沙中精魂

从空中俯瞰，刻画在沙漠上的线条仿佛长时间暴露在阳光下的画作，轮廓已模糊难辨。飞行员在秘鲁南部纳斯卡镇以北的荒漠高原上空急转盘旋，我只能依稀辨出地面上一系列描绘精美的图形。     

拉施塔城堡镇:一处从中国引进蚕养殖业的伊朗遗迹——基于文献、地理考察和考古遗存的推论

中国是世界上最早养殖桑蚕并生产丝绸的国家,美国东方学家劳费尔(Berthold Laufer)曾考证,在萨珊王朝(224-651)后期,中国桑蚕养殖技术传入伊朗.本文以伊朗神话和历史文献中哈弗特瓦德之虫故事为着眼点,考察该故事的发生地凯加让的地理位置,并从考古学角度论证拉施塔城堡镇的历史遗迹和文明年代,从而将伊朗从中国引进蚕养殖业的年代提前到帕提亚王朝(前247-公元224)晚期至萨珊王朝早期,至于传播的路线,本文也作了两种推断.这一新发现和研究,对于探索中西物质文明交流具有进一步的推动作用.     

Marital instability in a rural population in south-west Uganda: implications for the spread of HIV-1 infection

"The aim of this study was to examine people's beliefs about the causes of marital instability in a rural population cohort in south-west Uganda. Results from a baseline survey of HIV-1 infection in the cohort of over 4,000 adults (over 12 years old) showed a twofold increase in risk of infection in divorced or separated persons when compared with those who are married. A purposive sample of 134 respondents (seventy-two males, sixty-two females) selected to represent different ages, religions and marital status were asked in semi-structured interviews to comment on the reasons for continuing marital instability in their community. The most common reasons suggested for marital instability were sexual dissatisfaction, infertility, alcoholism and mobility....HIV infection was not mentioned as a direct cause of separation, but a small independent study revealed that seven out of ten couples separated on learning of a positive HIV test result of one or both partners. Marital instability is not uncommon in this population; there is evidence that HIV infection is making the situation worse." (SUMMARY IN FRE)