This paper is an attempt to bring to the foreground a better understanding and appreciation of the work and impact of an Arab Muslim woman writer whose work, characters, thoughts, settings, and words sink very sensiti...This paper is an attempt to bring to the foreground a better understanding and appreciation of the work and impact of an Arab Muslim woman writer whose work, characters, thoughts, settings, and words sink very sensitively into the depth of being of her oriental women characters. They are very local and they reflect a typical oriental and distinct religious sentiment, along with an underlying predicament or suffering because of some lack in their love life, both emotional and sexual. This paper will attempt to analyze how the short story written by Alifa Rifaat (1987) deal with the thorny issues Of religiosity and sexuality that might appear as two opposing poles, yet they mix and blend within same characters exposing different aspects of the human being living within dilemmas of personal needs and social dictates of tradition, taboo, and culture. For a non Arab reader, this should be an interesting and informative cross-cultural issue.展开更多
Human beings do not live in nature, they live in culture. Contrary to biological evolution, which is based on genetic inheritance, cultural change is transmitted by instruction. Simple beginnings of culture have been ...Human beings do not live in nature, they live in culture. Contrary to biological evolution, which is based on genetic inheritance, cultural change is transmitted by instruction. Simple beginnings of culture have been observed in various animals. However, the much advanced human culture became possible by its transmission by language, and by its being cumulative. The concept of cultural change as a progressive process, popular by 18th and 19th centuries thinkers, is nowadays rejected, and the uniqueness of each culture stressed. Although, there are some similarities between biological evolution and cultural change, important differences between these processes are emphasized. The rapid rate of cultural change (especially its technological aspect), as compared to the rate of biological evolution, is noted. In addition, some cultural changes led to new phenomena, which in a time of crisis can be annulled. The possible consequences of the different rate of these two processes for humans as individuals, and for their societies are discussed.展开更多
Permacol mesh has shown promise when used in abdominal wall repair,especially in the presence of a contaminated surgical field.This biomaterial,derived from porcine dermis collagen,has proposed advantages over synthet...Permacol mesh has shown promise when used in abdominal wall repair,especially in the presence of a contaminated surgical field.This biomaterial,derived from porcine dermis collagen,has proposed advantages over synthetic materials due to increased biocompatibility and reduced foreign body reaction within human tissues.However,we present a case report describing a patient who displayed rejection to a Permacol mesh when used in the repair of abdominal wound dehiscence following an emergency laparotomy.Review of the English language literature using PubMed and Medline, showed only two previously published cases of explantation of Permacoldue to sepsis or wound breakdown. The authors believe this is the first case of severe foreign body reaction leading to rejection of Permacol.Both animal and human studies show conflicting evidence of biocompatibility.There are several reports of successful use of Permacolto repair complex incisional herniae or abdominal walls in the presence of significant contamination.It appears from the literature that Permacolis a promising material,but as we have demonstrated,it has the potential to evoke a foreign body reaction and rejection in certain subjects.展开更多
Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus has long been used as traditional Chinese medicine in oriental medicine.The angiogentic activity of the extract of M.meretrix was investigated in this study,using human umbilical vein endoth...Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus has long been used as traditional Chinese medicine in oriental medicine.The angiogentic activity of the extract of M.meretrix was investigated in this study,using human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).Extract of M.meretrix Linnaeus(AFG-25) was prepared with acetone and ethanol precipitation,and further separated by Sephadex G-25 column.The results show that AFG-25 promoted proliferation,migration,and capillary-like tube formation in HUVECs,and in the presence of eNOS inhibitor NMA,the tube formation induced by AFG-25 is inhibited significantly.Moreover,AFG25 could also promote the activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) and the resultant elevation of nitric oxide(NO) production.The results suggested that M.meretrix contains active ingredients with angiogentic activity and eNOS/NO signal pathway is in part involved in the proangiogenesis effect induced by AFG-25.展开更多
One of the aims of the Universal Declaration on B ioethics and Human Rights (UNESCO) is to "promote respect for human dignity and protect human rights",l Here are two overarching principles at work, ensuring that ...One of the aims of the Universal Declaration on B ioethics and Human Rights (UNESCO) is to "promote respect for human dignity and protect human rights",l Here are two overarching principles at work, ensuring that the biomedical sciences fulfill their task within an ethical framework. The principle of respect for human dignity is a universal moral concept, meant to be applied in human encounters. Protecting human rights underscores the legal principle of not only affirming the fundamental equality of all human beings, but equally safeguarding it. These two principles are universally defined, but are ordinarily specified by the particular value system of individual cultures in which they are employed. It is within such particular cultural application that their relevance stands out. The thrust of this paper is that, since principles are general action guides, they actually constitute a universal language for the analysis and evaluation of all human conduct. However, there is also recognition of the fact that moral contexts vary from culture to culture, and that while the scope of the two principles above is not restricted by any particular culture, it is indeed those cultural specifics of each moral context that constitute the framework within which the principles become operational. As general action guides, I will argue that these principles lack moral relevance outside of those particular cultural settings wherein they are contextualized. Without such relevance, these principles become meaningless mantras. I will further show that such principles do not merely uphold values informed by particular cultures, but they are an embodiment of values inherent to human nature in general. Consequently, these principles do not just serve as instruments for addressing issues peculiar to "Western bioethics" or any other particular cultural setting in an exclusive sense, but are also used for moderating bioethics discourse that transcend particular cultural boundaries. I will further explain that such universal discourse is potentially instructive with regards to how cultural universals are viewed in relation to the cultural particulars, and that this discourse essentially becomes a lingua franca for cross-cultural dialogue in bioethics.展开更多
With the cultural myth that science can only determine the way the world "is" (facts), while humanities, social sciences, lawyers, philosophers, and theologians must determine the way the world "ought to be" (v...With the cultural myth that science can only determine the way the world "is" (facts), while humanities, social sciences, lawyers, philosophers, and theologians must determine the way the world "ought to be" (values), those in position of global-, national-, and local-political power make major decisions of the use (or non-use) of scientific knowledge and technology. As a result, the human being has created a non-scientifically based cultural environment that is affecting his ability to survive. In effect, cultural evolution is occurring more rapidly than biological evolution that can adapt to the changes brought about in the physical and psycho-social environments. In a pluralistic cultural world, where each society has generated a different view of human nature and different ethical values, the use, misuse, or non-use of scientific and technological advances are derived from these unscientific views of human nature. Since all life depends on limiting interacting environmental and ecological factors, it is imperative that scientific information be used to govern how to minimize irreversible effects on life-sustaining ecological factors, but also scientific information bearing on understanding human nature ought to be integrated into a "global bioethics". While ethical values cannot be directly derived from scientific factors, it is also true that human values or our "ought" cannot be maintained in ignorance or defiance of the facts or the "is".展开更多
Biological ion channels show that ultrafast ions and molecules transmission are in a quantum way of single molecular or ionic chain with a certain number of molecules or ions, and we define it as "quantum-confined su...Biological ion channels show that ultrafast ions and molecules transmission are in a quantum way of single molecular or ionic chain with a certain number of molecules or ions, and we define it as "quantum-confined superfluid" (QSF). This ordered ultrafast flow in the confined channel can be considered as "quantum tunneling fluid effect" with a "tunneling distance", which is corresponding to the period of QSF. Recent research demonstrated that artificial biomimetic nanochannels also showed the phenomenon of QSF, such as ion and water channels. The introduction of QSF concept in the fields of chemistry and biology may create significant impact. As for chemistry, the QSF effect provides new ideas for accurate synthesis in organic, inorganic, polymer, etc. We believe the implementation of the idea of QSF will promote the development of QSF biochemistry, biophysics, bioinformatics and biomedical science.展开更多
Cyclic climatic changes, as well as the press of anthropogenic impact, affect ecosystems of the river Argun basin. Specialization of basin management is industrial and agricultural. The main impact is connected with t...Cyclic climatic changes, as well as the press of anthropogenic impact, affect ecosystems of the river Argun basin. Specialization of basin management is industrial and agricultural. The main impact is connected with the development of mining companies (including the mining of ore and placer gold), energy facilities, and the formation of reservoirs in the basin of rivers: the Argun -- the Hailar. As a result of natural and anthropogenic pressure, the limiting factor for ecosystem exploitation in this basin is water resources (water deficiency and its quality).展开更多
Rhodococcus equi, previously known as Corynebacterium equi, is one of the most important causes of zoonotic infections in grazing animals. Increased cases of human infection with R. equi have been reported, especially...Rhodococcus equi, previously known as Corynebacterium equi, is one of the most important causes of zoonotic infections in grazing animals. Increased cases of human infection with R. equi have been reported, especially in immunocompromised patients, within recent years. We present a case of R. equi bacteremia in a 51-year-old man with diabetes and liver cirrhosis, on long-term corticosteroid therapy after skin-grafting surgery. The patient recovered soon after he was treated with vancomycin. This review focuses on the microbiological characteristics of this organism, and the diagnosis and treatment of this infection.展开更多
文摘This paper is an attempt to bring to the foreground a better understanding and appreciation of the work and impact of an Arab Muslim woman writer whose work, characters, thoughts, settings, and words sink very sensitively into the depth of being of her oriental women characters. They are very local and they reflect a typical oriental and distinct religious sentiment, along with an underlying predicament or suffering because of some lack in their love life, both emotional and sexual. This paper will attempt to analyze how the short story written by Alifa Rifaat (1987) deal with the thorny issues Of religiosity and sexuality that might appear as two opposing poles, yet they mix and blend within same characters exposing different aspects of the human being living within dilemmas of personal needs and social dictates of tradition, taboo, and culture. For a non Arab reader, this should be an interesting and informative cross-cultural issue.
文摘Human beings do not live in nature, they live in culture. Contrary to biological evolution, which is based on genetic inheritance, cultural change is transmitted by instruction. Simple beginnings of culture have been observed in various animals. However, the much advanced human culture became possible by its transmission by language, and by its being cumulative. The concept of cultural change as a progressive process, popular by 18th and 19th centuries thinkers, is nowadays rejected, and the uniqueness of each culture stressed. Although, there are some similarities between biological evolution and cultural change, important differences between these processes are emphasized. The rapid rate of cultural change (especially its technological aspect), as compared to the rate of biological evolution, is noted. In addition, some cultural changes led to new phenomena, which in a time of crisis can be annulled. The possible consequences of the different rate of these two processes for humans as individuals, and for their societies are discussed.
文摘Permacol mesh has shown promise when used in abdominal wall repair,especially in the presence of a contaminated surgical field.This biomaterial,derived from porcine dermis collagen,has proposed advantages over synthetic materials due to increased biocompatibility and reduced foreign body reaction within human tissues.However,we present a case report describing a patient who displayed rejection to a Permacol mesh when used in the repair of abdominal wound dehiscence following an emergency laparotomy.Review of the English language literature using PubMed and Medline, showed only two previously published cases of explantation of Permacoldue to sepsis or wound breakdown. The authors believe this is the first case of severe foreign body reaction leading to rejection of Permacol.Both animal and human studies show conflicting evidence of biocompatibility.There are several reports of successful use of Permacolto repair complex incisional herniae or abdominal walls in the presence of significant contamination.It appears from the literature that Permacolis a promising material,but as we have demonstrated,it has the potential to evoke a foreign body reaction and rejection in certain subjects.
基金Supported by the Innovative Drug Development Projects of China(Nos. 2009ZX09103-661 and 2009ZX09102)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81001396)
文摘Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus has long been used as traditional Chinese medicine in oriental medicine.The angiogentic activity of the extract of M.meretrix was investigated in this study,using human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).Extract of M.meretrix Linnaeus(AFG-25) was prepared with acetone and ethanol precipitation,and further separated by Sephadex G-25 column.The results show that AFG-25 promoted proliferation,migration,and capillary-like tube formation in HUVECs,and in the presence of eNOS inhibitor NMA,the tube formation induced by AFG-25 is inhibited significantly.Moreover,AFG25 could also promote the activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) and the resultant elevation of nitric oxide(NO) production.The results suggested that M.meretrix contains active ingredients with angiogentic activity and eNOS/NO signal pathway is in part involved in the proangiogenesis effect induced by AFG-25.
文摘One of the aims of the Universal Declaration on B ioethics and Human Rights (UNESCO) is to "promote respect for human dignity and protect human rights",l Here are two overarching principles at work, ensuring that the biomedical sciences fulfill their task within an ethical framework. The principle of respect for human dignity is a universal moral concept, meant to be applied in human encounters. Protecting human rights underscores the legal principle of not only affirming the fundamental equality of all human beings, but equally safeguarding it. These two principles are universally defined, but are ordinarily specified by the particular value system of individual cultures in which they are employed. It is within such particular cultural application that their relevance stands out. The thrust of this paper is that, since principles are general action guides, they actually constitute a universal language for the analysis and evaluation of all human conduct. However, there is also recognition of the fact that moral contexts vary from culture to culture, and that while the scope of the two principles above is not restricted by any particular culture, it is indeed those cultural specifics of each moral context that constitute the framework within which the principles become operational. As general action guides, I will argue that these principles lack moral relevance outside of those particular cultural settings wherein they are contextualized. Without such relevance, these principles become meaningless mantras. I will further show that such principles do not merely uphold values informed by particular cultures, but they are an embodiment of values inherent to human nature in general. Consequently, these principles do not just serve as instruments for addressing issues peculiar to "Western bioethics" or any other particular cultural setting in an exclusive sense, but are also used for moderating bioethics discourse that transcend particular cultural boundaries. I will further explain that such universal discourse is potentially instructive with regards to how cultural universals are viewed in relation to the cultural particulars, and that this discourse essentially becomes a lingua franca for cross-cultural dialogue in bioethics.
文摘With the cultural myth that science can only determine the way the world "is" (facts), while humanities, social sciences, lawyers, philosophers, and theologians must determine the way the world "ought to be" (values), those in position of global-, national-, and local-political power make major decisions of the use (or non-use) of scientific knowledge and technology. As a result, the human being has created a non-scientifically based cultural environment that is affecting his ability to survive. In effect, cultural evolution is occurring more rapidly than biological evolution that can adapt to the changes brought about in the physical and psycho-social environments. In a pluralistic cultural world, where each society has generated a different view of human nature and different ethical values, the use, misuse, or non-use of scientific and technological advances are derived from these unscientific views of human nature. Since all life depends on limiting interacting environmental and ecological factors, it is imperative that scientific information be used to govern how to minimize irreversible effects on life-sustaining ecological factors, but also scientific information bearing on understanding human nature ought to be integrated into a "global bioethics". While ethical values cannot be directly derived from scientific factors, it is also true that human values or our "ought" cannot be maintained in ignorance or defiance of the facts or the "is".
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2017YFA0206900)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21625303)
文摘Biological ion channels show that ultrafast ions and molecules transmission are in a quantum way of single molecular or ionic chain with a certain number of molecules or ions, and we define it as "quantum-confined superfluid" (QSF). This ordered ultrafast flow in the confined channel can be considered as "quantum tunneling fluid effect" with a "tunneling distance", which is corresponding to the period of QSF. Recent research demonstrated that artificial biomimetic nanochannels also showed the phenomenon of QSF, such as ion and water channels. The introduction of QSF concept in the fields of chemistry and biology may create significant impact. As for chemistry, the QSF effect provides new ideas for accurate synthesis in organic, inorganic, polymer, etc. We believe the implementation of the idea of QSF will promote the development of QSF biochemistry, biophysics, bioinformatics and biomedical science.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(41271556)National Natural Science Foundation of China and Russian Foundation for Basic Research(414110106515-56-53037)
文摘Cyclic climatic changes, as well as the press of anthropogenic impact, affect ecosystems of the river Argun basin. Specialization of basin management is industrial and agricultural. The main impact is connected with the development of mining companies (including the mining of ore and placer gold), energy facilities, and the formation of reservoirs in the basin of rivers: the Argun -- the Hailar. As a result of natural and anthropogenic pressure, the limiting factor for ecosystem exploitation in this basin is water resources (water deficiency and its quality).
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30871130)the Youth Talent Special Fund of the Health Bureau of Zhejiang Province, China (No. 2008QN016)
文摘Rhodococcus equi, previously known as Corynebacterium equi, is one of the most important causes of zoonotic infections in grazing animals. Increased cases of human infection with R. equi have been reported, especially in immunocompromised patients, within recent years. We present a case of R. equi bacteremia in a 51-year-old man with diabetes and liver cirrhosis, on long-term corticosteroid therapy after skin-grafting surgery. The patient recovered soon after he was treated with vancomycin. This review focuses on the microbiological characteristics of this organism, and the diagnosis and treatment of this infection.