China Archives

Melanin – a protector from skin cancer

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Skin cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours worldwide.

Skin cancer is a worldwide problem and is more common in people with lighter skin than people with darker skin colour. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the primary contributor to skin cancer development by causing DNA damage in skin cells called keratinocytes. Melanin, the pigment responsible for skin colour, also plays a role in generating so-called melanin caps – umbrella-like structures […]

Evolutionary theory: Debating the origins of our DNA

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Mr Shaojie Deng proposes the stable complex evolution model, which offers an evolutionary theory for the fundamental characteristics of life.

For over a decade, Mr Shaojie Deng of Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, China, has been formulating and more recently presenting his new evolutionary theory to the academic world. Over time his thought processes too have evolved with his most recent manuscript centring around the stable complex model as an explanation for the evolution of enzymes and […]

Boat trip: A significant panorama of Tang Dynasty river basins

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Dr Wende Chen has analysed Chinese poetry to reveal historical geographies of Tang Dynasty river basins.

Dr Wende Chen of Huaqiao University, China, has analysed Chinese poetry to reveal historical geographies of Tang Dynasty river basins. Taking the Chinese character for ‘boat’ as the dependent variable, characters with significant statistical correlation were identified. These characters were classified into nine themes: structure and use of boats, geographical locations, natural water systems, flora and fauna, official travel, economic […]

Sloppy science, shortcuts, and COVID-19

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Lissack investigates the phenomenon of slodderwetenschap or sloppy science, particularly its proliferation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to one of the most public incidences of a phenomenon known as sloppy science (originally slodderwetenschap in Dutch). Shortcuts and simplifications were made during scientific research, which led to the public declaration of incorrect statements or ‘truthies’. Professor Michael Lissack, from the College of Design and Innovation at Tongji University in China, and Brenden Meagher […]

Understanding field scattering in AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors

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To investigate the effect of polarisation Coulomb field scattering on improving the performance of AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors.

Field-effect transistors featuring stacked layers of semiconductors are important elements of many electrical devices, especially in wireless communication systems. Through a series of studies, research led by Professor Zhaojun Lin at Shandong University, China, has identified one particular mechanism driving an unavoidable limitation in these devices. By drawing from their new theoretical description of ‘polarisation Coulomb field scattering’, the team […]

A divide-and-conquer strategy for the vehicle routing problem

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Li, Wang, and Du have worked out a solution to the vehicle routing problem and how to efficiently distribute goods from manufacturers’ distribution nodes to retailers’ demand nodes at the lowest cost possible.

Solving the vehicle routing problem is vital for distribution and transportation businesses needing to ensure timely distribution and minimise costs. The multivehicle routing problem is a complex variation involving multiple vehicles and numerous destinations for goods. Jiaqi Li, a graduate student at The University of Hong Kong, Yun Wang at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, China, and Professor Ke-Lin Du at Concordia […]

Electrical eye activity reveals early sight damage in alcohol addicts

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Haolin Zhang and Xin Xie are researching the potential of electric eye-activity testing to protect the vision of alcoholics.

People addicted to alcohol often suffer loss of vision through damage to the light receptors and nerves in the eyes. Scientists have previously shown interest in measuring the electric currents in the brain related to vision, but the information gathered has not yet made an impact on preventing further sight loss. Professor Haolin Zhang at the Beijing University of Technology, […]

A novel micro-valve for use in reliable small-scale thrusters

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Researchers investigate electrowetting of ionic liquids with the potential to be used in micro-valve thrusters in space

The changing shapes of liquid droplets on charged solid surfaces have been widely studied for decades – but only recently have physicists begun to explore how this ‘electrowetting’ behaviour can be enhanced through the use of salts in their liquid states. In their research, Professor Weizong Wang and Mr Jinrui Zhang at Beihang University, Beijing, China, have exploited this effect […]

Taste and place: How cuisine affects geographical identity

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Junfan Lin explores the connection between taste and place identity, focusing on Hakka cuisine in the city on Nanxiong and the use of spicy dishes

Junfan Lin is a postdoctoral researcher at the Sun Yat-sen University, China. His research interests lie in Chinese cuisine and culinary tourism, where he has helped to rethink Chinese food through a geographical lens. In his research paper, Taste and place of Nanxiong cuisine in South China, he specifically explores the identity of the city, Nanxiong. Through interviews and observation, […]

Asynchronous horizons durable-strategies dynamic games

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Graphic representing the environmental degradation that comes as a result of climate change. Dr Yeung and Dr Petrosyan have developed a theoretical solution based on the ideas of cooperative game theory that relies on cross-generational involvement to negate the current climate crisis.

Professor David Yeung from Shue Yan University, China, and Professor Leon Petrosyan from St Petersburg State University, Russia, are using game theory to understand responses to climate change. They have identified two critical features of real-life problems that involve strategic interactions – durable strategies and participants’ asynchronous horizons – and have developed a new class of dynamic games to solve […]