Narrative Empathy and Patriotism--An Analysis of the Chinese“Main-Melody”Film My People,My Country

Narrative empathy is a relatively new theory and it can guide researchers in the studies of main-melody films so as to promote the communication of the core values of the society.The rhetorical mechanism of narrative empathy can be illustrated from five rhetorical elements,including rhetor,rhetorical goal,rhetorical situation,rhetorical strategy and audience.The theory of narrative empathy can be applied to the case study of the film My People,My Country.In the production of this film,the directors are the rhetors.The rhetors uphold the tenet of closeness,choose the right rhetorical situation as the 70th birthday of the People’s Republic of China,and use appropriate rhetorical strategies in order to realize the rhetorical goals of evoking empathy and inspiring patriotic feelings in the audience’s minds.An exploration and application of narrative empathy can be conducive to the empathic communication of Chinese main-melody films in order to achieve better communication effect.

Experiencing the Abject Female Body and Writing the Female Self:Body Narrative of In the Heart of the Country

In the Heart of the Country,the second novel by J.M.Coetzee,has been traditionally read as a disembodied writing that focuses on the problem of writing per se instead of the reality.This paper contends that the work is actually a body narrative that explores the visceral pain suffered by Magda whose infertile body impedes her being a qualified subject.As the heroine in a postcolonial novel,Magda is not just a body that is restricted and constructed by the politics of the body,but also a thinking and writing body that consciously questions and resists the gendered bodily norms under whose yardstick her subjecthood is barred.Written in the metafictional manner,Magda’s narrative of the body is not just a record of her corporeal experience,but also a self-conscious negotiation with,and challenge of,the bodily norms under whose yardstick her body has been debased or,in terms of Judith Butler,abjected.Taking her female bodily experience as the starting point,Magda writes a feminine text that values passion,fluidity and non-linearity to disrupt the patriarchal discourse underpinned with logical reasoning.The feminine body narrative endeavors to achieve a new way of communication through which a reciprocal cross race/gender relationship might be established.

Geochemical and Boron Isotopic Evidence that Tourmaline Records Country Rock Assimilation of Leucogranites in the Himalayan Orogen

Tourmaline geochemical and boron(B)isotopic compositions in two-mica granites(TMG),tourmaline-bearing leucogranites(Tou-LG),tourmalites and metapelites from the Gyirong-Malashan areas of the Himalayan orogen provide evidence for country rock assimilation during the intrusion of Himalayan leucogranite.The schorls in Gyirong leucogranitic plutons show low contents of MgO(0.238%-1.160%)and δ^(11)B values(-12.1‰--11.2‰),while dravites gathered in the contact zone between the leucogranitic veins and metapelites show high contents of MgO(4.815%-6.755%)and δ^(11)B values(-10.7‰--9.3‰).This geochemical and isotopic variation of tourmalines can also be identified in the Malashan gneiss dome.As a result,three types of tourmaline were identified in the Himalayan orogen:(1)Tou-Ⅰ in the TMG and Tou-LG,which is the most common tourmaline type of schorl;(2)Tou-Ⅱ(dravite and high-Mg schorl)in the Tou-LG and tourmalite at the margins of the leucogranite;and(3)Tou-Ⅲ(mainly dravite,with minor high-Mg schorl)in metapelites of the High Himalayan Crystalline Sequence.The lenses and veins of Tou-LG may have experienced metasomatism and assimilation as a result of interaction with the High Himalayan Crystalline Sequence metasedimentary country rocks,which can be traced by the geochemical and isotopic characteristics of the tourmaline therein.

Characteristics of Infertile Clientele Attending a Public in Vitro Fertilization Clinic: Appraising Priorities in a Low-Income Country

Introduction: Infertilityaffects one in six couples, and it is an important public health issue largely due to thepervasive effects on the emotional and psychological wellbeing of affected couples. In many developing nations emphasis is placed on childbirth and inability to fulfill this role can be very distressing. There is an unmet need for assisted reproductive technology (ART) in many developing countries and where facilities exist, they are mostly privately owned, expensive and concentrated in urban areas. To bridge this gap, public fertility clinics have been established to provide subsidized care. Evaluating the characteristics and peculiarities of clientele presenting at these public facilities will aid planning and prioritization of care. Methodology: A descriptive retrospective study of 116 infertile patients presenting to the fertility clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria from inception on the 14th of February 2019 and 31st of December 2022.Data was analyzed using the Statical Package for Social Sciences (IBM, SPSS, New York) version 23. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results which were presented with the aid of bar charts and frequency tables. Result: The mean age of the patients was 40.70 ± 6.62 years. Post-menopausal patients accounted for about one-fifth of the study population while 80.2% (93 women) were older than 35 years. The mean duration of infertility was 9.39 ± 6.11years and nine patients (7.8%) had a duration greater than 2 decades. Secondary infertility occurred in 67.2% of the women. Twenty-nine women (25%) had undergone myomectomy prior to presentation. Hypertension (11.2%) was the most prevalent comorbidity. Nineteen patients (16.4%) had used contraceptives in the past with the male condom (36.8%)being the most preponderant. Sixty-seven patients had experienced pregnancy losses before 28 weeks of gestation while just 16 patients (13.8%) had undergone ART, and none was successful. Conclusion: Secondary infertility was the prevalent type of infertility and may not be unconnected with the low contraceptive usage and high risk of sexually transmitted infection. Late presentation coupled with a large proportion of post-menopausal clientele suggests delayed health-seeking behavior most probably due to the prohibitive cost of ART. The need to streamline services offered in public fertility clinics is paramount in low-income countries grappling with scarce resources. A pragmatic approach will involve the provision of low-cost ART, while enhancing gamete donation programs through the implementation of gamete sharing policies. This will invariably bridge the unmet need and skewed access to ART in developing countries.

An Update on the Clinical Pipelines of New Antibacterial Drugs Developed in China

Antibacterial resistance is a global health threat that requires further concrete action on the part of all countries.In this context,one of the biggest concerns is whether enough new antibacterial drugs are being discovered and developed.Although several high-quality reviews on clinical antibacterial drug pipelines from a global perspective were published recently,none provides comprehensive information on original antibacterial drugs at clinical stages in China.In this review,we summarize the latest progress of novel antibacterial drugs approved for marketing and under clinical evaluation in China since 2019.Information was obtained by consulting official websites,searching commercial databases,retrieving literature,asking personnel from institutions or companies,and other means,and a considerable part of the data covered here has not been included in other reviews.As of June 30,2023,a total of 20 antibacterial projects from 17 Chinese pharmaceutical companies or developers were identified and updated.Among them,two new antibacterial drugs that belong to traditional antibiotic classes were approved by the National Medical Products Administration(NMPA)in China in 2019 and 2021,respectively,and 18 antibacterial agents are in clinical development,with one under regulatory evaluation,five in phase-3,six in phase-2,and six in phase-1.Most of the clinical candidates are new analogs or monocomponents of traditional antibacterial pharmacophore types,including two dual-acting hybrid antibiotics and a recombinant antibacterial protein.Overall,despite there being 17 antibacterial clinical candidates,our analysis indicates that there are still relatively few clinically differentiated antibacterial agents in stages of clinical development in China.Hopefully,Chinese pharmaceutical companies and institutions will develop more innovative and clinically differentiated candidates with good market potential in the future research and development(R&D)of original antibacterial drugs.

Snapshot Survey of the Presence of Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Products, Articles, and the Environment in Ecuador

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants(POPs)is a legally binding instrument for 186 Parties(status:April 2023).Accordingly,among other responsibilities,countries are obliged to report the production,import,or export of the POPs listed in Annexes A,B,or C;provide information to registers;maintain inventories;and monitor the presence of POPs in the environment.In the broader context of international chemicals and waste management,producer responsibilities,harmonized reporting,and compliance with national and international regulations,Ecuador has addressed the newly listed group of perfluorinated alkyl substances(PFAS)in its national implementation plan and sent selected products from its national market for PFAS analysis.The products analyzed came from the initially listed fields of specific exemptions and acceptable purposes,including:fire-fighting foams;photographic aids;greasers/degreasers;various kinds of paper/packaging;textiles;and leather,coatings,cleaners,metal plating,and pesticides.Our results showed that the three PFAS presently listed in the Stockholm Convention could be quantified in only a few samples;additional PFAS,not yet listed in the Convention also had low detection frequencies.Although the number of samples was limited,the samples covered a large spectrum of sample matrices,making it possible to conclude that—once these products become waste and are regulated under the Basel Convention—they would not constitute a disposal problem.Nevertheless,verification of the presence of PFAS in products on the market is expected to pose an analytical challenge for both,developed and developing countries.

An Analysis of Liberia’s Vulnerability to Climate Change in the Context of Least Developed Countries (LDCs): A Review

Climate change is an alarming global challenge, particularly affecting the least developed countries (LDCs) including Liberia. These countries, located in regions prone to unpredictable temperature and precipitation changes, are facing significant challenges, particularly in climate-sensitive sectors such as mining and agriculture. LDCs need more resilience to adverse climate shocks but have limited capacity for adaptation compared to other developed and developing nations. This paper examines Liberia’s susceptibility to climate change as a least developed country, focusing on its exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. It provides an overview of LDCs and outlines the global distribution of carbon dioxide emissions. The paper also evaluates specific challenges that amplify Liberia’s vulnerability and constrain sustainable adaptation, providing insight into climate change’s existing and potential effects. The paper emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate impacts on Liberia and calls for concerted local and international efforts for effective and sustainable mitigation efforts. It provides recommendations for policy decisions and calls for further research on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The Implications of Urbanization Processes in Developed Countries for Africa

Urbanization is the inevitable path of national economic development,and the level of urbanization development in most African countries is still low.By analyzing five typical developed countries in the United States,Britain,France,Germany,and Japan,this paper discusses the promoting factors and problems of the rapid urbanization development in their specific years,as well as the experiences and lessons that Africa can learn,so as to prevent Africa from taking the detour in the urbanization process of Western developed countries and promote the balanced regional development of various African countries.

Socialization Development of ESG Business Models in Representative Asia-Pacific Countries:A State-of-the-Art Review and Recommendation

The integration of environmental,social,and governance(ESG)principles has become a pivotal factor in shaping sustainable and responsible corporate practices.The present study investigates the integration of ESG principles within corporate governance models in Asia-Pacific countries,focusing on socialization.By examining the governance culture,legal frameworks,and corporate practices in these representative countries,the paper delineates a strategic framework for embedding social governance into corporate strategies.The study introduces a Cultural,Economic,Legal,and Political(CELP)framework to assess corporate social governance,investigating the correlation between business practices and social changes.Through a systematic literature review and detailed thematic analysis,this paper aims to offer actionable insights and recommendations,guiding corporations in their transition towards more sustainable and socially responsible business practices.

Post-war Sustainability-Driven School Buildings: A Review of the Literature

The Safe Schools Declaration of 2015 is an inter-governmental political agreement signed by several countries designed to protect the schooling of the school-aged population during armed conflicts.Yet,in countries where civil war erupted,schools were demolished.Several school-aged children were either forcibly recruited by governments or coerced by rebel groups to serve in armed fights.As a result,several children were deprived of their education and have remained suffering from deep psychological scars.The central question of the study is:What kind of sustainability-driven school buildings can be initiated in countries that are now enduring peace so that the learning environments are more comfortable and improve the well-being of the war-impacted children and school employees?After reviewing the literature,a strategic conceptual framework that incorporated the synergistic relationship between economic,social,and environmental aspects of sustainability was initiated to map out sustainable school buildings.In short,the conceptual framework proposed to construct school buildings in some of the war-affected developing countries includes assembling cost-efficiency and eco-effectiveness inputs,using renewable energy sources powered by natural sunlight,collecting rainwater in mud cisterns,reducing emissions of carbon oxides,and empowering the local community to be the main actors to design sustainable buildings during the preconstruction,construction,and post-construction stages to serve as learning spaces for the war-affected occupants and their neighborhoods.

The Determination Method of Product Engineering Features Based on Linguistic Variables

To overcome the problem of imprecise and unclear information in the development of quality functions,a method for determining the priority of engineering features based on mixed linguistic variables is proposed.First,the evaluation member uses the determined linguistic variable to give the correlation strength evaluation matrix of customer requirements and engineering features.Secondly,the relative importance of the evaluation member and customer requirements are aggregated.Finally,the priority of engineering features is obtained by calculating the deviation.The feasibility and practicability of this method are proven by taking the design of a new product of a long bag low-pressure pulse dust collector as an example.

The microbial content of unexpired pasteurized milk from selected supermarkets in a developing country

Objective:To determine the presence and levels of microbes in unexpired pasteurized milk from randomly selected supermarkets in Kingston,Jamaica.Methods:The quantitative study used a stratified random sampling technique in the selection of the 20 representative milk samples from six(6) supermarkets.Microbiological tests such as methylene blue reduction,standard plate count(SPC),coliform plate count(CPC),purity plate culture,gram staining and biochemical tests were performed to examine the microbes in purchased unexpired pasteurized milk.Results:One sample(BCr016) had a pH of 4.0.a rancid odour and curdled appearance.It decolourized within one hour during the methylene blue reduction test and was classified as class 4 milk.Seven of the samples were sterile with no microbe growth on the plate count agar and violet red bile salt agar(VRBA).The milk samples that appeared to be safe for consumption were all 10,11,12 and 13 days before expiration.The VRBA sample BCr016,had a colony count of 13 400 CFU/ mL.There was the presence of Escherichia coli in sample LCr021 which had a standard plate count of 1 580 SPC/mL and a coliform count of 500 CFU/mL.Enterobacter sp.was present in colonies from BCr016 and all the other milk samples.Conclusions:Unacceptable levels of Entembacter spp.and Escherichia coli were found in most of the samples.Effective measures to ensure safe milk for human consumption such as the phosphatase test and methylene blue reduction test should be routinely performed on each batch of milk processed by dairy plants.

Discourse Analysis of the Belt and Road Initiative From the Perspective of Central Asian Countries: A Case Study of the Republic of Kazakhstan

This study employs Norman Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis(CDA)three-dimensional model,using the Republic of Kazakhstan as a case study,to delve into the discourse construction of China’s Belt and Road Initiative(BRI)in Central Asian countries.Through detailed analysis of policy documents,media reports,and public discussions in Central Asian countries,this paper reveals how the BRI constructs specific social practices,discourse events,and textual meanings within these nations.The findings indicate that through this global development strategy,China has not only strengthened its economic ties with Central Asian countries but has also exerted profound influences on political,cultural,and social levels.

Management of Cervical Intra Epithelial Neoplasia by Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure in a Low Resource Country: An Experience from the YaoundéGeneral Hospital, Cameroon

Background: Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, and 80% of cases occur in the developing world. A critical component of effective cervical cancer screening programs is the ability to offer women appropriate and effective treatment for cervical intra epithelial neoplasia (CIN). Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the primary experience of management of CIN by Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) in a low resource country. Methods: We carried out a descriptive cross sectional study at the Yaoundé General Hospital in Cameroon. Results: Twenty three cases of CIN were treated by LEEP. Mean age of patients was 40.5 ± 9.9 years. Six (26.1%) patients were infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). LEEP was indicated in 21 (91.30%) cases for CIN2 and CIN3. The mean duration of the surgical procedure was 10 ± 3 minutes. There was one (4.3%) complication (persistent cervical bleeding). Surgical margins were negative for dysplasia or invasive carcinoma in 18 (78.26%) cases and non-applicable in 5 (21.73%) cases (thermal artefacts of margins and cervicitis without CIN). One patient with micro invasive carcinoma on post-operative histology was treated by total hysterectomy. Cervical cytology was normal at 6 months post LEEP for 15 cases out of 16 (93.8%) patients who performed the test. One woman achieved pregnancy and delivered a term baby. Conclusion: Treatment of CIN by LEEP is feasible, safe and effective in our setting.

Some new country records of five species of Glenea Newman(Coleoptera:Cerambycidae:Lamiinae:Saperdini) from the Oriental Region

New country records for five species of Glenea Newman from the Oriental Region are reported. G. changchini Lin ＆ Lin, 2011 is newly recorded from Vietnam; G. rondoni Breuning, 1963 is new from Thailand; G. subregularis Pic, 1943 is new from Laos; G subviridescens Breuning, 1963 is new from China, Vietnam and Thailand; and G. viridescens Pic, 1927 is newly recorded from China and Laos. Photos of types and voucher specimens from new localities are presented.

Research Priorities and the Future of Alfalfa in Latin America

Agro-food and agro-industrial systems in Latin America must anticipate future trends and ensure permanent adjustment ofresearch priorities to the evolving global needs. Innovations should follow the logic of productive chains, which are highly dependentupon knowledge and technology. Agribusiness sector needs to reinvent itself for efficiently providing new products based on stricterquality controls, traceability, and greater diversification. In the region, alfalfa has an enormous potential to be cultivated for multiplepurposes other than just animal products, going from pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry to human consumption. No singleorganization or isolated group of scientists hold alone the capacity to deal with increasingly complex and dynamic productionsystems in order to efficiently compete in a globalized market. These challenges require an interdisciplinary approach, not only to adomestic level but also to an international one. The present paper proposed the constitution of a virtual alfalfa network platform forarticulating and guiding alfalfa research efforts in Latin America. The network will focus on identifying the most important needs forLatin America, promoting an active interaction among educational and scientific institutions through collaborative research projects.The platform comprises four main research axes: (1) efficient production (agronomy);(2) animal production (diversified feeds);(3)quality and innocuousness applied (human feeding);(4) novel products (pharmaceutical and cosmetics). During the initial phase, theBrazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA, Brazil) and National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA,Argentina) will jointly coordinate the network.

Stakeholders Theory:An Analysis of Eco-Labeling of Commercial Products in A Developing Country(Kenya) Stock Exchange Listed Companies

International environmental organizations propose voluntary eco-labeling as a market incentive to promote industry to operate in an ecologically sustainable and environmentally friendly manner,for instance,with the introduction of ISO 14000.These standards assist organizations to minimize their operations negatively affecting the environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations.Support for eco-labeling has been one of the ways that

A Study of Xi Jinping Thought on Governing the Country Based on the Unity of “Party Spirit-People’s Nature”

The unity of “party spirit-people’s nature” is the basic proposition of Xi Jinping’s governance.Deng Xiaoping summarized the experience and lessons in the early days of reform and opening up,and put forward the basic line of the “leadership and unity” of the party in the early stage of socialism around “one center,two basic points”;Xi Jinping’s so-called “unification”,which is based on the the basic line of Deng Xiaoping’s initial stage of building a socialist country that is “rich,strong,democratic,civilized,harmonious and beautiful”,has further established the importance of “people as the center” and “party’s leadership”.Therefore,the “people-centered” and “the party’s overall leadership” are unified and become the basic idea of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s governance of the country.Xi Jinping has put forward the unity of “party spirit-people’s nature”,the “consistency” between governing the country and politics,and the “integration” between the people’s interests and the party’s leadership,thus forming “persistence”,“comprehensive”,“confidence”,“maintenance” and other assertions.

Challenges in the management of paediatric cataract in a developing country

AIM:To review the management of cataract in children in a tertiary hospital in a developing country,and to highlight the challenges therein.· METHODS:The hospital records of children aged 15 years or less that had cataract surgery at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital,Enugu from 2005 to 2008 were reviewed retrospectively.Information was obtained on bio-data,pre-and post-operative visual acuity(VA),biometry,and type of surgery,use of intraocular lens(IOL) and presence of co-morbidity.SPSS was used for data entry and analysis.· RESULTS:The hospital records of 21 children(26 eyes) were analyzed.There were 12 males(57.1%) and 9 females(42.9%).Pre-operative VA could not be assessed in 11 eyes(42.3%),14 eyes(53.9%) had VA <3/60 and one eye(3.8%) had VA 6/60.Biometry was done in only 5 eyes(19.2%).All eyes had standard extracapsular cataract extraction without primary posterior capsulectomy;12 eyes(46.2%) had posterior chamber intraocular lens(PC-IOL) implant while 13 eyes(50.0%) had no IOL.After 12 weeks of follow up,vision assessment was available in only 15 eyes.With best correction,VA of 6/18 or better was achieved in only 5 eyes(33.3%).· CONCLUSION:Inadequate facilities and inadequate follow up after surgery are some of the challenges in managing paediatric cataract in the developing countries.If these challenges are not addressed,cataract will remain a major cause of childhood blindness and low vision in Africa for many years.There should be collaboration between Paediatric Ophthalmology Centres in industrialized and developing countries to enhance skill transfer.Governmental and International Non-governmental Organizations can go a long way to facilitate this exchange.

THE ANALYSIS OF CELL LOSS RATES IN AN ATM MUX WITH LOSS PRIORITIES

The analysis of cell loss rates in an ATM Mux with loss priorities is an important problem in the-study of traffic control in ATM networks. In this paper, the loss rates of the cells with different priorities in an ATM Mux are analyzed by approximating the actual input process with two-state MMDP and fluid flow technique, and the analytical expressions of the relation between the loss rates and the buffer size are obtained. Simulation shows that the approach is sulliciently accurate for applications.