中国国家博物馆

To advance non-destructive evaluation of bronze artifacts, this work presents an approach integrating multimodal data from corrosion images and MA-XRF chlorine distribution maps for characterizing corrosion products induced by bronze disease. Dry-wet cyclic experiments were conducted to simulate corrosion processes, from which corrosion images at different time points were systematically acquired. Chlorine elemental distribution maps were obtained via macro X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) imaging, from which the area proportion of high-chlorine regions was extracted for data mining, modeling, and experimental validation. Results show that 20 physical features extracted from corrosion images exhibit significant Spearman correlations (rho > 0.4, up to 0.6) with high-chlorine area fractions, validating the feasibility of inferring bronze disease progression from visual characteristics. Machine learning models, trained on these visual features to predict chloride-rich area fractions, achieved an R-2 of 0.83, demonstrating robust capability for forecasting bronze disease evolution directly from images. A clustering-based classification model, integrating multi-modal physical features, categorizes corrosion products into four distinct classes, elucidating the spatiotemporal dynamics of rust layer transitions in the early stages of bronze disease development. This approach enables a preliminary assessment of the progression of bronze disease.

This study systematically investigates fuel residues extracted from Han Dynasty bronze lamps unearthed at Wangniuling, Hepu County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. To characterize the chemical composition of these residues, micro-Fourier transform infrared (micro-FTIR) spectroscopy and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry coupled with thermal-assisted hydrolysis and methylation (THM-Py-GC/ MS) were employed as analytical techniques. The results indicate that long-chain linear fatty acids, alcohols, and hydrocarbons constitute the primary components of the residues. Additionally, linear omega-1 hydroxy fatty acids were identified, with 15-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid and 17-hydroxystearic acid as the predominant species. These findings are consistent with the well-documented chemical profile of beeswax. In light of the archaeological burial context of the bronze lamps, it is inferred that the Hepu region achieved considerable prosperity during the Han Dynasty, which may have been closely associated with trade interactions at the departure ports of the Maritime Silk Road. This research provides significant reference significance for inquiries into the utilization of lighting fuels in the southwestern border regions of Han Dynasty in China, as well as for studies concerning the trade dynamics of the Maritime Silk Road and the social stratification of populations inhabiting the ports along this ancient trade route.

We describe a new fossil raccoon dog from the Late Pliocene site of Jradzor, Armenia, a key site to understand biogeographic connections and dispersal between Asia, Europe, and Africa. The specimens analysed here for the first time exhibit a mosaic of primitive and derived cranial and dental traits, distinguishing them from known taxa such as Nyctereutes tingi (e.g. elongated cranium, reduced subangular lobe), N. sinensis (e.g. molar proportions, sulcal pattern), and N. megamastoides (e.g. absence of squared M1 morphology). Virtual reconstruction of the endocranium reveals a unique sulcal and gyral pattern, including a parenthesis-shaped gyrus sigmoideus and a deeply developed sulcus pseudosylvius, placing it morphologically closer to Canini than extant Vulpini. Considering these features, we propose to ascribe it to a new Nyctereutes species. Morphometric and geometric morphometric analyses support its taxonomic distinctiveness and suggest ecological and behavioural affinities with jackal-like canids. Notably, the relative development of the rostral portion of the cerebrum implies a social structure more complex than that of extant Nyctereutes, suggesting the possibility of seasonal pack formation. Additionally, we reassess several neuroanatomical traits previously considered diagnostic, such as the cerebellar vermis and sulcus endomarginalis, revealing greater variability within Nyctereutes and challenging previous phylogenetic assumptions. These findings underscore the Pliocene diversification of the genus and highlight the Caucasus as a pivotal region in canid evolution. The erection of a new Nyctereutes species enriches our understanding of canid paleobiology and provides new perspectives on the evolutionary trajectories of hypocarnivorous canids.

Museum lighting for paintings collected in Chinese museums, which represent traditional color aesthetics, must balance both the protection of the collection and the enhancement of visual quality to convey the paintings' value, particularly the perception of color naturalness under varying lighting conditions. This study simulated museum lighting environments in a variable space experimental chamber, using representative cold and warm tone Chinese freehand paintings as experimental subjects. Lighting conditions were varied according to three parameters: ambient illuminance ( E ), the fidelity of the light source ( R f ), and the saturation of the light source ( R g ). Color naturalness scores for the paintings were obtained through a subjective evaluation by 30 participants. The results show that increasing the ambient illumination, that is, reducing the contrast in illumination between inside and outside the display case, helps improve observers' ratings of the naturalness of the painting colors and reduces the impact of R f and R g on these ratings, thereby expanding the range of selectable light source parameters. When ambient illuminance was low, increasing R f improved color naturalness, and a moderate R g value more effectively restored the colors of the paintings. Through multiple linear regression analysis, the model for evaluating the color naturalness of cold and warm tone paintings was established, that is, the color naturalness scores of the paintings could be predicted based on the three lighting parameters. This model provides a scientific framework for optimizing the lighting design of paintings collected in museums, benefiting both the preservation and promotion of Chinese traditional culture.

Semantic segmentation of Buddha facial point clouds guided by canonical proportional rules enables segmentation without manual labels while ensuring semantic consistency and structural continuity. Existing data-driven methods require large annotated datasets, often unavailable for Buddhist statue faces, while classical model-driven methods capture geometry but lack semantic consistency with sculptural canons. This study presents a knowledge-guided method that embeds bilateral symmetry, proportional divisions, and canonical anchors into a grid-based region-growing process with adaptive convexity thresholds, followed by morphological refinement to maintain continuity and reduce fragmentation. The method achieves F1-scores above 0.85 and mean IoU around 0.80 across diverse Buddha statue samples. These results indicate that canonical sculptural principles can be identified through computational analysis.