American tegumentary leishmaniasis mimicking myiasis and granulomatous vasculitis:A case report

Rationale:American tegumentary leishmaniasis comprises cutaneous and mucocutaneous manifestations caused by parasitic infections by various Leishmania species.This report details the clinical interventions for a patient with American tegumentary leishmaniasis in Mendoza,Argentina,a non-endemic region.Patient concerns:A 43-year-old male was admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Mendoza,Argentina Republic with a history of progressive nasal discharge,septal perforation,facial pain,and pruritus.Despite treatment for presumed nasal myiasis and vasculitis with granulomatosis,symptoms persisted.Diagnosis:American tegumentary leishmaniasis.Interventions:Intravenous liposomal amphotericin B.Outcomes:Follow-up at 30 days showed no recurrence of symptoms with a remarkable clinical improvement of the nasal lesion.Lessons:This case sheds light on the necessity of accurate identification for timely intervention and the need to recognize the diverse manifestations of American tegumentary leishmaniasis to avoid misdiagnosis.

Clinicopathological alterations in wild mammals from the reservoir system of Trypanosoma cruzi:a scoping review

Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiologic agent of Chagas disease.This flagellated protozoan is transmitted to humans as well as different species of domestic and wild animals via vectors from the Reduviidae family(known as"kissing bugs").Despite the fact that hundreds of species of wild mammals are part of the reservoir system,the morphologi-cal changes and clinical manifestations resulting from the pathogenesis of the infection have been largely neglected.The aim of this review is to systematically compile the available information regarding clinicopathological altera-tions in wild mammals due to natural infection by T.cruzi.Information was obtained from six online bibliographic data search platforms,resulting in the identification of 29 publications that met the inclusion criteria.Mortality was the most common clinical manifestation,cardiac damage was the main finding at necropsy,and lymphoplas-macytic inflammation was the most frequent microscopic injury.Thus,regardless of its role as a reservoir,T.cruzi has the potential to affect the health status of wild mammals,a situation that highlights the need for further research to analyze,measure,and compare its effects at both the individual and population levels.

Impact of pre- and peri-operative risk factors on length of stay and hospital readmission following minimally-invasive partial nephrectomy

Objective:We conducted an analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for minimally-invasive partial nephrectomy cases reported with the goal to identify pre-and peri-operative variables associated with length of stay(LOS)greater than 3 days and readmission within 30 days.Methods:Records from 2008 to 2018 for“laparoscopy,surgical;partial nephrectomy”for prolonged LOS and readmission cohorts were compiled.Univariate analysis with Chi-square,t-tests,and multivariable logistic regression analysis with odds ratios(ORs),p-values,and 95%confidence intervals assessed statistical associations.Results:Totally,20306 records for LOS greater than 3 days and 15854 for readmission within 30 days were available.Univariate and multivariable analysis exhibited similar results.For LOS greater than 3 days,undergoing non-elective surgery(OR=5.247),transfusion of greater than four units within 72 h prior to surgery(OR=5.072),pre-operative renal failure or dialysis(OR=2.941),and poor pre-operative functional status(OR=2.540)exhibited the strongest statistically significant associations.For hospital readmission within 30 days,loss in body weight greater than 10%in 6 months prior to surgery(OR=2.227)and bleeding disorders(OR=2.081)exhibited strongest statistically significant associations.Conclusion:Multiple pre-and peri-operative risk factors are independently associated with prolonged LOS and hospital readmission within 30 days of surgery using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data.Recognizing the risks factors that can potentially be improved prior to minimally-invasive partial nephrectomy is crucial to informing patient selection,optimization strategies,and patient education.

Computed tomography-based radiomics diagnostic approach for differential diagnosis between early-and late-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND One of the primary reasons for the dismal survival rates in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)is that most patients are usually diagnosed at late stages.There is an urgent unmet clinical need to identify and develop diagnostic methods that could precisely detect PDAC at its earliest stages.METHODS A total of 71 patients with pathologically proved PDAC based on surgical resection who underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT)within 30 d prior to surgery were included in the study.Tumor staging was performed in accordance with the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system.Radiomics features were extracted from the region of interest(ROI)for each patient using Analysis Kit software.The most important and predictive radiomics features were selected using Mann-Whitney U test,univar-iate logistic regression analysis,and minimum redundancy maximum relevance(MRMR)method.Random forest(RF)method was used to construct the radiomics model,and 10-times leave group out cross-validation(LGOCV)method was used to validate the robustness and reproducibility of the model.RESULTS A total of 792 radiomics features(396 from late arterial phase and 396 from portal venous phase)were extracted from the ROI for each patient using Analysis Kit software.Nine most important and predictive features were selected using Mann-Whitney U test,univariate logistic regression analysis,and MRMR method.RF method was used to construct the radiomics model with the nine most predictive radiomics features,which showed a high discriminative ability with 97.7%accuracy,97.6%sensitivity,97.8%specificity,98.4%positive predictive value,and 96.8%negative predictive value.The radiomics model was proved to be robust and reproducible using 10-times LGOCV method with an average area under the curve of 0.75 by the average performance of the 10 newly built models.CONCLUSION The radiomics model based on CT could serve as a promising non-invasive method in differential diagnosis between early and late stage PDAC.

New Developments in the Trumpification of the US Republican Party

The prominent performance of former US President Donald J.Trump in the 2024 presidential election cycle ref lects the ongoing developments of the Trumpification of the Republican Party(GOP).Since Trump left office,the Trumpification of the GOP has continued.In terms of ideological shaping,Trumpification is ref lected in the fact that the political stance of the GOP is dominated by Trump.In terms of personal influence,Trumpification is manifested by the overall acceptance of GOP elites and voters toward Trump's presidential candidacy,notwithstanding a decrease in their satisfaction with him.The recent developments in Trumpification are intricately linked to Trump's influence on the GOP's political ecology,such as the formation of a new GOP coalition and the reshaping of GOP elite composition.Additionally,these developments are also inf luenced by specific political factors,including the unique circumstances of the 2020 presidential election that led to Tr ump's“quasi-incumbent”status and the economic and immigration issues in the 2024 election that favor Trump.The role Trump plays in the 2024 election and its outcome will be critical in determining whether the inf luence of Trumpification,especially Trump himself,will persist or undergo changes.

Chronic Hepatitis B in Indian Americans: Lack of Screening and Poor Linkage to Care

Background: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality in the United States (US) and globally. CHB disproportionately affects Asian Americans and many other immigrant minority populations, primarily owing to the high prevalence of CHB in their countries of origin. India is a country with a medium-to-high prevalence of hepatitis B (HB) (>2%) and has over 40 million people infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), with more than 115,000 deaths annually from HBV-related complications. Indian Americans are one of the largest immigrant populations in the US but remain underdiagnosed and poorly linked to clinical care. We, therefore, assessed the HBV prevalence and evaluated the linkage-to-care (LTC) among Indian Americans to develop strategic plans to reduce the impact of HBV in the US. Methods: Between April 2022 and January 2024, serologic screening and surveys were provided to 328 Indian American adults (age 20 - 80) in New York City. All participants were tested for a triple panel consisting of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and hepatitis B core IgG antibody (anti-HBc). A survey was conducted on the subjects chronically infected with HBV regarding their histories of infection. Self-administered questionnaires were employed to evaluate demographic and epidemiologic characteristics. Results: Of 328 screened and evaluated (246 males and 82 females), 10 (3.0%) were HBV-infected, 222 (67.7%) were susceptible to HBV, and 96 (29.3%) were immune. The prevalence of chronic HBV varied between the age groups: 4.6% (age 20 - 40), 3.4% (age 41 - 60), and 1.7% (age 61 - 80). Of 10 chronically infected, only two subjects had been previously diagnosed but were not engaged in care. Conclusion: HBV disproportionately affects Asian Americans, primarily owing to immigration from parts of the world where the disease is endemic. Indian Americans belong to an intermediate-risk group, with an HBV prevalence of >2%, but remain underdiagnosed and poorly linked to care. Our pilot study on Indian American populations, the first of its kind, demonstrates a 3% prevalence of CHB, none of whom are linked to care. In addition, this population has a high percentage of unimmune subjects, creating a large reservoir for future infection. With the growing population of Indian Americans, our findings can be used to develop community-based strategies for HBV screenings and LTC that target high-risk groups.

Driving factors of CO_(2)emissions in South American countries:An application of Seemingly Unrelated Regression model

Carbon emissions have become a critical concern in the global effort to combat climate change,with each country or region contributing differently based on its economic structures,energy sources,and industrial activities.The factors influencing carbon emissions vary across countries and sectors.This study examined the factors influencing CO_(2)emissions in the 7 South American countries including Argentina,Brazil,Chile,Colombia,Ecuador,Peru,and Venezuela.We used the Seemingly Unrelated Regression(SUR)model to analyse the relationship of CO_(2)emissions with gross domestic product(GDP),renewable energy use,urbanization,industrialization,international tourism,agricultural productivity,and forest area based on data from 2000 to 2022.According to the SUR model,we found that GDP and industrialization had a moderate positive effect on CO_(2)emissions,whereas renewable energy use had a moderate negative effect on CO_(2)emissions.International tourism generally had a positive impact on CO_(2)emissions,while forest area tended to decrease CO_(2)emissions.Different variables had different effects on CO_(2)emissions in the 7 South American countries.In Argentina and Venezuela,GDP,international tourism,and agricultural productivity significantly affected CO_(2)emissions.In Colombia,GDP and international tourism had a negative impact on CO_(2)emissions.In Brazil,CO_(2)emissions were primarily driven by GDP,while in Chile,Ecuador,and Peru,international tourism had a negative effect on CO_(2)emissions.Overall,this study highlights the importance of country-specific strategies for reducing CO_(2)emissions and emphasizes the varying roles of these driving factors in shaping environmental quality in the 7 South American countries.

Community-Based Hepatitis B Campaign in Asian Americans

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) disproportionately affects minority groups in the US, particularly Asian Americans, with numerous factors contributing to this disparity. Of the 2.4 million people living with chronic HBV in the US, 60% are Asian American. Many are unaware of their status and lack access to proper clinical care, with less than ten percent receiving necessary antiviral treatment. Barriers to screening and care include lack of disease awareness, language and cultural barriers, and financial constraints. Additionally, healthcare providers and systems in the US often overlook the importance of CHB, leading to inadequate care. In response, the Center for Viral Hepatitis (CVH) has implemented a community-based outreach program over the past sixteen years, employing a multifaceted approach involving all sectors of society and various organizations to combat health disparities in CHB. This grassroots campaign has proven highly effective, leveraging CVH’s leadership in spearheading numerous collaborative activities with community members, healthcare professionals, and policymakers. We have summarized the key points of CVH's efforts and their significance in combating CHB-related health disparities. The CHB Screening and Awareness Campaign, tailored to the Asian American community, serves as a successful model for increasing CHB screening, linkage-to-care, and addressing socio-cultural barriers and health literacy. Insights from these outreach programs have guided the development of culturally relevant resources and education initiatives. These findings suggest that such community-driven approaches are essential for addressing health disparities. The strategies and outcomes of CVH’s efforts can inform future health initiatives for other minority communities in the US and globally.

Analysis on Bicultural Identities of Chinese Americans Based on Acculturation Theory

In the context of globalization,the communication between countries is gradually enhanced and the immigration is increasing.Chinese Americans,as a unique ethnic group,are easy to fall into the difficult problem of self-identity construction when facing the bicultural identity conflict between Chinese and American.This paper selects the film The Farewell created by a Chinese American director as the research object,analyzes the cultural identity crisis of Chinese Americans,introduces the cultural adaption strategy adopted by Chinese Americans from the perspective of Acculturation Theory,and provides reference for Chinese Americans about how to realize the bicultural identities in the cultural diaspora.

The Influence of Christian Nationalism on U.S.Foreign Policy

This paper explores the influence of Christian nationalism on U.S.foreign policy,examining its historical roots,ideological foundations,and contemporary implications.Christian nationalism,an ideology that links Christianity with national identity,has shaped U.S.foreign policy in areas such as religious freedom,Middle East diplomacy,and national security.Through its emphasis on the moral duty to defend Christianity and its promotion of conservative social values,Christian nationalism has affected U.S.relations with countries around the world,particularly in the Middle East and with religious minorities.The paper discusses the complexities and controversies surrounding Christian nationalism,its impact on the U.S.’s global image,and the challenges it poses to religious pluralism.The future of Christian nationalism’s influence on U.S.foreign policy is uncertain,as societal shifts and evolving global dynamics may prompt a reevaluation of its role in shaping America’s international actions.Overall,the paper provides a nuanced analysis of how Christian nationalism has intertwined with U.S.foreign policy and how its influence might evolve in the future.

Research trends in pharmacogenomics of immune diseases:A bibliometric study

Background:Numerous academic studies have explored the utilization of pharmacogenomics in the context of immunologic diseases in recent years.Despite this,there is a notable absence of scientometric analyses focusing on the literature within this domain.Methods:This study employs bibliometric methods to systematically categorize the literature pertaining to pharmacogenomics in the context of immune diseases,with the aim of identifying research trends,key areas of interest,and prominent research institutions in this field.Results:Scientometric analysis compared 812 international publications with 71 Chinese publications,finding that the prevailing international research focus is on the precise dosing and therapy of immunosuppressants like mercaptopurine,a topic more extensively explored than in Chinese literature.Conclusion:It is found that the research focus is centered on precision medication and therapy,with a particular emphasis on the utilization of different immunosuppressants like mercaptopurine and tacrolimus.Furthermore,it is anticipated that precision dosing of emerging immunosuppressants like sirolimus will be a significant are a of future research.

A Corpus Study of Acupuncture from the Perspective of Mass Media Based on the Corpus of Contemporary American English

Based on the Corpus of Contemporary American English(COCA),this study examines acupuncture from the perspective of mass media.Acupuncture has been circulating throughout the Chinese Cultural Circle since the Qin and Han Dynasties,and has since spread directly or indirectly to the rest of the world.The United States boasts the world’s second-largest acupuncture market,with its laws,regulations,industry growth,research,and education all positively influencing the development of acupuncture in other nations.This study uses COCA to analyze the form and content of acupuncture’s dissemination in eight different types of media.The findings show that acupuncture appears in COCA a total of 1,788 times,with the highest frequency in magazines,followed by blogs,and the lowest frequency in fiction.These findings reveal the popularity of acupuncture in mass media in the United States and provide empirical data and insights for the future dissemination and development of acupuncture in the United States.

A Corpus-Based Behavioral Profile Study of the Near-Synonyms: Serious, Severe, Grave, Grievous

Using Corpus of Contemporary American English as the source data,this paper carries out a corpus-based behavioral profile study to investigate four near-synonymous adjectives(serious,severe,grave,and grievous),focusing on their register and the types of nouns they each modify.Although sharing core meaning,these adjectives exhibit variations in formality levels and usage patterns.The identification of fine-grained usage differences complements the current inadequacies in describing these adjectives.Furthermore,the study reaffirms the effectiveness of the corpus-based behavioral profile approach in examining synonym differences.

A Study on the Infiltration Methods of British and American Literature in High School English Reading Teaching

Reading is the key content of high school English teaching,which can improve students’mastery of words,grammar,and other knowledge,and can expand their horizons.British and American literature is the essence of British and American culture,and its application in high school English reading teaching can help improve students’English proficiency.This paper outlines the problems of high school English teaching,analyzes the role of British and American literature in high school English reading teaching,and explores the infiltration methods of British and American literature in high school English reading teaching,in order to provide references for teachers.

The Brilliance of a Poet in Different Musical Works:Exploring the Poetry of Emily Dickinson

It is easy to see that many composers’success throughout Western music history is due to the perfect match between their songs and lyrics.This phenomenon is lateral evidence of the importance of beautiful poetry for composers.A good poem can provide different inspiration for many composers.In music and other artistic fields,creators have always faced the same dilemma:How do they highlight their creations in a blossoming body of work?How do they reform or innovate after peaking at a certain point in a field?In this paper,we will take a look at the poet Emily Dickinson and four songs based on her poetry,examining how different composers bring out the unique beauty of her works.

美洲红点鲑溃烂病的病原菌研究

对从患病美洲红点鲑(Salvelinus fontinalis)体表患病部位和肾脏分离到菌株进行了鉴定及药物筛选。结果显示:人工感染试验证实为病原菌,该菌革兰氏染色阴性,菌体呈短杆状。综合该菌形态、生理生化分析结果初步鉴定两株菌均为杀鲑气单胞菌(American salvelinus)杀鲑亚种。用引物AP1和AP2对纯化后的细菌进行PCR扩增,结果扩增出长度为550 bp的DNA片段,对扩增片段进行测序,用NCBI BLAST在GenBank中搜寻相似序列,结果与杀鲑气单胞菌各株A层蛋白部分编码基因有99%以上的序列同源性。进一步证明了鉴定结果。该菌对强力霉素、左氟沙星、氟罗沙星、庆大霉素等13种药物均敏感。

Effects of two kinds of transgenic poplar on protective enzymes system in the midgut of larvae of American white moth

The leaves of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) transgenic poplar (Populus nigra L.) and CpTI (Cowpea trypsin inhibitor) transgenic poplar ((P. tomentosa×P. bolleana)×P. Tomentosa) were taken to feed the 4th-5th-instar larvae of American white moth (Hyphantria cunea (Drury)) for determination of the activities of the protective enzyme system inside larvae’s body. The physiological and biochemical effects of the transgenic poplars on the larvae were studied. The results showed that the two kinds of transgenic poplars had similar effects on the protective enzyme system in the midgut of larvae. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase in midgut of the larvae increased gradually, reached the highest value at a certain time, and then decreased suddenly. For the larvae that were fed with the leaves of Bt transgenic poplar, the peak value of superoxide dismutase and catalase presented at the time of 24-h feeding, while the peak of peroxidase took place at the time of 12-h feeding. The activities of these protective enzymes for the larvae that were fed with leaves of CpTI transgenic poplar peaked 12 h later than that of those fed with leaves of Bt transgenic poplar. The comparison of activities of the protective enzymes was also carried out between the larvae with different levels of intoxication. It was found that the activities of protective enzyme of the seriously intoxicant larvae were higher than that of the lightly intoxicant larvae. This difference was more obvious in the group treated with CpTI transgenic poplar.

命名·主题·认同——论美国华裔文学研究中的几个问题

本文论述了美国华裔文学研究中的三个基本问题,一是Chinese American Literature的译名及其界定;二是现有研究对美国华裔文学作品主题的定位问题;三是现有研究对美国华裔文学文化认同感的定位问题。

耶鲁大学暑期学校英语课程教学特色

根据北京大学与美国耶鲁大学的交流协议，2005年6月至8月，来自北京大学的25名学生赴耶鲁参加了为期6周的暑期学校英语课程的学习。这门被定名为“中高级美国英语”（Intermediate and Advanced American English）的课程实际足一个课程系列，其核心课程包括听说、写作以及阅读与词汇3门，还包括约12门选修课程，如发音、戏剧研讨班、公众讲演技巧、美国电影经典、音像制作、危机与武装冲突、争论性议题、美国诗歌、小说写作研讨班等。参加学牛来自世界各地，包括法国、西班牙、墨西哥、韩国等30多个国家，可以说这门课程的主要教学对象为外国学牛，国际化特色明显。作为带队老师，