Christian Sin and Buddhist Emptiness： The Angry God vs. a Smiling Buddha

Starting from a reading of Jonathan Edwards＇ famous sermon ＂Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God＂, this paper first analyzes the powerful image of ＂sinner＂ in the sermon, then goes on to give a definition of a Christian conception of sin. It is found that while sin is a central conception in the religious system of Christianity, Emptiness is a central idea in Buddhist＇s doctrine. Understanding this conception is a key step on one＇s road to the enlightenment. Buddha＇s emphasis on emptiness is to warn people not to hold everything tight in this world, to stop their craving and grasping, finally to end people＇s suffering in life. Human beings get salvation through the redemption of their sin in a Christian doctrine, while in a Buddhist doctrine, people can only get enlightened and salvation when they are aware of the empty nature of this world, the universe, and themselves

Surgical techniques to prevent delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Background: Delayed gastric emptying(DGE) is one of the most common complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD). DGE represents impaired gastric motility without significant mechanical obstruction and is associated with an increased length of hospital stay, increased healthcare costs, and a high readmission rate. We reviewed published studies on various technical modifications to reduce the incidence of DGE. Data sources: Studies were identified by searching Pub Med for relevant articles published up to December 2022. The following search terms were used: “pancreaticoduodenectomy”, “pancreaticojejunostomy”, “pancreaticogastrostomy”, “gastric emptying”, “gastroparesis” and “postoperative complications”. The search was limited to English publications. Additional articles were identified by a manual search of references from key articles. Results: In recent years, various surgical procedures and techniques have been explored to reduce the incidence of DGE. Pyloric resection, Billroth II reconstruction, Braun's enteroenterostomy, and antecolic reconstruction may be associated with a decreased incidence of DGE, but more high-powered studies are needed in the future. Neither laparoscopic nor robotic surgery has demonstrated superiority in preventing DGE, and the use of staplers is controversial regarding whether they can reduce the incidence of DGE. Conclusions: Despite many innovations in surgical techniques, there is no surgical procedure that is superior to others to reduce DGE. Further larger prospective randomized studies are needed.

Jianqu,a traditional Chinese medicine,alleviates functional dyspepsia in high-calorie and high-protein diet mice

Background:Jianqu has been used to alleviate symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia,but its specific anti-functional dyspepsia effect is still unclear.Therefore,our study aimed to investigate the impact of Jianqu on functional dyspepsia in mice.Methods:The phytochemical profile of Jianqu was analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.Subsequently,Kunming mice were fed a high-calorie or high-protein diet(HCHP)for 7 days,and then orally treated with vehicle or Jianqu(1.62 g/kg body weight(b.w.)and 3.25 g/kg b.w.)for 10 days.A carbon powder solution was used to detect the gastric emptying and intestinal transit rate.The pathological changes in stomach and duodenum were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The occludin,claudin-1,ZO-1 and CD45 expression was measured by immunocytochemical staining.Importantly,the serum gastrointestinal hormones were detected by ELISA.In addition,the gut microbiota composition was determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.The cecal short chain fatty acids were assessed by gas chromatography.Results:In general,17 phytochemical compounds were identified from Jianqu,which significantly improved the gastric emptying rate and intestinal transit rate(p<0.01),increased the body weight and food intake(p<0.0001)in HCHP mice as well.Though HCHP did not cause significant pathological lesions in the gastrointestinal tract,increased the expression of CD45 in the duodenum(p<0.05)was observed.Notably,Jianqu attenuated this abnormal expression of CD45(p<0.05).The levels of serum gastrointestinal hormones were significantly normalized by Jianqu intervention(p<0.05).Moreover,Jianqu increased the relative abundance of Roseburia as well as short chain fatty acids levels in cecum(p<0.05).Conclusion:The present results showed that Jianqu alleviated dyspeptic symptoms in HCHP mice possibly through reducing the duodenal leukocyte infiltration,and regulating the expression of gastrointestinal hormones.These effects may be partly related to the increasing cecal short chain fatty acids levels probably via gut microbial modulation.

Management of gestational diabetes mellitus via nutritional interventions:The relevance of gastric emptying

Gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)represents one of the most common medical complications of pregnancy and is important to the well-being of both mothers and offspring in the short and long term.Lifestyle intervention remains the mainstay for the management of GDM.The efficacy of nutritional approaches(e.g.calorie restriction and small frequent meals)to improving the maternal-neonatal outcomes of GDM was attested to by Chinese population data,discussed in two articles in recent issues of this journal.However,a specific focus on the relevance of postprandial glycaemic control was lacking.Postprandial rather than fasting hyperglycaemia often represents the predominant manifestation of disordered glucose homeostasis in Chinese women with GDM.There is now increasing appreciation that the rate of gastric emptying,which controls the delivery of nutrients for digestion and absorption in the small intestine,is a key determinant of postprandial glycaemia in both health,type 1 and 2 diabetes.It remains to be established whether gastric emptying is abnormally rapid in GDM,particularly among Chinese women,thus contributing to a predisposition to postprandial hyperglycaemia,and if so,how this influences the therapeutic response to nutritional interventions.It is essential that we understand the role of gastric emptying in the regulation of postprandial glycaemia during pregnancy and the potential for its modulation by nutritional strategies in order to improve postprandial glycaemic control in GDM.

Glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists and the management of type 2 diabetes-backwards and forwards

This editorial is stimulated by the article by Alqifari et al published in the World Journal of Diabetes(2024).Alqifari et al focus on practical advice for the clinical use of glucagon-like-peptide-1(GLP-1)receptor agonists(GLP-1RAs)in the management of type 2 diabetes and this editorial provides complementary information.We initially give a brief historical perspective of the development of GLP-1RAs stimulated by recognition of the‘incretin effect’,the substantially greater insulin increase to enteral when compared to euglycaemic intravenous glucose,and the identification of the incretin hormones,GIP and GLP-1.In addition to stimulating insulin,GLP-1 reduces postprandial glucose levels by slowing gastric emptying.GLP-1RAs were developed because native GLP-1 has a very short plasma half-life.The majority of current GLP-1RAs are administered by subcutaneous injection once a week.They are potent in glucose lowering without leading to hypoglycaemia,stimulate weight loss in obese individuals and lead to cardiovascular and renal protection.The landscape in relation to GLP-1RAs is broadening rapidly,with different formulations and their combination with other peptides to facilitate both glucose lowering and weight loss.There is a need for more information relating to the effects of GLP-1RAs to induce gastrointestinal symptoms and slow gastric emptying which is likely to allow their use to become more effective and personalised.

Effects of Polygala fallax Hemsl Water Extract on a Mouse Model of Gastric Motility Disorders

[Objectives]To explore the effects of Polygona fallax Hemsl water extract on gastrointestinal motility in normal mice and gastric motility disorder model mice and approximate mechanism.[Methods]Using normal mice and mice with gastric motility disorders(modeled with atropine),the effects of different mass concentration groups of P.fallax Hemsl water extract(0.125,0.250,0.500 g/mL)and domperidone groups on gastric residual rate,small intestine propulsion rate,serum motilin(MLT),vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP),and tissue morphology were studied.[Results]There was a highly significant difference(P<0.01)in the small intestine propulsion rate of liquid in normal mice among the different concentration groups of P.fallax Hemsl water extract compared to the blank group.The small intestine propulsion rate and gastric residue rate of semi-solid paste were statistically significant compared to the blank group(P<0.05).Among them,there was a highly significant difference between the high concentration group(67.75%±7.65%,46.5%±10.62%)and the medium concentration group(60.90%±5.87%,59.27%±7.82%)(P<0.01).There was statistical significance in normal mouse serum MLT content in the high concentration group(P<0.05).There was no effect on serum VIP levels in normal mice;no effect on the morphology of stomach and intestinal tissues of normal mice.The small intestine propulsion rate and gastric residue rate of liquid and semi-solid paste in mice with gastric motility disorders were statistically significant compared to the atropine group,with extremely significant differences(P<0.01).[Conclusions]P.fallax Hemsl water extract has a promoting effect on gastrointestinal motility.One of the specific mechanisms by which P.fallax Hemsl promotes gastrointestinal motility in normal mice may be related to the content of MLT in mouse serum.The mechanism of action in atropine induced gastric paresis mice may be related to the reactivation of M receptors,and the action mechanism of P.fallax Hemsl does not change the original histological basis.It can be inferred that P.fallax Hemsl water extract has a synergistic effect on promoting gastrointestinal motility through other mechanisms,but it is not fully understood and further in-depth research is needed.

Self-assembly pre-occupancy for 2D super-ordered emptiness arrays in graphene

Self-assembly is deemed to be an effective and inspiring strategy to construct programmable and innovative super-ordered structures.Here,we have,for the first time,achieved the large-area super-ordered two-dimensional(2D)emptiness arrays in graphene by silicon dioxide self-assembly pre-occupancy.The prominent uniform periodicity of 2D emptiness arrays in graphene can be flexibly adjusted.The synergistic interaction between the pre-occupancy structural unit and graphene contributes to the successful acquisition of 2D emptiness arrays.The realization of 2D emptiness arrays by self-assembly pre-occupancy strategy would shed light on the rational redaction,fabrication and research of complex 2D super-ordered structure systems and facilitate their applications for various fields,such as highly integrated functional devices,precise location acquisition systems,sensing,separation,and so on.

Xujing （Emptiness and Stillness） in Daoism, Aesthetic Appreciation of Nature, and Environmental Ethics

In this article, I will examine the concept of xujing 虚静 （emptiness and stillness） in Daoism and its relationship with the aesthetic appreciation of nature and environmental ethics. Firstly, I will examine the Chinese philosophical understanding of nature through the concept of qi. I point out that qi is characterized by four interrelated features, which are emptiness, creativity, vitality, and stillness. Xujing are also aesthetically appreciated as the objective features of qi. Secondly, ! will discuss why, as the objective features of qi, xujing are considered to be features that have aesthetic value. I argue that empathy is the reason why emptiness as the objective feature of qi is regarded as having aesthetic value. Thirdly, I will discuss how the aesthetic concept of emptiness helps contribute to the construction of place-based environmental ethics.

Preoperative and postoperative complications as risk factors for delayed gastric emptying following pancreaticoduodenectomy: A single-center retrospective study

BACKGROUND Mortality rates after pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD)have significantly decreased in specialized centers.However,postoperative morbidity,particularly delayed gastric emptying(DGE),remains the most frequent complication following PD.AIM To identify risk factors associated with DGE after the PD procedure.METHODS In this retrospective,cross-sectional study,clinical data were collected from 114 patients who underwent PD between January 2015 and June 2018.Demographic factors,pre-and perioperative characteristics,and surgical complications were assessed.Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for post-PD DGE.RESULTS The study included 66 males(57.9%)and 48 females(42.1%),aged 33-83 years(mean:62.5),with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 1.4:1.There were 63 cases(55.3%)of PD and 51 cases(44.7%)of pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy.Among the 114 patients who underwent PD,33(28.9%)developed postoperative DGE.Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in four of the 14 clinical indexes observed:pylorus preservation,retrocolonic anastomosis,postoperative abdominal complications,and early postoperative albumin(ALB).Logistic regression analysis further identified postoperative abdominal complic-ations[odds ratio(OR)=4.768,P=0.002],preoperative systemic diseases(OR=2.516,P=0.049),and early postoperative ALB(OR=1.195,P=0.003)as significant risk factors.CONCLUSION Postoperative severe abdominal complications,preoperative systemic diseases,and early postoperative ALB are identified as risk factors for post-PD DGE.

Classification of hepatobiliary scintigraphy patterns in segmented gallbladder according to anatomical discordance

BACKGROUND Hepatobiliary scintigraphy(HBS)is a useful diagnostic imaging technique that uses radiotracers to evaluate the function of the gallbladder(GB)and biliary system.In segmented GB,some HBS images reveal a discordant GB boundary as compared to anatomical images.AIM To evaluate the characteristics of HBS in segmented GB and determine the clinical relevance according to HBS characteristics.METHODS A total of 268 patients with chronic cholecystitis,gallstones,or biliary colic symptoms who underwent HBS between 2011 and 2020 were enrolled.Segmented GB was defined as segmental luminal narrowing of the GB body on computed tomography(CT)or magnetic resonance(MR)images,and HBS was examined 1 mo before or after CT or MR.Segmented GB was classified into 3 types based on the filling and emptying patterns of the proximal and distal segments according to the characteristics of HBS images,and GB ejection fraction(GBEF)was identified:Type 1 was defined as a normal filling and emptying pattern;Type 2 was defined as an emptying defect on the distal segment;and Type 3 was defined as a filling defect in the distal segment.RESULTS Segmented GB accounted for 63 cases(23.5%),including 36 patients(57.1%)with Type 1,18 patients(28.6%)with Type 2,and 9 patients(14.3%)with Type 3 emptying pattern.Thus,approximately 43%of HBS images showed a discordant pattern as compared to anatomical imaging of segmented GB.Although there were no significant differences in clinical symptoms,rate of cholecystectomy,or pathological findings based on the type,most gallstones occurred in the distal segment.Reported GBEF was 62.50%±24.79%for Type 1,75.89%±17.21%for Type 2,and 88.56%±7.20%for Type 3.Type 1 showed no difference in reported GBEF compared to the non-segmented GB group(62.50%±24.79%vs 67.40%±21.78%).In contrast,the reported GBEF was higher in Types 2 and 3 with defective emptying and filling when compared to Type 1(80.11%±15.70%vs 62.57%±24.79%;P=0.001).CONCLUSION In segmented GB,discordance in the filling patterns detected by HBS and anatomical imaging could lead to misinterpretation of GBEF.For this reason,clinicians should be cautious when interpreting HBS results in patients with segmented GB.

Biological factors controlling starch digestibility in human digestive system

Starch digestion rate and location in the gastrointestinal tract(GIT)are critical for human health.This review aims to present a comprehensive summary on our current understanding of physiological,biochemical,anatomical and geometrical factors of human digestive system that are related to in vivo starch digestibility.It is shown that all digestive compartments including mouth,stomach,small intestine,and large intestine play critical roles in regulating the overall starch digestion process.A proper investigation of starch digestion pattern should thus be based on the consideration of all these compartments.Main biological factors are summarized as oral mastication and salivation,gastric emptying and motility,small intestinal enzymes and motility,large intestinal resistant starch(RS)-microbiota interactions and gut-brain feedback control,as well as glucose adsorption and hormonal feedback control.However,connections among these biological factors in determining starch digestive behaviors remain elusive.This is due to the inherent complexity of human GIT anatomy,motility and biochemical conditions,as well as ethical,financial and technical issues in conducting clinical studies.Much technological and scientific efforts from both clinical studies and in vitro simulation models are required for a better understanding of in vivo starch digestion behaviors.

Gastroparesis after video-assisted thoracic surgery:A case report

BACKGROUND Video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS)lobectomy is a common treatment for patients with early-stage lung cancer.Some patients can experience slight gastrointestinal discomfort after lobectomy for a moment.Gastroparesis is a gastrointestinal disorder that can be severe;it is associated with an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia and impaired postoperative recovery.Here,we report a rare case of gastroparesis after VATS lobectomy.CASE SUMMARY A 61-year-old man underwent VATS right lower lobectomy uneventfully but had an obstruction of the upper digestive tract 2 d after surgery.Acute gastroparesis was diagnosed after emergency computed tomography and oral iohexol X-ray imaging.After gastrointestinal decompression and administration of prokinetic drugs,the patient’s gastrointestinal symptoms improved.Since perioperative medication was applied according to the recommended dose and there was no evidence of electrolyte imbalance,intraoperative periesophageal vagal nerve injury was the most likely underlying cause of gastroparesis.CONCLUSION Although gastroparesis is a rare perioperative complication following VATS,clinicians should be on the alert when patients complain about gastrointestinal discomfort.When surgeons resect paraesophageal lymph nodes with electrocautery,excessive ambient heat and compression of paraesophageal hematoma might induce vagal nerve dysfunction.

Inter-relationships between gastric emptying and glycaemia:Implications for clinical practice

Gastric emptying(GE)exhibits a wide inter-individual variation and is a major determinant of postprandial glycaemia in health and diabetes;the rise in blood glucose following oral carbohydrate is greater when GE is relatively more rapid and more sustained when glucose tolerance is impaired.Conversely,GE is influenced by the acute glycaemic environment acute hyperglycaemia slows,while acute hypoglycaemia accelerates it.Delayed GE(gastroparesis)occurs frequently in diabetes and critical illness.In diabetes,this poses challenges for management,particularly in hospitalised individuals and/or those using insulin.In critical illness it compromises the delivery of nutrition and increases the risk of regurgitation and aspiration with consequent lung dysfunction and ventilator dependence.Substantial advances in knowledge relating to GE,which is now recognised as a major determinant of the magnitude of the rise in blood glucose after a meal in both health and diabetes and,the impact of acute glycaemic environment on the rate of GE have been made and the use of gut-based therapies such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists,which may profoundly impact GE,in the management of type 2 diabetes,has become commonplace.This necessitates an increased understanding of the complex inter-relationships of GE with glycaemia,its implications in hospitalised patients and the relevance of dysglycaemia and its management,particularly in critical illness.Current approaches to management of gastroparesis to achieve more personalised diabetes care,relevant to clinical practice,is detailed.Further studies focusing on the interactions of medications affecting GE and the glycaemic environment in hospitalised patients,are required.

On the Self-portrait of Modern Men in T.S. Eliot's Prufrock

T.S.Eliot,a great American poet in the twentieth century,is a spokesman of the Imagist Movement.He emphasizes describing the rotten Western civilization and the decayed morals after the First World War.Prufrock that T.S.Eliot described in his early poems is timid,hesitant,sensitive,anxious,lack of will and confidence;This paper will analyze the detailed behaviors of the characters in Eliot's early poems and reveal the major image of modern men more clearly.

汉语虚字拼音化问题

汉语虚字 (词 )由实词虚化而来 ,是表达语法意义的 ,属形式范畴。可是虚词由实词借用而来的字形 ,不但不能反映出虚词的语法意义 ,反而常常因原有的实词义而对其语法意义的理解形成干扰。这不但对阅读形成障碍 ,也不利于左右脑的合理使用 ,对儿童和外国人学习汉语也是一个不算小的负担。因此 ,汉语虚词应当拼音化。

Structure of Space Fabric

This paper first proposes that a physical entity such as an electron and a cosmological entity such as a photon belong to two different levels of the Universe. When declaring that space is a vacuum, we are referring to the physical vacuum, and not the cosmological vacuum. The paper propounds that the space we observe is a fabric of cosmological substances. We cannot presume that something fills the emptiness of space. This paper posits that the fab-ric of cosmological substances creates this emptiness to facilitate physical activities such as electromagnetic waves and gravitational pull. Second, the space fabric is a spatial cosmo-logical phenomenon, whereas time is a physical phenomenon operated by a physical entity. The spacetime continuum is created by physical time acquiring the cosmological space fab-ric. The third part of this paper explains the structure and ingredients of the space fabric. The structure itself explains several cosmological phenomena, including electromagnetic waves, gravitation, light, magnetism, dark matter, and dark energy. The philosophical cor-rectness of the paper is validated through the unification of multidisciplinary aspects, and its scientific correctness is validated by its logical consistency with the results of well-known experiments.

Higher Level of Social Development—Enlightenism

This article determined the cause of social suffering by using set theory and also demonstrated that the cause of any suffering is the emptiness quality of Yang and Ying of the phenomena or“ownership”view and have been given its definition.It described the society free from the basic suffering as named enlightened society or enlightenism like one of the formations of the social development and explained its scientific evidence and described the cause and condition of this society’s evolution and development.

The Pursuit of Happiness in the French Novel of the 20th-21st Centuries

Happiness, as much a poetic as a philosophical, sociological, and psychological concept, has been, through the ages, at the heart of the needs each individual seeks to fulfil. But today, in a world dominated by technology, driven by productivity and dictated by efficiency, what about Happiness？ Does it feature in works of fiction in any significant way？ May it not have adopted different guises？ ls that ＂duty of happiness＂ that Pascal Bruckner was talking about present in the French novel of the 20th-21th centuries？ And if it is, has its force strengthened or weakened？ This article will discuss the French Novels （of the 20th-21th centuries） that are devoted to or associated with Happiness in a direct or indirect manner. It will contextualize and analyze the transformation of Happiness, within the context of the historical and social events that influenced that period： the Holocaust, consumerism, postmodernism, structural social changes, the various as yet unarticulated new modes of life they created, and so on. To that end, this article will explore the discursive philosophical concept of happiness and its influence on the formation of the French novel. In so doing it will focus on the explicit discourse behind the motifs, the choices made in the process of writing, and the attitudes taken, considering the theme of happiness. Doing so, a significant discussion will be included regarding the paths of happiness, its agents, and the nature of the motifs and metaphors linked to the theme of happiness. The author will also address the dialectical role of the happiness theme in the constitution of an emerging literary discourse reflected in the French novel. By exploring the manifestation of the dogmas, ideas of the intellectual leaders of the 20th century （e.g., Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone De Beauvoir, Albert Camus） as well as the ones of the 21th century （e.g., Pascal Bruckner, Andr6 Comte-Sponville, Gilles Lipovetsky） new insights concerning the hybrid nature of the supposedly ＂authentic happiness＂ will be revealed. The author intend to inspect the theme of Happiness around four dialectical axes as a relevant ethical basis for delimiting the various fields of research： （1） Love, passion, and conjugality; （2） Ageing; （3） ＂The experience of everydayness＂; and （4） ＂The era of emptiness＂. Focusing on the narratives, the article takes into account their specificity in the four distinct fields, all connected to existential and ethical issues, Finally, this article will attempt to analyse the assumed role of literature as a conduit of cultural awareness.

Spacetime Discreteness: Shedding Light on Two of the Simplest Observations in Physics

Loop quantum gravity is considered to be one of the two major candidates for a theory of quantum gravity. The most appealing aspect about this theory is it predicts that spacetime is not continuous;both space and time have a discrete nature. Simply, space is not infinitely divisible, but it has a granular structure, and time does not flow continuously like a smooth river. This paper demonstrates a review for two missed (unnoted) observations that support the discreteness of the spacetime. The content of this paper does not validate the specific model of quantized geometry of the spacetime which is predicted by the theory itself. Instead, it proves that time does not flow continuously. But it flows in certain, discrete steps, like a ticking of a clock, due to a simple observation which is absence of any possible value of time that can exist between the present and the future. Regarding space, it validates the spatial discreteness, and the existence of spatial granules (space quanta) due to a simple observation which is the existence of the origin position in a coordinates system. All of this is achieved by reviewing the concept of discreteness itself, and applied directly to the observations.

A New View of the Dynamics of Particle Structure

The new view denies the existence of fundamental particles in matter, and instead states that any particle and matter is a dynamic superposition of three natural elements, motion, force, and emptiness. This paper proposes a new theory of the structure of matter and the unification of the four forces. A correct understanding of the logic of material structure will enable atomic energy and nuclear physics to generate new manufacturing ideas. The dissertation expounds the natural distribution of dynamics and forces in space and the new deterministic theory of dynamic relationship. This theory solves problems such as the unity of the four forces and the dynamic laws of the material structure. In practical applications, it can provide new theoretical guidance for industrial manufacturing such as nuclear energy, fusion engineering, new energy, new materials, battery energy storage, new-generation reactors, etc., and then adopt effective means in line with the laws of natural power to make the substances needed by human beings. The supply of resources and energy is perfectly satisfied. Applying this theoretical model of material structure to all aspects of the manufacturing industry will surely open up a new era of material civilization for human beings.