Post-treatment follow-up study of abdominal cystic echinococcosis in Tibetan communities of northwest Sichuan Province, China

Background: Human cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, with the liver as the most frequently affected organ, is known to be highly endemic in Tibetan communities of northwest Sichuan Province. Antiparasitic treatment with albendazole remains the primary choice for the great majority of patients in this resource-poor remote area, though surgery is the most common approach for CE therapy that has the potential to remove cysts and lead to complete cure. The current prospective study aimed to assess the effectiveness of community based use of cyclic albendazole treatment in Tibetan CE cases, and concurrently monitor the changes of serum specific antibody levels during treatment. Methodology/Principal Findings: Ultrasonography was applied for diagnosis and follow-up of CE cases after cyclic albendazole treatment in Tibetan communities of Sichuan Province during 2006 to 2008, and serum specific IgG antibody levels against Echinococcus granulosus recombinant antigen B in ELISA was concurrently monitored in these cases. A total of 196 CE cases were identified by ultrasound, of which 37 (18.9%) showed evidence of spontaneous healing/involution of hepatic cyst(s) with CE4 or CE5 presentations. Of 49 enrolled CE cases for treatment follow-up, 32.7% (16) were considered to be cured based on B-ultrasound after 6 months to 30 months regular albendazole treatment, 49.0% (24) were improved, 14.3% (7) remained unchanged, and 4.1% (2) became aggravated. In general, patients with CE2 type cysts (daughter cysts present) needed a longer treatment course for cure (26.4 months), compared to cases with CE1 (univesicular cysts) (20.4 months) or CE3 type (detached cyst membrane or partial degeneration of daughter cysts) (9 months). In addition, the curative duration was longer in patients with large (.10 cm) cysts (22.3 months), compared to cases with medium (5– 10 cm) cysts (17.3 months) or patients with small (,5 cm) cysts (6 months). At diagnosis, seven (53.8%) of 13 cases with CE1 type cysts without any previous intervention showed negative specific IgG antibody response to E. granulosus recombinant antigen B (rAgB). However, following 3 months to 18 months albendazole therapy, six of these 7 initially seronegative CE1 cases sero-converted to be specific IgG antibody positive, and concurrently ultrasound scan showed that cysts changed to CE3a from CE1 type in all the six CE cases. Two major profiles of serum specific IgG antibody dynamics during albendazole treatment were apparent in CE cases: (i) presenting as initial elevation followed by subsequent decline, or (ii) a persistent decline. Despite a decline, however, specific antibody levels remained positive in most improved or cured CE cases. Conclusions: This was the first attempt to follow up community-screened cystic echinococcosis patients after albendazole therapy using ultrasonography and serology in an endemic Tibetan region. Cyclic albendazole treatment proved to be effective in the great majority of CE cases in this resource-poor area, but periodic abdominal ultrasound examination was necessary to guide appropriate treatment. Oral albendazole for over 18 months was more likely to result in CE cure. Poor drug compliance resulted in less good outcomes. Serology with recombinant antigen B could provide additional limited information about the effectiveness of albendazole in CE cases. Post-treatment positive specific IgG antibody seroconversion, in initially seronegative, CE1 patients was considered a good indication for positive therapeutic efficacy of albendazole

Enhancing Education and Literacy through the Transmission of Tibetan Folk Music Performing Art in Qinghai Province, China

This study aims to propose guidance for the transmission of Qinghai folk music to the new generation, within the context of education and literacy studies. The sample group for this study consisted of three distinct groups of individuals chosen as key informants for the field research. These groups consist of two informants who are Music and Dance Artists, two informants who are performance artists and general informants. Based on the research, the following strategies are recommended for the transmission of Qinghai folk music to the new generation: utilizing the family institution, organizing social activities, creating a folk music curriculum, organizing international music festivals, and establishing a cultural center. These strategies aim to preserve and promote Qinghai folk music heritage and enrich education and literacy by incorporating cultural traditions into educational practices. This research contributes to the field of education and literacy studies by showcasing novel methodologies and creative applications of theories in transmitting cultural heritage through folk music. By emphasizing the importance of cultural transmission, this study emphasizes the transformative power of Tibetan folk music in fostering educational development, literacy skills, cultural awareness, and artistic expression

Master of Arts

thesisEnvironmental activism has emerged in China since the mid-1990s and environmental nongovernmental organizations (ENGOs) are becoming increasingly visible players in China‟s environmental politics, drawing hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens into environmental activities. Through a close look at the Greener Beijing Institute (GBI), this thesis examines how this grassroots group has developed in a gradual way and the characteristics of it in the context of Chinese political and social conditions. The thesis also discusses the main campaigns GBI has carried out and what difficulties they have met with in the process to exemplify how the environmental movement actually operates in China. In conclusion, the thesis shows that Chinese ENGOs today tend to adopt a conciliatory style to raise public consciousness and expand the space for political participation. Nevertheless, the road ahead for China‟s ENGOs is still hard. They often lack necessary financial support, technical capacity and broad public participation

The Instagrammable Authority of Religious Leaders

Can religious authority become instagrammable? Social media platforms, such as Instagram, on which users can share images and short videos, and communicate with their followers, have become part of our daily lives. Is it possible for religious leaders to use Instagram in such a way that it contributes to the legitimization of their authority? This is the question that is the foundation for this thesis. Four globally operating religious leaders that appear regularly in the media sphere were analyzed: Deepak Chopra, who is a writer of spiritual books, the evangelical pastor Brian Houston, the 14th Dalai Lama, and Pope Francis. Based on the analyses, it becomes clear that the Instagram posts they share contribute to the representation of authentic and charismatic authority, which is part of their personal brand. Authority in general, and religious authority in particular, is no longer self-evident. The rise of the Internet has caused many religious leaders to work on the construction of their personal brand. When this research started in 2015, there was almost no empirical research on the visual dimension, such as Instagram for the positioning of religious leaders. This led to a focus on the visual and aesthetic dimension of the construction of authority in the media sphere. Therefore, the way in which the persuasive power of Instagram posts can mediate the authority of religious leaders was analyzed. This research contributes to academic debates about the construction of religious authority and its relationship with authenticity, branding, celebrity culture, and the transformation of religion in a (digital) media age. The main research question is: How do globally operating religious leaders use Instagram to mediate their authority? On Instagram, the four leaders carefully construct a positive and coherent image to legitimize their authority. Their approach is very personalized, and they present themselves as charismatic celebrities. At face value, they do not position themselves as persons of authority, but rather as authentic, inspiring individuals. Religious authority seems no longer connected to institutions and traditions, since these leaders present themselves primarily as religious lifestyle coaches. Thus, they align with cultural values such as choice, freedom, and independence. Just like brands, they try to engage people by enabling people to identify with that they present. The institutional dimensions relating to power structures, possible conflicts, and scandals, remain invisible. The context of Instagram means that digital platforms hold significant power over users and employ algorithms for surveillance and monetization. The use of Instagram can be very successful for the positioning of religious leaders. However, at the same time, the connection with consumer culture and the dark sides of platforms such as Instagram is problematic. The negotiation between religious values and traditional structures on the one hand, and the culture of (constructed) authenticity and an attractive lifestyle on the other hand causes tensions that cannot be easily resolved

Experiences and enlightenments from targeted poverty alleviation measures of China

Poverty exists in many countries and is a worldwide problem that needs urgent solution. As the second largest economy in the world, China has successfully lifted more than 0.8 billion population out of poverty in the past decades. However, the less poor population left, more difficult to solve the problem. In 2013, the Chinese president Xi Jinping proposed “Targeted Poverty Alleviation” Measures to further instruct the poverty reduction process of China, to make sure all poor population get out of poverty in 2020. This thesis mainly focus on “Targeted Poverty Alleviation” Measures, to study the background, the conception, the mechanism, and specific using of these measures, further more to make conclusion on its characteristic to gain experiences and enlightenments.A pobreza existe em muitos países e é um problema mundial que precisa de solução urgente. Como a segunda maior economia do mundo, a China conseguiu tirar mais de 0,8 bilhão de pessoas da pobreza nas últimas décadas. No entanto, quanto menos população pobre sobrar, mais difícil resolver o problema. Em 2013, o presidente chinês Xi Jinping propôs medidas de “Alívio Direcionado à Pobreza” para instruir ainda mais o processo de redução da pobreza na China, para garantir que toda a população pobre saia da pobreza em 2020. Esta tese concentra-se principalmente nas medidas “Alívio Direcionado à Pobreza”, para estudar os antecedentes, a concepção, o mecanismo e o uso específico dessas medidas, e ainda mais para concluir sua característica de obter experiências e esclarecimentos

International Research on Translation Teaching: A Review (2008-2017)

This paper generally reviews the situation of international translation teaching research from five perspectives: research trends, subjects, contents, research nature, and the authors’ disciplinary backgrounds. The results indicate that: (1) on the whole, the number of papers published steadily increases; (2) the undergraduates majoring in translation take up a dominant percentage of the subjects; (3) the content focuses on thematic research and applied research; (4) speculative research are accounting for the main part in methodology, in which literature method is usually employed as research instrument; (5) the authors’ academic backgrounds mainly focus on the fields of linguistics and translation, presenting a multi-disciplinary feature. Finally, the characteristics and development trends of international translation teaching and research are summarized and enlightened

Editorials

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