The Nine-Banded Armadillo In Texas and the South

Americans have contributed directly and indirectly to the relatively rapid spread of the nine-handed armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) in the United States. Curiosity about its bizarre appearance and growing commerce in live animals and armadillo “baskets” made from its bony carapace or shell have resulted in the transportation and release of this armadillo in several states. Its ability to survive and reproduce in a variety of modified habitats has enabled it to increase in numbers. The current affection for the armadillo as a novelty in the South, notably in Texas where it has become a symbol of folk culture, suggests that humanly-induced relocation is likely to continue and contribute to the enlargement of its range.     

The origins of the South China Sea issue

China discovered and was the first to name and explore the South China Sea islands and the adjacent waters, and China has exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over them since the Tang and Song dynasties. In modern times, imperialists shattered the peace of the South China Sea using advanced weapons, but Chinese sovereignty over this area has never been challenged. In the more than 60 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese government has pursued the principle of “claiming sovereignty, shelving disputes, and seeking joint development” and has exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over and explored the South China Sea islands and territorial waters peacefully and effectively. The lure of resources and profits and strategic competition among countries beyond the region, however, have complicated the prospects for resolving the South China Sea issue.     

吴国青铜器之南方特征

吴国青铜器的类型与特征,学术界多有研究,有分为中原型、仿中原型和土著型三大类①;也有分为中原器（A）、仿西周青铜器（B1）、基本土著型（B2）和土著器（C）三大类四小类②。以上分类均以中原青铜器为参照标尺,以青铜器所呈现的中原风格与土著风格的多少来确定其类型。     

The Impact of Urbanisation on the Bed Sediments of South Creek,New South Wales

The textural and geochemical characteristics of the bed sediments in South Creek are examined. The bed substratum in the urbanised reaches differs from that of the rural reaches, in terms of the volume and size of the fine matrix sediment and the concentration of heavy metals. The impact of urbanisation on the river-bed sediment is variable, with less matrix than ‘expected’ within the substratum of the urban reach and more than ‘expected’ in the below urban reach. The urban matrix sediment is also significantly finer in comparison to the rural reach matrix sediment. Heavy metal concentrations within the urbanised matrix sediment are up to 800 times greater than background levels and are considered to be indicative of extreme contamination despite only SO years of urbanisation.