The Orphan of Zhao |《赵氏孤儿》

This data consist of 11 productions of The Orphan of Zhao created by practitioners from four countries – China, Nigeria, Korea and Britain – and spans a range of theatrical genres: Chinese regional operas; spoken drama and Chinese opera in the Western style as well as dramas in Korean and in English (works by Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria and by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Britain). Viewers can find the introduction to each of the productions, including the information about the particular genre of each stage work. There are also still images and clips of videos; some production links include critical reviews. These diverse productions not only retell an ancient story of an orphan in China, but also enlighten us about the intriguing fluidity and continuity of human culture. 这个《赵氏孤儿》资料群包括11部不同的《赵氏孤儿》作品，分别来自四个国家：中国、韩国、尼日利亚和英国。这里既有中国的戏曲、话剧和歌剧作品，也有韩语和英语的作品（尼日利亚贝洛大学戏剧部和英国皇家莎士比亚剧团的演出）。资料群为浏览者提供了每个作品的介绍包括该作品所采用的剧种。每部作品都有照片，有些包括录像片断和评论文章，这些各有特色的作品不仅重新讲述了一个中国孤儿的故事，而且也使我们看到人类文化中引人入胜的流动和延续的特质

Status of cardiovascular health among adults in a rural area of Northwest China: Results from a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to assess the status of cardiovascular health among a rural population in Northwest China and to determine the associated factors for cardiovascular health.A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural areas of Hanzhong in Northwest China. Interview, physical examination, and fasting blood glucose and lipid measurements were completed for 2693 adults. The construct of cardiovascular health and the definitions of cardiovascular health metrics proposed by the American Heart Association were used to assess cardiovascular health. The proportions of subjects with cardiovascular health metrics were calculated, adjusting for age and sex. The multiple logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between ideal cardiovascular health and its associated factors.Only 0.5% (0.0% in men vs 0.9% in women, P = 0.002) of the participants had ideal cardiovascular health, whereas 33.8% (18.0% in men vs 50.0% in women, P < 0.001) and 65.7% (82.0% in men vs 49.1% in women, P < 0.001) of the participants had intermediate and poor cardiovascular health, respectively. The prevalence of poor cardiovascular health increased with increasing age (P < 0.001 for trend). Participants fulfilled, on average, 4.4 (95% confidence interval: 4.2-4.7) of the ideal cardiovascular health metrics. Also, 22.2% of the participants presented with 3 or fewer ideal metrics. Only 19.4% of the participants presented with 6 or more ideal metrics. 24.1% of the participants had all 4 ideal health factors, but only 1.1% of the participants had all 4 ideal health behaviors. Women were more likely to have ideal cardiovascular health, whereas adults aged 35 years or over and those who had a family history of hypertension were less likely to have ideal cardiovascular health.The prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health was extremely low among the rural population in Northwest China. Most adults, especially men and the elderly, had a poor cardiovascular health status. To improve cardiovascular health among the rural population, efforts, especially lifestyle improvements, education and interventions to make healthier food choices, reduce salt intake, increase physical activities, and cease smoking, will be required at the individual, population, and social levels

Novel and recurrent FBN1 mutations causing Marfan syndrome in two Chinese families

BackgroundTo explore the genetic defects of two families with autosomal dominant Marfan syndrome (MFS).MethodsTwo families with MFS were enrolled in this study. The detailed ocular presentations of the patients were recorded. Whole exome sequencing was performed to explore the pathogenic variants and Sanger sequencing was performed to confirm the gene mutations. Segregation analysis among the family members was made and bioinformatics analysis was performed to predict the functional impact of the mutations.ResultsThe main ocular presentations of the probands were increased axial length and ectopia lentis. Using whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing, a novel heterozygous missense mutation (c.5060G &gt; C, p.Cys1687Ser) and a recurrent missense mutation (c.2168A &gt; T, p.Asp723Val) were identified within FBN1, which were co-segregated with the MFS phenotype in the families. Evolutionary conservation analysis showed that codons 723 and 1,687 were highly conserved among several species. Functional impact predictions made using several online programs suggested that the mutations were pathogenic.ConclusionWe identified a novel and a recurrent missense mutation in FBN1 in two Chinese families with MFS using whole exome sequencing, and our bioinformatics analysis indicated that the mutations were disease-causing. Our results expand the mutation spectrum of FBN1 and could help us better understand the genetic defects of the patients with MFS

Asian Theatre as Method: The Toki Experimental Project and Sino-Japanese Transnationalism in Performance

In 2012, Zuni Icosahedron (Hong Kong), Za-Koenji (Tokyo), and the Jiangsu Kun Opera Theatre (Nanjing) initiated the Toki Experimental Project, an intercultural platform devoted to the transmission of kunqu and noh through contemporary performance. Originating from a Shanghai Expo 2010 commission, Toki presents strategic interpenetration of national discourse and “minor” transnational dynamics. Most significantly, it provides a theatrical application of Chen Kuan-hsing’s influential notion of “Asia as method”. As epitomized by the yearly One Table, Two Chairs performances at Nanjing’s Toki International Arts Festival, Toki partakes in Asia as method’s effort toward “decolonization, deimperialization, and de-cold war” through aesthetic and epistemological deconstruction, endorsing a dialogic model of intercultural performance as inter-Asian relation

Exploring atherosclerosis imaging with contrast-enhanced MRI using PEGylated ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles

Plaque rupture is a critical concern due to its potential for severe outcomes such as cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction, underscoring the urgency of noninvasive early diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has gained prominence in plaque imaging, leveraging its noninvasiveness, high spatial resolution, and lack of ionizing radiation. Ultrasmall iron oxides, when modified with polyethylene glycol, exhibit prolonged blood circulation and passive targeting toward plaque sites, rendering them conducive for MRI. In this study, we synthesized ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles of approximately 3 nm via high-temperature thermal decomposition. Subsequent surface modification facilitated the creation of a dual-modality magnetic resonance/fluorescence probe. Upon intravenous administration of the probes, MRI assessment of atherosclerotic plaques and diagnostic evaluation were conducted. The application of Flash-3D sequence imaging revealed vascular constriction at lesion sites, accompanied by a gradual signal amplification postprobe injection. T1-weighted imaging of the carotid artery unveiled a progressive signal ratio increase between plaques and controls within 72 h post-administration. Fluorescence imaging of isolated carotid arteries exhibited incremental lesion-to-control signal ratios. Additionally, T1 imaging of the aorta demonstrated an evolving signal enhancement over 48 h. Therefore, the ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles hold immense promise for early and noninvasive diagnosis of plaques, providing an avenue for dynamic evaluation over an extended time frame

Fine mapping and candidate gene analysis of proportion of four-seed pods by soybean CSSLs

Soybean yield, as one of the most important and consistent breeding goals, can be greatly affected by the proportion of four-seed pods (PoFSP). In this study, QTL mapping was performed by PoFSP data and BLUE (Best Linear Unbiased Estimator) value of the chromosome segment substitution line population (CSSLs) constructed previously by the laboratory from 2016 to 2018, and phenotype-based bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was performed using the plant lines with PoFSP extreme phenotype. Totally, 5 ICIM QTLs were repeatedly detected, and 6 BSA QTLs were identified in CSSLs. For QTL (qPoFSP13-1) repeated in ICIM and BSA results, the secondary segregation populations were constructed for fine mapping and the interval was reduced to 100Kb. The mapping results showed that the QTL had an additive effect of gain from wild parents. A total of 14 genes were annotated in the delimited interval by fine mapping. Sequence analysis showed that all 14 genes had genetic variation in promoter region or CDS region. The qRT−PCR results showed that a total of 5 candidate genes were differentially expressed between the plant lines having antagonistic extreme phenotype (High PoFSP &gt; 35.92%, low PoFSP&lt; 17.56%). The results of haplotype analysis showed that all five genes had two or more major haplotypes in the resource population. Significant analysis of phenotypic differences between major haplotypes showed all five candidate genes had haplotype differences. And the genotypes of the major haplotypes with relatively high PoFSP of each gene were similar to those of wild soybean. The results of this study were of great significance to the study of candidate genes affecting soybean PoFSP, and provided a basis for the study of molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding and four-seed pods domestication