Reflections on Studying Huang Di Nei Jing in the West

Huang Di Nei Jing(《黄帝内经》The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) has been the source text of Chinese medicine knowledge and innovation for over two thousand years. Despite this key relevance, many of its ideas and practices have proven difficult to understand and implement fully into clinical practice. Cultural and language differences can be compounded with these challenges but may also present new opportunities for advancement and insight when studied by researchers outside of the originating culture. This article introduces the method of Classical-Text Archaeology and delves into the author’s two-decade journey of researching this text, with a discussion on cultural differences and issues of medical scholarship.

The virulence regulator AbsR in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli has pleiotropic effects on bacterial physiology

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli(APEC)belonging to extraintestinal pathogenic E.coli(ExPEC)can cause severe infections in extraintestinal tissues in birds and humans,such as the lungs and blood.MprA(microcin production regulation,locus A,herein renamed AbsR,a blood survival regulator),a member of the MarR(multiple antibiotic resistance regulator)transcriptional regulator family,governs the expression of capsule biosynthetic genes in human ExPEC and represents a promising druggable target for antimicrobials.However,a deep understanding of the AbsR regulatory mechanism as well as its regulon is lacking.In this study,we present a systems-level analysis of the APEC AbsR regulon using ChIP-Seq(chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing)and RNA-Seq(RNA sequencing)methods.We found that AbsR directly regulates 99 genes and indirectly regulates 667 genes.Furthermore,we showed that:1)AbsR contributes to antiphagocytotic effects by macrophages and virulence in a mouse model for systemic infection by directly activating the capsular gene cluster;2)AbsR positively impacts biofilm formation via direct regulation of the T2SS(type II secretion system)but plays a marginal role in virulence;and 3)AbsR directly upregulates the acid tolerance signaling system EvgAS to withstand acid stress but is dispensable in ExPEC virulence.Finally,our data indicate that the role of AbsR in virulence gene regulation is relatively conserved in ExPEC strains.Altogether,this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the AbsR regulon and regulatory mechanism,and our data suggest that AbsR likely influences virulence primarily through the control of capsule production.Interestingly,we found that AbsR severely represses the expression of the type I-F CRISPR(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas(CRISPR associated)systems,which could have implications in CRISPR biology and application.

The Transmission,Establishment and Cross-cultural Integration of Chinese Medicine in the Mainstream Healthcare,through the Eyes of a Generation of Visionaries and Pioneers

It has historically been very difficult to trace the history of the westward transmission of Chinese medicine through the accounts of its protagonists. Many of the early scholars such as Jack Worsley, Dick Van Buren, and Joe Goodman were reluctant to divulge information about the source of their knowledge, or their professional qualifications. Others, such as John Shen and Hong Yuan-bain were early 20th century immigrants who transmitted highly personalized versions of acupuncture and Chinese medicine to select disciples. Eventually, a new class of scholars appeared, including names such as Ted Kaptchuk, Peter Deadman, Nigel Wiseman, William Morris, Peter Eckman, John Mc Donald, Charles Buck, and the late Giovanni Maciocia who looked for answers back in China, developed translation methodologies and terminology, compiled the main textbooks currently in use at TCM colleges, overcame enormous scholastic adversity, developed courses and pursued the regulation and accreditation of TCM in various countries. This special issue synopsizes the path towards the global acculturation of TCM over the last 50 years, the main protagonists, the enormous accomplishments they have achieved for the profession, their philosophy, their clinical perspectives and visions for the future.

William Morris,Establishing the Foundation for the Advancement of TCM in the US

The interview was conducted on March 2nd, 2023 by Ioannis Solos and Charles Buck. William Morris has sustained practice since 1980. He has served on the California, Texas and Massachusetts Professional Associations, as well as the National Association. He has tendered 20 years of service to the field through academic medicine, earning a master’s degree in medical education to assist in developing Chinese medical doctoral programs and institutional review boards. He earned an OM.D. in 1988, a DAOM in 2002, and a Ph.D. focused on pulse diagnosis as clinical epistemology in 2009. He has published five books, including TCM Case Studies Dermatology, Li Shi-zhen Pulse Studies: An Illustrated Guide, Neoclassical Pulse Diagnosis, Cycles in Medical Astrology, and Transformation: Treating Trauma with Acupuncture and Herbs.

A Conversation with Professor Ted Kaptchuk,a Key Architect of Modern TCM in the West

The interview was conducted on November 20th,2022 by Ioannis Solos and Charles Buck.Ted Kaptchuk(泰开阳)is a Professor of Medicine and a Professor of Global Health&Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School.In 1975,he graduated from the Macao Institute of Chinese Medicine,Macao,China.After returning to the West,Ted taught Chinese medicine throughout the States,Europe,Latin America,and Australia.Ted’s book,The Web that Has No Weaver:Understanding Chinese Medicine is a groundbreaking explanation of East Asian medicine that continues to shape the discourse of the Chinese medicine profession in the West and has been translated into 13 languages.In 1990,Ted was recruited in Harvard Medical School to help research Chinese medicine.After encountering high placebo responses in multiple acupuncture clinical trials,Ted decided to switch his career to primarily studying placebo.He has published over 300 peer-reviewed articles.He has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Acupuncture Research(2015),the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies(2021),and the William Silen Lifetime Achievement Award in Mentoring from Harvard Medical School(2022).

An Interview with Peter Deadman—Acupuncture Pioneer and Founder of The Journal of Chinese Medicine

This interview was conducted on August 21st, 2022 by Charles Buck and Ioannis Solos. Peter Deadman has worked in the field of health promotion for 50 years. He co-founded Infinity Foods(an organic and natural foods workers co-op) in 1971, followed by the Brighton Natural Health Centre-a charity dedicated to teaching ways to improve personal, community and planetary health and wellbeing. He qualified as an acupuncturist in 1978 and in Chinese herbal medicine in 1990. He founded The Journal of Chinese Medicine(UK) in 1979(Fig. 1), and co-authored A Manual of Acupuncture(published in 1998). He is the author of Live Well Live Long: Teachings from the Chinese Nourishment of Life Tradition. He has taught Chinese medicine and health promotion internationally for decades and is a dedicated practitioner and teacher of Qi Gong(气功).

Digital Disparities:How Artificial Intelligence Can Facilitate Anti-Black Racism in the U.S.Healthcare Sector

This paper delves into the intricate interplay between artificial intelligence(AI)systems and the perpetuation of Anti-Black racism within the United States medical industry.Despite the promising potential of AI to enhance healthcare outcomes and reduce disparities,there is a growing concern that these technologies may inadvertently/advertently exacerbate existing racial inequalities.Focusing specifically on the experiences of Black patients,this research investigates how the following AI components:medical algorithms,machine learning,and natural learning processes are contributing to the unequal distribution of medical resources,diagnosis,and health care treatment of those classified as Black.Furthermore,this review employs a multidisciplinary approach,combining insights from computer science,medical ethics,and social justice theory to analyze the mechanisms through which AI systems may encode and reinforce racial biases.By dissecting the three primary components of AI,this paper aims to present a clear understanding of how these technologies work,how they intersect,and how they may inherently perpetuate harmful stereotypes resulting in negligent outcomes for Black patients.Furthermore,this paper explores the ethical implications of deploying AI in healthcare settings and calls for increased transparency,accountability,and diversity in the development and implementation of these technologies.Finally,it is important that I prefer the following paper with a clear and concise definition of what I refer to as Anti-Black racism throughout the text.Therefore,I assert the following:Anti-Black racism refers to prejudice,discrimination,or antagonism directed against individuals or communities of African descent based on their race.It involves the belief in the inherent superiority of one race over another and the systemic and institutional practices that perpetuate inequality and disadvantage for Black people.Furthermore,I proclaim that this form of racism can be manifested in various ways,such as unequal access to opportunities,resources,education,employment,and fair treatment within social,economic,and political systems.It is also pertinent to acknowledge that Anti-Black racism is deeply rooted in historical and societal structures throughout the U.S.borders and beyond,leading to systemic disadvantages and disparities that impact the well-being and life chances of Black individuals and communities.Addressing Anti-Black racism involves recognizing and challenging both individual attitudes and systemic structures that contribute to discrimination and inequality.Efforts to combat Anti-Black racism include promoting awareness,education,advocacy for policy changes,and fostering a culture of inclusivity and equality.

Estimating the opportunity costs of avoiding oil palm-based deforestation in Indonesia:Implications for REDD

Reducing emissions due to deforestation is considered a low-cost option for mitigating climate change.However,the recent literature suggests higher opportunity costs because of specific deforestation drivers,which render reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation(REDD+)for mitigating climate change an uncertain,less attractive,and controversial option.Indonesia is one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters.Since 1989,53.80%of its oil palm expansion has come from forestlands,which has generated a significant amount of carbon emissions.This study uses official data and results from the relevant literature to estimate the costs of oil palm-based deforestation under various scenario assumptions,including different output prices,yields,time horizons,and discount rates.We also calculate the additional cost to preserve a 1-ha forest.We demonstrate that the average opportunity cost from avoiding oil palm-based deforestation is 24.42 USD/tCO_(2)eq in Indonesia,approximately 1.3 times the 2011 EUA carbon price.Additional sums of around 5,466.90–11,042.96 USD/ha should be provided to landowners for the deforestation avoidance caused by oil palm expansion.Special attention should be given to the extensive oil palm expansion in Indonesia and the resulting high opportunity costs for achieving the REDD+​target.

High Purity Hydrogen： Guidelines to Select the Most Suitable Purification Technology

Hydrogen is a gas widely used in a number of industrial applications. For example, in the electronic industry it is utilized to manufacture highly advanced devices like microprocessors, LEDs （light-emitting diodes） and solar cells. Hydrogen usage will be expanding as it is the main fuel for fuel cell technology and is used to store the excess energy generated by renewable sources such as solar and wind. In these applications the degree of purity of hydrogen is crucial and advanced purification systems are typically used to guarantee the purity. This article will review the types of purification teelmologies that are currently available to generate high purity hydrogen, starting from an already clean source that is at least 99.9% pure. Other technologies also widely used in gas purification, like PSA （pressure swing adsorption） and polymeric membrane separation, which are more suitable to handle a lower degree of hydrogen purity will not be discussed. This article will review the advantages and disadvantages of adsorbers, getters, cryogenic and palladium purification technologies with guidelines on how to select the most appropriate technology depending on the application and the experimental conditions.

Interval attenuation estimation from prestack seismic data:A case study from the Arabian Peninsula

Accurately estimated interval attenuation(1/Q)values have several applications,such as in quantitative interpretation and seismic resolution enhancement.Although Q values can be estimated by measuring the spectral ratio between seismic reflections from a target and a reference reflector,the results are influenced by factors such as overburden inhomogeneities.Here,we quantitatively analyze the overburden influence on interval Q estimations using the spectral ratio method,time-space domain prestack Q inversion(PSQI),andτ-p domain PSQI.We compare these three methods using a synthetic dataset and a field dataset acquired onshore the Arabian Peninsula.Synthetic seismic gathers are generated from a three-layer model with a low-Q inclusion in the first layer to mimic overburden inhomogeneity.The fi eld data are preconditioned image gathers from a producing oil fi eld.The synthetic data test shows that the small low-Q body produces a considerable error in estimated Q values.The smallest error(i.e.,13.3%)is in theτ-p domain PSQI result.Theoretically,τ-p domain PSQI could obtain more accurate Q values when there are overburden infl uences because of the simultaneous inversion scheme and the application in theτ-p domain.The fi eld data application also illustrates that theτ-p domain PSQI produces reasonable interval Q values.Our measured Q values are also comparable with the Q values estimated from hydrocarbon saturated carbonate reservoirs.

The Pattern of Government Health Expenditure in China

For a while since the inception of economic system reform programs in 1980s,China's government investment in health was weakened.This resulted in healthcare provider's increasing reliance on user charges for their income,poorer access to healthcare for the vulnerable population groups,and increasing socioeconomic disparities in health and healthcare.To address these problems,China initiated a series of health sector reforms since late 1990s.Our comprehensive review study has found that indeed Chinese government spending on health has been increasing in recent years,especially since 2009,when the new Healthcare Reform Plan was announced.Still,China needs to both further strengthen government investment in health and address the structural imbalances in government health financing,in order to make the overall Chinese health system more equitable and more efficient.

Cytotoxic Responses and Apoptosis in Rat Kidney Epithelial Cells Exposed to Lead

The toxic effects of lead on normal rat kidney epithelial cells（NRK cells）may occur via various pathways.However,the role of intrinsic mitochondrial pathway in Lead-induced apoptosis in NRK cells has not been investigated.The purpose of our study was to investigate cytotoxic responses and cell apoptosis mediated by lead in NRK cells.

To China's Foreign Trade magazine for her 50th anniversary & the Organizers of the 100th Session of the Chinese Export Commodities Fair

On behalf of the United States of America. U.S. Ambassador Clark T. Randt. Jr. and the American Embassy in Beijing and for the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou, I am pleased to extend congratulations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of China's Foreign Trade magazine and the 100th Session of the Chinese Export Commodities Fair. Fifty years have passed since the 1st Session of the Trade Fair and the changes have been significant, but the intent - providing China with an opportunity to exhibit its increasingly sophisticated wares and an appreciative global market - remains the same.

Caesar’s British Expedition:What Are the Real Intentions Behind His Two Expeditions?

This paper aims to discuss the real intention behind Caesar’s two British expeditions and the evidence against the conquest theory.In Commentarii de Bello Gallico,Caesar claimed that he invaded Britain because he would like to teach the Britons a lesson for aiding the Gauls.Most modern scholars disagree that Caesar’s true intention is what Caesar has said,so they come up with their own theories.Ranzani says Caesar’s expedition is for glory,while Deutsch argues that Caesar’s expeditions are for pearls.Mitchell suggests that Caesar went to Britain for tin,while Ranzani,Schadee,Raaflaub,and Riggsby all come up with the theory of Caesar’s military and political gains.Brady is one of the few scholars who believe in what Caesar has said-to punish the Gauls.Moreover,Brady also considers Caesar’s expeditions a success since he does not think Caesar’s true goal is to conquer Britain.

Jordan＇s King Hussein＇s Peace Initiative and the Treaty with Israel： Overcoming Domestic and Foreign Pressures

The Wadi ＇Araba peace treaty which Jordan＇s King Hussein signed with Israel on October 26, 1994 became a target of criticism ever since it became known to the Jordanian public. Intense pressure was exerted on the Jordanian government to revoke the treaty even before its signature. The opposition to it reached its peak in the following year, when the tension in the holy sites in Jerusalem mounted. Given the persistence of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the fact that the Palestinian issue remained unresolved, it was clear that the King was aware of the potential danger of signing a peace accord with Israel, and that he was prepared to face criticism not only from the Arab states but also from nationalists, Islamists and Leftists all of whom disapproved of his decision. Yet the King remained undeterred and boldly carried on the discussions that culminated in the peace treaty＇s signature. Bearing in mind the fact the Egypt was the first country to sign a peace treaty with Israel it seemed as if there was little risk involved in the normalization process, and that the opposition to the treaty would soon subside. As it turned out, however, the pressure to abrogate it continues to mount.

The prevalence of deleterious mutations during the domestication and improvement of soybean

Soybean(Glycine max L.)is a protein and oil crop grown worldwide.Its fitness may be reduced by deleterious mutations,whose identification and purging is desirable for crop breeding.In the published whole-genome re-sequenced data of 2214 soybean accessions,including 221 wild soybean,1132 landrace cultivars and 861 improved soybean lines,we identified 115,275 deleterious single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs).Numbers of deleterious alleles increased from wild soybeans to landraces and decreased from landraces to modern improved lines.Genes in selective-sweep regions showed fewer deleterious mutations than the remaining genes.Deleterious mutations explained 4.3%-48%more phenotypic variation than randomly selected SNPs for resistance to soybean cyst nematode race 2(SCN2),soybean cyst nematode race 3(SCN3)and soybean mosaic virus race 3(SMV3).These findings illustrate how mutation load has shifted during soybean domestication,expansion and improvement and provide candidate sites for breeding out deleterious mutations in soybean by genome editing and/or conventional breeding focused on the selection of progeny with fewer deleterious alleles.

Shade coffee plantations maintain woody plant diversity and structure in a cloud forest landscape of southern Mexico

Cloud forest ecosystems of the Latin American tropics are highly threatened by changes in land-use such as expanding croplands and livestock pastures that promote shifts in the structure and composition of plant communities in these forests.However,shade coffee plantations represent a forest management alternative that has been shown to maintain biodiversity in these ecosystems.In this study,we evaluated changes in the composition,diversity,and structure of Mexican cloud-forest woody species for three land use categories:cattle pastures,shade coffee plantations and advanced succession forests.For each category,fifteen 0.28-ha plots were established and the composition and diversity of vegetation was noted.Composition of species was analyzed using ordination methods,and alpha diversity was compared using Hill numbers.Seventy-seven woody species belonging to 40 families were recorded.Species richness and diversity was high in both the advanced successional forest and coffee plantations compared to cattle pastures.Vegetation composition and structure was similar between late succession forests and coffee plantations with both land uses also being more structurally complex than cattle pastures.Our results show how shade coffee cultivation is a land-use activity that maintains woody plant communities in a manner that aligns with biodiversity conservation.

Comparison of Potential Theory and Morison Equation for Deformable Horizontal Cylinders

This study investigates the hydro-elastic behaviors of fully submerged horizontal cylinders in different regular waves.Two methods were proposed and compared in this study.The first method was based on potential theory in frequency domain and the discrete-module-beam(DMB)method,which discretizes a floating elastic structure into a sufficient number of rigid bodies while simultaneously representing the elastic behavior from beam elements with Euler-Bernoulli beam and Saint-Venant torsion.Moreover,the Morison method in time domain was employed;this method estimates wave forces from the semi-empirical Morison equation,and the elastic behavior is embodied by massless axial,bending,and torsional springs.Various parametric studies on cylinder diameter,submergence depth,and wave direction were conducted.Wave forces,dry/wet mode shapes/natural frequencies,and dynamic motions are presented and analyzed.

Great Changes,Great Horizon,and Great Vision:China and the US Must Find the Right Way to Get Along in the New Era

Currently,changes of the world,of our times and of history are unfolding in ways like never before.The China-US relationship,as one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world,faces complicated and severe challenges like never before.China and the US are in a new round of mutual exploration,understanding and adaptation.

Covid-19 Mutations and the Effect of Different Vaccines on Immune Memory

We traced the coronavirus classification and evolution,analyzed the Covid-19 composition and its distinguishing characteristics when compared to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.Despite their close kinship,SARS-CoV and Covid-19 display significant structural differences,including 380 amino acid substitutions,and variable homology between certain open reading frames that are bound to diversify the pathogenesis and virulence of the two viral compounds.A single amino acid substitution such as replacing Aspartate(D)with Glycine(G)composes the D614G mutation that is around 20%more infectious than its predecessor 614D.The B117 variant,that exhibits a 70%transmissibility rate,harbours 23 mutants,each reflecting one amino acid exchange.We examined several globally spreading mutations,501.V2,B1351,P1,and others,with respect to the specific amino acid conversions involved.Unlike previous versions of coronavirus,where random mutations eventually precipitate extinction,the multiplicity of over 300,000 mutations appears to have rendered Covid-19 more contagious,facilitating its ability to evade detection,thus challenging the effectiveness of a large variety of emerging vaccines.Vaccination enhances immune memory and intelligence to combat or obstruct viral entry by generating antibodies that will prohibit the cellular binding and fusion with the Spike protein,restricting the virus from releasing its contents into the cell.Developing antibodies during the innate response,appears to be the most compelling solution in light of the hypothesis that Covid-19 inhibits the production of Interferon type I,compromising adaptive efficiency to recognize the virus,possibly provoking a cytokine storm that injures vital organs.With respect to that perspective,the potential safety and effectiveness of different vaccines are evaluated and compared,including the Spike protein mRNA version,the Adenovirus DNA,Spike protein subunits,the deactivated virus genres,or,finally,the live attenuated coronavirus that appears to demonstrate the greatest effectiveness,yet,encompass a relatively higher risk.