Female Warriors in the MCU and Wuxia Films:A Comparative Study

This essay offers a comprehensive comparative analysis of female warriors in the Marvel Cinematic Universe(MCU)and Wuxia films.Both genres portray powerful and empowered female characters who defy societal expectations and embody resilience,effectively challenging gender norms and promoting female empowerment.However,despite their strength,many of these women warriors face certain narrative factors,such as the male gaze and a predetermined fate,which can restrict their agency and curtail their full potential.And it is within the realm of Wuxia films that the captivating element of cross-dressing among female warriors emerges,providing a nuanced exploration of identity and the constraints imposed by society.

Writing the Silenced Female Body, Scrutinizing the Grand Narrative of Colonization and Decolonization: The Body in Zoë Wicomb’s David’s Story

David’s Story by Zoë Wicomb addresses the complexities of representing female suffering and the limitations of traditional historical narratives in capturing the experiences of marginalized bodies.It challenges the grand narratives of national history by emphasizing the indispensable role of women’s experiences.Through characters like Dulcie and Rachael,Wicomb portrays the female body as a site of resistance and resilience,highlighting the need for more nuanced and inclusive ways of documenting history.Underscoring the inexpressibility of trauma and the limitations of language and representation,the novel self-reflexively acknowledges its own aporia of completing the narrative,embodying the ongoing struggle to capture the full breadth of human experience.

Analysis of the Tragic Female Images in Eugene O'Neill's Plays

Ruth and Mary are two heroines in Eugene O'Neill's plays Beyond the Horizon, and Long Day's Journey into Night. They have some similarities: when they are young, they are beautiful, native and full of hope towards the future life, but both make wrong choices; in the following years, both suffer a lot from these wrong choices, and feel regretful. This paper tries to explore these two tragic female images.

The Female's Living Conditions:Comments on The Daughters of the Late Colonel

This article is a concern of the female's living conditions in the story The Daughters of the Late Colonel written by Katherine Mansfield.The analysis will stress on the relationship between the two daughters and the people around them,through which the plight and oppression that heaved upon women and their tragical,unhappy life in the patriarchal society are clearly exposed.

Monte Carlo calculation of the exposure of Chinese female astronauts to earth’s trapped radiation on board the Chinese Space Station

With the development of China’s crewed space mission,the space radiation risk for astronauts is increasingly prominent.This paper describes a simulation of the radiation doses experienced by a Chinese female voxel phantom on board the Chinese Space Station(CSS)performed using the Monte Carlo N-Particle(MCNP)software.The absorbed dose,equivalent dose,and effective dose experienced by the voxel phantom and its critical organs are discussed for different levels of shielding of the Tianhe core module.The risk of space-radiation exposure is then assessed by comparing these doses with the current risk limits in China(the skin dose limit for short-term low-earth-orbit missions)and the NASA figures(National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements Report No.98)for female astronauts.The results obtained can be used to guide and optimize the radiation protection provided for manned space missions.

Gender disparities and woman-specific trends in Barrett’s esophagus in the United States:An 11-year nationwide populationbased study

BACKGROUND Barrett's esophagus(BE)is a known premalignant precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma(EAC).The prevalence rates continue to rise in the United States,but many patients who are at risk of EAC are not screened.Current practice guidelines include male gender as a predisposing factor for BE and EAC.The population-based clinical evidence regarding female gender remains limited.AIM To study comparative trends of gender disparities in patients with BE in the United States.METHODS A nationwide retrospective study was conducted using the 2009-2019 National Inpatient Sample(NIS)database.Patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis code of BE were identified.The major outcome of interest was determining the gender disparities in patients with BE.Trend analysis for respective outcomes for females was also reported to ascertain any time-based shifts.RESULTS We identified 1204190 patients with BE for the study period.Among the included patients,717439(59.6%)were men and 486751(40.4%)were women.The mean age was higher in women than in men(67.1±0.4 vs 66.6±0.3 years,P<0.001).The rate of BE per 100000 total NIS hospitalizations for males increased from 144.6 in 2009 to 213.4 in 2019(P<0.001).The rate for females increased from 96.8 in 2009 to 148.7 in 2019(P<0.001).There was a higher frequency of obesity among women compared to men(17.4%vs 12.6%,P<0.001).Obesity prevalence among females increased from 12.3%in 2009 to 21.9%in 2019(P<0.001).A lower prevalence of smoking was noted in women than in men(20.8%vs 35.7%,P<0.001).However,trend analysis showed an increasing prevalence of smoking among women,from 12.9%in 2009 to 30.7%in 2019(P<0.001).Additionally,there was a lower prevalence of alcohol abuse,Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori),and diabetes mellitus among females than males(P<0.001).Trend analysis showed an increasing prevalence of alcohol use disorder and a decreasing prevalence of H.pylori and diabetes mellitus among women(P<0.001).CONCLUSION The prevalence of BE among women has steadily increased from 2009 to 2019.The existing knowledge concerning BE development has historically focused on men,but our findings show that the risk in women is not insignificant.

The Enclosed Personal Space and Female Identity Construction in A. S. Byatt's Possession

From the perspective of feminism, by analyzing single intellectual women's living states in enclosed personal spaces, andcomparing their different spatial changes triggered by external intrusions, this essay intends to explore Byatt's ambivalent attitudestowards the feminists' pursuit for a room of one's own, and point out the significance of harmonious co-existence between men andwomen to female identity construction.

Study on intestinal flora of acupoint catgut embedding intervention in female patients with abdominal obesity: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background:Obesity,as an epidemic public health issue in the world today,not only brings a heavy medical burden to society but also seriously affects people’s quality of life.In the context of new evidence for the efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding(ACE)in abdominal obesity(AO),it is necessary to elucidate the mechanism of ACE for AO.The intestinal flora is closely associated with obesity,and the study of its intestinal flora may provide evidence to clarify the mechanism of obesity treatment by ACE.Methods:75 participants will be recruited in this study,including 60 eligible female patients diagnosed with AO and 15 healthy female participants.60 female AO patients will be randomized to ACE group,sham ACE group,and waiting list(WL)group in a ratio of 1:1:1.Patients in two ACE groups will receive one ACE treatment per week for 12 consecutive weeks,and in the WL group will not receive any treatment;only their data will be extracted.The primary outcome is the mean change in body mass index.Secondary effects include waist circumference,body weight,the visual analog score of appetite,and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale.High-throughput 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene sequencing will be used to detect intestinal flora in each group before and after the intervention.Conclusion:The results of this trial are expected to identify the critical intestinal flora causing AO and the target intestinal flora of AO regulated by ACE,providing further theoretical support for ACE in the clinical treatment of obesity.

An Analysis of Pecola's Tragic Fate in The Bluest Eye

In The Bluest Eye,the author narrates a little black girl's strong desire to have blue eyes.At last,Pecola imagines possessing blue eyes at the cost of going insane.This paper mainly argues that it is the family's influence,the internalized racism and the whites'powerful and dominant culture that leads to Pecola's tragic fate.

EU's Fate after the French Election

In the second round of French presidential election,39-year-old Emmanuel Macron defeated the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and was elected President of France.This is a historic victory to France and all EU countries.

The “Dead Universe” Theory: Natural Separation of Galaxies Driven by the Remnants of a Supermassive Dead Universe

This article explores the dead universe theory as a novel interpretation for the origin and evolution of the universe, suggesting that our cosmos may have originated from the remnants of a preceding universe. This perspective challenges the conventional Big Bang theory, particularly concerning dark matter, the expansion of the universe, and the interpretation of phenomena such as gravitational waves.

双酚S对青春期雌性大鼠性早熟的影响及机制研究

目的探讨双酚S(BPS)对青春期雌性大鼠性早熟的作用及可能的机制。方法将60只雌性Wistar大鼠随机分为5组,分别为对照组、不同浓度[0.2mg/(kg·d)、1mg/(kg·d)、5mg/(kg·d)]BPS组及50μg/(kg·d)雌二醇(E_(2))组,每组12只。观察各组大鼠一般行为状况及阴道开口时间;采用Nissl染色观察下丘脑组织病理变化;采用TUNEL染色观察下丘脑神经细胞凋亡情况;采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应(qRT-PCR)法检测下丘脑中胰岛素生长因子-1(IGF-1)和促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)mRNA表达水平;采用Western blot法检测下丘脑中IGF-1、IGF-1受体(IGF-1R)、PI3K、Akt、mTOR、GnRH蛋白表达水平。结果BPS染毒过程中,所有实验大鼠均存活。与对照组比较,不同剂量BPS组大鼠出现不同程度的疲乏、厌食等症状,以5mg/(kg·d)BPS组最为明显,同时5mg/(kg·d)BPS组和50μg/(kg·d)E_(2)组大鼠的阴道开口时间提前(P<0.05);与对照组比较,不同剂量BPS组大鼠下丘脑尼氏体光密度(OD)值增加(P<0.05);不同剂量BPS组神经细胞凋亡率较对照组减少(P<0.05);不同剂量BPS组IGF-1、GnRH mRNA表达均高于对照组(P<0.05);与对照组比较,5mg/(kg·d)BPS组和50μg/(kg·d)E_(2)组大鼠下丘脑中IGF-1、IGF-1R、PI3K、Akt、mTOR、GnRH蛋白表达水平上升(P<0.05)。结论BPS暴露加速了雌性大鼠性早熟,其机制可能与激活IGF-1信号通路促进GnRH分泌有关。

春小麦抗蚜性与麦长管蚜EST活性及GSH活性的关系

为阐明春小麦对蚜虫的抗生性机理及蚜虫对寄主的适应性机制,选用抗蚜性不同的8个春小麦品种(系)为试验材料,利用灌浆期人工接种的方法,研究了小麦抗蚜水平与麦长管蚜无翅型孤雌胎生蚜酯酶(EST)活性及谷胱甘肽转移酶(GSH)活性的关系。结果表明,蚜虫EST活性与春小麦抗蚜水平有关,GSH活性与小麦抗蚜水平无关。穗部及旗叶蚜虫EST活性均与其存活率呈显著负相关,相关系数分别为-0.7047(P=0.04523)和-0.7214(P=0.0380),与有翅蚜分化率接近显著或显著负相关,相关系数分别为-0.6767(P=0.05911)和-0.7317(P=0.0336),与仔蚜繁殖率相关不显著。穗部及旗叶上蚜虫GSH活性均与其存活率、有翅蚜分化率及仔蚜繁殖率不相关。

Presence and density of common bile duct microlithiasis in acute biliary pancreatitis

AIM:Common bile duct microlithiasis(CBDM)is found in majority of patients with acute biliary pancreatitis(ABP)and no CBD stones in fluoroscopy during urgent ERCP.It is unclear,however,weather CBDM is a cause or the result of the disease.This prospective study was done to investigate the presence and density of CBDM in patients with ABP,when endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) done in different periods from the onset of the disease. METHODS:One hundred fifty one consecutive patients with ABP and no CBDS on ERCP,performed as an urgent(<24 h of admission)procedure,(101-with gallbladder stones, 50 post-cholecystectomy patients),treated during last 4 years were prospectively included to the study.The presence and density of CBDM(cholesterol monohydrate crystals-CMCs and calcium bilirubinate granules-CBGs)in bile collected directly from common bile duct during ERCP was prospectively calculated according to Juniper and Burson criteria.High density of crystals was considered,when we found >10 CMCs and/or >25 clusters of CBGs on 1 slide. RESULTS:CBD microlithiasis was present in given number of patients:on d 1-30/34(88.2%,),on d2 41/49(83.7%), on d 3-23/33(69.5%,),on d4-7-24/35(58.6%)[ P for trend =0.018 ].In patients with CBD microlithiasis the high density of crystals was observed in given number of patients:on d 1-27/30(90%),on d 2-34/41(82.9%),on d3-18/23 (78.3%),on d4-7-16/24(66.7%)[P for trend=0.039]. CONCLUSION:In patients with ABP and no CBDS on ERCP, CBD microlithiasis is observed in the majority of patients, especially during the first day of the disease.Density of CBD microlithiasis is the highest in the first day of the disease.This suggests that CBD microlithiasis can be the cause and not the result of ABP.

mIL-2R,T cell subsets & hepatitis C

AIM: To study the levels of membrane interleukin-2 receptor (mIL-2R) and T cell subsets in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with hepatitis C and their role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C. METHODS: The levels of mIL-2R and T cells subsets in PBMC were detected by biotin- streptatividin (BSA) technique before and after stimulation with PHA in 203 patients with hepatitis C with HCV-RNA(+), anti-HCV(+), anti-HCV(-). RESULTS: The total expressive levels of mIL-2R before and after stimulation with PHA(0.03+/-0.01, 0.03+/-0.02, 0.04+/-0.02, 0.36+/-0.03), and T cell subsets in PBMC (0.62+/-0.06, 0.37+/-0.05, 0.35+/-0.07) were all lower in patients with hepatitis C than those in normal controls (0.66+/-0.07, 0.41+/-0.06, 0.31+/-0.05, P【0.01). Among the patients, the levels of mIL-2R were lower in silence than those in situation of PHA inducting (P【0.01). However, the levels of mIL-2R were similar in acute hepatitis C to that in chronic hepatitis C (P】0.05). The levels of CD(3)(+), CD(4)(+), CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+) were lower and CD(8)(+) was higher in patients with acute and chronic hepatitis C with anti-HCV(+) than those in normal controls (0.62+/-0.06, 0.37+/-0.05, 0.35+/-0.07, 1.18+/-0.30, 0.61+/-0.07, 0.37+/-0.05, 1.39+/-0.33, 0.31+/-0.05, P【0.05-P【0.01). CONCLUSION: The cellular immunity is obviously changed in patients with hepatitis C. The levels of mIL-2R and activation of T cells are closely associated with chronicity of hepatitis C.

Reduction of the incidence and mortality of rectal cancer bypolypectomy:a prospective cohort study in Haining County

AIM: To reduce the incidence and mortality of rectal cancer and address the hypothesis that colorectal cancer often arise from precursor lesion(s), either adenomas or non-adenomatous polyps, by conducting a population-based mass screening for colorectal cancer in Haining County, Zhejiang, PRC. METHODS: From 1977 to 1980, physicians screened the population of Haining County using 15 cm rigid endoscopy. Of over 240000 participants, 4076 of them were diagnosed with precursor lesions, either adenomas or non-adenomatous polyps, which were then removed surgically. All individuals with precursor lesions were followed up and reexamined by endoscopy every two to five years up to 1998. RESULTS: After the initial screening, 953 metachronous adenomas and 417 non-adenomatous polyps were detected and removed from the members of this cohort. Further, 27 cases of colorectal cancer were detected and treated. Log-rank tests showed that the survival time among those cancer patients who under went mass screening increased significantly compared to that of other colorectal cancer patients (P【0.0001). According to the population-based cancer registry in Haining County, age-adjusted incidence and mortality of rectal cancer decreased by 41% and 29% from 1977-1981 to 1992-1996, respectively. Observed cumulative 20-year rectal cancer incidence was 31% lower than the expected in the screened group; the mortality due to rectal cancer was 18% lower than the expected in the screened group. CONCLUSION:Mass screening for rectal cancer and precursor lesions with protocoscopy in the general population and periodical following-up with routine endoscopy for high-risk patients may decrease both the incidence and mortality of rectal cancer.

Telomere erosion is independent of microsatellite instability but related to loss of heterozygosity in gastric cancer

AIM: To correlate the length of the telomere to microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of APC, MCC and DCC genes in gastric carcinomas. METHODS: Telomeric restriction fragment (TRF) length of gastric cancer was measured with Southern blot. LOH of APC, MCC and DCC genes, microsatellite instability (MSI) and frameshift mutation of hMSH6, TGF-betaRII and BAX genes were analyzed by PCR-based methods. RESULTS: Sixty-eight cases of sporadic gastric carcinoma were studied for MSI using five microsatellite markers. MSI in at least one locus was detected in 17 (25%) of 68 tumors analyzed. Frameshift mutations of hMSH6, TGF-betaRII and BAX were detected in 2,6 and 3 of gastric carcinomas respectively showing high MSI (】 or = 2 loci, n = 8), but none was found in those showing low MSI (only one locus, n = 9) or MSS (tumor lacking MSI or stable, n = 51). Thirty-five cases, including all high MSI and low MSI, were studied for TRF. The mean TRF length was not correlated with clinicopathological parameters. No association was observed between TRF length and MSI or frameshift mutation. On the contrary, LOH at the DCC locus was related to telomere shortening (P【0.01). This tendency was also observed in APC and MCC genes, although there was no statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The development of gastric cancer can arise through two different genetic pathways. In high MSI gastric cancers, defective mismatch repair allows mutations to accumulate and generate the high MSI phenotype. In gastric cancers showing either low MSI or MSS, multiple deletions may represent the LOH pathway. Telomere erosion is independent of high MSI phenotype but related to the LOH pathway in gastric cancer.

Assessment of duodenogastric reflux by combined continuous intragastric pH and bilirubin monitoring

AIM: To assess the diagnostic value of a combination of continuous intragastric pH and bilirubin monitoring in the detection of duodenogastric reflux (DGR), and the effects of diet on the bilirubin absorbance. METHODS: 30 healthy volunteers were divided into two groups: standard diet group (Group 1) 18 cases, free diet group (Group 2)12 cases. Each subjects were subjected to simultaneous 24-hour intragastric pH and spectrophotometric bilirubin concentration monitoring (Bilitec 2000). RESULTS: There was no difference of preprandial phase bilirubin absorbance between two groups. The absorbance of postprandial phase was significantly increased in group 2 than group 1. There was no difference between preprandial phase and postprandial phase absorbance in group 1. Postprandial phase absorbance was significantly higher in group 2. In a comparison of bile reflux with intragastric pH during night time, there were 4 types of reflux: Simultaneous increase in absorbance and pH in only 19.6%, increase in bilirubin with unchanged pH 33.3%, pH increase with unchanged absorbance 36.3%, and both unchanged in 10.8%. Linear regression analysis showed no correlation between percentage total time of pH【4 and percentage total time of absorbance】0.14, r=0.068 P【0.05. CONCLUSION: Because of the dietary effect, high absorbance fluids or foods should be avoided in detection. Intragastric pH and bilirubin monitoring separately predict the presence of duodenal (and/or pancreatic) reflux and bile reflux. They can not substitute for each other. The detection of DGR is improved if the two parameters are combined simultaneously.