Characteristics of Abjection in First Love, Last Rites

First Love, Last Rites was one of the greatest works of English writer Ian McEwan, which leaded him to fame. The book was based on eight short-stories from eight teenagers’ or youth’s point of views. Among those stories, the men suffered from different dilemmas of sexual states, in which horror, violence, death, cruelty, absurdity, mildness and sadness were mixed and interwoven. Applying Julia Kristeva’ s theory of abjection, the eight heroes in the book acted different unusual sexual behaviors because of abjection towards somebody or something in life. In the meantime,the readers could also introspect their status and identities through the stories. Thus, extreme as the plots in this novel, it is true that the mental state of abjection and disorientation still tortures people nowadays. Through this work, the readers may reflect on the life they are experiencing and build up their own self -identity.

Virginia Woolf’s Androgynous Feminist Tendency in Orlando: A Biography

Virginia Woolf is one of the great stream-of-consciousness novelists of the 20th century and a pioneer of feminism. The core of her feminist ideology, androgyny, is best reflected in Orlando: A Biography, in which the author strongly criticizes the oppression of women in a patriarchal society, but at the same time opposes extreme gender antagonism. Woolf believes that there are two parts in every person’s mind, male and female, and that only when the two parts are integrated can the ideal state be achieved. This is also true for literature, as only writers with androgynous characteristics can produce the greatest works.

Magnetic Texture in Insulating Single Crystal High Entropy Oxide Spinel Films

Magnetic insulators are important materials for a range of next generation memory and spintronic applications. Structural constraints in this class of devices generally require a clean heterointerface that allows effective magnetic coupling between the insulating layer and the conducting layer. However, there are relatively few examples of magnetic insulators which can be synthesized with surface qualities that would allow these smooth interfaces and precisely tuned interfacial magnetic exchange coupling which might be applicable at room temperature. In this work, we demonstrate an example of how the configurational complexity in the magnetic insulator layer can be used to realize these properties. The entropy-assisted synthesis is used to create single crystal (Mg0.2Ni0.2Fe0.2Co0.2Cu0.2)Fe2O4 films on substrates spanning a range of strain states. These films show smooth surfaces, high resistivity, and strong magnetic responses at room temperature. Local and global magnetic measurements further demonstrate how strain can be used to manipulate magnetic texture and anisotropy. These findings provide insight into how precise magnetic responses can be designed using compositionally complex materials that may find application in next generation magnetic devices

Celastrol Alleviates Airway Hyperresponsiveness and Inhibits Th17 Responses in Obese Asthmatic Mice

Severe airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is a clinical feature of asthma, which has been associated with obesity and has shown a poor response to standard asthma treatments such as glucocorticoids. Numerous studies have shown that Interleukin (IL)-17 producing CD4+T cells (Th17 cells), which could be inhibited by celastrol, is essential in mediating steroid-resistant AHR. The following study investigates the impact of celastrol and its mechanism on the regulation of AHR in murine model of obesity and asthma. C57BL/6 mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) on day 1 and 13 starting from 12th week, which was followed by aerosol OVA challenge that lasted for 30 min per daily for 7 consecutive days starting from 16th week. Diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice were fed a high fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. Celastrol was administrated orally for 7 consecutive days, 30 min before every challenge in DIO-OVA-induced mice. Lung functions were analyzed by measuring the airway resistance (Rn) and methacholine (MCh) AHR, while H&E staining was used to examine histological changes in the lungs. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe IL-17A protein in lung tissues; flow cytometry to detect the proportion of Th17 cells in CD4+T cells. The concentration of cytokines IL-17A in serum was assessed by standardized sandwich ELISA, while the expression of IL-17A mRNA in lung was examined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Briefly, our data indicated that celastrol reduced body mass in DIO-OVA-induced obesity and asthma. Both baseline Rn and MCh AHR were significantly lower in celastrol group. Moreover, celastrol treatment decreased the frequency of Th17 cell expansion and reduced the production of IL-17A in both lung and serum. To sum up, our findings indicated that Th17 and its cytokine measured in the spleen and lung were closely associated with AHR. In addition, celastrol has shown the ability to suppress AHR through Th17 inhibition in obese asthmatic mice

Surface deformation and damage of 2022 (M 6.8) Luding earthquake in China and its tectonic implications

The 2022 (M 6.8) Luding earthquake on the Xianshuihe Fault Zone (XFZ) caused severe casualties and property losses, and surface deformation and damage of which is crucial for studying the earthquake hazard assessment. However, few intensive scientific understanding has obtained to date because of widespread coronavirus transmission, strong vegetation coverage, and post-earthquake paralyzed traffic. By integrating high-resolution satellite images, large-scale geomorphic mapping, and UAV surveys, we constrain coseismic fractures and ruptures along an NW-SE-trending surface deformation zone, with discontinuous geomorphic scarps, en echelon cracks, and bulges concentrated in the areas of Yanzigou, Moxi, Menghugang, and Xingfu villages near the epicenter. Field observation also shows that the zone extends nearly parallel to the pre-existing XFZ with a length of ∼35 km with variable widths and a maximum vertical displacement of ∼100 ± 10 cm. The earthquake-induced surface coseismic effects, such as landslides, rock falls, and collapses, caused damage to the area. The amplification effect of the topography and the improper aseismic design and poor constructions may be responsible for the spatial distribution of MM Intensity IX, which is larger than other previous earthquakes that occurred in the surrounding area with a similar tectonic setting

Osthole alleviates food allergy by blocking IL-33/ST2 pathway and targeting ILC2-CD4+T response

Osthole is widely used in medicine because of its anti-oxidative, anti-allergenic and anti-inflammatory. In this study, we explored the protective effects of osthole on food allergenic mice and investigated its potential mechanism of action. We first established a food allergic mouse model by intraperitoneal sensitization and OVA (ovalbumin) oral challenge. Osthole were orally administered before OVA challenge. Diarrhea and allergy scores were used to assess food allergy symptoms. The pathological changes of the intestine were examined by H&E staining and electron microscopy. OVA-IgE, mucosal mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1), IL-33, ST2, group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2), and regulatory T (Treg) related-cytokine levels were assessed.We found that the oral administration of osthole after OVA sensitization could improve food allergy symptoms and induce beneficial intestinal pathological changes in mice. Osthole reduce the levels of IgE and mMCP-1 and inhibited the IL33/ST2 signaling pathway, thereby blocking ILC2 response and improving Treg response