is in use overseas. Chinese researchers have also worked out a preparation process for producing the anti-CA15-3 optic protein chip, a major lab-testing indicator.

In the course of applying China’s proprietary optic protein chip to test the TP in breast cancer cells and exploring anti-TP multi-cloned antibody based optic protein chip testing method, the Institute tested 20 breast vessel cancer cases and produced a result consistent with results produced by ELISA, an advanced immunity testing approach widely applied abroad. Compared with the ELISA process, China’s optic chip has proved simpler and more reliable with easier readout and lower cost. This is very promising for broad clinic applications. CA15-3 is an important serum protein indicator needed by breast cancer lab testing and post-operation tracking. Researchers employed the selected anti - CA15-3 monoclonal antibodies to make optic protein chips and applied them in testing the blood samples of 35 breast cancer patients. The test results have been compared with those produced by the chemical CA15-3 testing process, which is undergoing current clinic applications and is shown to be relevant.

These findings prove that China’s proprietary optic protein chips are appropriate for mass production, given the merits, such as easy and fast operation, low cost, unified standards, and fine communication. Researchers expressed that if optic protein chips can be made clinically applicable, together with associated testing equipment, great advances will be seen in improving clinic diagnosing and in treating common diseases, post-operation tracking, and reduced medical expenses.

Better Understanding of Brain Metabolism  

After being treated with in-depth brain electric stimulation therapy at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, a 28-year-old female patient with Parkinson’s disease was freed from the symptoms and able to work normally.  The young woman became pregnant after the termination of the therapy and gave the birth to a healthy baby boy last June. It is reported that the young woman is the only patient in the world having advanced Parkinson’s who has recovered following the operation and has given birth to a healthy baby.

So far the Hospital has successfully worked with more than 100 Parkinson patients at intermediate or advanced stages that have recovered after use of the in-depth brain electric stimulation therapy. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, in collaboration with Positron Sectional Scanning Center of Huashan Hospital,  has compared the variations of patients’ cerebral glucose metabolism before and after the treatment and concluded that deep brain stimulation is able to make a patient free from the disease symptoms by increasing metabolism in the black striatum area of the brain, thus enhancing the functions of the neurons of substantial niagra. It was also found that such increased local metabolic activity may protect nerve cells and slow down the advance of Parkinson’s disease.   

Good News for Functional Genomes and Biochips

The Huang Wei research team with the Dept. of Genetics of the Southern Section of the National Human Genome Research Center not long ago completed genetic sequence comparisons between man and quadrumana, such as the chimpanzee. The findings were published in the “Journal of the American Institute of Science” on July 8, 2003. This is the first systematic comparative study of genomes of different human populations, the diversity of genomes among different individuals, and the evolutionary kinship of human beings to the chimpanzee accomplished by Chinese scientists. On the basis of DNA specimens of human beings and chimpanzees, gorillas, gibbons, and macaques, researchers launched the genome comparative study between human beings and chimpanzees in the context of 127 genes on man’s No. 21 chromosome. Researchers analyzed the variations of genome sequences of both man and chimpanzee and unveiled the structures and functions of the genes on man’s No. 21 chromosome. They eventually spotted 3,003 sequence differences between man and chimpanzee in the functional zone approaching 400kb. 

By studying the sequence differences between human beings and chimpanzees, researchers have also found that some special sequence mutations in the coding and control areas of human genes and the mutated sequences exist. These may result in changes of protein structures and expressions in the biological evolution process, playing an important role in causing some pathological and physiological symptoms uniquely possessed by human beings.  The findings have fully demonstrated the theoretical importance of studying human genome sequence mutation through population genomics and comparative genomics. In addition to the contributions to scientific development, the study has provided important scientific data and new research clues for exploring the unique characteristics and symptoms of human beings, as well as developing a new approach for identifying major genetic diseases.  

Large Sapphire Crystal Developed

Researchers at the Shanghai Photo Machinery Institute, a part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have achieved substantive progress in growing large-sized sapphire crystals through the temperature gradient technique (TGT), a patented technique. The sapphire crystal is larger than 4 inches with its four key performance indicators reaching internationally advanced levels.

This technique has created a breakthrough in growing sapphire crystals, an internationally acknowledged technical puzzle, and has laid a firm foundation for the commercial production of large sized sapphire crystals. Comprehensive testing done by the California Institute of Technology has shown that the four technical performance indicators of the sapphire crystals grown using the temperature gradient technique were better than those produced through the thermal exchange process in the United States, reaching an internationally advanced level.  

The Institute has started the mass production of sapphire crystals and is planning to build a 2-inch sapphire crystal underlay production line, the first of its kind in the nation, along with another 3-inch sapphire crystal underlay production line, the first of its kind in the world.  The successful industrialization of sapphire crystal production will make the product available for export to Japan, the United States, Germany, and other countries.

Better Testing Technique Found for Power Line Insulators

The “Intelligent Insulator Testing Instrument,” developed by Beijing Shenlang Electronics Co. Ltd., has been used for the first time in the nation to measure insulation resistance by exerting pulse electric pressure on tested insulators of a charged power line. This achieved the quantitative testing of online insulators. The new instrument may detect insulators that have a leakage but have not yet broken down or be in a critically damaged condition. The new technique will allow the establishment of a testing database, a maintenance information management system, and associated scientific management possible for clients.

The trial applications of the new instrument in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Qingdao last July confirmed its reliable performance, easy operation, and accurate testing results. Capable of testing the resistance of every piece of the insulator, the instrument has found a solution to the technical difficulty that existing insulator testing instruments manufactured both at home and abroad cannot perform; online charged quantitative testing. In addition, technicians may be able to tell the insulation status of the entire power line based on the data collected by the new instrument and avoid break-down accidents caused by improper or missed examination.

New Process for Extracting Cancer Resistant Fungi

SONG Airong, research fellow at the Shandong Laiyang Academy of Agricultural Sciences has, on the basis of his many-year study, and along with associated pharmacological study of cancer resistant fungi called Grifola frondosa, made progress in a technique to extract amylose from Grifola frondosa.

Mr. SONG explained that compared to the direct extraction of amylose from Grifola frondosa seeds, this is a different approach to the fermenting of Grifola frondosa fungi when they grow to a certain size. The amylose is then extracted from the fermenting fluid. It is a difficult process to extract amylose from Grifola frondosa seeds, as Grifola frondosa has difficulty surviving artificial growth. Their biological conversion rate has also been proven low. The ability to extract from the fermenting fluid has provided a fundamental solution to the shortage of raw materials. The technique may help identify fine fungi with high amylose content in the fermenting liquid and improve the quality of extracted fungi. Mr. SONG also explained that Grifola frondosa has a growth cycle that may last for 6-8 months with very restricted environmental requirements. This made the lead-time for amylose extraction too long. On the contrary, it only takes 25 days from the first inoculation to the termination of the fermentation process in fermenting liquid. This saves time and manpower, and therefore production costs. 

Mr. SONG has screened out two finely engineered fungi species, worked out the optimal recipe for the fermenting fluid and temperature setting, and finalized the extracting process for the pilot development. The technique has led to 2 national invention patent applications.  

 NEWS BRIEFS

World Engineers Conference

On August 30, 2003, LI Yizhang, Chairman of the World Association for Engineering Organizations and academician of the Malaysian Academy of Sciences, announced in Shanghai that the World Engineers Conference will be held November 3-6, 2004 in Shanghai. With the theme of ‘Engineers Shaping the Future of Sustainable Development,’ the Conference will discuss many important engineering issues related to network engineering and information processing, biology and human health, traffic and urban sustainable development, environmental protection and disaster prevention and control, agricultural engineering and food security, resources and energy, ecological materials, and green manufacturing among many other subjects.

During its sessions, the Conference will organize the World Engineering Fair for future perspectives and will co-sponsor the International Engineering Technology Show with the Shanghai International Industrial Fair. Starting from 2003, the Conference will launch an online forum discussion of four major topics, including  the digital gap, women’s participation, engineering education and verification, and responsibility and ethics.   

The World Engineers Conference–2004 is the initiative of the World Association for Engineering Organizations with the co-sponsorship of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the Shanghai Municipal Government. 

Nankai-IBM for China’s Supercomputer  

On September 1, 2003, Tianjin-based Nankai University and IBM jointly announced that they would collaboratively work on Nankai Star, the fastest supercomputer in the nation. Made of more than 400 Linux knots, Nankai Start will be framed with 800 3.06GHz Intel processors. The supercomputer will, starting from September 2003, double its speed every quarter and eventually hit the designed computation capacity of 5 trillion times per second by August 2004.

Through concerted efforts of both sides, IBM and Nankai University will also jointly establish an IBM-Nankai Scientific Computation Institute and make it the world’s first class high performance computation center during the one-year development phase for Nankai Start.  

Major Discoveries in ‘Super Rice’

II Youhang 1 and II You 247, two super rice varieties developed by the Fujian Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences have recently passed verification checks. The new rice varieties have recorded a yield of 1,162.01 kg and 1,183.81 kg per mu (1mu=0.0667ha), respectively.  

II Youhang 1 features large ears and rich grains in addition to its strong resistance to lodging, diseases, pests, and frost. The new variety has recorded a yield 20% higher than that of Shanyou 63.  II You 247 is a hybrid offspring derived from space breeding materials with numerous merits, such as strong resistance to diseases, high yield, fine grain quality, and wide adaptability. The Fujian Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences started the space-based rice-breeding program in 1996, and over the years has collected a group of fine rice species possessing unique properties.

Nanotechnology for Better Air

The Chinese University of Science and Technology and the Hefei Municipal Diseases Prevention and Control Center have jointly developed a nanometer photo-catalyst - based detoxification purifier. The new system is able to effectively dissolve organic pollutant gases, such as formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and dimethylbenzene. Capable of killing indoor hazardous gases emitted by interior decorations, the new system is designed to function as a disinfectant, bacterium suppressant, detoxification agent, and air purifier. The prototype machines fitted with this system have passed the verification check. The detoxification purifier for central air conditioning systems has been put into mass production with one for hospital and sedan car applications under development. 


       Comments or inquiries on editorial matters or Newsletter content should be directed to:Mr. Cheng Jiayi, Department of International Cooperation, MOST 15B, Fuxing Road Beijing 100862, PR China  Tel: (8610)68512650 Fax: (8610) 68512594

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