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2020 DEC 12 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- A new study on Health and Medicine - Cardiology is now available. [...]

Li Zhang. In Search of Paradise: Middle-Class Living in a Chinese Metropolis. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2010. xiv, 248 pp. Hardcover $79.95, isbn 978-0-8014-4833-1. Paperback $23.95, ISBN 978-0-8014-7562-7. Over [...]

Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Susan Greenhalgh and Li Zhang, editors. Can Science and Technology Save China? Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2020. 226 pp. Paperback $26.95, ISBN 978-1501747038. 'We live in a dizzying world [...]

The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the American Statistical Association (SFASA) held its fifth K-12 student summer program, where students created and led their own statistical research projects. Mentored by chapter officers and volunteers, students worked on projects such as analyzing the effect of demographics on homelessness in California, investigating molecules for breast cancer treatment, and conducting logistic regression analysis on the video game VALORANT. The program provided students with valuable learning experiences and inspired their passion for statistics. [Extracted from the article]

For Nico Hansen, 60, a retired Luxembourg policeman, a sightseeing trip to Hechi city in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in 2015 was a life-changing experience. Hansen said he was overwhelmed [...]

Su, Li. The constitution of ancient China, ed. by Zhang Yongle and Daniel Bell, tr. by Edmund Ryden. Princeton, 2018. 292p bibl index ISBN 9780691171593 cloth, $39.95; ISBN 9781400889778 ebook, [...]

The effectiveness of transvaginal ultrasound-guided ovarian interstitial laser-coagulation treatment in anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is assessed. The results have shown the ultrasound-guided transvaginal ovarian interstitial laser treatment might be an effective new method to manage anovulation in PCOS patients.

The importance of communications between academic libraries and public service professionals is discussed by focusing on East Asian academic libraries.

The Burnt Orange Heresy. 98 min. Sony. 2020. DVD UPC 043396569126. $25.99; Blu-ray UPC 043396569621. $29.99. Rated: R. Captivating art critic James Figueras (Claes Bang), who lectures tourists in Milan, [...]

In this paper, we use the equation of state based on a modification of the 2+1 flavors Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model to study the quark matter of hybrid stars. For comparison, we utilize five EOSs of the relativistic mean-field (RMF) model to describe the hadronic phase. With the three-window crossover interpolation approach, we try to construct relatively soft hybrid EOSs but find the maximum masses of hybrid stars do not differ much. The results are quite close to the 2 solar mass, which is consistent with the mass constraint of PSR J0348+0432. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the heaviest stable stars have central densities higher than that of the deconfinement transition, suggesting a pure quark core in the hybrid star. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phytochemical investigation of the inner bark of Tabebuia avellanedae Lorentz ex Griseb was carried out by various chromatographic techniques, resulting in the isolation and characterization of eight new iridoid esters, namely Avelladoids A-H (1-8). Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, especially 2D NMR experiments and HRMS data. The anti-inflammatory effects of 1-8 were determined on an LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell line. Among them, compounds 1, 2, and 3 exhibited anti-inflammatory activities by inhibition of NO and PGE2 production in a dose-dependent manner, without altering cell viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the outbreak of the 2008/2009 global financial crisis, the economic balance between the traditional developed economies and the emerging ones has changed drastically, including that between the European Union and China. While the EU and its Member States are preoccupied by the eurozone debt crisis, stagnant economic growth and high domestic unemployment, China raised as the world's second largest economy and one of the quickest growing consumer market. This paper explores the change in perception of the EU as an economic actor in the eyes of Chinese mainstream news media and national elites under such context. It argues that the strategic partnership could improve only if the two sides understand the mutual perception clearly. It is found that China has increased its leverage for bargaining vis-à-vis the EU as well as the capacity to give some help to the EU. Although the image of the EU as an economic powerhouse has been slightly weakened, it did not turn the heavily trade-oriented EU-China relations more comprehensive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides information about a phase III clinical trial, NCT06500026, which aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of BL-B01D1 in patients with recurrent small cell lung cancer. The trial is randomized, open-label, and multicenter, and it is expected to be completed by July 31, 2026. The document outlines the eligibility criteria for participants and mentions that the study will take place in China. The trial is being conducted by Sichuan Baili Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., with Li Zhang from Sun Yat-sen University as the principal investigator. Keywords related to the study, such as antineoplastics, biotechnology, and lung cancer, are also included. [Extracted from the article]

This document provides information about a clinical trial study that is not yet recruiting participants. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer or nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The treatment involves the administration of BL-B01D1 and a PD-1 monoclonal antibody through intravenous infusion. The study has specific eligibility criteria for participants, including age, expected survival time, and previous treatment history. The trial is being conducted in China by Baili-Bio (Chengdu) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and the principal investigator is Li Zhang from Sun Yat-sen University. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study found that the combination of ivonescimab and chemotherapy improved progression-free survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer who had previously received EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) treatment. This treatment may be a new option for patients with TKI resistance. The study showed that ivonescimab plus chemotherapy significantly increased progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy alone. The results of this study have led to the approval of ivonescimab as a new treatment option in China, and an international multi-center study is currently underway. [Extracted from the article]

Four new flavone C-glycosides, luteolin 6-C-α-Larabinopyranosyl- 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), apigenin 6-C-β-D-galactopyranosiduronic acid (1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranoside (2), luteolin 6-C- β-D-galactopyranosiduronic acid (1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranoside (3), and luteolin 6-C-β-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (1→2)-α-L-arabinofuranoside (4), along with three known ones, were isolated from the leaves of Lophatherum gracile. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods as well as acid hydrolysis. All the flavone glycosides isolated from this plant were screened for their in vitro antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay, and several flavone 6-C-monoglycosides showed potent in vitro anti-RSV effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time contextual affect-detection from open-ended text-based dialogue is challenging but essential for the building of effective intelligent user interfaces. In our previous work, an affect-detection component was developed, which was embedded in an intelligent agent interacting with human-controlled characters under the improvisation of loose scenarios. The affect-detection module is capable of detecting 25 basic and complex emotions based on the analysis of pure individual turn-taking input without any contextual inference. In this article, we report developments on equipping the intelligent agent with the abilities of interpreting dynamic inter-relationships between improvisational human-controlled characters and performing contextual affect-sensing, based on the discussion topics, the improvisational "mood" that one has created, relationship interpretation between characters, and the most recent affect profiles of other characters. Evaluation results on the updated affect-detection component are also reported. Overall, the performances of the contextual affect-sensing and dynamic relationship interpretation are promising. The work contributes to the journal themes on affective computing, human-robots/agent interaction, and narrative-based interactive theatre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A global view of power system's frequency behavior opens up a new window for analyzing system's dynamics. With the aid of global positioning system, measurements from different locations would have synchronous time; therefore a system-wide observation and analysis would be possible. As part of the US-wide power frequency monitoring network project this paper focus on simulation study results of power frequency dynamics of the Eastern U.S. system. The study assesses the frequency measurement accuracy needed to observe frequency dynamics from events such as remote generation drops. Electromechanical-wave propagation phenomena during system disturbances have been observed. The speeds of electromechanical-wave propagation in different areas of the U.S. systems were estimated and their characteristics were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A discrete differential evolution algorithm combined with the branch and bound method is developed to solve the integer linear bilevel programming problems, in which both upper level and lower level variables are forced to be integer. An integer coding for upper level variables is adopted, and then a discrete differential evolution algorithm with an improved feasibility-based comparison is developed to directly explore the integer solution at the upper level. For a given upper level integer variable, the lower level integer programming problem is solved by the existing branch and bound algorithm to obtain the optimal integer solution at the lower level. In the same framework of the algorithm, two other constraint handling methods, i.e. the penalty function method and the feasibility-based comparison method are also tested. The experimental results demonstrate that the discrete differential evolution algorithm with different constraint handling methods is effective in finding the global optimal integer solutions, but the improved constraint handling method performs better than two compared constraint handling methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flavonoid fraction of Herba Epimedii, including eight flavonoid glycoside compounds, epimedo-side A, ikarisoside F, baohuoside II, sagittatoside A, sagittatoside B, 7-O-rhamnosyl icariside II, 2"-O-rhamnosyl icariside II, and baohuoside I, was isolated and prepared from the leaves of Herba Epimedii. This study was conducted to assess the potential effect of the flavonoid fraction of Herba Epimedii on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. Rats received repeated administration of a vehicle (ovariectomized), the flavonoid fraction of Herba Epimedii (7.5, 15, 30mg/kg/d), and ipriflavone (200 mg/kg/d) once a day for 8 weeks, beginning 4 weeks after ovariectomization. Then, the bone turnover markers, bone biomechanical properties, trabecular architecture, and related protein expressions were evaluated by biochemical assay kits, mechanical testing, microcomputed tomography, immunohistochemical evaluation, and Western blot analysis. Treatment with the flavonoid fraction of Herba Epimedii (15, 30 mg/kg/d) and ipriflavone (200 mg/kg/d) significantly increased bone strength while dramatically inhibiting the serum alkaline phosphatase and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase levels in ovariectomized rats. Furthermore, the flavonoid fraction of Herba Epimedii also increased osteoprote-gerin protein expression and reduced the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand protein expression compared with ovariectomized rats. In addition, the microcomputed tomography results showed that the flavonoid fraction of Herba Epimedii treatment significantly improved trabecular bone mineral density and restored the bone microarchitecture in ovariectomized rats. Therefore, our results indicated that the flavonoid fraction of Herba Epimedii might be beneficial for improving postmenopausal osteoporosis and should be considered as a promising candidate for treating postmenopausal osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulbus of Fritillaria pallidiflora, the dried bulb of F. pallidiflora, is widely used in Chinese folk medicine due to its powerful biological activities. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of different fractions and isosteroidal alkaloids from bulbus of F. pallidiflora and clarify its putative mechanism of antitumor activity. Firstly, we assayed in vitro antitumor effects of different fractions from bulbus of F. pallidiflora and found that chloroform extracts and purified total alkaloids of bulbus of F. pallidiflora showed higher cytotoxic activity than other tested extracts. We further isolated four main alkaloids, chuanbeinone, imperialine-β-N-oxide, isoverticine and isoverticine-β-N-oxide, from the total alkaloids of bulbus of F. pallidiflora and found that they display significant cytotoxicity, whereby chuanbeinone showed the highest activity against Lewis lung carcinoma cells. Moreover, we found that chuanbeinone induced S phase arrest and further increased apoptosis of Lewis lung carcinoma cells. The results of Western blotting experiments showed that the expression of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 was reduced by chuanbeinone treatment, while the proapoptotic protein Bax and caspase-3 were increased. Moreover, we investigated the in vivo antitumor activity of chuanbeinone and characterized its putative antitumor mechanism of action by the TUNEL assay and by histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Our results showed that chuanbeinone exhibited significant antitumor activity in vivo, while notably inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and inducing apoptosis characterized by an increased expression of caspase-3. Our findings show that chuanbeinone exhibits significant antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo, and points to possible therapeutic potential for this compound as well as for its natural source, bulbus of F. pallidiflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the design of localized quality-of-service (QoS) routing schemes. Investigation on the granularity of local QoS state information; Impact of the granularity on the design of localized QoS routing schemes; Development of theoretical models.

Memoirs of a Geisha (12A) I'm one of those people who feel passionately about Arthur Golden's novel Memoirs of a Geisha--I hated it. I hated that Golden never really got [...]

The present study investigated the flavonoids from Abrus cantoniensis against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in mice. The flavonoids from A. cantoniensis were extracted with ethanol and purified by macroporous resin and polyamide. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay was used to measure the antioxidative activities in vitro. The ethanol-induced ulcer mouse model was used to evaluate the gastroprotective activities of the flavonoids from A. cantoniensis. In addition, a method was established to ensure accuracy for animal ulcer evaluation. The flavonoids from A. cantoniensis showed a strong free radical scavenging capacity with an IC50 of 43.83 µg/mL in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. At doses between 28.16-112.67 mg/kg, the flavonoids conspicuously reduced the ulcer index in ethanol-induced mice (p< 0.001). Significant differences were found in the levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and myeloperoxidase in the stomach tissues between the flavonoids from the A. cantoniensis groups and the ethanol control group. The gastroprotective effect of the flavonoids from A. cantoniensis could be due to its antioxidative activity of the defensive mechanism. The data revealed that the flavonoids from A. cantoniensis could be a potential therapeutic agent for gastric ulcer prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold stress is one of the most important environmental factors affecting crop growth and agricultural production. Induced changes of gene expression and metabolism are critical for plants responding and acclimating to cold stress. Banana (Musa sp.) is one of the most important food crops in the tropical and subtropical countries of the world. Banana, which originated front tropical regions, is sensitive to cold, which can result in serious losses in commercial banana production. To investigate the response of the banana to cold stress conditions, changes in protein expression were analyzed using a comparative proteomics approach. 'Brazil' banana (Musa acuminata AAA group) is a common banana cultivar in southern China. 'Brazil' banana plantlets were exposed to 5 °C for 24 hours and then total crude protein was extracted from treatment and control leaves by phenol extraction, separated with twodimensional gel electrophoresis, and subsequently identified by mass spectrometry (MS). Out of the more than 400 protein spots reproducibly detected, only 41 protein spots exhibited a change in intensity by at least 2-fold, with 26 proteins increasing and 15 proteins decreasing expression. Of these, 28 differentially expressed proteins were identified by MS. The identified proteins, including well-known and novel cold-responsive proteins, are involved in several cellular processes, including antioxidation and antipathogen, photosynthesis, chaperones, protein synthesis, signal transduction, energy metabolism, and other cellular functions. Proteins related to antioxidation, pathogen resistance, molecular chaperones, and energy metabolism were up-regulated, and proteins related to ethylene synthesis, protein synthesis, and epigenetic modification were down-regulated in response to cold temperature treatment. The banana plantlets incubated at cold temperatures demonstrated major changes in increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, defense against diseases, and energy supply. Increased antioxidation capability in banana was also discovered in plantain, which has greater cold tolerance than banana in response to cold stress conditions. Therefore, we hypothesized that an increased antioxidation ability could be a common characteristic of banana and plantain in response to cold stress conditions. These findings may provide a better understanding of the physiological processes of banana in response to cold stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study laser-sub-cycle control over electron trajectories concomitantly in space and time using orthogonally polarized two-color laser fields. We compare experimental photoelectron spectra of neon recorded by coincidence momentum imaging with photoelectron spectra obtained by semiclassical and numerical solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. We find that a resolution of a quarter optical cycle in the photoelectron trajectories can be achieved. It is shown that depending on their sub-cycle birth time the trajectories of photoelectrons are affected differently by the ion's Coulomb field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CHINA. A new duty tree shop ping area is planned for Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) if international traffic at the newly refurbished terminal one is sufficient. The terminal reopens [...]

This document provides information about a clinical trial for the treatment of non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. The trial involves the use of a drug called BL-B01D1, which is administered in combination with either Pemetrexed+Cisplatin or Carboplatin. Participants who experience clinical benefit may receive additional treatment. The trial is currently in the recruitment phase and aims to enroll 428 participants, with an estimated completion date of May 2026. The study is being conducted in China by Sichuan Baili Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Baili-Bio (Chengdu) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., with Li Zhang from Sun Yat-sen University as the principal investigator. [Extracted from the article]

Li Zhang "consents to extradition to USA on conditional bail", according to a UK court filing. (Bloomberg) -- The co-founder of Chinese property developer Guangzhou R&F Properties Co. Ltd. agreed to be extradited from London to the US to face criminal allegations of paying bribes to secure contracts in California. [Extracted from the article]

We consider two toy models of open inflation and investigate their ability to give a suppression of scalar power on large scales while also satisfying observational constraints on the spatial curvature of the Universe. Qualitatively we find that both models are indeed capable of fulfilling these two requirements, but we also see that effects of the quantum tunneling must be carefully taken into account if we wish to make quantitative predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]