Results of molecular analysis of an archaeological hemp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cannabis sativa</Emphasis> L.) DNA sample from North West China

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivation and utilization is an ancient practice to human civilization. There are some controversies on the origin and subsequent spread of this species. Ancient plant DNA has proven to be a powerful tool to solve phylogenetic problems. In this study, ancient DNA was extracted from an archaeological specimen of Cannabis sativa associated with archaeological human remains from China. Ribosomal and Cannabis specific chloroplast DNA regions were PCR amplified. Sequencing of a species-specific region and subsequent comparison with published sequences were performed. Successful amplification, sequencing and sequence comparison with published data suggested the presence of hemp specific DNA in the archeological specimen. The role of Humulus japonicus Sieb. et Zucc. in the evolution of Cannabis is also indicated. The identification of ancient DNA of 2500 years old C. sativa sample showed that C. sativa races might have been introduced into China from the European–Siberian center of diversity.     

单个遗址区古土地利用范围预测模型的构建——以河南仰韶村遗址为例

以河南仰韶村文化遗址为研究对象,选择海拔高度、坡度、坡向和距河流水平距离为自变量,以遗迹点和非遗迹点为因变量,采用二分变量逻辑回归法进行分析,建立古土地利用范围预测模型。结果显示古土地利用分布概率与海拔高度成正比,与坡度值、坡向值和距河流水平距离成反比,其中坡度和坡向的影响程度最为显著,这表明古人类选择土地利用范围时,优先考虑坡度和坡向。基于预测模型,生成古土地利用分布概率等级图,结果显示南部和东部概率高,这表明古人类选择土地利用范围时,优先考虑南部和东部。通过实地调查,并结合考古资料,发现南部地势平坦、引水便利,适合农业生产和居住,已在该区域发现大量遗迹;东部虽地势平坦,但取水不便,适合其他活动,已在该区域发现埋葬。预测结果与实际结果较为吻合,表明模型具有一定的科学性。     

Problems at the human–horse interface and prospects for smart textile solutions

The significant potential for so-called “smart textiles” in the design of the next generation of devices that measure pressure, tension, moisture, and heat at the human–horse interface is discussed in this article. Research techniques from theoretical and experimental physics laboratories, combined with wireless technology, can be readily adapted to measure and store metrics for numerous variables in equine structure and function. Activities, such as breathing, the extension and flexion of joints, limb kinematics, and cardiac function, can be logged as indicators of physiological and behavioral conditioning (training). Such metrics may also, one day, support veterinary diagnostics but also play a role in safeguarding sport-horse welfare, especially in elite contexts where the horse may be pushed to its functional limits. As such, they are likely to emerge as an area of great interest to equitation and welfare scientists. It is important to note that smart textiles sense and react to exogenous stimuli via integrated sensors. So, beyond the equitation science laboratory, the emergence of polymers and smart materials may enhance the effectiveness of, or challenge us to completely rethink, traditional items of saddlery, thus improving equitation. The integration of smart textiles in all sorts of extant and emergent equipment for everyday equestrians could, in the future, lead to equipment that responds appropriately to the demands of equitation in its various forms. Rethinking equitation through physics and the use of smart textiles seems to have merit in that it is a novel means of both investigating and addressing problems that compromise the welfare and performance of horses. The purpose of this article is to envision the use of smart textiles in research, clinical, equestrian, and horse care contexts.     

Corrosion of archaeological bronze artefacts in acidic soil

Corrosion of bronze in soil is a well-known phenomenon. In particular, archaeological artefacts which may remain in the soil for thousands of years are subject to severe corrosion. However, bronze objects excavated 50–100 years ago seem to be less corroded than those found today. Therefore, recent pollution of the soil is suspected to accelerate the corrosion. An interdisciplinary project has been started in Sweden to search for correlations between the degree of bronze corrosion, corrosion products, general archaeological and environmental conditions, and parameters characterizing the soil chemically.From three archaeological sites near Stockholm (Birka, Fresta, and Valsta), 33 bronze artefacts and related samples of soil have been investigated. All corrosion products and the metal core (if any) were analysed by SEM/EDS and XRD. Metal oxides, carbonates, sulphates, chlorides and phosphates have been identified. Each soil sample has been geologically classified, and a number of chemical analyses have been undertaken: pH in water and KCl, resistivity, loss on ignition, exchangeable acidity, chloride, phosphate, sulphur contents, acidsoluble cations extracted in two different ways, etc. About 8000 data have been compiled in an EXCEL data base. A statistical evaluation including multivariate modelling and analysis utilizing the SIMCA-S system, has been undertaken. The results so far obtained are only tentative but suggest that high concentrations of soot, sulphur or phosphate in the soil may have accelerated the corrosion of the investigated bronze objects. The influence of low pH values, though, is less clear.     

GC-MS analysis of curcumin dye after selective degradation treatment

Curcumin dye in methanol solution was treated in 100°C oven (OV) and H₂O₂/UV/O₂ (PER) conditions and the degradation products were examined using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Curcumin itself was not detected from either the OV or PER degraded samples. From OV degradation samples curcumene1, o-coumaric acid2, vanillin3, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol4, benzene, 1-(3-cyclopentylpropyl)-2,4-dimethyl-45, 1-(4-hydroxy-benzylidene) acetone6, feruloylmethane7, and 2-propenoic acid, 3-[4-(acetyloxy)-3-methoxy phenyl]-, methyl ester8 were detected. From PER degraded samples new products benzoic acid9 and vanillic acid10 were detected additionally. Under the same GC-MS instrumental condition, it is possible that the burial degraded curcumin dye or curcumin dyed textile will exhibit area peaks around 6.2∼6.5 min and 8.3∼8.4 min retention times, which have the mass spectrum matching closely with products3, 4, 7, 8 or9, 10.     

Potentiality for value-added technical use of Indian sisal

India is one of the major exporters of sisal ropes and cordages but the raw fibres are imported from Africa and some other places. Import of sisal fibre in India is increasing at the rate of 25% per year for last few years. Sisal is grown in randomly distributed pockets all over Indian sub-continent mainly for some other purpose without giving any attention to the selective variety or species of Agave family. It is commonly stated that quality of Indian sisal fibre is not up to the mark of making standard quality of ropes, binder, twines, etc. The paper reports the textile related structure and properties (viz. tensile behavior, bending rigidity, thickness, coefficient of friction, moisture, thickness, surface appearance, transversal structure) of Indian variety of sisal fibres grown in two different agro-climatic regions in India to find out its suitability for producing standard quality products. The properties of Indian sisal fibres have also been compared to the imported one to explore the potentiality of the Indian fibres for making standard international quality products. The present work reveals that it is possible to grow sisal fibre of specified variety/species (Agave sisalana) having much balanced property parameters for producing international quality products (viz., ropes, cordages agricultural binders). Agave sisalana grown in certain agro-climatic regions (viz., Orissa) in India showed much comparable property parameters, even sometimes better, to the fibres imported from Tanzania.     

青皮竹研究进展及展望

我国具有丰富的青皮竹资源,发展潜力很大。文中概述了青皮竹生物学特性和用途,综述了培育技术、病虫害防治及材性与加工方面的现状,并对今后青皮竹的研究和发展趋势进行了探讨,旨在为竹类解剖学和其它学科的深入研究提供理论参考。     

Putting function into fashion: Organic conducting polymer fibres and textiles

Textiles have traditionally been employed over the centuries with great utility in areas as diverse as fashion through to technical textiles. In all these instances the textile itself has been a structural element that once fabricated has limited utility beyond the intended structural and aesthetic application. In recent years there has been a shift towards the incorporation of electronic systems into textile structures. The new paradigm for textiles is the development of systems that not only provide the more traditional aspects of textiles but expands upon this to provide a unique capability to transmit and store information and energy. More importantly these next generation materials will be capable of responding to external stimuli, modifying features of the textile in a direct response to its working environment. A potential route to truly functional electronic textiles is through the application of conducting polymers.     

世界竹藤发展的几个热点领域

竹子和藤类在植物王国中是一个大家族,是森林资源的重要组成部分.世界竹藤植物主要分布在亚洲、非洲和南美洲的热带和亚热带地区,竹藤产品及其副产品在世界的农业生产乃至整个国民经济及人民生活中有着广泛的用途和发展前景.对目前竹藤开发的几个热点领域--竹炭、保健食品、竹纤维和生态旅游的发展趋势进行了阐述.