A Tragedy of Human Beings,A Comedy of A Little Boy:Reflection of Social Conventions and Human Tragedy in Acorn-gatherer

Richard Jefferies presented one tragedy after another in a small and backward village in 19th England in his short story Acorn-gatherer.The paper explored the fundamental cause of those tragedies and drew a conclusion all those tragedies were the expression of human tragedy resulted from social conventions in the form of religion and the tragedy was actually a comedy for the little boy who was just the symbol of human tragedy in the story due to his special identity:an illegitimate child.

Social Conventions and Human Tragedy in the Acorn Gatherer

The Acorn-gatherer,written by Richard Jeffries gives a tragic picture of the country life in the late Victorian Age.Through the tragic life and death of the illegitimate child,Jeffries exposes the people's oppressions and misfortunes as the result of religious moralities and social conventions.The article is to expound the essence of the boy's human tragedy through religious origins,moral alienation,and distorted ethics in addition to the contrastive interpretation between his bitter situation and the sweet nature.

On the Commonness of “UN Core Human Rights Conventions”

As a main component of international human rights documents, the United Nations core human rights conventions show obvious formal and substance commonalities. The formal commonalities consist in their being adopted by UN General Assembly and their similarity in structure, subjects and systems. Their commonalities in substance include the similarity of contents, the homogeneity of the procedural mechanisms and the complementary nature of their normative interpretation. The commonalities among the UN’s core human rights treaties is the inevitable requirement of the universality and wholeness of human rights.

Position of Village Regulations and Folk Conventions in the Villager Autonomy System

The Villagers' Charter of Self-government,as a senior form of village regulations and folk conventions,is the general charter of villagers' self-government. It is a small constitution of villagers,so it holds an important position in the villager autonomy system. Such position gives the credit to both historic and realistic objective factors. Rise of state power,vacancy of legislation,accumulation of excellent traditional resources,and democracy and contract spirit in village regulations and folk conventions will certainly accelerate development of village regulations and folk conventions and promote gradual improvement in the villager autonomy system.

Naming Conventions and the Perception of Selfhood:A Cross-cultural Reflection on Women’s Surnames in the Anglosphere vs.the Hispanic Model

The naming convention in English-speaking countries(e.g.,USA and UK),and several others in the Western culture,where women traditionally have adopted their husbands’surnames,is compared with the naming convention in Spain and Latin America,where women do not relinquish their maiden surnames.From a cross-cultural perspective spanning over three centuries,from Madame de Staël and Virginia Woolf to Hillary Clinton,this essay renders instances of women who took on the surname of their spouse upon marriage.It appears that even nowadays many women,including feminists,choose to comply with this patriarchal habit.Entanglements arising upon divorce or remarriage,such as traceability and perception of selfhood,especially for women with academic and professional profiles,are discussed here.Samples collected from life and literature across a fairly representative cultural range and diverse moments in history help to reach conclusions and come up with a consistent argument.Winds of change seem to be blowing with Vice President Kamala Harris,whose case is mentioned at the end of this essay.To circumvent the confusion for individuals and families(especially“blended”ones)that could result in the discrimination between males and females,on the one hand,and on the other hand,between married and unmarried women,the Spanish naming convention is proposed as a perfect compromise.This consists in every person bearing two surnames from birth and for good:one of each parent.Thus,women would keep their name(s),and along with them their perception of their self and their social and professional identity.

China Acrobats Association presentedin American and European magic conventions

From February 17th to 22nd, annual World Magic Seminar was held in Las Vegas, U.S.A. There were 850 attendees from all over the world. Representatives from China Acrobats Association took part in the events in order to make promotion for the World Championships of Magic 2009 in Beijing. We set up a promotion booth,

Modernization of International Humanitarian Law——The Origins and Evolution of the 1977 Additional Protocols to the 1949 Geneva Conventions

Regional wars and internal armed conflicts after the conclusion of the 1949 geneva conventions have presented new challenges to traditional international humanitarian law? To address those challenges, the international community concluded two additional protocols in 1977 to the 1949 geneva conventions? Those two protocols have unified the Hague Rules and the geneva Rules in the realm of traditional laws on wars, improved the protection of civilians,expanded the concept of armed conflicts and combatants, and developed special treaties applicable to non-international armed conflicts,reaffirming and developing the principles and rules of international humanitarian law worldwide, and promoting its modernization?

International Human Rights Conventions in China——An interview with Research Fellow Mo Jihong of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

On the advent of the ＂International Human Rights Day＂ on Dec. 10, 2007, our staff reporter Interviewed Research Fellow Mo Jihong of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on how the international human rights conventions are implemented in China. Born in May 1965, Mo Jihong is a native of Jingjiang, Jiangsu Province. He is a research fellow at the Law Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social sciences and a tutor for Ph.D candidates in the International Human Rights Law. He also serves as an executive member of the Society for International Constitution Studies and vice-president of the Constitution Chapter of the China Society of Law. He was a visiting scholar at the Human Rights Institute of Norway, and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. His principal works include International Human Rights Convention and China （2005）, Principles of Constitutional Sciences in Practice （2007） and In Defense of Legislation （2007）. He was elected as one of the ten most outstanding young jurists in China. The following is the full text of the interview：

Social Conventions and Human Tragedy in Richard Jefferies “the Acorn Gatherer”

Social conventions sometimes are regarded as valuable treasure in some culture. But it can also lead to human tragedy. The Arti cle here tried to look into the social and religious conventions behind the human tragedy in Richard Jefferies' short story "the Acorn Gath erer" and how those conventions and people's belief affect the relationship between the grandmother and her grandson in the short story. The article discussed the underlying causes to the tragedy from three aspects, the outside pressure, the inner factors and the problem of the society. It attempted to explain how the social pressure influenced the attitude and action of the grandmother, how her inner belief com pelled herself to maltreat the boy and how the social convention and religious belief made the society seemingly pitiless and indifferent. It is also indicated that social and religious conventions still have a lasting effect on how people think and act in today's world.

A Study on Conventions of English Tourism Text

The major principle of Chinese-English translation is tourist-oriented,which means that the English version must be written in a language immediately comprehensible to the reader.Translations which conform to the tourists’habits of language use and aesthetic preference follow genre conventions of the English tourism text.This paper tries to discuss conventions of the English tourism text,so as to set a framework of reference for translators in considering the acceptability of translation.

A Judicial Empirical Study on the Principle of “the Best Interests of the Child”——From the Principles of National Conventions to the Building of Adjudication Norms

“The best interests of the child”is an essential principle of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.Due to the abstractness and ambiguity of this principle,its application is inevitably subject to the judge’s personality.Through empirical analysis,we can find that the judicial documents invoking the principle of“the best interests of the child”by Chinese courts show a significant increase in the number of disputes,types of disputes,and pronounced regional characteristics.The application of this principle by the courts is highly consistent with the judicial interpretative documents issued by the Supreme People’s Court.The invocation of this principle plays the role of interpreting the provisions of the law,the value basis for discretion,and the value orientation for shaping new rules in adjudication.At the same time,it is plagued by a lack of guidelines for the application of principles,invocations that serve the will of judges,and imperfect thinking in weighing the various factors involved.The application of this principle should be improved by setting normative standards for the principle of“the best interests of the child”,increasing case guidance for invoking the principle,and enhancing the professionalism of judges.

Drought-Tolerant Rice at Molecular Breeding Eras:An Emerging Reality

Rice(Oryza sativa L.)stands as the most significantly influential food crop in the developing world,with its total production and yield stability affected by environmental stress.Drought stress impacts about 45%of the world’s rice area,affecting plants at molecular,biochemical,physiological,and phenotypic levels.The conventional breeding method,predominantly employing single pedigree selection,has been widely utilized in breeding numerous drought-tolerant rice varieties since the Green Revolution.With rapid progress in plant molecular biology,hundreds of drought-tolerant QTLs/genes have been identified and tested in rice crops under both indoor and field conditions.Several genes have been introgressed into elite germplasm to develop commercially accepted drought-tolerant varieties,resulting in the development of several drought-tolerant rice varieties through marker-assisted selection and genetically engineered approaches.This review provides up-to-date information on proof-of-concept genes and breeding methods in the molecular breeding era,offering guidance for rice breeders to develop drought-tolerant rice varieties.

Numerical Investigation of Combined Production of Natural Gas Hydrate and Conventional Gas

Natural gas hydrate(NGH)is generally produced and accumulated together with the underlying conventional gas.Therefore,optimizing the production technology of these two gases should be seen as a relevant way to effectively reduce the exploitation cost of the gas hydrate.In this study,three types of models accounting for the coexistence of these gases are considered.Type A considers the upper hydrate-bearing layer(HBL)adjacent to the lower conventional gas layer(CGL);with the Type B a permeable interlayer exists between the upper HBL and the lower CGL;with the type C there is an impermeable interlayer between the upper HBL and the lower CGL.The production performances associated with the above three models are calculated under different conditions,including only a depressurized HBL(only HBL DP);only a depressurized CGL(only CGL DP);and both the HBL and the CGL being depressurized(HBL+CGL DP).The results show that for Type A and Type B coexistence accumulation models,when only HBL or CGL is depressurized,the gas from the other layer will flow into the production layer due to the pressure difference between the two layers.In the coexistence accumulation model of type C,the cumulative gas production is much lower than that of Type A and Type B,regardless of whether only HBL DP,only CGL DP,or HBL+CGL DP are considered.This indicates that the impermeable interlayer restricts the cross-flow of gas between HBL and CGL.For three different coexistence accumulation models,CGL DP has the largest gas-to-water ratio.

Robotics in total knee replacement:Current use and future implications

Robotic total knee replacement(TKR)surgery has evolved over the years with the aim of improving the overall 80% satisfaction rate associated with TKR surgery.Proponents claim higher precision in executing the pre-operative plan which results in improved alignment and possibly better clinical outcomes.Opponents suggest longer operative times with potentially higher complications and no superiority in clinical outcomes alongside increased costs.This editorial will summarize where we currently stand and the future implications of using robotics in knee replacement surgery.

Analysis of Maximum Liquid Carrying Capacity Based on Conventional Tubing Plunger Gas Lift

China’s unconventional gas fields have a large number of low-productivity and low-efficiency wells, many of whichare located in remote and environmentally harsh mountainous areas. To address the long-term stable productionof these gas wells, plunger-lift technology plays an important role. In order to fully understand and accurately graspthe drainage and gas production mechanisms of plunger-lift, a mechanical model of plunger-liquid column uplift inthe plunger-lift process was established, focusing on conventional plunger-lift systems and representative wellboreconfigurations in the Linxing region. The operating casing pressure of the plunger-lift process and the calculationmethod for the maximum daily fluid production rate based on the work regime with the highest fluid recovery ratewere determined. For the first time, the critical flow rate method was proposed as a constraint for the maximumliquid-carrying capacity of the plunger-lift, and liquid-carrying capacity charts for conventional plunger-lift withdifferent casing sizes were developed. The results showed that for 23/8 casing plunger-lift, with a well depth ofshallower than 808 m, the maximum drainage rate was 33 m3/d;for 27/8 casing plunger-lift, with a well depth ofshallower than 742 m, the maximum drainage rate was 50.15 m3/d;for 31/2 casing plunger-lift, with a well depthof shallower than 560 m, the maximum drainage rate was 75.14 m3/d. This research provides a foundation for thescientific selection of plunger-lift technology and serves as a decision-making reference for developing reasonableplunger-lift work regimes.

Conventional Geothermal Systems and Unconventional Geothermal Developments: An Overview

This paper provides an overview of conventional geothermal systems and unconventional geothermal developments as a common reference is needed for discussions between energy professionals. Conventional geothermal systems have the heat, permeability and fluid, requiring only drilling down to °C, normal heat flow or decaying radiogenic granite as heat sources, and used in district heating. Medium-temperature (MT) 100°C - 190°C, and high-temperature (HT) 190°C - 374°C resources are mostly at plate boundaries, with volcanic intrusive heat source, used mostly for electricity generation. Single well capacities are °C - 500°C) and a range of depths (1 m to 20 Km), but lack permeability or fluid, thus requiring stimulations for heat extraction by conduction. HVAC is 1 - 2 m deep and shallow geothermal down to 500 m in wells, both capturing °C, with °C are either advanced by geothermal developers at <7 Km depth (Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), drilling below brittle-ductile transition zones and under geothermal fields), or by the Oil & Gas industry (Advanced Geothermal Systems, heat recovery from hydrocarbon wells or reservoirs, Superhot Rock Geothermal, and millimeter-wave drilling down to 20 Km). Their primary aim is electricity generation, relying on closed-loops, but EGS uses fractures for heat exchange with earthquake risks during fracking. Unconventional approaches could be everywhere, with shallow geothermal already functional. The deeper and hotter unconventional alternatives are still experimental, overcoming costs and technological challenges to become fully commercial. Meanwhile, the conventional geothermal resources remain the most proven opportunities for investments and development.

Large Conventional Osteosarcoma of the Proximal Humerus in a 13-Year-Old Child: Case Report

Introduction: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children. It is highly aggressive and has a poor prognosis. A late presentation modifies and makes difficult the management affecting the survival of children. We report the case of a large conventional osteosarcoma in a 13-year-old girl. Case Presentation: Adolescent girl admitted for painful swelling of the left shoulder with absolute functional impotence of the thoracic limb and severe anemia. The painful swelling was thought to have been caused by a minor trauma that had occurred six months previously. The patient’s general condition was poor, and she presented with a large, shiny, painful mass over the shoulder and upper 2/3 of the left arm, measuring 28 cm long by 28 cm wide and 57 cm in circumference, and a large fistulous axillary adenopathy. CT scan showed a tumour lesion of the left humerus with liver and lung metastases, raising suspicion of osteogenic osteosarcoma. The tumor was classified according to TNM staging: T2N1M1(a + b). Management was modified when uncontrolled bleeding developed. It consisted of an extended amputation of the left thoracic limb. Pathological analysis showed a high-grade conventional osteosarcoma. Quality improvement was obtained for thirty days, followed by the onset of dyspnea. The evolution was towards death at forty days post-operatively. Conclusion: Osteosarcoma is a highly aggressive cancer. Delayed treatment leads to a fatal outcome. Early diagnosis is one of the challenges to be met in order to improve survival.

Unique Clinical Features of Curaderm when Treating Skin Cancers

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and the most frequently occurring form of all cancers. Conventional treatments to remove or destroy basal cell carcinoma are indiscriminate and also remove or destroy normal skin cells resulting in compromised cosmetic outcomes. Consequences of these treatments include body-image issues, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and poorer quality of social and family life. A progressive topical cream formulation, Curaderm, containing the natural BEC glycoalkaloids, have shown to have advantages over conventional treatments. However, comprehensive clinical features of the skin cancer lesions during treatment with Curaderm have to date not been reported. This report shows that using unpublished data from a large number of patients with varying sizes, types and locations of basal cell carcinomas when treated with Curaderm in a phase 3 trial, an initial increase in size of the lesions occur, followed by a reverse course, leading to complete removal of the skin cancer. The specificity and mode of action of Curaderm explains the superior cosmetic outcomes when compared with conventional therapies.

A Study of the Use and Translation of Archaic Functional Vocabulary in the Berne Convention

The archaic functional vocabulary is highly with the legal features of formality and conservativeness and still holding a place in legal English.The Berne Convention is a good example to study the use and translation of the archaic functional vocabulary.By studying what archaic functional words or phrases are used in the Berne Convention,their meanings and the different use frequencies of them between the Berne Convention and the Copy Right Law of PRC,it has been found that arhcaic adverbs are used of low frequency,while some adjectives or adjectival groups as well as some prepositions or prepositional phrases are used of high frequencies.The use frequencies of the archaic functional vocabulary is higher in the Berne Convention than those in the Copy Right law of PRC.Some suggestions can be put forward to help improve translating Chinese legal documents into English or writing English legal documents.