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.

An AntConc-based Analysis of the First Paragraph of In Another Country

This essay aims at analyzing the stylistic features of Hemingway’s In Another Country from linguistic point of view.Different from qualitative analysis,the first paragraph,which is one of the rare depictions of the environment in Hemingway’s works,is chosen as a sample to perform quantitative analysis based on AntConc,whose data shows that Hemingway prefers words of Anglo-Saxon origin and using repetition and polysemy,revealing his writing“principle of iceberg”.

Spectrum of venous thromboembolism in adult patients with ulcerative colitis in Pakistan:A single center retrospective study

BACKGROUND Patients with inflammatory bowel disease are at a 2-8-fold higher risk of deve-loping venous thromboembolism(VTE)as compared to the general population.Although the exact pathogenesis is unclear,the literature suggests that increased risk of thromboembolic events in such patients occurs as a result of increased coagulation factors,inflammatory cytokines,and reduction in anticoagulants leading to a prothrombotic state.AIM To assess the prevalence,risk factors,management,and outcome of ulcerative colitis(UC)patients who develop VTE.METHODS This was a retrospective chart review done in The Gastroenterology Department of The Aga Khan University Hospital.Data was collected from medical records for all patients admitted with a diagnosis of UC from January 2012 to December 2022.RESULTS Seventy-four patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria.The mean±SD of age at presentation of all UC patients was 45 years±10 years whereas for those who developed VTE,it was 47.6 years±14.7 years.Hypertension and diabetes were the most common co-morbid seen among UC patients with a frequency of 17(22.9%)and 12(16.2%),respectively.A total of 5(6.7%)patients developed VTE.Deep venous thrombosis was the most common thromboembolic phenomenon seen in 3(60%)patients.All the patients with UC and concomitant VTE were discharged home(5;100%).CONCLUSION The prevalence of VTE with UC in Pakistani patients corresponds with the international literature.However,multi-centric studies are required to further explore these results.

Morphological and Molecular Characterizations of Country Bean (Lablab purpureus L.) Genotypes for Drought Tolerance

Country bean, Lablab purpureus (L.) is considered one of the most important leguminous crops, but their cultivation under drought stress condition encounters challenges. In this study, an experiment has been conducted among 30 genotypes under drought condition to explore morphological diversity of qualitative and quantitative, biochemical, molecular analysis. The study identified significant variations in eight traits among the genotypes examined, with phenotypic variance exceeding genotypic variance, indicating both genetic and environmental influences. High heritability and genetic advance were observed in primary, secondary, and tertiary branch lengths, suggesting these traits are likely controlled by additive gene effects, making them effective targets for selection. Principal component analysis identified three components that made a substantial contribution, accounting for approximately 73.06% of the overall quantitative variations. Among the quantitative traits, the highest coefficient of variation (CV%) has been found in number of flowers (55.05%). While number of primary branches, primary branch length, number of secondary branches, secondary branch length, number of tertiary branches, tertiary branch length has individually more than 20% of CV%. The genotypes have been grouped into three clusters based on quantitative traits. Analysis of protein reveals that the genotypes of DS28 and DS29 have higher protein content than other genotypes. Dehydrogenase responsive genotypes have been found on DS28 and DS29 from the molecular analysis. The results suggest that the genotypes DS28 and DS29 could contribute as genetic resource of high protein content and DREB responsive, and the eight quantitative traits of 30 genotypes could be used for further breeding programme.

Epidemiological, Clinical Aspects and Outcome of Measles in a Low-Income Country in 2023

Introduction: Measles remains a worrying health problem in sub-Saharan African countries. There have been measles outbreaks in Cameroon with the most recent occurring between October 2022 and September 2023. The Centre region of Cameroon was the most affected in the country and being at the frontline of the fight against this illness, we conducted this study in order to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics as well as the outcome of children who contracted the measles and were hospitalized at the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive and prospective study for one year from October 2022 to November 2023 corresponding to the duration of the outbreak. We included all children admitted in the pediatric unit for measles and its complications during this period. Results: In total, 60 children were enrolled. Their caregivers were mostly their mothers who had a mean age of 34.71 ± 9.55 years living in significant precarious conditions for the majority. The median age of children was 16 months (09 - 30 months). Twenty six percent of children (16) were less than 9 months. Girls were predominant (55%). Most children were not up to date with their routine EPI vaccination (80%) and most did not receive the measles and Rubella vaccine (76.67%). Clinical manifestations, included fever, conjunctivitis, and cough. Skin rash and catarrh (98.33% and 86.67% respectively) are the case definition signs of measles. The outcome was unfavorable for 4 children. One had a neurological disorder: coma and three presented with pneumonia and severe respiratory distress (6.67%). Conclusion: Measles is still being a reality and claiming lives in our context, emphasis should be made on immunization coverage and if possible, advocacies should be formulated to decrease the age of measles vaccine administration.

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.

Burnout and mental distress among community health workers in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review of studies during the COVID-19 pandemic

Community health workers(CHWs)represent the backbone of primary health systems,especially in many low-and middle-income countries(LMICs).The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic stretched health sys-tems and increased the workload for CHWs.The objective of this scoping review was to identify the mental health symptoms experienced among CHWs in LMICs during the COVID-19 pandemic.We searched PubMed for published literature,from January 1,2020 to December 31,2022 that focused on documenting the experiences of burnout,distress,and mental health symptoms among CHWs in LMICs.The quality of included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool.Included studies were grouped into the follow-ing broad thematic categories:(1)symptoms experienced;(2)drivers of different mental health symptoms;and(3)strategies for coping with different symptoms.We identified 10 cross-sectional,qualitative,and observational studies from 11 LMICs in South and Southeast Asia,South America,and Eastern/Southern Africa that assessed the mental health burden CHWs faced during the pandemic.The studies identified disorders and symptoms such as depression,anxiety,fear,burnout,worsened stress,and fatigue.Contributing factors included increased work-load,financial constraints,and an understaffed and underequipped workplace.CHWs reported using different adaptive responses like humor,support from family and colleagues,denial,and substance use,and asked for recommended regular mental health checkups and counseling.More research and policies should be targeted to-wards promoting the mental wellbeing of CHWs to help ensure responsive and resilient health systems in LMICs in the face of future emerging public health threats.

Impact of geopolitical risk,GDP,inflation,interest rate,and trade openness on foreign direct investment:Evidence from five Southeast Asian countries

Historically,geopolitical risk(GPR)has posed significant challenges to international economic,social,and political frameworks.This study investigated how internal GPR in the selected five Southeast Asian countries(Indonesia,South Korea,Malaysia,the Philippines,and Thailand)influences foreign direct investment(FDI)during 1996-2019.The stationarity of the data was assessed using the Augmented Dickey-Fuller(ADF)unit root test,which shows that the data became stationary after the first difference.The Kao,Pedroni,and Westerlund cointegration tests were employed to examine long-term cointegration among the selected variables(FDI,GPR index(GPRI),gross domestic product(GDP),inflation,interest rate,and trade openness(TOP)).The results indicated that these variables have a long-term cointegration.Consequently,regression analysis using the Pooled Ordinary Least Squares(OLS)regression,fixed effect,random effect,Arellano-Bond dynamic panel-data estimation,and system generalized moment method(GMM)revealed that GPRI and TOP negatively impacted FDI in the selected five Southeast Asian countries.At the same time,GDP,inflation,and interest rate positively influenced FDI in these countries.Because FDI is crucial to shaping a country’s macroeconomic structure,this study recommends that governments and central banks of the selected five Southeast Asian countries should implement policies and strategies to encourage foreign investments.

Effect of nutrition-related infodemics and social media on maternal experience: A nationwide survey in a low/middle income country

BACKGROUND Undernutrition is a crucial cause of morbidity and mortality among children in low-or middle-income countries(LMICs).A better understanding of maternal general healthy nutrition knowledge,as well as misbeliefs,is highly essential,especially in such settings.In the current era of infodemics,it is very strenuous for mothers to select not only the right source for maternal nutrition information but the correct information as well.AIM To assess maternal healthy nutritional knowledge and nutrition-related misbeliefs and misinformation in an LMIC,and to determine the sources of such information and their assessment methods.METHODS This cross-sectional analytical observational study enrolled 5148 randomly selected Egyptian mothers who had one or more children less than 15 years old.The data were collected through online questionnaire forms:One was for the general nutrition knowledge assessment,and the other was for the nutritional myth score.Sources of information and ways of evaluating internet sources using the Currency,Relevance,Authority,Accuracy,and Purpose test were additionally analyzed.RESULTS The mean general nutrition knowledge score was 29±9,with a percent score of 70.8%±12.1%(total score:41).The median myth score was 9(interquartile range:6,12;total score:18).The primary sources of nutrition knowledge for the enrolled mothers were social media platforms(55%).Half of the mothers managed information for currency and authority,except for considering the author's contact information.More than 60%regularly checked information for accuracy and purpose.The mothers with significant nutrition knowledge checked periodically for the author's contact information(P=0.012).The nutrition myth score was significantly lower among mothers who periodically checked the evidence of the information(P=0.016).Mothers dependent on their healthcare providers as the primary source of their general nutritional knowledge were less likely to hold myths by 13%(P=0.044).However,using social media increased the likelihood of having myths among mothers by approximately 1.2(P=0.001).CONCLUSION Social media platforms were found to be the primary source of maternal nutrition information in the current era of infodemics.However,healthcare providers were the only source for decreasing the incidence of maternal myths among the surveyed mothers.

Exploring the current provision of pancreatic transplantations in lowand middle-income countries:Current landscape,challenges,future prospects

This comprehensive review addresses the global health challenge of disparities in pancreas transplant access,particularly in low-and middle-income countries(LMICs)compared to high-income countries.Despite advancements in surgical techniques and immunosuppression for procedures like simultaneous pancreas-kidney,pancreas-after-kidney,and pancreas-transplant alone,LMICs face significant challenges,including limited infrastructure,financial constraints,and a shortage of skilled medical professionals.Donation after brain death remains constrained by sociocultural barriers.Region-specific analyses highlight progress in Latin America,Asia,Russia,and South Africa,showcasing the regional disparities in access and outcomes.Future prospects involve minimally invasive surgeries,telemedicine for enhanced post-operative care,international collaborations with organizations like the European Union of Medical Specialists,and robust funding networks to improve organ availability.In conclusion,the review underscores the importance of multifaceted strategies to address economic,sociocultural,and infrastructural barriers,aiming to improve accessibility,quality,and effectiveness of pancreas transplantation services in LMICs.

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.

Fuzzy-based approach to quantify the downtime of buildings in developing countries

Earthquake is one of the natural disasters that affects the buildings and communities in developing countries.It causes different levels of damages to the buildings,making them uninhabitable for a period of time,called downtime(DT).This paper proposes a Fuzzy Logic hierarchical method to estimate the downtime of residential buildings in developing countries after an earthquake.The use of expert-based systems allows quantifying the indicators involved in the model using descriptive knowledge instead of hard data,accounting also for the un-certainties that may affect the analysis.The applicability of the methodology is illustrated using the information gathered after the 2015 Gorkha,Nepal,earthquake as a case study.On April 25,2015,Nepal was hit by the Mw 7.8 Gorkha earthquake,which damaged and destroyed more than 500.000 residential buildings.Information obtained from a Rapid Visual Damage Assessment(RVDA)is used through a hierarchical scheme to evaluate the building damageability.Sensitivity analysis based on Sobol method is implemented to evaluate the impor-tance of parameters gathered in the RVDA for building damage estimation.The findings of this work may be used to estimate the restoration time of damaged buildings in developing countries and to plan preventive safety measures.

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.