On the beginning of the Japanese Upper Paleolithic:A review of recent archaeological and anthropological evidence

The beginning of the Japanese Upper Paleolithic has mainly been examined using two major models:the Middle Paleolithic evolutionary model within the archipelago and the continental Upper Paleolithic diffusion/migration model.However,recent archeological data from Japan and nearby countries are challenging such simple models.This paper critically reviews previous chronology of the Japanese Paleolithic,including possible Lower and Middle Paleolithic(LP/MP),and attempts to show an alternative model of the beginning of the Japanese Upper Paleolithic.This paper suggests several possible specimens of LP/MP and recommends further geoarchaeological investigation to understand the reliability and cultural relationship between possible LP/MP specimens and the Early Upper Paleolithic(EUP).The start of the Japanese EUP is presently characterized by a flake industry with trapezoids and denticulates around 39-37 kaBP cal on Paleo-Honshu Island,which has partial resemblance with contemporary assemblages in China and the Korean Peninsula,although trapezoids are endemic only to the Japanese EUP and may have derived from the ancestral lithic tradition.Blade technology appeared earliest on Central Paleo-Honshu Island,about 1000 years later than the earliest flake technology.Although blade technology may have originated from the elongated flake technology of the previous period,the sudden simultaneous emergence implies that it diffused from the Korean Peninsula.This paper proposes that blade technology from the Korean Peninsula arrived on the northeastern Paleo-Honshu Island,including the Japan Sea coastal region of western Honshu,rather than the southwest,where flake technology long prospered,due to differences in ecological settings and adaptation strategies between the two regions.

联手抗台救灾,“双下沉,两提升”成绩突显

8月9日第9号台风“利奇马”来袭,临安西部山区肆虐成灾,龙岗、岛石两镇遭遇历史上最大的短时局地暴雨,导致山洪、泥石流爆发,大面积断水断电,道路塌方,通讯中断,伤员危重.紧急时刻,临安区昌化人民医院向帮扶医院杭师大附属医院求助.得知消息后,杭师大附属医院领导高度重视,由党委书记骆宏带队,胃肠肝胆外科、神经外科、骨科、重症医学专家以及昌化分院挂职副院长李圆纷纷赶往昌化救援.

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of attached Ulvaceae species and free-floating Enteromorpha from Qingdao coasts in 2007

Based on the sequence data of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer(ITS) 1,5.8 S,and ITS 2,the molecular phylogeny was analyzed on Ulvaceae species collected from Qingdao coasts in summer of 2007,including 15 attached Ulva and Enteromorpha samples from 10 locations and 10 free-floating Enteromorpha samples from seven locations.The result supported the monophyly of all free-floating Enteromorpha samples,implying the unialgal composition of the free-floating Enteromorpha,and the attached Ulvaceae species from Qingdao coasts were grouped into other five clades,suggesting that they were not the biogeographic origin of the free-floating Enteromorpha in that season.

Serum leptin levels and insulin resistance are associated with gallstone disease in overweight subjects

AIM: To establish an association between the serum leptin levels and the development of gallstone disease (GD).METHODS: We carried out a non-matched case-controlled study in a university hospital in Mexico City. Two hundred and eighty-seven subjects were included: 97 cases with gallstones and 190 controls. Body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma leptin, insulin, serum lipid, and lipoprotein levels were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Unconditional logistic regression analysis (univariate and multivariate)stratified by BMI was used to calculate the risk of GD.RESULTS: The multivariate conditional regression analysis revealed a model for those patients with BMI ＜30. The selected variables in the model were HOMA-IR index with OR = 1.31, P= 0.02 and leptin higher than median with OR = 2.11, P= 0.05. In the stratum of BMI ≥30, we did not find a useful model.CONCLUSION: We concluded that insulin resistance and the development of GD appears to be associated with serum leptin levels in subjects with overweight, but not in obese subjects with similar metabolic profiles.

Serum insulin, insulin resistance, p-cell dysfunction, and gallstone disease among type 2 diabetics in Chinese population: A community-based study in Kinmen, Taiwan

AIM: To explore the association of serum insulin, insulin resistance, and β-cell dysfunction with gallstone disease (GSD) in type 2 diabetics. METHODS: We used a community-based study conducted between 1991 and 1993 in Kinmen, Taiwan to identify type 2 diabetics. A screening program for GSD was performed in 2001 by a panel of specialists who employed real-time ultrasound sonography to examine the abdominal region after the patient had fasted for at least 8 h. Screening was conducted in 2001 on 848 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The HOMA method was used to compare the profile differences for insulin resistance (HOMA IR) and β-cell dysfunction (HOMA β-cell). RESULTS: We studied 440 type 2 diabetics who attended sonography check-ups. After excluding eight insulin-treated diabetics, the prevalence of GSD among the remaining 432 was 13.9% (26/187) among males and 14.7% (36/245) among females. After adjustment for other GSD-associated risk factors in addition to age and obesity, GSD risk increased among females with levels of serum insulin [4th vs 1st quartile odds ratios (OR) = 4.46 (95%CI: 1.71-11.66)] and HOMA IR [4th vs 1st quartile OR = 4.46 (95%CI: 1.71-11.66)]. Better HOMA β-cell function was significantly related to decreased risk of GSD [4th vs 1st quartile OR = 0.16 (95%CI: 0.03-1.70)]. Among males, age and central obesity were the most significant risk factors for GSD. No association of GSD with serum insulin, HOMA IR, and HOMA β-cell was observed among males. CONCLUSION: Serum insulin, insulin resistance, and β-cell dysfunction are risk factors for GSD in females, but not males with type 2 diabetes.

Morphology and Molecular Identification of Ulva Forming Green Tides in Qingdao,China

Green tides are caused by the proliferation of chlorophytes under suitable hydrographic conditions.These blooms lead to environmental degradation and negatively impact the waters and seagrass beds,as well as fishing and other recreational activities in the bay.A comprehensive ecological understanding of the bloom dynamics,including the origin and persistence,is needed to foster management decisions.The algae in the great majority of green tide blooms usually belong to two genera of Ulvophyceae,Ulva and Enteromorpha.Ulva has been observed more often in recent years.In China,green tides occurred for the first time in the middle area of the Yellow Sea in 2007,and a large-scale algae blooming broke out in the middle and southern areas of the Yellow Sea in late May 2008.We identified them as Ulva prolifera by comparative analysis of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1),5.8S and ITS2 sequences in combination with microscopic observation.Morphological differences were found between the free-floating algae and the attached thalli.Various reproduction patterns of the free-floating algae include sexual,asexual and vegetative propagations,which played important roles in the long-term green tide persistence in China.The ITS sequences of the blooming algae were identical to those of the samples from the Lianyungang sea area but were different from the attached samples from the Qingdao sea area.The results infer that the blooms are originated from other sea areas rather than from the local attached populations.

Rock Weathering Tendency at Different Stages of Soil－Forming Processes in Fildes Peninsula， Antarctic

From the view of energy state of material, this paper introduces a concept of weathering potential in carrying out quantitative calculation of the relevant products at different stages of rock-weathering and primary soil-forming processes, elaborates respectively on weathering degree in the bio-weathering layer of rocks and during the formation of soil material and clay, and evaluats the further tendency of weathering in the above-mentioned stages. The authors have discovered that the scales of weathering potential of the materials increase successively in the three stages, which indicates that the products in the above-mentioned three stages must have undergone stronger and stronger weathering in the primitive forming process of soil in Fildes Peninsula, Antarctic. But, because of relatively weak chemical weathering, it is reasonable that there are much more skeleton grains and little clay in primary soils in this region. Meanwhile, the authors have also verified that the weathering potential of crude rock determines to some extent decrease in the products' weathering potential in the different stages in primary soil-forming, thereby plays an important role in the genesis and development of the primary soil in the studied area.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation on Stability of Insulin on Graphene

The adsorption dynamics of a model protein （the human insulin） onto graphene surfaces with different sizes was investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. During the adsorption, it has different effect on the stability of the model protein in the fixed and non-fixed graphene systems. The tertiary structure of the protein was destroyed or partially destroyed, and graphene surfaces shows the selective protection for some α-helices in non-fixed Systems but not in fixed systems by reason of the flexibility of graphene. As indicated by the interaction energy curve and trajectory animation, the conformation and orientation selection of the protein were induced by the properties and the texture of graphene surfaces. The knowledge of protein adsorption on graphene surfaces would be helpful to better understand stability of protein on graphene surfaces and facilitate potential applications of graphene in biotechnology.

LA-ICP MS Characteristic of Geochemical Composition of Veins Rocks from the Central Part of the Khibina Massive in Kola Peninsula, Northern Russia

This paper discusses the vein rocks located in the central part of Khibina Mts.. These rocks are located on the border of two zones： ore and external. In the ore, zone is present titanite-nepheline bodies whilst in the outer zone are massive-syenites ＂khibinites＂. The veins can be divided into： mikrosyenites, melteigites and other rock types （e.g., tinguaites）. The results of LA-ICP MS （laser ablation of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry） indicate that these rocks are associated with deep zones which formed as a result of injection of primary magma and contamination of fluids during migration, where there have hydrothermal processes. Rock-forming minerals, their corrosion and accessory minerals indicate these processes, too.

Petrogenesis of high-Mg# Cenozoic volcanic rocks of southern Qiangtang area, Tibetan Plateau： geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic evidence

The Nadingcuo volcanic rock suite is the most volmninous Cenozoic volcanic suite in the southern Qiangtang area of the northern Tibetan Plateau. These high-K calc-alkaline volcanic rocks were formed between 36 and 34 Ma, characterized by high Mg# values, high concentrations of TiO2 and P205, 87Sr/S6Sr ratios of 0. 704682--0. 706 112, and aNd（t） values of - 1.2 to 1.6. There is a lack of reasonable explanations for sour- cing and origin of magmas that formed the rocks with high Mg# values and TiO2 and P2O5 enrichments, which makes the previous research results still controversial. This study reviews the geochemical characteristics of Nadingcuo volcanic rocks and the data we have newly found in our fieldwork. We give some new interpretation to the magmatic evolution of the basaltic magmas in the discussed area dominated by fractional crystallization. The geochemistry of trachyandesite and trachyte units in the studied area is indicative of formation from mantle- derived magmas that mixed with crustal materials. The high values of Mg# and TiO2 and P205 enrichment in these units are evident to show the mixing between mantle-derived magmas with -30-40 wt.% rhyolitic melt or assimilation of a similar amount of felsic rocks. The geochemistry of basaltic rocks in the area also suggests that the Nadingcuo basalts may have been derived from an ocean island basalt （OIB） -type source that contained and was mixed with ancient mantle wedge derived material, indicating that a 36-34 Ma asthenospheric upwelling e- vent in the Qiangtang area may relate to the northward subduction of Indian lithospheric mantle and the south- ward subduction of Asian lithospherie mantle. This upwelling of asthenospherie material was centered in the southern Qiangtang area between 36 and 34 Ma, while the northward movement of the Indian Craton caused this upwelling mantle flow to continuously migrate northward, resulting in the current centering of this upwelling in the Hoh Xil-Kunlun region.

Sinopec, Qingdao Port Group Signed Crude Oil Cooperative Project Contract

Sinopec and Qingdao Port Group held a formal ceremony to sign the “joint venture contract and the issues of association for Qingdao Shihua Crude Oil Wharf Co. Ltd.”on June 21,2005. This is another association between the both parties since they formed a strategic alliance on the successful transfer of the 1.80 million cubic meters of crude oil tanks in 2001.

Middle Triassic post-orogenic extension on Hainan Island: Chronology and geochemistry constraints of bimodal intrusive rocks

This work studies new petrological and geochemical data and zircon U-Pb ages for bimodal intrusive rocks from Xinglong re- gion, Hainan Island. Zircon U-Pb dating yields mean 238U/26pb ages of 238 ± 2 Ma and 234±2 Ma for diabasic and granitic phases, respectively, representing the Middle Triassic emplacement. The diabase and granite bodies were formed from discrete mafic and acidic magma sources that experienced local mechanical mixing at their mutual contacts. Although SiO2 content of intrusions is bimodal, trace element ratios indicate that both were formed in a post-orogenic extensional setting. Sr-Nd isotopic composition reflects a shared EMII type enriched mantle source component, possibly influenced by subduction-fluid metaso- matism.

Depositional model of Early Permian reef-island ocean in Eastern Kunlun

Many fusulinid fossils have been found in thin- to middle-bedded limestones which are distributed between the Early Permian limestone hills and formerly considered as Early Triassic. The fusulinid fossils, identified asNeoshwagerina sp.,Verbeekina sp. andSchwagerina sp., can also be found in massive limestone hills. At the same time, Early Permian radiolarian chert of deep basin facies was discovered in Animaqing. All the above show that the massive limestone hills, thin- to middle-bedded limestones and radiolarian chert belong to syndeposits in Early Permian ocean. The sediments in the study area can roughly be divided into three types: shallow facies, basin facies and transitional facies. The carbonate buildup can be subdivided into massive bioclastic limestone and reef framestone. Basin facies contains thin- or middle-bedded limestone, abyssal red mudstone or ooze, blue-green mudstone and radiolarian chert. Transitional facies includes reef talus and platformal skirt facies. The Early Permian ocean in Eastern Kunlun is recognized as a kind of reef-island ocean environment according to distribution and composition of different facies. The reef-island ocean in Eastern Kunlun is characterized by reef islands (or carbonate buildups) alternating with basins, complicated sea-floor topography, sharp facial change and well-developed reefs.

Middle Devonian-Tournaisian rocks and biota on Hainan Island,South China

On the basis of new paleontological data,the sequence and distributions of the Middle Devonian-Tournaisian rocks on Hainan Island have been sorted out for the first time.The Devonian rocks include the Middle Devonian Jinbo Formation and the Upper Devonian Changjiang Formation,which are distributed in northwestern Hainan Island.The Jinbo Formation is represented by631 m of littoral facies deposits,and was intruded by the Yanshanian granite in the base.The presence of chitinozoans Eisenackitina caster,Funsochitina pilosa,and Lagenochitina amottensis indicates the Givetian in age.The Changjiang Formation is made up of 140 m of neritic facies rocks,and contains the Famennian conodonts Palmatolepis gracilis sigmoidalis,Polygnathus germanus,and corals Cystophrentis kalaohoensis.The Devonian-Tournaisian transition beds,the lower part of the Jishi Formation,are composed of 61–129 m sandstone and siltstone,with gastropods Euomphalus spp.and brachiopods,and marked by conglomerate with the underlying Devonian rocks.The middle-upper part of the Tournaisian Jishi Formation consists of 100–251 m clastic and carbonate rocks,containing abundant corals Pseudoularinia irregularis,conodonts Siphonodella isosticha,trilobites Weberiphillipsia linguiformis,and brachiopods.On the basis of the occurrence of Xinanosprifer flabellum and Homotoma sp.,the Nanhao Formation in southern Hainan Island is now regarded as the Lower Silurian,instead of the previously designated Lower Carboniferous.It is confirmed that no Carboniferous rocks occurred in the area south to the Gancheng-Wanning Fault.

New coryphoid fossil palm leaves (Arecaceae:Coryphoideae) from the Eocene Changchang Basin of Hainan Island,South China

Modern palms are diverse and widespread in the tropics and subtropics,especially the tropical rainforests.However,most fossil palm records have been reported from regions of relatively higher latitude.In this paper seven species of coryphoid palm from the Eocene Changchang Basin of Hainan Island of South China are reported.These are Sabalites asymmetricus sp.nov.,S.robustus sp.nov.,S.tenufolius sp.nov.,S.szei Guo,S.changchagnensis Guo,Livistona sp.,and Amesoneuron sp.According to leaf morphological characteristics,they can be classified as members of the subfamily Coryphoideae.In extant flora of Hainan Island,only three species of Livistona have costapalmate leaves.These palm fossils indicate that,during the Eocene,flora in Hainan Island included a diversity of coryphoid palms,which have some bearings on the reconstruction of the palaeoclimate of South China.

Mantle geochemistry: Insights from ocean island basalts

The geochemical study of the Earth's mantle provides important constraints on our understanding of the formation and evolution of Earth, its internal structure, and the mantle dynamics. The bulk Earth composition is inferred by comparing terrestrial mantle rocks with chondrites, which leads to the chondritic Earth model. That is, Earth has the same relative proportions of refractory elements as that in chondrites, but it is depleted in volatiles. Ocean island basalts(OIB) may be produced by mantle plumes with possible deep origins; consequently, they provide unique opportunity to study the deep Earth. Isotopic variations within OIB can be described using a limited number of mantle endmembers, such as EM1, EM2 and HIMU, and they have been used to decipher important mantle processes. Introduction of crustal material into the deep mantle via subduction and delamination is important in generating mantle heterogeneity; however, there is active debate on how they were sampled by mantle melting, i.e.,the role of olivine-poor lithologies in the OIB petrogenesis. The origin and location of high 3He/4He mantle remain controversial,ranging from unprocessed(or less processed) primitive material in the lower mantle to highly processed materials with shallow origins, including ancient melting residues, mafic cumulates under arcs, and recycled hydrous minerals. Possible core-mantle interaction was hypothesized to introduce distinctive geochemical signatures such as radiogenic 186 Os and Fe and Ni enrichment in the OIB. Small but important variations in some short-lived nuclides, including 142 Nd, 182 W and several Xe isotopes, have been reported in ancient and modern terrestrial rocks, implying that the Earth's mantle must have been differentiated within the first 100 Myr of its formation, and the mantle is not efficiently homogenized by mantle convection.

Viscous lithospheric structure beneath Sumatra inferred from post-seismic gravity changes detected by GRACE

Satellite gravity data of the regional rheological structure of the lithosphere in the vicinity of Sumatra is used as evidence to enable a better understanding of the regional geodynamic environment.The data is interpreted using the theory of post-seismic viscoelastic relaxation.Coand post-seismic changes in the gravity field resulting from the 2004 M w 9.3 Sumatra earthquake were calculated from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite data.A spatial Gaussian filter,500 km wide,was used in the calculation.The results indicate that there were significant co-seismic jumps in both uplifted and subducted regions.The magnitude of the jump in the subducted zone was ～9 10 8 m/s 2,more significant than the ～2 10 8 m/s 2 jump observed in the uplifted zone.However,a positive gravity change occurred in the uplifted zone very soon after the earthquake.The rheological structure of the lithosphere has a great effect on deformation and its determination is a fundamental part of developing reliable numerical simulations in geodynamics.Based on the temporally-variable gravity field observed by GRACE,the viscous lithospheric structure of the Sumatra area is investigated with a self-gravitating,half space,viscoelastic earth model.The estimated viscosity is of the order of 1.0 10 18 Pa·s and there are differences in the rheological parameters on the two sides of the fault.The factors that affect the viscosity are discussed in connection with the tectonic structure of the Sumatra area.

Ecological-sedimentary zonations and carbonate deposition,Xiaodonghai Reef Flat,Sanya,Hainan Island,China

Modern fringing reefs are developed on the intertidal to subtidal area of Xiaodonghai bay, Sanya, Hainan Island. The reef flat extends several dozen meters toward the sea. Various ecological and sedimentary zonations can be distinguished, including, from land to sea, beachrocks, large massive corals, inner reef flat, outer reef flat, and fore-reef slope. The carbonate sediments and constituent hermatypic coral communities are different in these zones. The beachrocks are composed mainly of biological sands, including coral skeletons, algae, gastropods, bivalves, and benthic foraminifera. Quartz sands are less common in this zone. Carbonate diagenesis in beachrocks is characterized by early cementation. The fringing reef flat is progradationally developed toward the sea. Large massive corals grew in the zone next to the beachrocks. These corals are large, flat-toped, and autochthonous in the production of bioclastic grains and lime mud. Large and massive coral skeletons are surrounded by coral skeletal grains, bioclasts, and lime-mud sediments. The inner reef flat consists mainly of skeletons of branching corals that are covered by bioclasts and lime mud, and living corals are mostly massive in form. Statistical analysis of coral-community dynamics shows that the outer reef flat with strong waves is the most suitable place for hermatypic corals to flourish. There, the living corals are most densely distributed. Both massive corals and branching corals (e.g., Acropora corymbosa) are exceptionally healthy in this zone. Bioclasts and lime mud are washed out due to strong wave action. Microbial carbonates generally are deposited within cavities of the beachrocks and coral skeletal cavities and on the surfaces of bioclastic grains. The latter two types, however, are more common. Ecological-sedimentary zonations across the Xiaodonghai reef flat from beachrocks to outer reef flat are controlled by variations in wave strength and water energy. Microbial carbonates rarely developed on outer reef flat under strong wave action.