Achievements and challenges of primate conservation in China

The dual impact of climate change and human activities has precipitated a sharp decline in primate biodiversity globally.China is home to the most diverse primate species in the Northern hemisphere,which face severe ecological threats due to the expansion of modern agriculture,extensive exploitation and consumption of natural resources,and excessive land development during its transition from an agricultural to a modern society.In response,China has implemented various ecological conservation measures,including habitat restoration and protection.These efforts have made substantial strides in biodiversity conservation,with certain regions witnessing an increase in primate populations.In the current study,we conducted a systematic review of historical documents and field research data related to Chinese primates,evaluating the endangered status of primate species in China.Despite improvements in the habitats of most primate species and some population growth,many species still face severe threats,including declining and small populations.Species such as the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus strykeri),eastern black crested gibbon(Nomascus nasutus),and Hainan gibbon(N.hainanus)remain particularly vulnerable due to their limited distribution ranges and extremely small populations.Insufficient scientific data,fragmented information,and not enough studies in conservation biology further compound the challenges.Moreover,there is a notable lack of detailed population monitoring data for species such as the Bengal slow loris(Nycticebus bengalensis),pygmy slow loris(N.pygmaeus),Indochinese gray langur(Trachypithecus crepusculus),Shortridge’s langur(T.shortridgei),and capped langur(T.pileatus),which hinders the development of practical and targeted conservation management strategies.Therefore,for national biodiversity conservation,there is an urgent need for specialized primate surveys,enhancing habitat protection and restoration,and increasing focus on cross-border conservation strategies and regional cooperation.There is also a need to establish a comprehensive and systematic research database platform,conduct continuous and in-depth research in primate biology,and actively engage in the scientific assessment of ecotourism.Additionally,strengthening public awareness and education on wildlife conservation remains essential.Such integrated and systematic efforts will provide scientific support for the current and future conservation and management of primate species in China.

Crystal plasticity based modeling of grain boundary sliding in magnesium alloy AZ31B sheet

The aim of present work is to develop a crystal plasticity modeling approach to integrate slip,dynamic recrystallization(DRX)and grain boundary sliding(GBS)for simulating the deformation behavior and texture evolution of magnesium alloys at high temperatures.Firstly,the deformation mechanisms of an AZ31B Mg alloy sheet at 300°C were investigated by examining texture and microstructure evolution during uniaxial tension and compression tests.DRX refines microstructure at strains less than 0.2,and subsequently GBS plays a significant role during deformation process.A GBS model is developed to evaluate strain and grain rotation induced by GBS,and implemented into the polycrystal plasticity framework VPSC.The VPSC-DRX-GBS model can well reproduce the stress−strain curves,grain size,texture evolution and significant texture differences in tension and compression tests due to GBS.The calculated GBS contribution ratio in tension is obviously higher than that in compression due to easier cavity nucleation at grain boundaries under tension loading.

Climate change challenge, extinction risk, and successful conservation experiences for a threatened primate species in China: Golden snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellana)

DEAR EDITOR, Despite the vulnerability of primates to the negative impacts of human activities and climate change, there is still room for optimism. Notably, years of conservation efforts may have paid off for the golden snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellana). Our field surveys confirmed the existence of 188 to 220 wild multilevel societies(MLS) of R. roxellana, with an estimated 22 710 to 26 130 individuals in 2019。

Review of current research and application of ductile cast iron quality monitoring technologies in Chinese foundry industry

There is a long history of studying and making use of ductile cast iron in China.Over the years,the foundrymen in China have carried out a lot of valuable research and development work for measuring parameters and controlling the quality in ductile cast iron production.Many methods,such as rapid metallographic phase,thermal analysis,eutectic expansion ratio,surface tension measurement,melt electrical resistivity,oxygen and sulfur activity measurement,ultrasonic measurement and sound frequency measurement,have been used and have played important roles in Chinese casting production in the past.These methods can be generally classified as liquid testing and solid testing according to the sample state.Based on the analysis of the present situation of these methods applied in the Chinese metal casting industry,the authors consider that there are two difficult technical problems to be currently solved in monitoring ductile iron quality.One is to seek an effective method for quickly evaluating the nodularizing result through on-the-spot sample analysis before the liquid iron is poured into the mould.The other is to find a nondestructive method for accurately identifying casting quality before castings are delivered.

Global view on virus infection in non-human primates and implications for public health and wildlife conservation

Viruses can be transmitted from animals to humans(and vice versa)and across animal species.As such,host-virus interactions and transmission have attracted considerable attention.Non-human primates(NHPs),our closest evolutionary relatives,are susceptible to human viruses and certain pathogens are known to circulate between humans and NHPs.Here,we generated global statistics on virus infections in NHPs(VI-NHPs)based on a literature search and public data mining.In total,140 NHP species from 12 families are reported to be infected by 186 DNA and RNA virus species,68.8%of which are also found in humans,indicating high potential for crossing species boundaries.

Simulation of strain induced abnormal grain growth in aluminum alloy by coupling crystal plasticity and phase field methods

A mesoscale modeling methodology is proposed to predict the strain induced abnormal grain growth in the annealing process of deformed aluminum alloys. Firstly, crystal plasticity finite element(CPFE) analysis is performed to calculate dislocation density and stored deformation energy distribution during the plastic deformation. A modified phase field(PF) model is then established by extending the continuum field method to consider both stored energy and local interface curvature as driving forces of grain boundary migration. An interpolation mapping approach is adopted to transfer the stored energy distribution from CPFE to PF efficiently. This modified PF model is implemented to a hypothetical bicrystal firstly for verification and then the coupled CPFE-PF framework is further applied to simulating the 2D synthetic polycrystalline microstructure evolution in annealing process of deformed AA3102 aluminum alloy.Results show that the nuclei with low stored energy embedded within deformed matrix tend to grow up, and abnormal large grains occur when the deformation is close to the critical plastic strain, attributing to the limited number of recrystallized nuclei and inhomogeneity of the stored energy.

Effect of compound treatment of rotating magnetic field and Al-5Ti-1B refiner on microstructure and properties of Al-5Cu alloy

The Al-5Cu alloys were prepared by different treatment methods,including adding a refiner Al-5Ti-1B,exerting a rotating magnetic field(RMF),and compound treatment of both refiner and RMF.The effects of treatment methods on the microstructure,properties,and solid solubility of the Al-5Cu alloy were investigated.The optimal magnetic field parameters and addition amount of refiner were confirmed by experiment.Results show that either RMF or adding refiner Al-5Ti-1B alone can refine the grain size,and the refining effect can be further improved by a compound refining treatment with optimized magnetic field parameters(120 A current and 8 Hz frequency) and 1.0wt.% Al-5Ti-1B refiner(RMF*+Al-5Ti-1B*).The average grain size is decreased to 68.1 μm,which is 60.8%,21.1%,and 83.5% lower than that of the alloy treated by the optimized rotating magnetic field,the Al-5Ti-1B refiner,and the alloy without any treatment,respectively.The tensile strength and elongation of the alloy reach 232.5 MPa and 18.6%,respectively,which are obviously higher than those of the alloys treated by rotating magnetic field,Al-5Ti-1B refiner,and the alloy without any treatment,respectively.Additionally,the solid solubility of the alloy is also obviously improved compared to the alloys treated by other methods.

维持性血液透析患者血清Irisin、BMP-7水平与血管钙化及钙磷代谢指标的相关性研究

目的探究维持性血液透析(MHD)患者中鸢尾素(Irisin)和骨形态发生蛋白7(BMP-7)水平与血管钙化(VC)及钙磷代谢指标的相关性。方法选取2017年1月-2018年2月长沙市第一医院治疗的MHD患者86例,纳入MHD组,同期选取健康志愿者86例作为对照组。检测血清中钙、镁、磷、钙磷乘积、血清白蛋白(ALB)、甲状旁腺激素(i PTH)、25羟基维生素D3[25-(OH)-Vit D3]、Irisin及BMP-7水平,采用腹部侧位X射线检查两组受试者VC情况。按照有无腹主动脉钙化发生将MHD患者分成钙化组44例和非钙化组42例。结果 MHD组患者血清中磷、钙磷乘积、i PTH、25-(OH)-Vit D3、腹主动脉钙化评分(AACS)及腹主动脉钙化率高于对照组(P<0.05)。MHD组患者血清中镁、BMP-7、ALB及Irisin水平低于对照组(P<0.05)。钙化组较非钙化组患者年龄更大,透析时间更长,血清中磷、钙磷乘积、iPTH水平更高(P<0.05),但钙化组的血镁、Irisin及BMP-7水平低于非钙化组(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析表明iPTH、钙磷乘积、Irisin及BMP-7水平是MHD患者发生VC的影响因素(P<0.05)。Pearson相关分析显示,Irisin和BMP-7水平与年龄、透析时长、血清中磷、钙磷乘积、iPTH及AACS呈负相关(P<0.05),与血镁呈正相关(P<0.05)。结论 MHD患者中Irisin、BMP-7水平与VC、钙磷代谢及甲状旁腺激素水平呈负相关,Irisin、BMP-7升高可能是VC形成过程中的保护因素。

Proximate causes of dispersal for female Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys

DEAR EDITOR,Individual dispersal trends, unquestionably important for species ecology and evolution, are affected by multiple factors. Understanding the factors that influence female dispersal strategies offers important insight into primate dispersal mechanisms and female choice. To investigate the proximate causes of dispersal in female Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti), we observed and analyzed nine years of detailed dispersal and demographic data from a population of R. bieti in Xiangguqing, Baimaxueshan Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, China. Results showed that females who lived long-term in a one-male unit (OMU), without giving birth and with few or no relatives, were more likely to leave that OMU. In addition, an OMU led by an outgroup male and containing more female relatives was significantly more likely to be chosen for immigration. Conversely, greater male age, longer male tenure, and more potentially fertile females discouraged immigration into an OMU. These results suggest that reproduction, male quality, and kin cooperation play the largest roles in female Yunnan snub-nosed monkey dispersal.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of ultralow carbon high-strength steel weld metals with or without Cu-Nb addition

Two types of ultralow carbon steel weld metals(with and without added Cu-Nb) were prepared using gas metal arc welding(GMAW) to investigate the correlation between the microstructure and mechanical properties of weld metals.The results of microstructure characterization showed that the weld metal without Cu-Nb was mainly composed of acicular ferrite(AF), lath bainite(LB), and granular bainite(GB).In contrast, adding Cu-Nb to the weld metal caused an evident transformation of martensite and grain coarsening.Both weld metals had a high tensile strength(more than 950 MPa) and more than 17% elongation;however, their values of toughness deviated greatly,with a difference of approximately 40 J at-50℃.Analysis of the morphologies of the fracture surfaces and secondary cracks further revealed the correlation between the microstructure and mechanical properties.The effects of adding Cu and Nb on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the weld metal are discussed;the indication is that adding Cu-Nb increases the hardenability and grain size of the weld metal and thus deteriorates the toughness.