News on China's scientific and technological development.
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Actually what the engineer spoke of is true... it is highly stupid to embargo arms from China, and somewhat closes the doors to a big market.
Plus just by embargoment, it will not kill the country's military and defence industry, only slow it down. But sooner or later a country like CHina would be able to pick up all these technologies.
So why not sell arms to china and earn... after all, is China threat really that much or important?
PS. Everything is a two edged sword. By selling advance technology weaponries to China, might help to vastly improve their military quickly... which on one side, might seemed pretty dangerous. However when you look at it the other way round... it might plays into your advantage... because you would know exactly what capability CHina had.
Also when China could buy high tech weapon readily from the west, the effort put into developing their own weapon might slow down... because buying from other is a cheaper and easier options.
So in a sense, you are also slowing down the entire R&D sector of the military research industry.
Last edited:
Martian
Senior Member
Construction starts on new nuclear generator in east China's Fujian
"Construction starts on new nuclear generator in east China's Fujian
English.news.cn 2010-10-03 22:08:06
FUZHOU, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ningde Nuclear Power Plant in southeast China's Fujian Province has begun building its fourth generator, the company said Sunday.
It is the last of the four generators in the first phase of construction.
The nuclear power plant will begin operating in 2012; making it the first of its kind in the province.
The nuclear plant is expected to generate 30 billion kWhs of electricity every year; guaranteeing to provide a quarter of the province's annual power consumption, when all four generators are in full operation by 2015.
The nuclear plant will also save 12 million tons of coal every year or the equivalent of about 30 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Ningde nuclear power plant, co-funded and jointly run by Guangdong Nuclear Power Group, Datang International Power Generation Co. Ltd., and Fujian Energy Group Co. Ltd, started the construction of its first generator in 2008.
Another nuclear power plant in the province, Fuqing Nuclear Power Plant, is also expected to commence construction of its fifth and sixth generators before the end of this year. It is expected to start operating in 2013.
Editor: Fang Yang"
"Construction starts on new nuclear generator in east China's Fujian
English.news.cn 2010-10-03 22:08:06
FUZHOU, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ningde Nuclear Power Plant in southeast China's Fujian Province has begun building its fourth generator, the company said Sunday.
It is the last of the four generators in the first phase of construction.
The nuclear power plant will begin operating in 2012; making it the first of its kind in the province.
The nuclear plant is expected to generate 30 billion kWhs of electricity every year; guaranteeing to provide a quarter of the province's annual power consumption, when all four generators are in full operation by 2015.
The nuclear plant will also save 12 million tons of coal every year or the equivalent of about 30 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Ningde nuclear power plant, co-funded and jointly run by Guangdong Nuclear Power Group, Datang International Power Generation Co. Ltd., and Fujian Energy Group Co. Ltd, started the construction of its first generator in 2008.
Another nuclear power plant in the province, Fuqing Nuclear Power Plant, is also expected to commence construction of its fifth and sixth generators before the end of this year. It is expected to start operating in 2013.
Editor: Fang Yang"
Martian
Senior Member
Molecular biology: Eliminate to survive
"Molecular biology: Eliminate to survive
Published online: 4 August 2010 | doi:10.1038/nchina.2010.87
Felix Cheung
A protein that induces autophagy may help to suppress tumour growth
© (2010) Nature Cell Biology
Although previous studies have highlighted the possible link between autophagy — the cellular process for eliminating damaged proteins and organelles in the cytosol — and tumour suppression, the exact mechanism that connects them is still unknown. Weiguo Zhu and co-workers at Peking University in Beijing[1] have now identified a protein that induces both autophagy and tumour suppressor activity.
Recent reports have suggested that FoxO proteins are involved in the induction of autophagy. The researchers found that in response to stress, human cancer cell lines increased their cytosolic FoxO1 expression, p62 degradation and LC3-II accumulation (the latter two being the markers of autophagy). Importantly, they found that FoxO1 underwent acetylation to trigger autophagy.
Further investigation revealed that during the process of acetylation, FoxO1 detaches from SIRT2, a histone deacetylase, and binds to Atg7, an E1-like protein involved in autophagosome formation.
Human cancer cells expressing FoxO1 stopped growing in mice (pictured right), but those expressing an empty vector continued to grow (pictured left). The researchers also compared tissue samples from normal patients and patients with colon cancer. They found that the FoxO1 expression and p62 degradation levels were much lower in cancerous tissues.
The results clearly demonstrate a connection between autophagy and tumour suppressor activity. The researchers believe that autophagy could offer a method of suppressing tumour growth, but more work is required to understand how autophagy achieves this.
The authors of this work are from:
Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University, Peking University, Beijing, China; Department of Surgery, Secondary Affiliated Hospital, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China; Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; School of Oncology, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Reference
1. Zhao, Y. et al. Cytosolic FoxO1 is essential for the induction of autophagy and tumour suppressor activity. Nature Cell Biol. doi:10.1038/ncb2069 (2010). | Article"
"Molecular biology: Eliminate to survive
Published online: 4 August 2010 | doi:10.1038/nchina.2010.87
Felix Cheung
A protein that induces autophagy may help to suppress tumour growth
© (2010) Nature Cell Biology
Although previous studies have highlighted the possible link between autophagy — the cellular process for eliminating damaged proteins and organelles in the cytosol — and tumour suppression, the exact mechanism that connects them is still unknown. Weiguo Zhu and co-workers at Peking University in Beijing[1] have now identified a protein that induces both autophagy and tumour suppressor activity.
Recent reports have suggested that FoxO proteins are involved in the induction of autophagy. The researchers found that in response to stress, human cancer cell lines increased their cytosolic FoxO1 expression, p62 degradation and LC3-II accumulation (the latter two being the markers of autophagy). Importantly, they found that FoxO1 underwent acetylation to trigger autophagy.
Further investigation revealed that during the process of acetylation, FoxO1 detaches from SIRT2, a histone deacetylase, and binds to Atg7, an E1-like protein involved in autophagosome formation.
Human cancer cells expressing FoxO1 stopped growing in mice (pictured right), but those expressing an empty vector continued to grow (pictured left). The researchers also compared tissue samples from normal patients and patients with colon cancer. They found that the FoxO1 expression and p62 degradation levels were much lower in cancerous tissues.
The results clearly demonstrate a connection between autophagy and tumour suppressor activity. The researchers believe that autophagy could offer a method of suppressing tumour growth, but more work is required to understand how autophagy achieves this.
The authors of this work are from:
Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University, Peking University, Beijing, China; Department of Surgery, Secondary Affiliated Hospital, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China; Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; School of Oncology, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Reference
1. Zhao, Y. et al. Cytosolic FoxO1 is essential for the induction of autophagy and tumour suppressor activity. Nature Cell Biol. doi:10.1038/ncb2069 (2010). | Article"
Martian
Senior Member
Condensed matter physics: Mind the gap
"Condensed matter physics: Mind the gap
Published online: 4 August 2010 | doi:10.1038/nchina.2010.94
Felix Cheung
The energy gap of a topological insulator widens in films below a certain thickness
© Nature Physics
Topological insulators are special insulators with conductive surfaces. Their electronic band structure exhibits an energy gap — the optical signature of insulators — only in the bulk region, and not on the conductive surfaces. A team of researchers led by Ke He at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Qikun Xue at Tsinghua University, both in Beijing[1], have discovered that the surfaces develop an energy gap when the thickness of the topological insulator is reduced below a certain level.
The researchers used a highly precise technique called molecular beam epitaxy to grow the topological insulator — a bismuth selenide thin film — layer by layer, and then used angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to study the electronic band structure of the topological insulator surfaces. They observed an energy gap (see images) for a thickness below six quintuple layers (a quintuple layer being the smallest thickness achievable through molecular beam epitaxy). The energy gap became smaller as the film thickness was increased.
The results suggest that gapless states exist on both the upper and lower surfaces of thick topological insulator films. These gapless states could be useful for low-power electronics and quantum computing.
The authors of this work are from:
Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; Department of Physics and Center for Theoretical and Computational Physics, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Physics, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA; Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
Reference
1. He, K., Xue, Q. K. et al. Crossover of the three-dimensional topological insulator Bi2Se3 to the two-dimensional limit. Nature Phys. doi:10.1038/nphys1689 (2010). | Article"
"Condensed matter physics: Mind the gap
Published online: 4 August 2010 | doi:10.1038/nchina.2010.94
Felix Cheung
The energy gap of a topological insulator widens in films below a certain thickness
© Nature Physics
Topological insulators are special insulators with conductive surfaces. Their electronic band structure exhibits an energy gap — the optical signature of insulators — only in the bulk region, and not on the conductive surfaces. A team of researchers led by Ke He at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Qikun Xue at Tsinghua University, both in Beijing[1], have discovered that the surfaces develop an energy gap when the thickness of the topological insulator is reduced below a certain level.
The researchers used a highly precise technique called molecular beam epitaxy to grow the topological insulator — a bismuth selenide thin film — layer by layer, and then used angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to study the electronic band structure of the topological insulator surfaces. They observed an energy gap (see images) for a thickness below six quintuple layers (a quintuple layer being the smallest thickness achievable through molecular beam epitaxy). The energy gap became smaller as the film thickness was increased.
The results suggest that gapless states exist on both the upper and lower surfaces of thick topological insulator films. These gapless states could be useful for low-power electronics and quantum computing.
The authors of this work are from:
Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; Department of Physics and Center for Theoretical and Computational Physics, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Physics, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA; Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
Reference
1. He, K., Xue, Q. K. et al. Crossover of the three-dimensional topological insulator Bi2Se3 to the two-dimensional limit. Nature Phys. doi:10.1038/nphys1689 (2010). | Article"
Martian
Senior Member
Virology: Influenza virus has a new weak spot
"Virology: Influenza virus has a new weak spot
Published online: 7 July 2010 | doi:10.1038/nchina.2010.76
Felix Cheung
Nucleozin treats influenza by inhibiting nuclear protein accumulation in viruses
© (2010) istockphoto.com/Ping Han
Experts are concerned about the potential emergence of a 'super flu' that no drug can treat, owing to the ability of influenza viruses to constantly evolve and become resistant to particular drugs. For this reason, scientists have been looking for drugs that can attack targets on the influenza virus. Using forward chemical genetics, Kwok Yung Yuen and Richard Yi Tsun Kao at the University of Hong Kong and co-workers[1] have established influenza virus nucleoprotein as a viable target and nucleozin as a drug that treats influenza by inhibiting nucleoprotein accumulation.
The influenza virus nucleoprotein is the most abundantly expressed protein during the course of infection. It accumulates in the nucleus in the early phases of infection and spreads in the cytoplasm during viral assembly and maturation.
The researchers screened a chemical library of 50,240 compounds with diverse structures on cell-based influenza virus assays and selected 950 compounds that showed protective effects. They then tested the selected compounds using a cytopathic effect assay and identified 39 compounds that were particularly potent.
When the researchers used fluorescence microscopy to examine the effects of these 39 compounds on nucleoprotein trafficking, they found five compounds that blocked the accumulation of nucleoprotein in the nucleus. Nucleozin, in particular, was deadly against influenza viruses at submicromolar levels and protected mice subjected to lethal doses of the avian influenza virus H5N1.
The study will further the development of small-molecule therapies in treating influenza.
The authors of this work are from:
Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Research Center of Infection and Immunology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Chemistry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Biochemistry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Computing Sciences, Capilano University, British Columbia, Canada.
Reference
1. Kao, R. Y. et al. Identification of influenza A nucleoprotein as an antiviral target. Nature Biotechnol. doi:10.1038/nbt.1638 (2010). | Article"
"Virology: Influenza virus has a new weak spot
Published online: 7 July 2010 | doi:10.1038/nchina.2010.76
Felix Cheung
Nucleozin treats influenza by inhibiting nuclear protein accumulation in viruses
© (2010) istockphoto.com/Ping Han
Experts are concerned about the potential emergence of a 'super flu' that no drug can treat, owing to the ability of influenza viruses to constantly evolve and become resistant to particular drugs. For this reason, scientists have been looking for drugs that can attack targets on the influenza virus. Using forward chemical genetics, Kwok Yung Yuen and Richard Yi Tsun Kao at the University of Hong Kong and co-workers[1] have established influenza virus nucleoprotein as a viable target and nucleozin as a drug that treats influenza by inhibiting nucleoprotein accumulation.
The influenza virus nucleoprotein is the most abundantly expressed protein during the course of infection. It accumulates in the nucleus in the early phases of infection and spreads in the cytoplasm during viral assembly and maturation.
The researchers screened a chemical library of 50,240 compounds with diverse structures on cell-based influenza virus assays and selected 950 compounds that showed protective effects. They then tested the selected compounds using a cytopathic effect assay and identified 39 compounds that were particularly potent.
When the researchers used fluorescence microscopy to examine the effects of these 39 compounds on nucleoprotein trafficking, they found five compounds that blocked the accumulation of nucleoprotein in the nucleus. Nucleozin, in particular, was deadly against influenza viruses at submicromolar levels and protected mice subjected to lethal doses of the avian influenza virus H5N1.
The study will further the development of small-molecule therapies in treating influenza.
The authors of this work are from:
Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Research Center of Infection and Immunology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Chemistry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Biochemistry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Computing Sciences, Capilano University, British Columbia, Canada.
Reference
1. Kao, R. Y. et al. Identification of influenza A nucleoprotein as an antiviral target. Nature Biotechnol. doi:10.1038/nbt.1638 (2010). | Article"
Martian
Senior Member
Quantum physics: Entanglement for sure
"Quantum physics: Entanglement for sure
Published online: 7 July 2010 | doi:10.1038/nchina.2010.85
Felix Cheung
Researchers in Hefei have designed a linear optical circuit for deterministically producing entangled photon pairs
© (2010) Nature Photonics
Entangled photon pairs are great information carriers for quantum communication and quantum computation. Unfortunately, spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) — the predominant mechanism for generating entangled photon pairs — is a random process and therefore has difficulty in supporting practical applications. Jianwei Pan and Kai Chen at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei and co-workers[1] have now overcome this limitation by designing a set-up for deterministically producing entangled photon pairs (that is, with a probability of 100%).
The set-up (see image) comprises an SPDC source for producing entangled photon pairs, an optical circuit of beamsplitters for splitting the photons, and six outputs. Single-photon detectors monitor four of the outputs and function as triggers — the detection of four photon states signals the creation of one entangled photon pair through the other two outputs.
The use of an SPDC source makes the entangled photon pairs stable and robust. The researchers say that they could also improve the performance of their set-up by using beamsplitters with different transmission ratios. So far, they have achieved a fidelity of 87% and a state-preparation efficiency of 45%. The next step in their study is to miniaturize the SPDC source and optical circuit using waveguides instead of bulk optics for on-chip integration.
The authors of this work are from:
Physikalisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Physics and National Center for Theoretical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and Department of Modern Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Reference
1. Wagenknecht, C. et al. Experimental demonstration of a heralded entanglement source. Nature Photon. doi:10.1038/nphoton.2010.123 (2010). | Article"
"Quantum physics: Entanglement for sure
Published online: 7 July 2010 | doi:10.1038/nchina.2010.85
Felix Cheung
Researchers in Hefei have designed a linear optical circuit for deterministically producing entangled photon pairs
© (2010) Nature Photonics
Entangled photon pairs are great information carriers for quantum communication and quantum computation. Unfortunately, spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) — the predominant mechanism for generating entangled photon pairs — is a random process and therefore has difficulty in supporting practical applications. Jianwei Pan and Kai Chen at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei and co-workers[1] have now overcome this limitation by designing a set-up for deterministically producing entangled photon pairs (that is, with a probability of 100%).
The set-up (see image) comprises an SPDC source for producing entangled photon pairs, an optical circuit of beamsplitters for splitting the photons, and six outputs. Single-photon detectors monitor four of the outputs and function as triggers — the detection of four photon states signals the creation of one entangled photon pair through the other two outputs.
The use of an SPDC source makes the entangled photon pairs stable and robust. The researchers say that they could also improve the performance of their set-up by using beamsplitters with different transmission ratios. So far, they have achieved a fidelity of 87% and a state-preparation efficiency of 45%. The next step in their study is to miniaturize the SPDC source and optical circuit using waveguides instead of bulk optics for on-chip integration.
The authors of this work are from:
Physikalisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Physics and National Center for Theoretical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and Department of Modern Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Reference
1. Wagenknecht, C. et al. Experimental demonstration of a heralded entanglement source. Nature Photon. doi:10.1038/nphoton.2010.123 (2010). | Article"
Martian
Senior Member
China launches "Shijian VI-04" group satellites
"China launches "Shijian VI-04" group satellites
English.news.cn 2010-10-06 14:56:53
Long March 4B rocket, carrying two satellites of the "Shijian VI-04" group, lifts off from the launch pad in Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, on Oct. 6, 2010. The satellites, which have entered space orbit, will carry out probes on the space environment, radiation levels, and conduct space science experiments; according to the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. (Xinhua/Shang Chunya)
"China launches "Shijian VI-04" group satellites
English.news.cn 2010-10-06 14:56:53
Long March 4B rocket, carrying two satellites of the "Shijian VI-04" group, lifts off from the launch pad in Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, on Oct. 6, 2010. The satellites, which have entered space orbit, will carry out probes on the space environment, radiation levels, and conduct space science experiments; according to the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. (Xinhua/Shang Chunya)
That accusation is more apt for places like the US or India long before China, really...
