Sport, Maoism and the Beijing Olympics

The development of sports in China since the 19th nineteenth century has been influenced to varying degrees by imperialism, nationalism, Maoism, and postcolonial thinking. This paper explores these ideologies and political practices connected with sport during this time from three angles: Mao’s early thought thinking on regarding physical culture and sport; the development of sports under Mao’s socialism and the Cultural Revolution; and China’s breakthrough in the post-Mao era. In sum, sport remains connected over time with the idea of « imagined Olympians » and of a response to the « Sick Man complex. » TFinally, he advent of postcolonial thought has opened the possibility of more diverse understandings of sports in China

Sport, Maoism and the Beijing Olympics

The development of sports in China since the 19th nineteenth century has been influenced to varying degrees by imperialism, nationalism, Maoism, and postcolonial thinking. This paper explores these ideologies and political practices connected with sport during this time from three angles: Mao’s early thought thinking on regarding physical culture and sport; the development of sports under Mao’s socialism and the Cultural Revolution; and China’s breakthrough in the post-Mao era. In sum, sport remains connected over time with the idea of « imagined Olympians » and of a response to the « Sick Man complex. » TFinally, he advent of postcolonial thought has opened the possibility of more diverse understandings of sports in China

Sport, maoïsme et jeux Olympiques de Pékin

La tenue des jeux Olympiques à Pékin a soulevé de nombreux débats concernant les relations entre le sport et la politique. Le développement du sport en Chine, depuis la fin du XIXe siècle, a été influencé à des degrés différents par l’impérialisme, la pensée nationaliste et la pensée maoïste. Cet article propose donc d’explorer les idéologies et pratiques politiques en relation au sport au cours du siècle passé, en privilégiant trois angles : les débuts de la pensée de Mao au sujet de la culture physique et du sport ; le développement du sport sous le socialisme maoïste et pendant la Révolution culturelle ; l’ouverture et les prouesses de la Chine postmaoïste. Nous verrons ainsi que le développement du sport demeure jusqu’à présent attaché à l’idée d’« olympiens imaginaires » et vu comme une solution au « complexe de l’homme malade ». Enfin, nous expliquerons comment la pensée postcoloniale permet une compréhension plus large de la notion de sport en Chine

Bis(4,4′-methyl­enedicyclo­hexyl­aminium) μ-benzene-1,4-dicarboxyl­ato-bis­[tri­chlorido­zinc(II)] tetra­hydrate

The title compound, (C13H28N2)2[Zn2(C8H4O4)Cl6]·4H2O, was prepared by the reaction of ZnCl2·6H2O, benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and 4,4′-diamino­dicyclo­hexyl­methane in methanol. The [Zn2Cl6(C8H4O4)]4− anions lie on centres of inversion and comprise two ZnCl3 groups bridged by benzene-1,4-dicarboxyl­ate. In addition to N—H⋯Cl and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the cations and anions, solvent water mol­ecules form O—H⋯O and O—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds to give a three-dimensional network

Triptolide Transcriptionally Represses HER2 in Ovarian Cancer Cells by Targeting NF- κ

Triptolide (TPL) inhibits the proliferation of a variety of cancer cells and has been proposed as an effective anticancer agent. In this study, we demonstrate that TPL downregulates HER2 protein expression in oral, ovarian, and breast cancer cells. It suppresses HER2 protein expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Transrepression of HER2 promoter activity by TPL is also observed. The interacting site of TPL on the HER2 promoter region is located between −207 and −103 bps, which includes a putative binding site for the transcription factor NF-κB. Previous reports demonstrated that TPL suppresses NF-κB expression. We demonstrate that overexpression of NF-κB rescues TPL-mediated suppression of HER2 promoter activity and protein expression in NIH3T3 cells and ovarian cancer cells, respectively. In addition, TPL downregulates the activated (phosphorylated) forms of HER2, phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K), and serine/threonine-specific protein kinase (Akt). TPL also inhibits tumor growth in a mouse model. Furthermore, TPL suppresses HER2 and Ki-67 expression in xenografted tumors based on an immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay. These findings suggest that TPL transrepresses HER2 and suppresses the downstream PI3K/Akt-signaling pathway. Our study reveals that TPL can inhibit tumor growth and thereby may serve as a potential chemotherapeutic agent

PHOSPHORUS RECOVERY FROM SEWAGE-SLUDGE MOLTEN SLAG USING A COMBINATION OF ACID-DISSOLUTION, ALKALI-PRECIPITATION, AND ION-EXCHANGE

We recently reported an efficient procedure for recovering phosphoric acid from dephosphorization slag. This recovery procedure consists of a combination of the following four processes: (1) A first dissolution process of slag in a nitric acid solution; (2) a precipitation process then adds ammonia to the obtained eluate; (3) a second dissolution process dissolves the precipitation from the nitric acid eluate; and, (4) the final process involves ion exchange in which the obtained eluate is passed through an ion exchange resin. In the present study, this recovery procedure was applied to concentrate and recover phosphorus from sewage-sludge molten slag, which is an unused resource that should be considered a new resource for phosphorus. As a result, our procedure for recovery from dephosphorization slag was viable following two revisions. Initially, the time for the first dissolution process was extended from 0.2 h to 1 h, but 0.2 h proved to be the optimum time for dephosphorization slag. Next, we discovered it was better to perform the filtration one day after adding the ammonia instead of immediately after adding it. The other two processes could be treated under substantially the same conditions as in the case of dephosphorization slag, and high-purity phosphorus was obtained

Availability, formulation, labelling, and price of low-sodium salts worldwide

BACKGROUND: Regular salt is about 100% sodium chloride (NaCl). Low-sodium salts have reduced sodium chloride content, most commonly through substitution with potassium chloride (KCl). Low-sodium salts have a potential role in reducing population sodium intake level and blood pressure, but its availability in global market was unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the availability, formulation, labelling, and price of low-sodium salts currently available to consumers around the world. METHODS: Low-sodium salts were identified through a systematic literature review, Google search, online shopping sites search, and inquiry of key informants. The keywords of "salt substitute", "low-sodium salt", "potassium salt", "mineral salt", and "sodium reduced salt" in six official languages of the United Nations were used for search. Information about the brand, formula, labelling, and price was extracted and analysed. RESULTS: Eighty-seven low-sodium salts were available in 47 out of 195 countries around the world (24%), including 28 high-income countries, 13 upper-middle-income countries, and six lower-middle-income countries. The proportion of sodium chloride varied from 0% (sodium-free) to 88% (as percent of weight, regular salt is 100% NaCl). Potassium chloride was the most frequent another component with levels ranging from 0% to 100% (potassium chloride salt). Forty-three (49%) had labels advising potential health risk, 33 (38%) labelling the advice of potential health benefits. The median price of low-sodium salts in high-income, upper-middle-income, lower-middle-income countries was USD 15.0/kg (IQR: 6.4 to 22.5), USD 2.7/kg (IQR: 1.7 to 5.5) and USD 2.9/kg (IQR: 0.50 to 22.2) respectively. The price of low-sodium salts was between 1.1 and 14.6 times that of regular salts. CONCLUSIONS: Low-sodium salts are not widely available and are commonly more expensive than regular salts. Policies that promote the availability, affordability and labelling of low-sodium salts should enhance appropriate uptake for blood pressure lowering and cardiovascular prevention. CLINICALTRIAL: INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT: RR2-10.1111/jch.14054

Protocol for a randomized controlled trial to test the acceptability and adherence to 6-months of walnut supplementation in Chinese adults at high risk of cardiovascular disease

Background Consumption of nuts improves cardio-metabolic risk factors in clinical trials and relates to lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in prospective observational studies. However, there has not been an adequately powered randomized controlled trial to test if nuts supplementation actually reduces incident CVD. In order to establish the feasibility of such a trial, the current study aimed to assess the acceptability and adherence to long-term nut supplementation amongst individuals at high CVD risk in China. Methods This protocol described a 6-month trial performed in Ningxia Province in China among participants with a history of CVD or older age (female ≥65 years, male ≥60 years) with multiple CVD risk factors. Participants were randomized to control (received non-edible gift), low dose walnut (30 g/d), or high dose walnut (60 g/d) groups in a 1:1:1 ratio. Walnuts were provided at no cost to participants and could be consumed according to personal preferences. Follow-up visits were scheduled at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. The primary outcome was fasting plasma alpha linolenic acid (ALA) levels used as an indicator of walnut consumption. Secondary outcomes included self-reported walnut intake from the 24 h dietary recalls. The target sample size of 210 provided 90% statistical power with two-sided alpha of 0.05 to detect a mean difference of 0.12% (as percent of total fatty acid) in plasma ALA between randomized groups. Results Two hundred and ten participants were recruited and randomized during October 2019. Mean age of participants was 65 years (SD = 7.3), 47% were females, and 94% had a history of CVD at baseline. Across the three study groups, participants had similar baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. Discussion This trial will quantify acceptability and adherence to long-term walnut supplementation in a Chinese population at high risk of CVD. The findings will support the design of a future large trial to test the effect of walnut supplementation for CVD prevention. Trial registration NCT0403794