Beijing recently held a symposium on child nutrition and health, and experts agreed that nutritional deficiencies still exist, and the obesity rate continues to rise. Nationwide data are now covered in a public database which include information on average height, weight, blood lipids and nutritional intake data based on daily menus. The constitution of children such as upper and lower limb force, etc. is also collected. Nurseries can create menus using the platforms, and parents can obtain suggestions for daily/weekly nutritional balance and exercise of their children.

Japan JST China news, September 18, 2018

At the World AI Conference 2018 in Shanghai, several technology giants announced to establish AI-related centers in Shanghai. Thus, Amazon Web Services, the cloud services platform of Amazon, will establish the Amazon Web Services AI Research Institute here, to conduct multi-language natural language processing research centered on Mandarin Chinese and provide an open source deep learning ecosystem to help Chinese customers launch AI and machine learning applications. Microsoft announced to establish Microsoft Research Asia-Shanghai and the Microsoft-INESA AI Innovation Center here. Alibaba and Baidu also announced plans to establish AI innovation centers in Shanghai. Baidu will establish its Shanghai innovation center, developing over 110 AI projects, and the Sense Time Group, a Chinese AI company, is developing its new supercomputing center in Shanghai.

CAS news release, September 18, 2018

The group of MA Mingming research group of the University of Science and Technology of China have coated sodium polyacrylate (PAAS) with a polymetacrylate (PMA) waterproof layer forming a PMA-PAAS with a core-shell hydrogel fiber (MAPAH fiber). In the MAPAH fiber, the PAAS crystalline region and the amorphous region coexist and can undergo rapid reversible interconversion, so that the MAPAH fiber exhibits excellent mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, and freeze resistance. MAPAH fibers have high tensile strength (5.6 MPa) and large elongation at break (1200%) and can be quickly recovered after extensive stretching. The PAAS hydrogel acts as a conductive core (conductivity 2 S m-1), and the PMA layer acts as a waterproof and insulating coating, making the MAPAH fiber an elastic wire with high stretchability. MAPAH fiber also maintains the arrangement and orientation of the polymer chains by gel spinning. As a high performance and low cost elastic stretchable conductive hydrogel fiber, MAPAH fibers will be used to develop stretchable electronic devices in textile materials.

CAS news release, Sept. 12, 2019

China’s unmanned submersible Hailong 11000 („Sea Dragon“) has recently set a record by diving 5,630 m during tests in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Carried by the Chinese research vessel Dayang Yihao, or Ocean No.1, the submersible has also completed a series of tasks underwater for 13 hours, including a 4-hour observation. The submersible is a Chinese-developed remotely-operated vehicle able to work at a maximum depth of 11,000 meters below sea level. It will complete an 11,000-meter deep sea test by around 2020.

CAS news release, September 11, 2018

A team around CAS Academician LIU Zhongmin at CAS Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics has developed a ZnAlOx & H-ZSM-5 catalyst, a nano-spinel structured ZnAlOx oxide mixed with nano-H-ZSM-5a zeolite of a high silicon-to-aluminum ratio. This catalyst provided 73.9 % selectivity for aromatics formation from carbon dioxide hydrogenation, with only 0.4 % selectivity from methane. Mechanism studies showed that carbon dioxide is hydrogenated on ZnAlOx to form dimethyl ether and methanol, which diffuse into the pores of the molecular sieve to form olefins, which in turn form aromatic hydrocarbons. Compared to carbon monoxide hydrogenation, carbon dioxide hydrogenation leads to more formate species on the surface of ZnAlOx, leaving less metal active sites. These factors all contribute to the formation of aromatics with high unsaturation.

CAS news release, September 10, 2018

The group around FAN Xiaopeng at Shenzhen’s CAS Advanced Technology Research Institute has analyzed the track and transactions of over 15000 taxis in Shenzhen’s Nanshan district for a better understanding of traffic related to urban business. 50-60 % of business came from consumers within 5 kilometers, which proposes a classification model for Shenzhen business activities: long-term stable, sporadic burst, day and night cycles. The investigation based on big data was confirmed by the Shenzhen Retail Business Association from data for three consecutive years. Thus, big data can be used to understand future needs in road networks and real estate use.

CAS news release, September 10, 2018

Lithium-sulfur batteries have a high specific capacity (1675 mA h g-1) and energy density (2600 Wh kg-1). However, the poor conductivity of the Li polysulfides (Li2Sn, 4 ≤ n ≤ 8) formed seriously restricts practical applications. ZHANG Junping’s group has now reported laponite as a clay mineral super-electrolyte lithium battery separator. It has a unique lamellar structure and a large specific surface. In lithium-sulfur batteries, laponite inhibits a polysulfide shuttle and increases Li+ conductivity and Li+ transfer. The resulting battery is excellent in cycle stability, performance, and inhibition of self-discharge. The formation of polysulfides is effectively inhibited by forming a Li-S bond and a Li···O bond between the polysulfide and the O active site of the clay mineral. The clay separator can be prepared by a simple coating method and exhibits excellent performance in both LiFePO4 and lithium sulfur batteries.

CAS news release, September 10, 2018

The entire vehicle is completely made-up from composite materials, and relies on an automatic driving system which is claimed to have achieved the highest automation level in the world.

Japan China news release, September 10, 2018

Located in the Tengger Desert near Zhongwei City, Ningxia Province, a photovoltaic industrial park is being built relying on the advantages of abundant sunshine and wide space. Companies have started to produce solar panels, a photovoltaic power station and other equipment, generating an entire industrial chain for a “silicon valley” in the desert.

Xinhuanet news, September 7, 2018

Due to full coverage by the Beidu satellite system, more and more farms in China use driverless tractors for agricultural work. The example in this photo in from Ninxia Hui Province near the Yellow River where according to local survey by agricultural engineers, the error of the work of agricultural machines equipped with Beidu positioning technology was less than 5 cm per 2000 meters, which was more accurate than working by human hands. In recent years, 19 new agricultural machinery cooperatives here introduced intelligent agricultural equipment such as plant protection drones and unmanned tractors to modernize agricultural operations.

JST China news, Sept. 9, 2018

Autonomous farming in Ninxia Hui Province, Xinhua news

The group of WANG Xiaodong at CAS Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics has applied „chemical looping“ for the preparation of syngas. In the reaction process, syngas (H2/CO=2) is prepared with 95 % selectivity from methane or a water-carbon dioxide mixture through intelligent switching between iron-based perovskites and Fe@0 oxides. An Fe-based La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Al0.2O3 composite with perovskite structure does not only stabilize the high-valent Fe4+ ions, but, after reduction by methane, nearly 50% of the Fe ions are reduced to zero valence, with high oxygen storage and release capacity, and a core-shell structure of Fe0@oxides.

CAS news release, September 7, 2018

According to a statement at a press conference of the State Council, 9.47 % of all Chinese have some scientific qualification in 2018, and the goal ist o reach 10 % by the end of 2020. In 2015, only 6.2 % of Chinese were scientifically educated.

Japan JST China news release, September 7, 2018

Before visiting the shop, guests can order dishes through an App or Alipay, and specify the time to pick up the dish. The customer can also order at the store using the smartphone, open the app to receive a QR code, and then pick up the dish.

Japan JST China news, September 7, 2018

A solid fuel space exploration rocket “SQX-1Z” was launched by Beijing’s iSpace Technology Co, a private commercial rocket company, at Jiuquan Satellite launch center deep within the wasteland of Gansu province. Jiuquan is the largest integrated rocket and satellite launch center and China’s first. It is also China’s only manned spacecraft launch site. Within 60 years, 145 satellites, eleven spacecrafts and two space laboratories were launched from here.

http://www.i-space.com.cn

Japan JST China news, September 6, 2018

The Converse Ei5 taxis have a range of about 260 – 270 kilometers which corresponds to the daily mileage. Slow 100 % charging takes 5,5 hours, and quick charging up to 80% about 40 minutes. The energy consumption efficiency is about two times better compared to gasoline vehicles, and there are high energy saving and emission effects. The taxis are gradually introduced from mid September and will provide fixed point support to the 1st China International Import Exposition. They have larger capacity of boarding space and an expanded rear trunk. Converse Ei 5 is equipped with a smart sound alarm, bluetooth communication, QR code-based settlement of bills, driver face authentication, and safe active observation and control.

Japan JST China news, September 5, 2018

Academician LI Can and colleagues at CAS Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics have loaded surface promoters Au or Au and CoOx on a BiVO4 surface which effectively promoted oxygen production performance of BiVO4. When coupled with a ZrO2/TaON surface through a potassium hexacyanoferrate mediator,  a highly efficient water decomposition system with an apparent quantum efficiency of more than 10% was achieved at visible light (420 nm) excitation).

CAS news release, September 3, 2018

How quickly potatos sprout closely depends on covering ratio of water and air of the plant’s surface. WU Zhengyan’s team has developed a method to enhance sprouting by NPA, an amphiphilic nanocomposite made from silica in an anattapulgite network. Apart from faster sprouting, this application increased yields by 14 %, decreased soil bulk density, and facilitated earthworms growth. Water toxicity on fish and nematodes was low.

CAS news release, September 3, 2018

The group of Xinhe BAO at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics has designed a series of graphene-complexed 3d transition metals such as manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper as catalytic material. They found that a graphene-complexed single iron center can directly convert methane to C1 oxygenate at room temperature with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. DFT theoretical calculations showed that the conversion of methane follows a free radical reaction route. The O-FeN4-O formed in situ during the reaction has high activity, and the methane is first converted into CH3OH and CH3OOH by free radicals, and further converted to HOCH2OOH and HCOOH.

CAS news release, August 31, 2018

Eleven students from Egypt, Botswana, Namibia and other African countries are presently involved in a desertification prevention and ecological restoration training group at CAS Gansu Provincial Sand Research Institute. They study China’s technologies on desertification prevention, such as fixing sand transport and recovery of plants, systematic construction of oasis and trunk protection.

Japan JST China news release, August 30, 2018

A team from the University of Nebraska-Linconl and from Huazhong Agricultural University has found that violet cress oil contains up to 50 % of two C-24 fatty acids as components of their seed oil. The two fatty acids were named nebraskanic acid and wuhanic acid. The fatty acids may be linked to one another through the hydroxyl groups to form a complex matrix. That unique assembly and structure could account for the corresponding oil’s superior performance as a lubricant, which was tested at the University of North Texas (UNT): compared with castor oil, the violet cress oil reduced friction between steel surfaces by 20 percent at 25 degrees Celsius and by about 300 percent at 100 degrees Celsius.

CAS news release, August 29, 2018

Fatty acids of Chinese violet cress seed oil