Hunan's Best — Inventions and Major Achievements (Part 1)
Scientific Breakthroughs Benefiting Mankind: The world's first discovery of the earliest life substance—enzymatic DNA. Wang Shenli, Chen Jiaqin, and Yu Kuanping of Hunan Normal University's Biology Department discovered for the first time that DNA, the genetic material of life, possesses enzymatic activity, greatly advancing human understanding of the chemical nature of enzymes.
This article has been compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · City Overview section). Some administrative divisions, population, socioeconomic data, and policy information may be outdated and are for reference only; for the latest situation, please refer to official releases by the local government and scenic areas.
Section One
Scientific Achievements Benefit the World
World's First Discovery of the Earliest-Originating Life Substance—Enzymatic DNA
Wang Shenli, Chen Jiaqin, and Yu Kuanping of the Biology Department of Hunan Normal University were the first to discover that deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the genetic material of organisms, possesses enzymatic activity, advancing human understanding of the chemical nature of enzymes by a significant step. This achievement was first published in the June 1995 issue of the Journal of Natural Science of Hunan Normal University. Professor Wang Shenli and his colleagues discovered that DNA extracted from mung bean seedlings of higher plants has naphthyl ester-decomposing activity, and rigorous experimental methods ruled out the effects of protein impurities contained in the DNA as well as other factors, thereby confirming that DNA has enzymatic activity and naming it Deoxyribozyme (enzymatic DNA). The discovery of enzymatic DNA represents the third leap in human understanding of the chemical nature of enzymes. The discovery of enzymatic DNA also suggests that DNA may be the earliest-originating life substance (preceding RNA and proteins), which is also an important advance in understanding the origin of life.
The World's First Systematic Work on Q-Process Construction Theory—"Construction Theory of Markov Processes"
The construction theory of countable Markov processes is the research achievement of Yang Xiangqun, professor at Hunan Normal University. In 1978, Yang Xiangqun collaborated with Wang Zikun on research and published the paper "Construction of Interrupted Birth-Death Processes." In 1979, Yang's research on "W-Transformation, Strong Limit, and Martin Boundary Theory of Q-Processes" succeeded and won the second prize of the Provincial Major Scientific and Technological Achievement Award. In 1980, he published "State Classification of Irregular Countable Markov Processes." In 1981, he published "Construction Theory of Q-Processes: The Case of Finitely Many Non-Conservative States and Finite Outflow Boundary" in Science in China, and published the monograph "Construction Theory of Countable Markov Processes." This is the first systematic work on this subject internationally. In the course of his research, Yang Xiangqun pioneered the method of combining probabilistic methods with analytical methods, which has broad prospects for development. He obtained many results in non-conservative Q-construction, particularly the solution to the construction problem of doubly finite Q-processes, breaking the record that had been held by Williams of Britain since 1964. In the area of one-sided and two-sided birth-death processes, he solved the construction problem and systematically and deeply studied their properties, laying the foundation for further theoretical and applied research. These results were combined with Wang Zikun's "Birth-Death Processes and Markov Chains" into an English monograph submitted for publication by Springer. In the research on approximation of Markov processes, he defined the approximating minimal Q-process in 1984. This scientific research achievement won the second prize of the Science and Technology Progress Award of the State Education Commission in 1986.
The World's First Final Solution to the Oscillation Problem of P-Functions—Kendall's Weak Conjecture on the V₀ Value
The oscillation problem of P-functions studied by Zou Jiezhong of Changsha Railway College concerns the P-functions in renewal theory, which is one of the main research subjects of the British school of stochastic analysis. The most famous unsolved problems in oscillation include Kendall's weak conjecture on the V₀ value: V₀ ≤ 1/2; and the two problems concerning the M-1/(2-m) curve in Daniason's (M, m) diagram. Through in-depth research, Zou Jiezhong solved the problem of "Kendall's Weak Conjecture on the V₀ Value," which can lead to some corollaries in discrete Markov theory, and wrote the paper "The Oscillation Problem of P-Functions." Zou Jiezhong's research achievement received great attention from the international mathematical community. Over the past 2,000 years, scholars at home and abroad had devoted themselves to studying this problem, attempting to solve it. Although some progress was made, it was not until Zou Jiezhong's research that the problem was finally solved. Therefore, Zou Jiezhong and Yu Yaoqi of Sun Yat-sen University jointly received the 1987 International Davidson Prize awarded by the British Davidson Foundation. This was the second time Chinese mathematicians received this prize, after Hou Zhenting won it in 1978. Zou Jiezhong's achievement was rated as one of Hunan's Top Ten Scientific and Technological Achievements in 1987.
The World's First Monograph on the New Discipline of Biophysical Genetics—"Biophysical Genetics"
Professor Wang Shenli's monograph "Biophysical Genetics" from the Biology Department of Hunan Normal University was published by Hunan Science and Technology Press in May 1992. "Biophysical Genetics" is a new branch discipline within genetics and also a new interdisciplinary field formed by the mutual penetration of genetics and biophysics. Its research content mainly involves three aspects: 1. Physical processes in biological genetic phenomena; 2. Using physics methods to study biological genetic phenomena; 3. Studying the effects of physical factors on genetic material, and using physics technology to transform the genetic characteristics of organisms and cultivate new types of organisms. Professor Tan Jiazhen, a famous Chinese geneticist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, commented on the book: "The name of this new discipline, biophysical genetics, was first proposed by Chinese people; the book 'Biophysical Genetics' was first written by Chinese people and first published in China. This is something we can be proud of."
China's First Monograph Comprehensively Discussing the "Element Analysis Method"—"High-Precision Theory of Finite Elements"
The monograph "High-Precision Theory of Finite Elements," co-authored by Professor Chen Chuanmiao of Hunan Normal University and Professor Huang Yunqing of Xiangtan University, was published by Hunan Science and Technology Press in July 1995. This book is the first monograph at home and abroad to comprehensively discuss the element analysis method originally created by Chinese scholars and to fully elaborate on various high-precision studies. It systematically summarizes for the first time the high-precision analyses made by Chinese scholars on elliptic, parabolic, hyperbolic, and nonlinear problems; it introduces the authors' successful practice of using this high-precision method to solve large-scale engineering problems. The publication of this monograph attracted great attention from experts and scholars at home and abroad. Academician Shi Zhongci of the Chinese Academy of Sciences commented: The first author of this book previously wrote "Finite Element Methods and Analysis of Their Improved Precision," which was the earliest work in this research field. This monograph is a substantial expansion of the above book... This is a monograph with considerable Chinese characteristics. Academician Lin Qun of the Chinese Academy of Sciences believes that this work is rich in results, with much of its content being original. This monograph has also had a good impact in North America, Europe, Japan, and other places.
China's First "China Chip"—Digital Image and Video Compression Encoding-Decoding Chip
In October 2003, China's first digital image and video compression encoding-decoding chip (CDC1028) with completely independent intellectual property rights was successfully developed by Hunan Zhongxin Digital Technology Co., Ltd., with technical performance indicators reaching the leading level of similar foreign products. According to actual tests, its performance in image compression encoding has surpassed that of JPEG2000, the latest compression technology standard relatively recognized by Western countries at present. The successful development of this chip marks the end of the era when Western developed countries monopolized digital image and video compression encoding-decoding technology and core chips.
China's First Game-Playing Robot—"Cai Xiang"
In July 2004, four middle school students from Yali Middle School in Changsha, under the guidance of relevant experts, developed China's first game-playing robot. This game-playing robot, named "Cai Xiang," can autonomously complete the entire process of observing the board, calculating moves, picking up pieces, and placing them during a game of Gomoku (Five-in-a-Row) against a human. Relevant experts pointed out that a robot capable of playing chess face-to-face with a human is a first in China. The game-playing robot achieved new breakthroughs in design concepts and technical performance, and is a successful example of middle school students' technological innovation.
Hunan's First Independently Developed Manned Aircraft—"AURORA"
In November 2008, Hunan's first independently developed manned aircraft with completely independent intellectual property rights—the "AURORA" light aircraft—made its debut at the 7th China (Zhuhai) International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition. The aircraft was independently developed and manufactured by Hunan Sunward Technology Co.,
Ltd., with a designed speed of 222 kilometers per hour and a designed range of 1,000 kilometers. It is a two-seat ultralight with a maximum takeoff weight of 600 kilograms. The target customer group for this aircraft is mainly flight enthusiasts in Western countries, so they gave "Hunan's first aircraft" the name of a goddess particularly beloved by Europeans—AURORA.
China's First Slipform Paver—HTH60T Slipform Cement Concrete Paver
In August 2007, the first modern equipment specifically researched and developed for the slipform paving construction of supporting layers on China's dedicated passenger railway lines—the HTH60TJ slipform cement concrete paver—successfully rolled off the production line at Zoomlion's Lugu Industrial Park. The introduction of this new product will end the monopoly of foreign-brand slipform pavers in China's road construction sector. This new-type slipform paver, integrating material distribution, metering, vibrating, slipform extrusion molding, surface texturing, and smoothing, can automatically, with high quality, and in a single pass form concrete material onto the roadbed. It is modern equipment for the construction of dedicated railway passenger lines.
China's First CNC Spiral Bevel Gear Grinding Machine—YK2045 CNC Spiral Bevel Gear Grinding Machine
In October 2002, the YK2045 CNC spiral bevel gear grinding machine successfully developed by Central South University was China's first CNC spiral bevel gear milling machine, becoming one of the six major technological leaps in China's CNC machine tool products in recent years. Its introduction broke the foreign technological monopoly, filled the gap in China's manufacturing of CNC spiral bevel gear grinding machines, and made China the third country in the world capable of producing this type of machine tool. This gear grinding machine was independently designed and successfully developed by Professor Zeng Tao, a doctoral supervisor at Central South University, and his assistants through long-term deep involvement in production practice. The CNC spiral bevel gear grinding machine is a high-tech product involving multiple disciplines. Previously, only the United States and Germany could produce it. It transfers the mechanical complexity of mechanical gear grinding machines to software, making it a typical information-based and intelligent product. It has a series of advantages including simple structure, good rigidity, no generating transmission chain, high precision, good flexibility of program control, convenient adjustment, and high efficiency. It is a revolution targeting mechanical gear grinding machines.
China's First High-Precision Cross-Cutting Paper Machine—QZH750 High-Precision Cross-Cutting Paper Machine
In 1981, the State-Owned Changjiang Power Machinery Factory (formerly Factory 52 of the Ministry of Aviation) successfully developed China's first high-precision cross-cutting paper machine. In April 1988, the QZH750 high-precision cross-cutting paper machine obtained a patent of the People's Republic of China. This machine's cutting level reached a cutting speed of 60 cuts per minute and a precision of 0.3 millimeters. Through painstaking efforts and careful improvements, it further achieved the technical requirements of 90 cuts per minute and 0.3 millimeters precision, with all performance indicators reaching the leading domestic level.
China's First Hydraulically Operated Mechanical Transmission Planer—B6080 Shaping Machine
In the late 1970s, the B6080 shaping machine developed by the Huaihua Machine Tool General Factory in Hunan Province was China's first hydraulically operated mechanical transmission planer. It uses a main motor to drive a crank-rocker mechanism through a V-belt pulley, a plate-type hydraulic friction clutch, and a gear speed-changing mechanism, thereby driving the ram in reciprocating motion. It features an automatic tool-lifting mechanism, horizontal and vertical rapid movement mechanisms for the worktable, simple operation, attractive appearance, reasonable ram structure, small thermal deformation, good machine tool rigidity, stable precision, and the ability to work continuously under different temperature conditions. It is suitable for planing the flat surfaces, inclined surfaces, grooves, etc., of various small and medium-sized parts.
China's First Batch of Independently Designed and Produced Asphalt Distributor Trucks—J-3600 Asphalt Distributor Truck
In 1960, the Ministry of Transport decided to trial-produce asphalt distributor trucks and assigned the trial-production task to the repair factory of the Central South Highway Engineering Division. The factory immediately organized technical personnel to carry out rush surveying, mapping, and lofting. After more than two months, three prototype asphalt distributor trucks were successfully trial-produced. These were China's first batch of independently designed and produced asphalt distributor trucks, with the product finalized as the J-3600 model. In 1965, the product was finalized as LSI-3500J, incorporated into the machinery products of the First Ministry of Machine Building, and put into batch production.
China's First Concrete Pavement Comprehensive Maintenance Vehicle—"XTG5070TSY" Maintenance Vehicle
In August 1996, the Ministry of Transport presided over the appraisal and acceptance of the "XTG5070TSY Cement Concrete Pavement Comprehensive Maintenance Vehicle" jointly developed by the Xiangtan Highway Administration and Xiangtan Highway and Bridge Construction Company. This project was a key scientific research project of the Ministry of Transport during the "Eighth Five-Year Plan" period. Experts unanimously determined that this product filled the gap for this type of vehicle in China and was at the leading domestic level.
China's First Explosion-Proof Forklift—BDC-1 Battery-Powered Explosion-Proof Forklift
In 1983, the Hengyang Battery Vehicle Factory, Nanyang Explosion-Proof Electrical Research Institute, and Hunan Provincial Machinery Research Institute successfully developed the BDC-1J battery-powered explosion-proof forklift, a domestic first. The overall explosion-proof performance of the vehicle reached BT3C level, comparable to the world's advanced level. It is suitable for loading, unloading, handling, and stacking work in places with explosive gas mixtures such as petroleum, chemical, and pharmaceutical facilities.
Hunan's First Paddy Field Gold Dredge—Aoshang Xiangjin No. 1 Gold Dredge
The Aoshang Gold Mine in Jingzhou County, Huaihua City, was established in 1985. It was a key construction project of the national "Seventh Five-Year Plan" and one of Hunan Province's key gold production enterprises. Because the mineral deposits are distributed in the bottom layers of paddy fields and rivers, extraction was difficult. At the end of 1986, the Aoshang Gold Mine organized the construction of the first paddy field gold dredge, named "Aoshang Xiangjin No. 1 Gold Dredge" by the Ministry of Metallurgy, known as the "First Dredge in Jiangnan," and officially put into production in 1987. In order to solve the technical difficulty of low recovery rate of fine-grained placer gold, the mine, through painstaking exploration, developed a new process of secondary crushing and ore dressing recovery, increasing the recovery rate of fine-grained placer gold from 83% to 85%.
China's No. 1 Fishing Net—New Technology for Encirclement Fishing in East Lake Ecological Fisheries
The East Lake Fishery in Huarong County, Hunan, has a total area of 31,605 mu, including 30,000 mu of associated lake area and 1,605 mu of intensive fish ponds. In 1991, the national "Eighth Five-Year Plan" key aquatic science and technology project "Research on East Lake Ecological Fisheries Technology" was established and implemented. The project established four major new production technologies: first, the "secondary superposition" type of water measurement and fixed-point scientific fertilization technology; second, the scientific stocking technology matched with lake cultivation; third, new species enhancement and breeding technology; fourth, the "three-net" aquaculture technology. The project was successfully completed in 1995. The winter fishing adopted the drive-and-catch net technology, creating the remarkable achievement of encircling and catching 1.1 million kilograms of fresh fish in a single net, exceeding the then-highest domestic inland lake catch record by 150,000 kilograms! Central and provincial media rushed to cover it. The spectacular scene of people rejoicing and fish leaping was breathtaking. The "China No. 1 Net" became famous far and wide, and the East Lake Fishery became a banner of modern fisheries in Hunan Province at one stroke. In 1996, the project passed the review by an expert group headed by Professor Liu Yun, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and won the third prize of the Provincial Government Science and Technology Progress Award that year.
China's First Automatic Spring Clip Production Line—WGK-130 Computerized Automatic Spring Clip Production Line
In 1984, the Zhuzhou Bridge Factory designed and manufactured China's first automatic spring clip production line, enabling the spring clip fasteners for railway sleepers to achieve fully automated production throughout the entire process from material feeding and heating, forming, and heat treatment to finished products, with an annual production capacity of more than 250,000 spring clip fasteners. In 1985, after further improvement, the WGK-130 computerized spring clip production line control system was adopted to replace the original hard-wired logic telephone, bringing the process technology and equipment to the first-class level nationwide.
Hunan's First Titanium Material Forming Technology—Large Coil Weight Wide Titanium Strip Coil
In May 2007, China's first large-coil heavy wide titanium strip coil was successfully trial-rolled in a single pass at Hunan Valin Lianyuan Steel, ending the history of China's inability to produce hot-rolled titanium strip coils and marking a breakthrough in China's titanium material forming technology. China's first large-coil heavy wide titanium strip coil, with independent intellectual property rights, is mainly used in high-tech fields such as large civil airliners, military aircraft, aerospace vehicles, nuclear submarines, and nuclear power plants. "Research and Industrialization of Large-Coil Heavy Titanium Strip Preparation Technology" was included in China's Titanium Industry "Eleventh Five-Year" Development Plan.
China's First High-Performance Road Roller — Unmanned Road Roller
In December 2000, China's first high-performance unmanned vibratory road roller was successfully developed. Jointly developed by the National University of Defense Technology and relevant units, this high-performance unmanned vibratory road roller weighs 12.6 tons, six times the weight of the world's first unmanned road roller developed by Germany in 1998, which had a dead weight of 2 tons. This high-performance unmanned vibratory road roller can autonomously complete basic operations such as ignition, starting, gear shifting, steering, reversing, and stopping according to the construction scope and requirements, and can adjust the vibration level according to the hardness of the construction ground, effectively improving construction efficiency and compaction quality.
China's First Urban Light Rail Vehicle — Developed by Xiangtan Electric Manufacturing Group
In 1991, China's first urban light rail vehicle was successfully developed at Xiangtan Electric Manufacturing Group Co., Ltd., achieving a zero breakthrough in China's complete vehicle production of this type and marking a new level in China's urban light rail vehicle development and production, reaching international advanced standards. It adopts advanced technologies such as 70% low-floor, VVVF AC variable-frequency high-speed control system, modular car body, and microcomputer control, with a speed of 70 to 80 kilometers per hour, a capacity of more than 300 passengers, and the 70% low-floor section only 350 millimeters above the ground, making boarding and alighting very convenient.
Hunan's First Introduced Cemented Carbide Production Line — Micro Drill Production Line Technology
Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide Works introduced cemented carbide extrusion production technology and equipment from Sweden's Sandvik company, and micro drill production technology and equipment from Germany. In 1988, it successively built China's first cemented carbide extrusion production line and the country's first micro drill production line, capable of producing pore-free high-precision cemented carbide rods and profiles, as well as an annual output of 300,000 micro drills, meeting the domestic demand for micro drills in the development of high-tech and electronics industries.