Absurdity originated from French existentialism,and Martin Esslin,in categorizing Waiting for Godot as a theater of the absurd,ignores the positive aspects of Camus’s absurdism and regards that as an existential trag...Absurdity originated from French existentialism,and Martin Esslin,in categorizing Waiting for Godot as a theater of the absurd,ignores the positive aspects of Camus’s absurdism and regards that as an existential tragedy of mankind.However,the author Samuel Beckett himself did not approve of such a definition,believing that Esslin’s definition of theater of the absurd was too judgmental and pessimistic.Through the imagery of boots,ropes,hats and baggage in Waiting for Godot,Beckett reveals the rootlessness,constraint and agony of the minds of people born into absurdity in the early 20th century.The luck of Lucky is Beckett’s use of irony:people who have lost the ability to think for themselves escape the absurdity and dystopia of life and descend to slaves.Gogo and Didi,who are waiting and expecting,and thinking in the midst of absurdity,represent“Godot”,the symbol of hope.Their endurance in waiting,akin to Camus’s Sisyphus,underscores a form of existential defiance that challenges the notion of absolute pessimism in absurdist literature.展开更多
Camus named the different stages of his writing after characters from Greek mythology.The first stage is the“absurd”cycle represented by the myth of Sisyphus.The second stage,the cycle of“rebellion”,is represented...Camus named the different stages of his writing after characters from Greek mythology.The first stage is the“absurd”cycle represented by the myth of Sisyphus.The second stage,the cycle of“rebellion”,is represented by the myth of Prometheus,and the myth of Nemesis represents the unfinished third stage,known as the cycle of“moderation.”Prometheus is a crucial mythological figure and an ideal figure of rebellion as outlined in the second cycle of Camus’work.Prometheus;under Camus’pen,contained an ethical truth,which he carried to the end of his life.The author used a negative way to define the extension of the image of Prometheus,not only to resist negatively in the face of nihilism but also to reflect his self-contradiction from the mainstream discourse as an intellectual engaged in public discussion.He was determined to disassociate himself from the“progressive”address of the French left-wing intellectuals and speak his truth,though his point of view was not very popular then.Through portraying Prometheus,Camus attempted to dismantle the underlying basis and logic of nihilism by taking the other as the starting point and“moderation”and“tension”as the methods.At the same time,he tried to build a stable way to end the violence that was generally legitimized and establish a solid and absolute ethical value that created a relationship of solidarity among human beings.展开更多
The skin’s primary function is to protect the body against a spectrum of environmental stressors, including mechanical insults, microorganisms, chemicals, and allergens. Located in the outermost layers, the primary s...The skin’s primary function is to protect the body against a spectrum of environmental stressors, including mechanical insults, microorganisms, chemicals, and allergens. Located in the outermost layers, the primary structures and components responsible for the skin’s barrier function are susceptible to environmental variables, dermatological conditions, and the aging process. The ensuing alterations to structure, composition, and organizational attributes of the epidermal barrier can impact its integrity and functionality. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a novel complex composed of a ceramide, energizing peptide, and Camu Camu extract (SUPCERAT<sup>TM</sup> complex) on specific markers of epidermal barrier integrity, as well as epidermal and dermal function. All the experiments were conducted on fresh human abdominal skin explants. Intradermal production of hyaluronic acid, epidermal claudin-1, and ceramide synthase 3 expressions, as well as epidermal lipids content were assessed using specific fluorescent stainings on ex vivo skin after the application of the complex or placebo. Additionally, dermal elastase and collagenase activities were assessed using in tubo enzymatic assays. Lastly, the effect of a cosmetic cream containing SUPCERAT<sup>TM</sup> complex was assessed using subjective Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) in a small cohort of patients after 60 days of use. The application of the SUPCERAT<sup>TM</sup> complex on ex vivo skin led to significant increase in dermal hyaluronic acid content and epidermal activity of claudin-1, ceramide synthase 3 and epidermal ceramide content. Furthermore, in tubo enzymatic assays demonstrated inhibition of both dermal elastase and collagenase activities. In addition, the patient-reported results indicated significant improvements in skin quality and appearance. .展开更多
Since 1863, the Camus family has dedicated itself to producing cognacs with a unique personality-authentic products made locally and true to its origins.
This article starts with the introduction of medium-length famous novel The Stranger by the eminent novelist and postwar intellectual Albert Camus.The analysis is conducted from three different perspectives:the absurd...This article starts with the introduction of medium-length famous novel The Stranger by the eminent novelist and postwar intellectual Albert Camus.The analysis is conducted from three different perspectives:the absurdity of the essence of life,the absurdity of ethics and morals,and the absurdity of the trial,in order to explore the inner world of the protagonist Meursault.The novelette reflects the mental confusion and loneliness,indifference of people in the context of post-World War II.Paris was in a state of intellectual flux.The language of the novel is cold and concise,the“white writing”of Albert Camus;Roland Barthes called this style of language zero-degree writing.Meursault is a misfit on the edge of the society who keeps out of everything.The protagonist Meursault realized the absurdity and hypocrisy of society and the world.But he still sticks to his sincerity,appearing to be indifferent on the outside but gives his utmost respect to others without judgment on the inside.He calmly accepted everything that fate gives him,not afraid of being ostracize by society as a stranger,even if the threat of death cannot make him compromise.Camus said:“For me,therefore,Meursault is not a piece of social wreckage,but a poor and naked man enamored of a sun that leaves no shadows.Far from being bereft of all feeling,he is animated by a passion that is deep because it is stubborn,a passion for the absolute and for truth”.展开更多
Albert Camus,a French writer,was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1957.Many of his works reflect absurd philosophy and rebel spirit which can also be drawn from Camus' later masterpiece The Exile and Kingd...Albert Camus,a French writer,was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1957.Many of his works reflect absurd philosophy and rebel spirit which can also be drawn from Camus' later masterpiece The Exile and Kingdoms.This paper focuses on,The Guest,one of the short stories in the masterpiece and analyzes Camus philosophy of absurdity and rebel spirit from the perspective of literary criticism.The discussion may help reader better understand Camus spiritual world and philosophy in his later short stories.展开更多
The quality of a breeding site may have major fitness consequences.A fundamental step to understanding the process of nest-site selection is the identification of the information individuals use to choose high-quality...The quality of a breeding site may have major fitness consequences.A fundamental step to understanding the process of nest-site selection is the identification of the information individuals use to choose high-quality nest sites.For secondary cavity-nesting bird species that do not add nest lining material,organic remains (faeces,pellets)accumulated inside nest cavities during previous breeding events may be a cue for high-quality nest-sites,as they contain information about past successful breeding and may improve thermal insulation of eggs during incubation.However,cavities in which breeding was successful might also contain more nest-dwelling ectoparasites than unoccupied cavities, offering an incentive for prospective parents to avoid them.We exposed breeding cavity-nesting lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni)to nestbox dyads consisting of a dirty (with a thick layer of organic substrate) and a clean nestbox (without organic material).Dirty nestboxes were strongly preferred,being occupied earlier and more frequently than clean ones.Hatching success in dirty nestboxes was significantly higher than in clean ones,suggesting a positive effect of organic nest material on incubation efficiency, while nestbox dirtiness did not significantly affect clutch and brood size.Nestlings from dirty nestboxes had significantly higher ectoparasite load than those from clean nestboxes soon after egg hatching,but this difference was not evident a few days later.Nest substrate did not significantly affect nestling growth.We concluded that nest substrate is a key driver of nest-site choice in lesser kestrels,although the adaptive value of such a strong preference appears elusive and may be context-dependent.展开更多
文摘Absurdity originated from French existentialism,and Martin Esslin,in categorizing Waiting for Godot as a theater of the absurd,ignores the positive aspects of Camus’s absurdism and regards that as an existential tragedy of mankind.However,the author Samuel Beckett himself did not approve of such a definition,believing that Esslin’s definition of theater of the absurd was too judgmental and pessimistic.Through the imagery of boots,ropes,hats and baggage in Waiting for Godot,Beckett reveals the rootlessness,constraint and agony of the minds of people born into absurdity in the early 20th century.The luck of Lucky is Beckett’s use of irony:people who have lost the ability to think for themselves escape the absurdity and dystopia of life and descend to slaves.Gogo and Didi,who are waiting and expecting,and thinking in the midst of absurdity,represent“Godot”,the symbol of hope.Their endurance in waiting,akin to Camus’s Sisyphus,underscores a form of existential defiance that challenges the notion of absolute pessimism in absurdist literature.
文摘Camus named the different stages of his writing after characters from Greek mythology.The first stage is the“absurd”cycle represented by the myth of Sisyphus.The second stage,the cycle of“rebellion”,is represented by the myth of Prometheus,and the myth of Nemesis represents the unfinished third stage,known as the cycle of“moderation.”Prometheus is a crucial mythological figure and an ideal figure of rebellion as outlined in the second cycle of Camus’work.Prometheus;under Camus’pen,contained an ethical truth,which he carried to the end of his life.The author used a negative way to define the extension of the image of Prometheus,not only to resist negatively in the face of nihilism but also to reflect his self-contradiction from the mainstream discourse as an intellectual engaged in public discussion.He was determined to disassociate himself from the“progressive”address of the French left-wing intellectuals and speak his truth,though his point of view was not very popular then.Through portraying Prometheus,Camus attempted to dismantle the underlying basis and logic of nihilism by taking the other as the starting point and“moderation”and“tension”as the methods.At the same time,he tried to build a stable way to end the violence that was generally legitimized and establish a solid and absolute ethical value that created a relationship of solidarity among human beings.
文摘The skin’s primary function is to protect the body against a spectrum of environmental stressors, including mechanical insults, microorganisms, chemicals, and allergens. Located in the outermost layers, the primary structures and components responsible for the skin’s barrier function are susceptible to environmental variables, dermatological conditions, and the aging process. The ensuing alterations to structure, composition, and organizational attributes of the epidermal barrier can impact its integrity and functionality. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a novel complex composed of a ceramide, energizing peptide, and Camu Camu extract (SUPCERAT<sup>TM</sup> complex) on specific markers of epidermal barrier integrity, as well as epidermal and dermal function. All the experiments were conducted on fresh human abdominal skin explants. Intradermal production of hyaluronic acid, epidermal claudin-1, and ceramide synthase 3 expressions, as well as epidermal lipids content were assessed using specific fluorescent stainings on ex vivo skin after the application of the complex or placebo. Additionally, dermal elastase and collagenase activities were assessed using in tubo enzymatic assays. Lastly, the effect of a cosmetic cream containing SUPCERAT<sup>TM</sup> complex was assessed using subjective Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) in a small cohort of patients after 60 days of use. The application of the SUPCERAT<sup>TM</sup> complex on ex vivo skin led to significant increase in dermal hyaluronic acid content and epidermal activity of claudin-1, ceramide synthase 3 and epidermal ceramide content. Furthermore, in tubo enzymatic assays demonstrated inhibition of both dermal elastase and collagenase activities. In addition, the patient-reported results indicated significant improvements in skin quality and appearance. .
文摘Since 1863, the Camus family has dedicated itself to producing cognacs with a unique personality-authentic products made locally and true to its origins.
文摘This article starts with the introduction of medium-length famous novel The Stranger by the eminent novelist and postwar intellectual Albert Camus.The analysis is conducted from three different perspectives:the absurdity of the essence of life,the absurdity of ethics and morals,and the absurdity of the trial,in order to explore the inner world of the protagonist Meursault.The novelette reflects the mental confusion and loneliness,indifference of people in the context of post-World War II.Paris was in a state of intellectual flux.The language of the novel is cold and concise,the“white writing”of Albert Camus;Roland Barthes called this style of language zero-degree writing.Meursault is a misfit on the edge of the society who keeps out of everything.The protagonist Meursault realized the absurdity and hypocrisy of society and the world.But he still sticks to his sincerity,appearing to be indifferent on the outside but gives his utmost respect to others without judgment on the inside.He calmly accepted everything that fate gives him,not afraid of being ostracize by society as a stranger,even if the threat of death cannot make him compromise.Camus said:“For me,therefore,Meursault is not a piece of social wreckage,but a poor and naked man enamored of a sun that leaves no shadows.Far from being bereft of all feeling,he is animated by a passion that is deep because it is stubborn,a passion for the absolute and for truth”.
文摘Albert Camus,a French writer,was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1957.Many of his works reflect absurd philosophy and rebel spirit which can also be drawn from Camus' later masterpiece The Exile and Kingdoms.This paper focuses on,The Guest,one of the short stories in the masterpiece and analyzes Camus philosophy of absurdity and rebel spirit from the perspective of literary criticism.The discussion may help reader better understand Camus spiritual world and philosophy in his later short stories.
文摘The quality of a breeding site may have major fitness consequences.A fundamental step to understanding the process of nest-site selection is the identification of the information individuals use to choose high-quality nest sites.For secondary cavity-nesting bird species that do not add nest lining material,organic remains (faeces,pellets)accumulated inside nest cavities during previous breeding events may be a cue for high-quality nest-sites,as they contain information about past successful breeding and may improve thermal insulation of eggs during incubation.However,cavities in which breeding was successful might also contain more nest-dwelling ectoparasites than unoccupied cavities, offering an incentive for prospective parents to avoid them.We exposed breeding cavity-nesting lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni)to nestbox dyads consisting of a dirty (with a thick layer of organic substrate) and a clean nestbox (without organic material).Dirty nestboxes were strongly preferred,being occupied earlier and more frequently than clean ones.Hatching success in dirty nestboxes was significantly higher than in clean ones,suggesting a positive effect of organic nest material on incubation efficiency, while nestbox dirtiness did not significantly affect clutch and brood size.Nestlings from dirty nestboxes had significantly higher ectoparasite load than those from clean nestboxes soon after egg hatching,but this difference was not evident a few days later.Nest substrate did not significantly affect nestling growth.We concluded that nest substrate is a key driver of nest-site choice in lesser kestrels,although the adaptive value of such a strong preference appears elusive and may be context-dependent.
