Статті в журналах з теми "Hunan (China) Bible Institute"

The Protestant Church in China has been deeply shaped by the fundamentalist movement of the early twentieth century. As happened in America, Bible schools featured very prominently in the movement in China. The Hunan Bible Institute (HBI) was one of the most important Bible schools, and thus constitutes a good case study for this kind of key fundamentalist institution in China. By tracing its historical trajectory from 1916 to 1952, this study argues (1) that HBI embodied the vision and rationale of the fundamentalist theological training and (2) that HBI was not just a school, but also a platform where some of the most influential figures and ministries of the Chinese fundamentalist camp converged. It became a hub of spreading dispensationalism within China, and a powerhouse of the revivals sweeping across the country in those decades. This fact highlights the critical roles and significance the Bible schools held for the fundamentalist movement in China of the early twentieth century. (3) HBI’s identity as ‘Biola-in-China’ demonstrates a deep interrelationship between the fundamentalist camps in China and America. The strong, but troublesome relation between HBI and Biola attests to intensifying tension between the Chinese Church’s independence and foreign missions’ control. By training church leaders and providing a fundamentalist ministry platform, HBI exerted considerable influence on the formation of conservative Protestant Christianity in China.

Until the 19th century, women were not considered suitable for mission work. However, when Leipzig mission started its work in India, it came to the realization that to reach Indian women with the Gospel, women missionaries were needed. Soon, other German mission societies that sent missionaries to China, Indonesia and Africa also came to the same conclusion, opening the doors for ministry for the first women from Vidzeme (Livland). Baltic-German Hildegard Prozell, from Jaunmārupe, was sent in 1896 through Leipzig to India and Lilija Otilija Grīviņa, (in German Grihwin, Griwing, Griewing) from Riga, were sent in 1913 through Liebenzell to China. Each of these societies had different theological understandings about mission. Leipzig was based on the traditional Lutheran understanding of ministry and tried to create a universal Lutheran church worldwide, including in the mission fields. Liebenzell was the German branch of China Inland Mission, which was considered a “faith” mission that was more open to co-working with others. This impacted the way the mission societies selected their candidates, prepared them (a few months for Leipzig, 3–4 years for Liebenzell with male and female candidates training together), and sent them on the missions (solid salary for Prozell, not so with Grīviņa). Both missionaries had to learn the local languages and pass language exams. They both served as teachers, did evangelism with local women, and had to be administrators and local health care specialists. Prozell was the first to establish women’s work in Mayavaram, while Grīviņa was the first to take Chinese women to a local evangelism outreach (together with other teaching staff of the Hunan Bible Institute). Prozell, being a Baltic-German, received extensive support from her home church. Since her ministry took place before World War I, there are plenty of publications about her ministry in both Latvian and German newspapers in Riga. Grīviņa came from a humble background, going with almost no support, and as her ministry in China happened during WWI, there were almost no publications about her work. Both women have been equally forgotten in Latvian church history and deserve to be remembered.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death from a bacterial pathogen worldwide. China has the third highest TB burden in the world, with a high reported burden in Hunan Province (amongst others). This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution of TB and identify socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental drivers in Hunan Province, China. Numbers of reported cases of TB were obtained from the Tuberculosis Control Institute of Hunan Province, China. A wide range of covariates were collected from different sources, including from the Worldclim database, and the Hunan Bureau of Statistics. These variables were summarized at the county level and linked with TB notification data. Spatial clustering of TB was explored using Moran’s I statistic and the Getis–Ord statistic. Poisson regression models were developed with a conditional autoregressive (CAR) prior structure, and with posterior parameters estimated using a Bayesian approach with Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation. A total of 323,340 TB cases were reported to the Hunan TB Control Institute from 2013 to 2018. The mean age of patients was 51.7 years (SD + 17.6 years). The majority of the patients were male (72.6%, n = 234,682) and had pulmonary TB (97.5%, n = 315,350). Of 319,825 TB patients with registered treatment outcomes, 306,107 (95.7%) patients had a successful treatment outcome. The annual incidence of TB decreased over time from 85.5 per 100,000 population in 2013 to 76.9 per 100,000 population in 2018. TB case numbers have shown seasonal variation, with the highest number of cases reported during the end of spring and the beginning of summer. Spatial clustering of TB incidence was observed at the county level, with hotspot areas detected in the west part of Hunan Province. The spatial clustering of TB incidence was significantly associated with low sunshine exposure (RR: 0.86; 95% CrI: 0.74, 0.96) and a low prevalence of contraceptive use (RR: 0.88; 95% CrI: 0.79, 0.98). Substantial spatial clustering and seasonality of TB incidence were observed in Hunan Province, with spatial patterns associated with environmental and health care factors. This research suggests that interventions could be more efficiently targeted at locations and times of the year with the highest transmission risk.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in Hunan province, China.MethodsAn ecological study was conducted using DR-TB data collected from the Tuberculosis Control Institute of Hunan Province between 2012 and 2018. Spatial clustering of DR-TB was explored using the Getis-Ord statistic. A Poisson regression model was fitted with a conditional autoregressive prior structure, and with posterior parameters estimated using a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation, to quantify associations with possible risk factors and identify clusters of high DR-TB risk.ResultsA total of 2649 DR-TB patients were reported to Hunan TB Control Institute between 2012 and 2018. The majority of the patients were male (74.8%, n=1983) and had a history of TB treatment (88.53%, n=2345). The proportion of extensively DR-TB among all DR-TB was 3.3% (95% CI 2.7% to 4.1%), which increased from 2.8% in 2012 to 4.4% in 2018. Of 1287 DR-TB patients with registered treatment outcomes, 434 (33.8%) were cured, 198 (15.3%) completed treatment, 92 (7.1%) died, 108 (8.3%) had treatment failure and 455 (35.3%) were lost to follow-up. Half (50.9%, n=655) had poor treatment outcomes. The annual cumulative incidence rate of notified DR-TB increased over time from 0.25 per 100 000 people in 2012 to 0.83 per 100 000 people in 2018. Substantial spatial heterogeneity was observed, and hotspots were detected in counties located in the North and East parts of Hunan province. The cumulative incidence of notified DR-TB was significantly associated with urban communities.ConclusionThe annual incidence of notified DR-TB increased over time in Hunan province. Spatial clustering of DR-TB was detected and significantly associated with urbanisation. This finding suggests that targeting interventions to the highest risk areas and population groups would be effective in reducing the burden and ongoing transmission of DR-TB.

The aphid genus Macromyzus Takahashi is reviewed, and keys to known species provided. Macromyzus spinosus sp. nov. is described from Plagiogyria japonica in Hunan, China. Macromyzus (Anthracosiphoniella) maculatus (Basu) is recorded for the first time in China. The type specimens are deposited in the National Zoological Museum of China, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

In a paper about a new species of Apanteles (Microgastrinae)(Liu & Chen, 2023), we regret the omission of one author Jun-hua Chen in the second place of the author list who did great job in construction of the ZJUH collection for this study and the mistake in institution order and corresponding author. We provide the correct information below. Zhen Liu1, 2, Jun-hua He1, Xue-xin Chen1 1 Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. 2 Zoology Key Laboratory of Hunan Higher Education, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hunan University of Arts and Science, Changde 415000, China.

While serving as International Expert at the Research Institute of Anthropology and Ethnology, Jishou University in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture of Hunan Province, China, on United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization-Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (UNESCO-LINKS) Natural Science Sector, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) projects with the Kam people of China and ministries responsible for ethnic development, I asked my ethnic minority graduate students and colleagues of China this question, “How did the Cultural Revolution affect your culture?”, and they thoughtfully shared their perspectives and experiences.

This paper describes two new species and one newly recorded species of the genus Neumania, i.e. N. heterocrus Ding & Jin sp. nov., N. absentiuos Ding & Jin, sp. nov., and N. vietnamica Tuzovsky, 2013, from Jiangxi and Hunan provinces, China. Neumania heterocrus can be distinguished by the sexual dimorphism in leg IV. Neumania absentiuos can be distinguished by P-1 without seta and genital plates close to Cx-IV. Neumania vietnamica can be distinguished by the different swimming setae in leg IV. A key to the members of Neumania form China is provided. The examined specimens are kept in Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, P. R. China (GUGC).

The rapid development of information and communication technologies, coupled with the significant progress in the areas of environmental policy and public participation, has led to the advent of environmental big data in China recently. This article applies social capital theory as an analytical lens to shed light on how Chinese environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs) adopt big data to promote environmental governance. This study conducts case studies focusing on two ENGOs: The Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) and Green Hunan. Combining a qualitative approach with quantitative analysis, this research examines two big data-induced initiatives: The first involves green supply chain management in the IPE, brand-sensitive multinational corporations (MNCs), and Chinese suppliers of the MNCs, while the second involves the mobile data-based Riverwatcher Action Network of Green Hunan and numerous volunteers nationwide. This study found that big data adoption by ENGOs contributes effectively to building green social capital, including social networks and pro-environmental social norms. Green social capital has important implications for governance in terms of fostering coordination and cooperation across the boundaries of the public, private, and voluntary sectors. This study highlighted the finding that empowerment by big data helps Chinese ENGOs play the role of a change agent in sustainability transitions.

The genus Naddia Fauvel, 1867 belongs to the subtribe Staphylinina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and its species occur mainly in the Palaearctic and Oriental Regions. Three new species are described from South China: Naddia hainanensis Yang & Zhou, sp. n. (Hainan), N. mangshanensis Yang & Zhou, sp. n. (Hunan, Guangdong and Fujian), and N. nanlingensis Yang & Zhou, sp. n. (Guangdong). Naddia miniata Fauvel, 1895 is recordered for the first time from the territory of China. Naddia chinensis Bernhauer, 1929 and N. miniata are redescribed. Male aedeagus and other critical characters are illustrated. The type specimens are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS) and Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (NMW).

A networked structural laboratories system for evaluating the seismic performance of large-scale structure systems by seamlessly integrating geographically distributed experimental and computational substructures into a single test is described in this paper. It consists of an independent network based communication platform and various applications. The effectiveness of the proposed system is demonstrated by remote hybrid tests of a six-span bridge system at the Hunan University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Tsinghua University, China and the University of Southern California, USA. Successful application shows the system enables the shared use of testing resources by integrating single structural laboratories into a powerful and networked laboratory with advanced capability.

в статье анализируется опыт использования современных технологий в обучении графическому дизайну в китайских вузах. Особенности применения дополненной реальности, искусственного интеллекта, микрокурсов в обучении графическому дизайну изучались на примере пяти китайских учебных заведений, включая Сучжоуский университет, Чжэнчжоуский университет, Аньхойский университет, Хунаньский профессиональный колледж искусств, Цзиннинский профессионально-технический институт. В результате обнаружено, что в условиях информатизации и цифровизации высшего образования, современные технологии дополненной реальности, искусственного интеллекта и другие стали неотъемлемой частью как содержания образовательного процесса, так и важным инструментом для повышения его эффективности. the article analyzes the experience of using modern technologies in teaching graphic design in Chinese universities. Features of the use of augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and microcourses in teaching graphic design were studied using the example of five Chinese educational institutions, including Suzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Anhui University, Hunan Vocational College of the Arts, and Jingning Vocational Institute. As a result, it was found that in the conditions of informatization and digitalization of higher education, modern technologies of augmented reality, artificial intelligence and others have become an integral part of both the content of the educational process and an important tool for increasing its effectiveness.

The article was prepared on the basis of an open lecture given on April 8, 2022 at the Center Church and International Relations MGIMO of the acting Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy of Moscow State University A. P. Kozyrev. The article raises the question of the significance of the legacy of Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov (1853–1900) in Russian philosophy. It is argued that Vladimir Solovyov was a man of the universal, ecumenical type. The author characterizes Solovyov’s philosophy as the completion of European philosophical systematics, noting the syncretic nature of his teaching and the influence of Platonism, Gnosticism, Hermeticism, and early Christianity on the thoughts of the Origen of the 19th century, as Solovyov’s contemporaries called him. He also cites the characteristics of Solovyov’s thought given by individual contemporaries and representatives of subsequent Russian philosophy — S. N. Bulgakov, G. V. Florovsky, F. A. Stepun, A. Kozhev and others. In answers to questions at the end of the lecture, a number of essential provisions on works and personality of V. S. Solovyov are clarified. According to the thinker, the fate of Russia depends on the choice of Christianity or opposing oneself to the entire Christian world. For him, there is a distinction between religious Westernism and non-religious Westernism. A.P. Kozyrev subsumes P. Ya. Chaadaev to the type of religious Westerner, since P. Ya. Chaadaev based his ideas of building a Christian kingdom — the city of God on earth, as Augustine wrote on medieval Christianity. Solovyov per se considered himself somewhere in between. A genius cannot be limited to one political ideology, narrow political worldview, a genius does not think in black and white the categories. It makes Solovyov’s idea that there are not only different Wests, but different Easts — China, Japan, and above all the Middle East, Jerusalem — as well. The nature of these and similar constructions allows us to see in Solovyov not only a taxonomist, but a religious philosopher, who argues that a metaphysical lever is necessary to fight evil. It is not for nothing that Solovyov begins Three Conversations with a reflection on whether evil is only a lack of good, a kind of ghost that can easily be eliminated, or whether evil is a real force with its own substance and its essence, and can be defeated not by abstract good, but by the God-man. Therefore, Three Conversations, Including a Short Story of the Anti-Christ is not just a prophecy about the finale of world history, where the Antichrist appears under the guise of a socialist, humanist and philanthropist, he is a politician, president of the United States of Europe, ready to open sacristies to the Orthodox and return the papacy to Catholics, Protestants create an institute for the study of the Bible, you just have to worship him as God. This idea of fake good is destructive for life itself. All that glitters is not gold — this is the maxim of Three Conversations. Good is determined not by the amount of goods that a person produces, but by the name for which they are done, what is put at the forefront. Solovyov, in a certain sense, founded Russian liberalism and the philosophy of law (the human right to a dignified existence, criticism of the death penalty). P. I. Novgorodtsev will call Solovyov the founder of the Moscow school of legal philosophy. Solovyov thinks of law as a way to ensure a minimum of good in society, connects law and morality, basing law on a moral imperative, from which it cannot be decoupled, otherwise the legal norm degenerates, turning into a moral fetish. “The task of law is not at all to turn the world lying in evil into the Kingdom of God, but only to ensure that it does not turn into hell before the time comes,” wrote Solovyov.

The use of satellite-borne large-footprint LiDAR (light detection and ranging) systems allows for the acquisition of forest monitoring data. This paper mainly describes the design, use, operating principles, installation and data properties of the new Laser Vegetation Detecting Sensor (LVDS), a LiDAR system designed and developed at the Academy of Forest Inventory and Planning (AFIP) and the Beijing Institute of Telemetry (BIT). Data from LVDS were used to calculate the mean height of forest trees on sample plots using data collected in the Hunan province of China. The results show that the full waveform data obtained by LVDS has the ability to accurately characterize forest height. The mean absolute percentage error of mean forest height per plot in flat areas was 6.8%, with a mean absolute deviation of 0.78 m. The airborne LVDS system provides prototype data sets and a platform for instrument proof-of-concept studies for China’s Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Monitoring (TECM) mission, which is an Earth remote sensing satellite due for launch in 2020. The information produced by LVDS allows for forest structure studies with high accuracy and coverage of large areas.

Innovation education, design thinking, and blockchain technology have emerged as three interconnected and globally significant phenomena that have the potential to revolutionize the way we solve problems, create value, and build trust in a rapidly changing world. This study investigates the relationship between design thinking-driven innovation education and the training model of inventive talents, with an emphasis on the mediating influence of student involvement and the moderating effect of blockchain technological background. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 325 higher education institute students in Hunan, China, and structural equation modeling was used to analyze the results. The findings suggest that design thinking-driven innovation education has a favorable impact on the training model of inventive abilities, and that student involvement mediates this relationship. However, the moderating influence of blockchain technology's backdrop was not supported. These findings show the efficacy of adding design thinking into innovation education as well as the significance of encouraging student engagement. The study's cross-sectional design and small sample size limit it, and future research could use longitudinal designs and larger sample sizes. Overall, this study adds to our understanding of how design thinking-driven innovation education can support the development of innovative skills, and how student engagement is critical in this process.

The construction of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YEB) is a great national economic development strategy in China. As the YEB covers most endemic provinces of schistosomiasis japonica featured by low endemicity, this study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution pattern of Oncomelania hupensis (O. hupensis), which serves as the only intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum in the YEB. Annual data reflecting the distribution of O. hupensis from 2015 to 2021 were collected from the National Institute of Parasitic Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Spatial autocorrelation analysis, hotspot analysis and space–time scan analysis were performed to explore the aggregation features and spatiotemporal dynamics of the snail distribution. The distribution of both total snail habitats (during 2015–2021) and emerging snail habitats (in 2016, 2018 and 2020) showed spatial autocorrelation (Z = 15.8~16.1, p < 0.05; Z = 2.3~7.5, p < 0.05). Hotspot (high-value areas in space) counties were mainly clustered in the alluvial plain of the middle and lower reaches of the YEB. Eight spatial and temporal clusters of snail habitats were scanned and were mainly concentrated in the counties of Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangsu provinces along the Yangtze River. The YEB carries a tremendous burden of O. hupensis. Surveillance and risk identification based on the snail presence should be strengthened to provide reference for protecting humans and public health security in the YEB.

Journal of Agricultural Studies (JAS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether JAS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 9, Number 1Ahmed Mohamed Elbeltagi, Mansoura University, EgyptAi-Ping Wu, Hunan Agricultural University, ChinaAlessandra M. Lima Naoe, Federal University of Tocantins, BrazilAlexandra-Nadia Cirdei, Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest, RomaniaAlexandru Ioan Apahidean, UASVM, RomaniaAna Daniela Lopes, Universidade Paranaense, BrazilAnca-Luiza Stanila, ICPA, RomaniaAngel Ramon Sanchez Delgado, Universidade federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BrazilArnaud Z. Dragicevic, IRSTEA, FranceBenard Kiplangat Rop, University of Nairobi, KenyaCleber Duarte, University of Guararapes, BrazilDarwin Pangaribuan, University of Lampung, IndonesiaEben von Well, Agricultural Research Council, South AfricaEric Krawczyk, University of Michigan, USAEric Owusu Danquah, CSIR-Crops Research Institute, GhanaFábio Cassola, UNICAMP, BrazilFernando Coelho Eugenio, Federal University of Santa Maria, BrazilGuitong Li, China Agricultural University, ChinaHabu Saleh Hamisu, National Horticultural Research Institute, NigeriaHedayatollah K. Soureshjani, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, IranJanerson Jose Coelho, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, BrazilJoão Manoel da Silva, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, BrazilJorge A. López, University Tiradentes, BrazilMahyar Gerami, Sana Institute of Higher Education, IranMaría Elena Estrada Martínez, Universidad Metropolitana, EcuadorMaría Francisca Perera, ITANOA, EEAOC-CONICET, ArgentinaMariana Esteves, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture University of Sao Paulo, BrazilMd. Sadique Rahman, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, BangladeshNeha Jha, Massey University New Zealand, New ZealandNkemkanma Vivian Agi, Rivers State University Port Harcourt, NigeriaOlga Mykhailenko, National University of Pharmacy, UkraineOscar Mitsuo Yamashita, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, BrazilRaul Pașcalău, BUASVM, RomaniaSaiful Irwan Zubairi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), MalaysiaSamir Neggaz, Université Oran, AlgeriaSarir Ahmad, Abdul Wali Khan University, PakistanShakirudeen Abimbola Lawal, University of Cape Town, South AfricaShubha Kumari, ICAR-RCER, IndiaSomaia Alkhair, Alzaeim Alazhari University, SudanSybelle Mesquita Silva, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, BrazilToncho Gospodinov Penev, Trakia University, BulgariaUtkarsh R. Moon, Mahatma Gandhi College of Science, IndiaWossenie Shibabaw Mebratie, Bahir Dar University, EthiopiaZakaria Fouad Abdallah, National Research Centre, EgyptZhao Chen, Clemson University, USA Richard WilliamsEditorial AssistantJournal of Agricultural Studies--------------------------------------Macrothink Institute5348 Vegas Dr.#825Las Vegas, Nevada 89108United StatesPhone: 1-702-953-1852 ext.521Fax: 1-702-420-2900Email 1: jas@macrothink.orgEmail 2: jas@macrothink.comURL: http://jas.macrothink.org

Journal of Agricultural Studies (JAS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether JAS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 8, Number 4Ahmed Mohamed Elbeltagi, Mansoura University, EgyptAi-Ping Wu, Hunan Agricultural University, ChinaAlessandra M. Lima Naoe, Federal University of Tocantins, BrazilAlexandra-Nadia Cirdei, Technical Univ. of Civil Engineering of Bucharest, RomaniaAlexandru I. Apahidean, Univ. of Agricultural Sciences&Veterinary Medicine, RomaniaAnca-Luiza Stanila, National Research Institute for Soil Science, RomaniaAngel Ramon Sanchez Delgado, Universidade federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BrazilArnaud Z. Dragicevic, IRSTEA, FranceAshit Kumar Paul, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, BangladeshBenard Kiplangat Rop, University of Nairobi, KenyaBoumahdi Merad Zoubeida, University Blida, AlgeriaDarwin Pangaribuan, University of Lampung, IndonesiaEben von Well, Agricultural Research Council, South AfricaEliana Mariela Werbin, National University of Cordoba, ArgentinianElizabeth Amélia Alves Duarte, College Maria Milza-FAMAM, BrazilEric Krawczyk, University of Michigan, USAEwa Moliszewska, Opole University, PolandFábio Cassola, UNICAMP, BrazilFernando Coelho Eugenio, Federal University of Santa Maria, BrazilFernando Rodrigues de Amorim, State University of Paulista (UNESP), BrazilGeorgiana G. Codina, Stefan cel Mare University, RomaniaGuitong Li, China Agricultural University, ChinaHabu Saleh Hamisu, National Horticultural Research Institute, NigeriaHéctor S. Tavárez Vargas, Universidad de Puerto Rico, BrazilHedayatollah K. Soureshjani, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, IranJoão Manoel da Silva, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, BrazilJorge A. López, University Tiradentes, BrazilJuliana Nneka Ikpe, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, NigeriaMahyar Gerami, Sana Institute of Higher Education, IranMaría Elena Estrada Martínez, Universidad Metropolitana, EcuadorMaría Francisca Perera, ITANOA, EEAOC-CONICET, ArgentinaMohammed El Basuini, Kagoshima University, JapanNkemkanma Vivian Agi, Rivers State University Port Harcourt, NigeriaOlga Mykhailenko, National University of Pharmacy, UkraineOscar Mitsuo Yamashita, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, BrazilSaiful Irwan Zubairi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), MalaysiaSarir Ahmad, Abdul Wali Khan University, PakistanServet Aras, Bozok University, TurkeyShaibu Baanni Azumah, University for Development Studies, GhanaShakirudeen Abimbola Lawal, University of Cape Town, South AfricaShubha Kumari, ICAR-RCER, IndiaSina Nabaei, Azad University, IranSomaia Alkhair, Alzaeim Alazhari University, SudanSybelle Mesquita Silva, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, BrazilToncho Gospodinov Penev, Trakia University, BulgariaUtkarsh R. Moon, Mahatma Gandhi College of Science, IndiaWossenie Shibabaw Mebratie, Bahir Dar University, EthiopiaZakaria Fouad Abdallah, National Research Centre, EgyptZhao Chen, Clemson University, USA Richard WilliamsEditorial AssistantJournal of Agricultural Studies--------------------------------------Macrothink Institute5348 Vegas Dr.#825Las Vegas, Nevada 89108United StatesPhone: 1-702-953-1852 ext.521Fax: 1-702-420-2900Email 1: jas@macrothink.orgEmail 2: jas@macrothink.comURL: http://jas.macrothink.org

Journal of Agricultural Studies (JAS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether JAS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 8, Number 3Ai-Ping Wu, Hunan Agricultural University, ChinaAlessandra M. Lima Naoe, Federal University of Tocantins, BrazilAnca-Luiza Stanila, Agrochemistry and Environment-ICPA, RomaniaAngel Ramon Sanchez Delgado, Universidade federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BrazilAriel Reinaldo Soto Caro, Universidad de Concepción, ChileArnaud Z. Dragicevic, IRSTEA, FranceBabak Mohammadi, University of Tehran, IranBenard Kiplangat Rop, University of Nairobi, KenyaBoumahdi Merad Zoubeida, University Blida, AlgeriaCamilla H. M. Camargos, University of Campinas, BrazilChenlin Hu, The Ohio State University, USACleber Duarte, University of Guararapes , BrazilEben von Well, Agricultural Research Council, South AfricaEliana Mariela Werbin, National University of Cordoba, ArgentinianElizabeth Amélia Alves Duarte, College Maria Milza-FAMAM, BrazilEmmanuel E. Omeje, University of Nigeria, NigeriaEric Krawczyk, University of Michigan, USAErnest Baafi, CSIR-Crops Research Institute, GhanaEwa Moliszewska, Opole University, PolandFábio Cassola, UNICAMP, BrazilFernando Coelho Eugenio, Federal University of Santa Maria, BrazilGeorgiana G. Codina, Stefan cel Mare University, RomaniaGuitong Li, China Agricultural University, ChinaHéctor S. Tavárez Vargas, Universidad de Puerto Rico, BrazilHedayatollah K. Soureshjani, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, IranJacquelin Teresa Camperos Reyes, São Paulo State University (UNESP), BrazilJanerson Jose Coelho, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, BrazilJeferson Coutinho, Federal Institute of Science, BrazilJiban Shrestha, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, NepalJoão Manoel da Silva, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, BrazilJuliana Nneka Ikpe, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, NigeriaMohammed El Basuini, Kagoshima University, JapanOlga Mykhailenko, National University of Pharmacy, UkraineOscar Mitsuo Yamashita, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, BrazilRadu Liviu Sumalan, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary, RomaniaRafael Cardoso Rial, Federal Institute of Mato Grosso do Sul, BrazilSabatino Cuomo, University of Salerno, ItalySaiful Irwan Zubairi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), MalaysiaServet Aras, Bozok University, TurkeyShakirudeen Abimbola Lawal, University of Cape Town, South AfricaShubha Kumari, ICAR-RCER, IndiaSina Nabaei, Azad University, IranSomaia Alkhair, Alzaeim Alazhari University, SudanSybelle Mesquita Silva, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, BrazilThiago A. S. Oliveira, State University of Feira de Santana (UEFS), BrazilToncho Gospodinov Penev, Trakia University, BulgariaTugay Ayasan, Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, TurkeyUtkarsh R. Moon, Mahatma Gandhi College of Science, IndiaWossenie Shibabaw Mebratie, Bahir Dar University, EthiopiaZakaria Fouad Abdallah, National Research Centre, EgyptZeinab Mohammadi Shad, Iowa State University, USAZhao Chen, Clemson University, USA Richard WilliamsEditorial AssistantJournal of Agricultural Studies--------------------------------------Macrothink Institute5348 Vegas Dr.#825Las Vegas, Nevada 89108United StatesPhone: 1-702-953-1852 ext.521Fax: 1-702-420-2900Email 1: jas@macrothink.orgEmail 2: jas@macrothink.comURL: http://jas.macrothink.org

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea), usually called “China grass”, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Urticaceae with recognized importance in the production of fibers. It is mainly planted in China and other Asian countries including the Philippines, India, South Korea, and Thailand. From June 2007 to September 2010, typical anthracnose symptoms were observed in cultivated ramie fields in HuBei, HuNan, JiangXi, and SiChuan provinces, China, with the diseased area estimated to be more than 10,000 ha. Ramie yield was reduced by 20% on average with up to 55% yield losses in some fields. Lesions were initially small, scattered, round, and gray with brown margin on leaves. As the disease progressed, irregular spots developed and expanded until the leaves withered. Initial lesions on stems were fusiform and expanded, causing the stem to break. Finally, the fibers ruptured. Five isolates (CS-1, CS-2, CS-3, CS-4, and CS-5) were used to evaluate cultural and morphological characteristics of the pathogen. On potato dextrose agar, all isolations initially developed white colonies with orange conidial mass and the colonies turned to gray or brown after 5 days of incubation. Twenty conidia and fifteen setae were measured. Conidia were single celled, colorless, straight, oval, obtuse at both ends, and 11 to 18 × 3 to 6 μm with an average of 14.89 × 4.32 μm. Conidiophores were dense and 11 to 22 × 4 to 5 μm with an average of 15.82 × 4.43 μm. Setae were few, dark brown, one to two septa, and 62 to 71 × 4 to 5 μm with an average of 65.13 × 4.46 μm. The pathogen was identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on the basis of descriptions in Bailey and Jeger (1). Genomic DNA was extracted from the five isolates and sequences of rDNA-ITS with primers ITS1 and ITS4 were obtained (GenBank Accession Nos. GQ120479–GQ120483). Comparison with sequences in GenBank showed 99 to 100% similarity with C. gloeosporioides (Accession Nos. FJ515005, FJ459930, and HM016798). Pathogenicity tests were performed with the five isolates in the laboratory by spraying conidial suspensions (1 × 106 conidia/ml) onto upper and lower surfaces of 10 leaves of 10-day-old, 30-cm high plants. There were three replicate plants for each isolate. The inoculated plants were incubated with a 12-h photoperiod at 25 to 28°C and 90% relative humidity in an artificial climate chamber. Three days after inoculation, brown spots were observed on all inoculated leaves, but no symptoms were seen on water-treated control plants. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by reisolation of C. gloeosporioides from diseased leaves. Though in the revision of Colletotrichum by von Arx (4) and Sutton (3), C. boehmeriae, named based on host specificity, was cancelled, C. boehmeriae was regarded as a pathogen of ramie by some Chinese researchers (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. gloeosporioides causing anthracnose of ramie in China. References: (1) J. A. Bailey and M. J. Jeger. Colletotrichum: Biology, Pathology and Control. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 1992. (2) R. M. Li and H. G. Ma. J. Plant Prot. 20:83, 1993. (3) B. C. Sutton. Page 523 in: The Coelomycetes: Fungi Imperfecti with Pycnidia, Acervuli and Stromata. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, London, 1980. (4) J. A. von Arx. Phytopathol. Z. 29:413, 1957.

In July 2011, we observed a new rice disease, black sheath spot, on tillering rice plants in Huayuan County, Hunan Province, China. Field surveys indicated that this disease covered a ~1,000-ha paddy field, mainly on Y series 2-line hybrid rice cultivars, especially Y Liangyou 7 and Y Liangyou 302, in hills of which 10 to 70% infection was observed (average of 45%), causing estimated damages up to $1.2 million (US). The diseased rice plants were cultivated with standard practices. Weather, flooding, herbicide damage, and fertilizer application did not appear to account for the symptoms. Typical symptoms of the disease included elliptical spots, about 10 × 5 mm, dark brown to black and with a diffuse yellow-brown margin. The leaf blades with diseased sheaths became yellow and blighted. After 7 days of growth on PDA, groups of cylindrical and branched stromata scattered over dark green colony. Conidia averaged 30.4 × l2.5 μm and contained five cells with three dark central cells. The morphology of spores was consistent with that of C. fallax (1). We inoculated 8-cm healthy rice sheath segments with culture disk of an isolate HNAH001. Sheath segments were divided into four groups: I) disks on wounded sheath surfaces; II) disks on non-wounded sheath surfaces; III) disks between the leaf sheath and stem, and IV) a sterilized water control. The segments were maintained in moist, covered plates in a 25°C incubator after inoculation. After another 24 h, circular brown lesions, less than 10 mm long, appeared on all inoculated segments in treatments I,II, and III. Treatment I induced the most serious symptoms. No lesions developed on control segments. For further verification of pathogenicity, we sprayed a spore suspension of HNHY001 on healthy rice plants at the boot stage. Black spots reappeared on the sheaths after 5 days. No lesions appeared on the stems or the leaf blades of inoculated rice plants. We recovered HNHY001 from the spots on inoculated plants and completed all steps of Koch's postulates. For molecular identification of the fungus, DNA was extracted from mycelia and used as a template for PCR with a primer pair of ITS 5 and ITS 4 targeting the rDNA-ITS. The sequence of the PCR product (Accession No. JQ360963) had 100% identity with rDNA-ITS of Cochliobolus geniculatus (teleomorphic state of C. geniculata) and C. affinis in GenBank after a BLAST search and clustered with them after a phylogenetic analysis. There was no sequence of C. fallax on the BLAST list because ITS sequence of C. fallax had not yet been submitted to any nucleotide databank. Hosokawa et al. concluded that C. fallax and C. affinis are synonyms for C. geniculata (2), which is supported by our results from BLAST and phylogenetic analysis. In view of its relative straight conidia and branching stromata, we suggest that the causal agent of black sheath spot of rice be C. fallax. Although Curvularia spp. were reported as pathogens responsible for black kernel of rice, there is no report of sheath spot of rice caused by Curvularia (3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a rice sheath disease caused by C. fallax. It seems likely the disease exists in areas beyond Huayuan County. Further field inspection and molecular identification are necessary. References: (1) K. B. Boedijn. Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, ser. 3 13:129, 1933. (2) M. Hosokawa et al. Mycoscience 44:227, 2003. (3) S. H. Ou. Page 317 in: Rice Diseases, 2nd Edition, Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, UK, 1985.

Abstract High expression of NEK2 mediated by p53 contributes to progression and relapse of multiple myeloma Xiangling Feng1,2, Jiaojiao Guo1, Bowen Ouyang2, Yinghong Zhu1,Gang An3, Hao Zhen1, Jiliang Xia1, Yongjun Guan1, Xinying Zhao2, Lugui Qiu3, Jiaxi Zhou3, Fenghuang Zhan4,Wen Zhou1 1, Cancer Research Institute,Central South University, Changsha 410078, China. 2Xiang Ya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. USA. 3State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China. 4Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA. E-mail: wenzhou@csu.edu.cn. Background: Loss of p53 is an independent prognostic factor in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Our previous studies found abnormal high expression of NEK2 was closely related to the poor prognosis and drug resistance of myeloma patients. However, it's unclear how NEK2 was up-regulated in MM. Through bioinformatics analysis, the binding site of p53 protein is found in NEK2 promoter, but the relationship and function of p53 and NEK2 in MM are poorly understood. Materials and Methods: In this study, p53-/- MM cell lines (ARP1 and KMS11) and p53 p53+/+ MM cell lines (MM1S and H929) were used for investigating the role of NEK2 in p53-/- MM cell. FISH was performed on interphase nuclei of MM primary cells to detect p53 and NEK2 copy numbers. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and fluorescence reporter system were applied for examining the binding site of p53 protein in the distal NEK2 promoter. CGH and RNA-seq were performed to validate copy number changes and variations in the expression of several transcripts. Results: The top 10% of MM patients with the highest NEK2 expression and lowest p53 had a significantly inferior OS (P<0.001) in TT2 and TT3 patients (GSE2658) and the expression of NEK2 increased significantly in myeloma cells during chemotherapy(GSE19554), while p53 decreased with the disease progression, suggesting a strong relationship with drug resistance. Single cell PCR showed increased NEK2 expression correlated with decreased p53 expression in single CD138+ plasma cell. FISH confirmed the loss of p53 in CD138+ plasma cells with amplification of NEK2 copies. Furthermore, NEK2 was also high expressed in p53 low expressed MM cells by Immunofluorescence (IF) (P<0.01). In addition, NEK2 was upregulated in p53-/- MM cell lines and HEK293 cells by deleted p53 gene with CRISPR technique both on mRNA and protein level (P<0.01), suggesting a negative correlation between the p53 and the expression level of NEK2. Meanwhile, when p53 deletion and NEK2 overexpression occur simultaneously, the phenomena of asymmetric mitosis and multipolar division are more obvious (P<0.001), suggested that the double hit of p53 deletion and NEK2 overexpression increases the chromosomal instability. Further in vivo study indicated the subcutaneous tumorigenesis in p53 deletion and NEK2 overexpression group was significantly greater than that of the single overexpression of NEK2 and deletion of p53 group (P<0.001), suggested that NEK2 overexpression and p53 deletion enhances the tumorigenic ability in vivo. While down-regulation of NEK2 by shRNA in p53 deletion cells, cell growth was inhibited in vitro and in vivo.To explore the relationship between p53 and NEK2, chromatin immunoprecipitation and fluorescence reporter system showed that p53 could bind to the promoter region of NEK2 and regulate its transcriptional expression. Further CGH analysis of the deletion of p53 expression in HEK293 cells can cause 1q21.4-44 amplification of the chromosome region of the NEK2 directly, which further confirmed by FISH. Finally, RNA-seq revealed several chromosome instability genes were abnormal expressed in NEK2 overexpression and p53 deletion double-hit group. Conclusion: In summary, p53 deletion and NEK2 overexpression induced cancer cell drug resistance, proliferation and chromosomal instability. p53 could bind to the promoter region of NEK2 and cause NEK2 amplification. Down-regulation of NEK2 by shRNA in p53 deletion cells inhibited cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Thus,The significance of this study will provide the pre-clinical application of the NEK2 inhibitor to overcome the drug resistance induced by p53 in MM. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The main reasons for climate change which are explained in this article are as follows: -Climate pollution by gases with CO2 emission and Greenhouse Effect; Climate contamination of viruses with viruses from nature by animals or glaciers when thawing or produced in Laboratories; Induced Climate Change due to meteorological weapons with high intensity radio waves to produce rains, hurricanes and possible induction of earthquakes; Climate pollution by radiation due wars with irreversible consequences in the climate and Nuclear Winter; Climate Change due the explosion of missiles and atomic weapons in the oceans; Climate Change due the natural cyclical phases of the Earth affected by the cyclical variations of the Earth's magnetic field lines which can be affected by the severe cyclical activity of the sun due storms and sunspot because of the combustion that occurs inside the Sun which is due to the gravitational instabilities produced by the planets of the solar system, asteroids or the Comet Planet; Climate Change due to the invading Comet Planet into the solar system that affects with its gravitational field to the sun with solar storms and the planets with variation of the magnetic field lines affecting the climate, earthquakes and activation of volcanoes and indeed with the entry of many meteors and asteroids to the Earth; Climate change due to the Arm of God Allah explaining all the above reasons being more evident in times of Tribulation. The specific methods and devices of the control and manipulation of the population (inclusive to induce to the concupiscence) in times of new world order (Universal Big Brother Program for the control of human in the Earth) and possible Tribulation are explained in this article: Surveillance programs with all technological devices and networks used by humans systematic methods of persuasive manipulation and indoctrination used by some zombie humans and dark; Through the subjugation of employees and humans (inclusive children teaching them how to manipulate in the same style of the zombies); By enterprises or dark groups so that employees make manipulation games with details (investing work time to play like children) receiving bribes, money or labor benefits or with possible retaliation if they do not obey; Surveillance programs in living and working places with covert technological cameras, coincidence games, activities, plans and events programmed in sequence (inclusive pyrotechnic sounds in sequence); Covert numbers and words (in identification documents, cards, car plates, devices used by humans); Encrypted, hidden codes or small phrases and numbers not visible to the naked eye concealed in objects; Covert words in the speech of zombie humans and from multimedia and channels of traditional technological devices through movies, programs and even newscasts and inclusive to speak in code with the humans who know the surveillance programs and worst using in those channels and programs derogatory words against the Nazarenes (in the style of Nazism with the Jews) in complicity of close acquaintances, zombies and dark who participate profiting from the system for the vile metal; By means of an epidemic and viruses produced in laboratories creating epidemics and chaos in the Earth for the reduction and control of the population; Through strict restrictions and reduction of freedoms; Confinement with subsequent compulsory vaccination to be able to access human rights such as the right to work and the right to travel (with the cover-up of the respective organizations responsibles for it: OIT OMT), without responsibility of the authorities in charge of vaccination worldwide (OMS) for the short or long term counterproductive effects of the vaccinated population due to the risk with the liquid of the vaccines by interfering with the DNA and RNA of the population; Possible marking and elimination of many humans (possibility of control of the pulmonary alveoly or induction controlled of diseases or pain due a virus by means of chips introduced in humans); Control of humans by the introduction of liquid and solid chips in humans (liquid crystals that crystallize in the organism and settle in neurons and receive ultrasonic waves of very low frequency) (possibly inserted from vaccines in global epidemiological programs for population control or invasive medical examination when this is not necessary as a figurative example of review of a patient with a sore in the mouth and introduction of the whole hand in the throat or prostate examination or specific injections to certain objective humans or Nazarenes who have opened the matrix of the darks and the elite that controls the humans in the Earth) in times of epidemic in medical examinations and treatments in hospitals (false medical negligence with breach of the medical oath of the use of Medicine for human good). The possible liquid and solid chips introduced into the human being can be used for mind reading (telepath) and thought induction (double direction: sending and receiving messages in the style of Stephen Hawking and the style of the technology already used in sending probes into space and to the moon) and possible human marking with surveillance program and the possible creation of zombie humans. Humans who have the mind reader chip installed can speak without speaking (the dumb speak playing like the miracles of Jesus Christ). It is possible to detect if the humans who have the mental reading chip installed have psychological alterations without going to a doctor. It is possible to know if humans are good or bad without seeing their actions and without going to a priest. In this way, human beings with the chip installed can be sanctioned before they do somewhat wrong (simply because it is known to be thinking). This can be used to know the fidelity to a political guideline or direction (this is known by the strong rumor in communist countries that already have the technology to detect the fidelity to the political party and possibly this is through this chip installed in the human being and mind reading). The inserted chip can also perform thought induction: this is possibly the apocalyptic mark mentioned in the apocalypse because many humans will perform sins or concupiscence induced and not naturally. Then, this will most probably activate the Wrath of God, the seals, and the trumpets of the apocalypse. It surprises me that actually the OMS wants to bring the vaccination program to Africa when in Africa there are not many dead by the epidemy (possibly for the control and reduction of the population will be in all the Earth). Afterward, the OMS mentioned that wants to insert a manufacturing center of vaccines in many countries and inclusive vigilance programs (possibly for the control and reduction of the population will be effective at the local level). But, what the OMS needs to mention is that it is necessary to eliminate the laboratories of virus creation and not create more vaccine laboratories. Humans do not want more vaccine and injections and laboratories for the creation of vaccines but the elimination of virus laboratories which are most probably used for for the control and reduction of the population: thus, the reason for spreading a virus created in a laboratoy across the Earth is evident: population reduction and control of humanity in preparation for a global elite program (new world order or program 2030 for the control of the dark and of the elite; Connection of covert surveillance cameras (in living and working places) with channels of traditional technological devices through movies, programs and even newscasts (including newscasts that usually make signs of dumb and deaf to those who have already discovered them) used by the dark with the respective programs and in addition, to monitor and tracing to verify the induction to concupiscence through mental reading (chips in humans) and surveillance cameras on line in the best style of James Bond espionage movies (including control of faces, pupils, irises, reflections, details and diseases); Games of judgments of sin against humans and Nazarenes (playing at being gods) and also profiting from the vile metal through the system and contributing to the persecution of the Nazarenes; Fake judgments of sin against humans and Nazarenes because many of these sins have been induced with technology due the possible induction of thoughts by the liquid cristal settle in neurons and have not been natural (dark inducing sin through technology and playing gods to induce evil and destruction of intimacy and privacy even in the mind of the human being); Retaliation to those who report the surveillance and manipulation programs and marking of humans for mind reading (telepathy) and thought induction (making them sick sending to the hospitals or removing them); Digital identification plan and digital money to do digital control and avoid conflict and protests of marked and Nazarenes in surveillance programs who discover that there is no privacy in their documents and inclusive in theirs mind (telepathy: mind reading and thought induction: artificial intelligence): it surprises that EU mention that has a digital plan for europeans for digital control on line. But, before the epidemy, Europe and the world advanced a lot in technology and the data of humans are digitally in hospitals and institutes that humans need. After, the EU mentions artificial intelligence for human beings. Then and in vaccination and epidemy time, it is possible that the digital control is a new digital control with artifitial intelligence and with possible chips installed in the human being (possibly already installed in many human beings); Games of events and coincidences to cause accidents or conflicts in the life of marked, target or Nazarenes (change games of victim to accused by companies that regulate the order with subsequent rectification of the game made by the same companies when the Nazarenes claim); Games of recognition of the identity of human beings (in the style of the movie Unknown) by enterprises and service stations which are necessary for the daily movement of human beings creating conflicts of manipulation and stress in the marked or Nazarenes Salary payment games (payment of wages with dinners and game of check payment) creating manipulation conflicts and stress in the life of marked, target or Nazarenes Programmed plans of theft and scams of enterprises and humans even knowing of the surveillance cameras for the control of the marked, target or Nazarenes. Then, there is severe control of human beings in their daily activities to verify the follow-up of the matrix and darks that plan situations of concupiscence in the human being. Besides, this is occurring in coincidence with an accelerated new world order program and possible tribulation times and possibly already with the installation of the apocalyptic mark (possible chips introduced in the human being for mind reading and thought induction to induce concupiscence) in humans mentioned in the apocalypse for dark control of humans. The global forms of the severe manipulation and population control in times of new world order and Tribulation are explained in this article are as follows: By increasing taxes; Through armed conflicts and wars create discord, wars and chaos between countries (often bordering countries with the same origins and with the same culture: Russia and Ukraine: war motivated by US OTAN EU): To later usurp its resources (oil energy resource: US Iraq Kuwait); To later control them politically and economically (US Iraq Kuwait) and when these power or developed countries cannot control or usurp their resources, they begin to block them economically (Russia in the war between Russia and Ukraine where besides developed countries influence in the war by printing additional money to use for the war causing imbalance and global economic crisis instead of looking for ways to avoid it) in order to cause chaos and economic crisis with the knowledge and complicity of the world organizations responsible (OEA ONU) and make the population believe that the cause of the economic crisis is the government in power. However, some countries have resisted these blockades (Cuba Venezuela Nicaragua Russia China) and managed to show that it is possible to have governments independent of the control of these powers or countries that believe they own the Earth; To put rulers (governing) of interest in the same countries in conflict; To control them using the pretext of placing military bases in the countries in conflict (NATO OTAN: military bases in some European countries, US military bases: in some South American countries and some countries of Europe). In addition, this is preferable to reduce military bases in other countries and reduction of nuclear weapons, and use the financial resources for the reduction of inequity and poverty on the Earth. Thus, the organizations responsible for the proliferation of nuclear weapons (OIEA) have played an ineffective and passive (cover-up) role, which has caused the risk of a third nuclear world war to be imminent); Through the war against terror: however and actually, this is a false speech used to point to countries that oppose the control or directive of the powers and that have a culture or political structure different from that of the powers and later make conflict and war to later control them or usurp their resources (some Arab and Muslim countries, for example, US, Irak, Lybia and blaming an entire country for terrorism and occupying for years (Afganistán)). In this way and actually, some countries have developed nuclear weapons (North Korea, Iran) to protect themselves in some way and thus, the same thing does not happen to them as to the countries mentioned above (Irak, Lybia) and that have been destroyed with the false discourse of the war against terror. In this way, the best thing is to have good relations with all the countries of the Earth which are again summed in the Bible [1] in a message: Love your brother (all human beings) as yourself! (Mt.22-39) (and not to go around the Earth pointing out terrorists to any country that opposes its guidelines). Therefore, it is possible to reduce the economic resources for the war against terror which can be used to reduce poverty and inequity in human beings; Through the war against drugs: there are many other substances and products consumed by humans that can be harmful to health and that are allowed and have not become a vice (when something is forbidden: this increases the interest in obtaining it explained from the beginning of creation in Genesis [1]: an apple from the tree of good and evil in the garden of Eden: Adam and Eve). In addition, many countries have allowed the use of certain types of drugs for medical purposes (Uruguay, Bolivia) where drug use has gone unnoticed in these countries; Through religión: with a structure of religion that tries to control the population through a guideline and speeches that obey the Vatican and the actual governments of each country (which is evident when there are countries such as Nicaragua that do not follow a guideline of the church and the elite and then, the religion surprisingly actively intervenes in politics): the conclusion is reached and to which many humans have reached, that religion is a power most actually used (along with political and economic power); Through political power by means of the false argument used by politicians to reduce inequity and poverty: where a large amount of resources and money have been allocated to the political powers and rulers of many countries for centuries by the respective organizations responsable (FMI BM) without any results and in many countries poverty and inequity have increased. Besides, the bureaucracy is a structure of order and rules of management and administration used within the governments of each country that contribute to the inefficiency and manipulation of the required procedures in human life that ultimately affect the life of each human being when they require formalities that end up being complicated and time-consuming. Then, this power structure in politics, economics, and religion for the control of the population is ineffective and obeys the interests of the dark who control humans on the Earth, and is used ineffectively by the rulers (governing) of the countries who come to power precisely with the false discourse of reducing poverty and inequity; Through the pretext of climate change: severe climate change due to the emission of CO2 and the greenhouse effect is a complete fallacy. The world organizations involved with the climate (ONU) try to make humanity believe that this is the reason for the severe climatic changes that the human being has experienced on the Earth to obtain economic resources and avoid mentioning God in control of the Earth and course the climate and to avoid mentioning the Omnipotence of God [1] in the control of the Earth and the climate: the severe climate change is frequently due to solar storms and variations in the magnetic field lines of the Earth because of gravitational variations in the solar system or due to the entry of an asteroid or Comet Planet what is controlled and all the Universe by God. Therefore, the climate change is controlled by the Eternal God (wich is explained in the Bibles with a lot of examples with Moses, Josue, Hezekiah) and thus, this is better to use the resources and money for so-called climate change to reduce poverty and inequity in the Earth and increase equity in humans: Human Beings must not believe everything said by the organizations and individuals that control the humans in the Earth and that obey the directions imposed within the matrix triangle of control of the Earth; Through the sport by means of the persuasive manipulation of observers or attendees at sporting events through commercials programs, commentators (hidden words and numbers in speech), players participating in the match: with gestures or sequence of plays, numbers, words or details in the players uniform, referees (make decisión of plays in favor of a team purposely: false bad arbitration) or leading organizers committing sports corruption not applying the rules or discriminating players (Serbian, Russian and Belarusian tennis players at tennis competitions due to some tennis organizations) or teams (Russian sports clubs and inclusive the Russian national team due FIFA decision) at convenience. Besides, when there are countries in conflict or war: instead of uniting the countries in conflict by means of the sport, the respective organizations (FIFA UEFA) discriminate and increase the conflict: discriminating and not allowing the participation of tennis players (including top tennis players), Football Countries and Sport Clubs in international competitions for reasons of restrictions due to the epidemic, conflict or war (including countries that organized previous World Cups: Russia) where the interest, quality and love for this sport has increased and that must be used to unite human beings and countries and not to not allow them to participate: which increases the division and conflict between countries or humans: This is important to highlight and value the position of the ATP for deciding that the ATP does not agree that athletes from certain countries (Russia and Belarus) cannot participate in international tournaments stating that this is against the principles of merit and non-discrimination: then, this is tremendously criticizable that the organization responsible of Football (FIFA UEFA) participates in armed conflicts or war with discriminatory decisions in Football, increasing the war by not allowing countries in conflict to participate in World Cup of Football: FIFA slogan of no to racism and some form of discrimination is a complete farce and used for convenience and interest (in the same style of all the other organizations (mainly ONU, OEA, FMI, BM, VATICAN) that control humans and that in 2000 years of the coming of the Envoy of God have not been able to solve iniquity and poverty), discrimination that has been evident in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine: Football is the main sport in the Earth and it is the one that can unite human beings the most and should be used as a source of union and not división; Through education: where this is used by many countries to induce and manipulate their inhabitants in a certain political direction through the dissemination of knowledge and even the textbooks of the students: many underdeveloped countries have increased illiteracy and degradation in education because this favors the politicians of the country's government: having an ignorant people who do not see what they do with the country's money and who cannot criticize them: the greatness of peoples depends on the education that gives the independence of individuals who are the ones that make the country advance; Through world organizations to control countries: ONU, OEA, Vatican, OTAN, UE: many countries have to obey the guidelines of these organizations, which often do not respond to the needs of the citizens of each country: many institutions in the countries must obey the organizations (the Vatican for the religion) in a rigid way, which is often not in accordance with the situation of the country's citizens, who often need new variants or guidelines (some organizations can cause chaos, conflict or war as for example the war of Russia with Ucrania where the possible annexation of Ucrania to the OTAN and UE is one of the reasons for the war between these two countries. Therefore, there would be no war between these two countries where without those organizations); Through world organizations of espionage (CIA, FBI, KGB, Gestapo, SS): employing persuasive interference in the countries and rulers of some undeveloped countries (some South America and Center America countries and some European, Asia and Africa countries) with the objective of the power countries of control, manipulate or destabilize countries and inclusive simple humans (using the personal data of thousands of people around the world). Through the control and intervention of the Creator God Allah which is necessary and essential in times of Tribulation at the time timely (Holy Bible: Apoc. 6 Apoc. 8:6 Apoc. 5 Apoc. 7 Apoc. 21) due to everything mentioned in this scientific research respect to the control and manipulation of the population (regarding the increase of inequity, discord, and evil among humans) which is not following the guideline given by the envoy of God 2000 years ago: Jesus Christ. Keywords: God, Allah, Jesuchrist, Bible, Creator, Education, Climate change, Population Control, Climate Pollution, Gases CO2, Greenhouse Effect, Epidemic, Viruses, Laboratory, Zombies, Dark, Elite, new world order, OMS, ONU, OEA, Vatican, OTAN, UE, FMI, BM, OIT, OMT, Meteorological weapons, Haarp, Sura, Wars, Sport, Religion, Radiation, Nuclear Winter, Sun, Magnetic field lines, Storms, Asteroids, Comet Planet, Volcanoes, Climate Catastrophies, Tribulation, Taxes, Terror, Drugs, Organizations, Inequity, Poverty, Manipulation, Indoctrination, Technological Devices, Covert technological devices, networks, Newscasts, Surveillance programs, Big Brother Program, Digital Identification Plan, Digital Money, Covert numbers and covert words, Encrypted, Hidden codes or small phrases not visible to the naked eye, Covert words in the speech of zombie humans in multimedia and traditional technological devices, Nazism, Jews, Coincidence games, Activities, Plans, Events Programmed in sequence, Pyrotechnic sounds in sequence, Games of events and coincidences to cause accidents or conflicts, Games of judgments of sin against humans and Nazarenes, Games of recognition of the identity of human beings, Unknown, Companies, Service stations, Salary payment games, Programmed plans of theft and scams of companies and enterprises, Retaliation, Marking, Reduction, False medical negligence, Medical oath, Medicine, Liquid and solid chips in humans, Liquid crystals, Neurons, Ultrasonic waves, Vaccines, Global epidemiological programs, Matrix, Dark, Elite, Mind Reading, Telepath, Thought induction, Apocalipse, Wrath of God.

PORTAL Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies enters its fourth year with the journal’s first special Chinese-language issue. Organised under the rubric of ‘The Revival of Chinese Cultural Nationalism,’ the issue has been guest edited by Dr Yingjie Guo of the Institute for International Studies, University of Technology Sydney, and features the work of scholars based in China and Australia. As Guo says in his introductory essay to the special issue, debates over cultural nationalism in China have been on the rise since the events in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989; indeed, the post-Tiananmen era in China may be witnessing what Guo calls an unparalleled cultural-political movement in the country’s history. The various contributors to this special issue explore the ramifications and manifestations of that broad cultural-political movement in film production, television drama, literary texts, cultural essays, regional entrepreneurship, and contemporary debates on nationalism and liberalism. This issue of PORTAL also features four non-special issue essays: a study of feminist ethics in the work of Filipino-Australian writer and dramatist Merlinda Bobis, by Dolores Herrero (Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain); a taut critique of the discourse that regards the twentieth century as the bloodiest and most atrocious in human history, by David B. MacDonald (Otago University, New Zealand); a trenchant analysis, by Ramzi Nasser and Kamal Abouchedid (Notre Dame University, Lebanon), of what the authors call the rise of “academic apartheid” in the university sector throughout the Arab world; and a fascinating exploration of the feminism and environmentalism pioneered by the Australian author, mountaineer, solicitor and Buddhist Marie Byles (1900-1979), by Allison Cadzow (University of Technology Sydney). Finally, it is a huge pleasure to also include in PORTAL’s cultural works section a selection of poems by the Chinese poet Yang Lian, translated by Mabel Lee (responsible for translating Nobel Laureate Gao Xingjian’s novels Soul Mountain [2000] and One Man’s Bible [2002] into English). Paul Allatson, Chair, PORTAL Editorial Committee

10th International Symposium on Lead and Zinc Processing The Lead-Zinc conference series, initiated by the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) in 1970, has evolved into a global collaboration of metallurgical societies. This conference series is held every three or five years. It is heartening to acknowledge the significant role played by international organizations including the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), Metallurgy & Materials Society of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (MetSoc), the Mining and Materials Processing Institute of Japan (MMIJ), the Society of Metallurgists and Miners (GDMB, Germany), and the Nonferrous Metals Society of China (NFSoc) in fostering knowledge exchange and advancements in lead and zinc industries. The 10th International Symposium on Lead and Zinc Processing (PbZn 2023) was held in Changsha, China, organized by NFSoc and co-sponsored by Central South University (CSU), China ENFI Engineering Corporation (ENFI), and Hunan Science and Technology Association (HSTA). PbZn 2023 had more than 800 attendees, 230 presentations from over 20 countries. This proceedings volume is the result of over a year of collaborative effort, involving authors, editors, and volunteers. Comprising contributions from 20 countries, the volume reflects the global nature of lead and zinc industries, covering business trends, plant operations, fundamental developments, emerging technologies, and environmental considerations. We hope that this compilation will serve as a valuable record of the Lead-Zinc 2023 symposium and become a standard reference for the processing of lead and zinc. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the contributors, reviewers, and volunteers who have dedicated their time and expertise to make this proceedings volume a reality. List of International organization, International Organizing Committee, Editorial Committee are available in this Pdf.

These are the proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Damage Assessment of Structures (DAMAS 2021), which was grandly held from October 29 to November 1, 2021 in Shanghai, China. The conference proceeding was published by the Institute of Physics Publishing (IOP). The conference aimed at providing a platform for in-depth communication for all academic and industrial colleagues and promoting the academic exchange and cooperation between domestic and foreign scholars in the field of structural damage assessment in theory, testing and engineering practice.There are six sessions devoted to theories, methodologies and applications for this symposium, such as machine condition monitoring and fault diagnosis, engineering structure and system damage assessment, intelligent materials and structures, micro/nanostructures and composites. In DAMAS 2021, more than 500 experts and scholars at home and abroad online and offline attended this conference. The conference recruited more than 90 papers, invited well-known experts and scholars at home and abroad to share the latest research results, set up a main venue and 6 sub venues, set up 3 plenary keynotes including 2 overseas plenary keynotes, and set up 12 specially invited keynotes including 5 oversea invited keynotes reports and 52 sub venues. The Conference Chairs would like to express sincere appreciations to authors, reviewers and presenters who made this conference so enjoyable, as well as 3 invited plenary keynote speakers and 12 keynote speakers for their excellent and attractive speeches. Thanks go to the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Shanghai Jiao Tong University for the sponsor. Special thanks also to Tsinghua University, East China University of Technology, Ningxia University, Hunan Institute of Engineering and University of Huddersfield for their co-sponsors. Prof. Shan-Tung Tu and Prof. Zhike Peng Jan. 15, 2022

It is a great pleasure for us to welcome you here to Changsha for 2023 2nd International Conference on Power System and Energy Technology (ICPSET 2023), which was held in Changsha, China from 18th to 20th August 2023 in virtual form. About 80 delegates took part in the Conference. ICPSET 2023 provided an opportunity to present and discuss the latest news accumulated during last year. Another important feature of this series of meeting has always been the participation of a large number of related scientists and researchers from all over the world. It thus represented an important addition to the series of large international conference on power system and energy technology held every year in different regions of China. The ICPSET meeting brought together experts and scholars interested in studying power system and energy technology to an international platform for presenting and discussing recent results and achievements, including new experimental and theoretical methods in the fields. The meeting’s topics can be characterized as follows: Power System Real-Time Simulation System, Power Transmission, Energy Efficiency, Energy Saving Technology, New Energy Vehicle, etc. Since 2022, the series meeting of ICPSET has been held in China and has become a regular academic meeting investigating latest achievements on power system and energy technology. Recent years have seen a lot of new research and experimental results in related fields. Many excellent papers of plenary lectures and contributions presented at ICPSET 2023 were published in the conference proceedings by Journal of Physics: Conference Series. We listened to the reports of experts from leading universities and research organizations in related fields. Among the many invited speakers, Prof. Yicheng Zhou from Waseda University, Japan delivered a keynote speech on Grid Forming Inverters: Current Status and Some Challenges Issues for the Future, Prof. Denis Sidorov from Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences and The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Russia on Crisp and Fuzzy Models for Net-zero Communities’ Development, Prof. Jianbo Bai from Hohai University, China on Development and Application of Digital Technology for Distributed PV Power Stations Under Full Life Cycle, and Prof. Yong Li from Hunan University, China on Autonomous Operation and Energy Management of Multi-Energy Microgrid. We are grateful to all the people who were involved in the whole process of the Conference. We gratefully acknowledge the support from Hunan University (China), as well as the contributions from each author. We also appreciate the publishing support from relevant staff of Journal of Physics: Conference Series. The Committee of ICPSET 2023 List of Committee Member is available in this Pdf.

Due to recent pandemic, 2021 3rd International Conference on Robotics, Intelligent Control and Artificial Intelligence (ICRICA 2021) was held virtually online on December 03 - 05, 2021. The decision to hold the virtual conference was made in compliance with many restrictions and regulations that were imposed by countries around the globe. Such restrictions were made to minimize the risk of people contracting or spreading the COVID-19 through physical contact. There were 150 individuals who attended this on-line conference, represented many countries. ICRICA 2021 brings together industry professionals and academics from research institute, governmental agencies, and universities around the world to exchange information on advances in Robotics, Intelligent Control and Artificial Intelligence. The objective of the ICRICA 2021 is to facilitate the exchange between researchers and practitioners in the area of Robotics, Intelligent Control and Artificial Intelligence and related technologies, and provides attendees with a unique opportunity to share, discuss, and witness research results, thereby creating a common platform for exchanging ideas and fostering future developments in the field. During the conference, the conference model was divided into three sessions, including oral presentations, keynote speeches, and online Q&A discussion. In the first part, some scholars, whose submissions were selected as the excellent papers, were given about 5-10 minutes to perform their oral presentations one by one. Then in the second part, keynote speakers were each allocated 30-45 minutes to hold their speeches. In the second part, we invited three professors as our keynote speakers. Prof. Rüdiger Dillmann, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, German (IEEE Fellow, IROS Fellow). His research interest is in the areas of humanoid robotics and neurorobotics with special emphasis on intelligent, autonomous, and interactive robot behavior generated with the help of machine learning methods and programming by demonstration (PbD). The second keynote speakers, Prof. Xiaofang Yuan, Hunan University, China. His research area includes intelligent control theory and application, electric vehicle control, robot drive control. Lastly, we were glad to invite Prof. Hui Zhang, Hunan University, China as our finale keynote speakers. He is mainly engaged in the research of intelligent robot vision detection, deep learning image recognition and other fields. Their insightful speeches had triggered heated discussion in the third session of the conference. Every participant praised this conference for disseminating useful and insightful knowledge. The proceedings are a compilation of the accepted papers and represent an interesting outcome of the conference. Topics include but are not limited to the following areas: Robot structure design and control, Sensor/actuator networks, Robot kinematics and dynamics, Robot operating system and other related topics. All the papers have been through rigorous review and process to meet the requirements of international publication standard. List of Committee member are available in this pdf.

The 2023 3rd International Conference on Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering (AMCE 2023) was motivated to bridge the scientists, experts, practitioners, and students in the scientific forum through sharing ideas and issues about theoretical and practical knowledge in Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering. This Conference took place from October 20th to 22nd, 2023 in Changsha, China, bringing together about 130 attendees worldwide. As an annual conference, AMCE has been and will be held in China every year starting from 2021, attracting more than 300 attendees from various countries all around the world. With strong organization team, dependable reputation and wide sponsors globally, AMCE 2023 was even more successful than previous ones. The keynote speeches were provided especially to show the contributions of scholars and experts around the world working in the fields related to advanced materials and chemical engineering towards research experience and professional knowledge sharing. We had more than ten keynote speakers coming mainly from Xiangtan University, China, Hunan University, China, University of South China, China, Wuhan Textile University, China, Yunnan University, China, Central South University, China, Changzhou University, China, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, China, Yunnan Normal University, China, Kunming University of Science and Technology, China, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey, and Harbin Institute of Technology, China. These experts shared remarkable academic achievements in fields related to advanced materials and chemical engineering, and discussed critical challenges and research directions within these domains, triggering heated discussion during the Conference and even in the break. The Proceedings of AMCE 2023 involves various accepted excellent papers around topics including New Semiconductor Materials, Nano Materials and Technology, Dielectric, Ferroelectric Thin Films and Integrated Devices, High-performance Computing in Material Design, Colloid and Interface Chemistry, etc. The selected papers were checked through a rigorous peer review process, and are published in the present volume. Reviews were conducted by expert referees to the professional and scientific standards expected of Journal of Physics: Conference Series. We would like to thank the Conference Committee members for their great support and suggestion provided in every aspect to make the Conference successful and the expert reviewers for their kind assistance in reviewing the manuscripts submitted. We would also extend our best gratitude to the keynote speakers for their invaluable contribution and worthwhile ideas shared in the Conference. Last but not the least is our appreciation to Journal of Physics: Conference Series for every process its members conducted to make this volume published. List of Committee Member is available in this pdf.

Problem definition: This paper considers a tandem queueing system in which stage 1 has one station serving multiple classes of arriving customers with different service requirements and related delay costs, and stage 2 has multiple parallel stations, with each station providing one type of service. Each station has many statistically identical servers. The objective is to design a joint capacity allocation between stages/stations and scheduling rule of different classes of customers to minimize the system’s long-run average cost. Methodology/results: Using fluid approximation, we convert the stochastic problem into a fluid optimization problem and develop a solution procedure. Based on the solution to the fluid optimization problem, we propose a simple and easy-to-implement capacity allocation and scheduling policy and establish its asymptotic optimality for the stochastic system. The policy has an explicit index-based scheduling rule that is independent of the arrival rates, and resource allocation is determined by the priority orders established between the classes and stations. We conduct numerical experiments to validate the accuracy of the fluid approximation and demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed policy. Managerial implications: Tandem queueing systems are ubiquitous. Our results provide useful guidelines for the allocation of limited resources and the scheduling of customer service in those systems. Our proposed policy can improve the system’s operational efficiency and customers’ service quality. Funding: Z. Zhong’s research is partially supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [Grant 2023ZYGXZR074] and the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 2022JJ40109]. P. Cao’s research is partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72122019]. J. Huang’s research is partially supported by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council General Research Fund [CUHK-14501621] and the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72222023]. S. X. Zhou’s research is partially supported by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council General Research Fund [CUHK-14500921], the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72394395], and the Asian Institute of Supply Chains and Logistics. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2023.0266 .

International Conference on Computer, Big Data And Artificial Intelligence Data has always existed in the changes of human society, constantly changing how humans learn about the world. It is also on the basis of data and information that human beings have made many efforts to explore the planet we live in. Not until modern information technology represented by electronic computer emerges did mankind make a qualitative leap in its ability to master and process data. In recent years, big data and artificial intelligence almost domain human activity, which provides a complex ecosystem of information and services on a global scale. Big data is essentially embodied as a digital virtual image for building the real world. Based on the premise of sufficient computing power and efficient data analysis methods, the in-depth study of this digital virtual image will make it possible to understand and discover the operation, state and laws of real complex systems. The 2nd International Conference on Computer, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence(ICCBDAI 2021) was co-organized by Central South University, Hunan University and Beijing Institute of Technology. Approximately 40 universities had participated the event, and there was over 2000 views for the live broadcast of this conference. Originally the conference was planned to be held in Beihai, China, however, considering the COVID-19 pandemic situation, it was decided to be held virtually online. As the conference organizer, the safety and well-being of our participants are our top priority. The conference aims to provide an international forum where engineers, researchers, practitioners and industrial partners in the field of Computer, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence can discuss/exchange/share recent advances/developments and future perspectives in the use of these technologies in various applications. In line with the aims of the ICCBDAI 2021 conference, and as maybe seen from the table of contents, the papers cover a wide range of topics under a variety of themes: Big Data Analysis and Measurement, Recent Advances in Artificial Intelligence with Applications, Intelligent Image Processing and Recognition, Challenges and Opportunities in Cloud Computing and Edge Computing, Big Data Analytics for Intelligent Transportation, etc. ICCBDAI 2021 was sponsored and supported by the followings: Central South University Hunan University Dalarna University Guangxi University Chengdu University of Information Technology Changchun University of Technology Silesian University of Technology List of Committee are available in this pdf.

Due to the unsustainability of fossil fuels and the adverse impacts on the environment, along with the rapid growing energy demands, smart energy becomes a new trend. To achieve its carbon peak and neutrality targets in China, smart Energy is the main battlefield, electricity is the main force, and the construction of a new power system is an important content of the construction of smart energy system. The 2nd International Conference on Smart Energy and New Power Systems (SENPS2024) is to promote research and developmental activities in Smart Energy and New Power Systems by creating a platform to promote scientific information interchange between researchers, developers, engineers, students, and practitioners working all around the world. The conference will also make it an ideal platform for people to share views and experiences in related areas. With all contributions from the participants, 23 papers are final accepted from 88 submissions. Those accepted ones are well categorized into four sectors as follows: Smart Energy, Smart Grid, Power Electronics Technologies and New power system. We wish to show our sincere appreciations to Hunan University of Technology, Changsha Normal University, CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Co., Ltd which provided various platform to promote this conference with nice service. We are also thankful to the authors and reviewers for their contributions in this volume. We are also very much thankful to the organizations for contributing their time and expertise to maintain the quality of this proceeding. This time the conference service is supported by Digital Intelligence Academic Service Innovation Team from Changsha Normal University and funded by Research on the construction of international promotion platform for Chinese educational brands - A case study on the organization and management of international academic conferences from China Education Association for International Exchange. Last but not least, we especially thanks to the team of IOP Conference Publishing team for support to bring out these proceedings of this conference. we will feel honorable to have your continuous attention and attendance for our next edition of SENPS. List of Conference committee are available in this Pdf.

Photo ID 158378414 © Eduard Muzhevskyi | Dreamstime.com ABSTRACT There is a debate about the ethical implications of using human embryos in stem cell research, which can be influenced by cultural, moral, and social values. This paper argues for an adaptable framework to accommodate diverse cultural and religious perspectives. By using an adaptive ethics model, research protections can reflect various populations and foster growth in stem cell research possibilities. INTRODUCTION Stem cell research combines biology, medicine, and technology, promising to alter health care and the understanding of human development. Yet, ethical contention exists because of individuals’ perceptions of using human embryos based on their various cultural, moral, and social values. While these disagreements concerning policy, use, and general acceptance have prompted the development of an international ethics policy, such a uniform approach can overlook the nuanced ethical landscapes between cultures. With diverse viewpoints in public health, a single global policy, especially one reflecting Western ethics or the ethics prevalent in high-income countries, is impractical. This paper argues for a culturally sensitive, adaptable framework for the use of embryonic stem cells. Stem cell policy should accommodate varying ethical viewpoints and promote an effective global dialogue. With an extension of an ethics model that can adapt to various cultures, we recommend localized guidelines that reflect the moral views of the people those guidelines serve. BACKGROUND Stem cells, characterized by their unique ability to differentiate into various cell types, enable the repair or replacement of damaged tissues. Two primary types of stem cells are somatic stem cells (adult stem cells) and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells exist in developed tissues and maintain the body’s repair processes.[1] Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are remarkably pluripotent or versatile, making them valuable in research.[2] However, the use of ESCs has sparked ethics debates. Considering the potential of embryonic stem cells, research guidelines are essential. The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) provides international stem cell research guidelines. They call for “public conversations touching on the scientific significance as well as the societal and ethical issues raised by ESC research.”[3] The ISSCR also publishes updates about culturing human embryos 14 days post fertilization, suggesting local policies and regulations should continue to evolve as ESC research develops.[4] Like the ISSCR, which calls for local law and policy to adapt to developing stem cell research given cultural acceptance, this paper highlights the importance of local social factors such as religion and culture. I. Global Cultural Perspective of Embryonic Stem Cells Views on ESCs vary throughout the world. Some countries readily embrace stem cell research and therapies, while others have stricter regulations due to ethical concerns surrounding embryonic stem cells and when an embryo becomes entitled to moral consideration. The philosophical issue of when the “someone” begins to be a human after fertilization, in the morally relevant sense,[5] impacts when an embryo becomes not just worthy of protection but morally entitled to it. The process of creating embryonic stem cell lines involves the destruction of the embryos for research.[6] Consequently, global engagement in ESC research depends on social-cultural acceptability. a. US and Rights-Based Cultures In the United States, attitudes toward stem cell therapies are diverse. The ethics and social approaches, which value individualism,[7] trigger debates regarding the destruction of human embryos, creating a complex regulatory environment. For example, the 1996 Dickey-Wicker Amendment prohibited federal funding for the creation of embryos for research and the destruction of embryos for “more than allowed for research on fetuses in utero.”[8] Following suit, in 2001, the Bush Administration heavily restricted stem cell lines for research. However, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 was proposed to help develop ESC research but was ultimately vetoed.[9] Under the Obama administration, in 2009, an executive order lifted restrictions allowing for more development in this field.[10] The flux of research capacity and funding parallels the different cultural perceptions of human dignity of the embryo and how it is socially presented within the country’s research culture.[11] b. Ubuntu and Collective Cultures African bioethics differs from Western individualism because of the different traditions and values. African traditions, as described by individuals from South Africa and supported by some studies in other African countries, including Ghana and Kenya, follow the African moral philosophies of Ubuntu or Botho and Ukama, which “advocates for a form of wholeness that comes through one’s relationship and connectedness with other people in the society,”[12] making autonomy a socially collective concept. In this context, for the community to act autonomously, individuals would come together to decide what is best for the collective. Thus, stem cell research would require examining the value of the research to society as a whole and the use of the embryos as a collective societal resource. If society views the source as part of the collective whole, and opposes using stem cells, compromising the cultural values to pursue research may cause social detachment and stunt research growth.[13] Based on local culture and moral philosophy, the permissibility of stem cell research depends on how embryo, stem cell, and cell line therapies relate to the community as a whole. Ubuntu is the expression of humanness, with the person’s identity drawn from the “’I am because we are’” value.[14] The decision in a collectivistic culture becomes one born of cultural context, and individual decisions give deference to others in the society. Consent differs in cultures where thought and moral philosophy are based on a collective paradigm. So, applying Western bioethical concepts is unrealistic. For one, Africa is a diverse continent with many countries with different belief systems, access to health care, and reliance on traditional or Western medicines. Where traditional medicine is the primary treatment, the “’restrictive focus on biomedically-related bioethics’” [is] problematic in African contexts because it neglects bioethical issues raised by traditional systems.”[15] No single approach applies in all areas or contexts. Rather than evaluating the permissibility of ESC research according to Western concepts such as the four principles approach, different ethics approaches should prevail. Another consideration is the socio-economic standing of countries. In parts of South Africa, researchers have not focused heavily on contributing to the stem cell discourse, either because it is not considered health care or a health science priority or because resources are unavailable.[16] Each country’s priorities differ given different social, political, and economic factors. In South Africa, for instance, areas such as maternal mortality, non-communicable diseases, telemedicine, and the strength of health systems need improvement and require more focus[17] Stem cell research could benefit the population, but it also could divert resources from basic medical care. Researchers in South Africa adhere to the National Health Act and Medicines Control Act in South Africa and international guidelines; however, the Act is not strictly enforced, and there is no clear legislation for research conduct or ethical guidelines.[18] Some parts of Africa condemn stem cell research. For example, 98.2 percent of the Tunisian population is Muslim.[19] Tunisia does not permit stem cell research because of moral conflict with a Fatwa. Religion heavily saturates the regulation and direction of research.[20] Stem cell use became permissible for reproductive purposes only recently, with tight restrictions preventing cells from being used in any research other than procedures concerning ART/IVF. Their use is conditioned on consent, and available only to married couples.[21] The community's receptiveness to stem cell research depends on including communitarian African ethics. c. Asia Some Asian countries also have a collective model of ethics and decision making.[22] In China, the ethics model promotes a sincere respect for life or human dignity,[23] based on protective medicine. This model, influenced by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), [24] recognizes Qi as the vital energy delivered via the meridians of the body; it connects illness to body systems, the body’s entire constitution, and the universe for a holistic bond of nature, health, and quality of life.[25] Following a protective ethics model, and traditional customs of wholeness, investment in stem cell research is heavily desired for its applications in regenerative therapies, disease modeling, and protective medicines. In a survey of medical students and healthcare practitioners, 30.8 percent considered stem cell research morally unacceptable while 63.5 percent accepted medical research using human embryonic stem cells. Of these individuals, 89.9 percent supported increased funding for stem cell research.[26] The scientific community might not reflect the overall population. From 1997 to 2019, China spent a total of $576 million (USD) on stem cell research at 8,050 stem cell programs, increased published presence from 0.6 percent to 14.01 percent of total global stem cell publications as of 2014, and made significant strides in cell-based therapies for various medical conditions.[27] However, while China has made substantial investments in stem cell research and achieved notable progress in clinical applications, concerns linger regarding ethical oversight and transparency.[28] For example, the China Biosecurity Law, promoted by the National Health Commission and China Hospital Association, attempted to mitigate risks by introducing an institutional review board (IRB) in the regulatory bodies. 5800 IRBs registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry since 2021.[29] However, issues still need to be addressed in implementing effective IRB review and approval procedures. The substantial government funding and focus on scientific advancement have sometimes overshadowed considerations of regional cultures, ethnic minorities, and individual perspectives, particularly evident during the one-child policy era. As government policy adapts to promote public stability, such as the change from the one-child to the two-child policy,[30] research ethics should also adapt to ensure respect for the values of its represented peoples. Japan is also relatively supportive of stem cell research and therapies. Japan has a more transparent regulatory framework, allowing for faster approval of regenerative medicine products, which has led to several advanced clinical trials and therapies.[31] South Korea is also actively engaged in stem cell research and has a history of breakthroughs in cloning and embryonic stem cells.[32] However, the field is controversial, and there are issues of scientific integrity. For example, the Korean FDA fast-tracked products for approval,[33] and in another instance, the oocyte source was unclear and possibly violated ethical standards.[34] Trust is important in research, as it builds collaborative foundations between colleagues, trial participant comfort, open-mindedness for complicated and sensitive discussions, and supports regulatory procedures for stakeholders. There is a need to respect the culture’s interest, engagement, and for research and clinical trials to be transparent and have ethical oversight to promote global research discourse and trust. d. Middle East Countries in the Middle East have varying degrees of acceptance of or restrictions to policies related to using embryonic stem cells due to cultural and religious influences. Saudi Arabia has made significant contributions to stem cell research, and conducts research based on international guidelines for ethical conduct and under strict adherence to guidelines in accordance with Islamic principles. Specifically, the Saudi government and people require ESC research to adhere to Sharia law. In addition to umbilical and placental stem cells,[35] Saudi Arabia permits the use of embryonic stem cells as long as they come from miscarriages, therapeutic abortions permissible by Sharia law, or are left over from in vitro fertilization and donated to research.[36] Laws and ethical guidelines for stem cell research allow the development of research institutions such as the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, which has a cord blood bank and a stem cell registry with nearly 10,000 donors.[37] Such volume and acceptance are due to the ethical ‘permissibility’ of the donor sources, which do not conflict with religious pillars. However, some researchers err on the side of caution, choosing not to use embryos or fetal tissue as they feel it is unethical to do so.[38] Jordan has a positive research ethics culture.[39] However, there is a significant issue of lack of trust in researchers, with 45.23 percent (38.66 percent agreeing and 6.57 percent strongly agreeing) of Jordanians holding a low level of trust in researchers, compared to 81.34 percent of Jordanians agreeing that they feel safe to participate in a research trial.[40] Safety testifies to the feeling of confidence that adequate measures are in place to protect participants from harm, whereas trust in researchers could represent the confidence in researchers to act in the participants’ best interests, adhere to ethical guidelines, provide accurate information, and respect participants’ rights and dignity. One method to improve trust would be to address communication issues relevant to ESC. Legislation surrounding stem cell research has adopted specific language, especially concerning clarification “between ‘stem cells’ and ‘embryonic stem cells’” in translation.[41] Furthermore, legislation “mandates the creation of a national committee… laying out specific regulations for stem-cell banking in accordance with international standards.”[42] This broad regulation opens the door for future global engagement and maintains transparency. However, these regulations may also constrain the influence of research direction, pace, and accessibility of research outcomes. e. Europe In the European Union (EU), ethics is also principle-based, but the principles of autonomy, dignity, integrity, and vulnerability are interconnected.[43] As such, the opportunity for cohesion and concessions between individuals’ thoughts and ideals allows for a more adaptable ethics model due to the flexible principles that relate to the human experience The EU has put forth a framework in its Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being allowing member states to take different approaches. Each European state applies these principles to its specific conventions, leading to or reflecting different acceptance levels of stem cell research. [44] For example, in Germany, Lebenzusammenhang, or the coherence of life, references integrity in the unity of human culture. Namely, the personal sphere “should not be subject to external intervention.”[45] Stem cell interventions could affect this concept of bodily completeness, leading to heavy restrictions. Under the Grundgesetz, human dignity and the right to life with physical integrity are paramount.[46] The Embryo Protection Act of 1991 made producing cell lines illegal. Cell lines can be imported if approved by the Central Ethics Commission for Stem Cell Research only if they were derived before May 2007.[47] Stem cell research respects the integrity of life for the embryo with heavy specifications and intense oversight. This is vastly different in Finland, where the regulatory bodies find research more permissible in IVF excess, but only up to 14 days after fertilization.[48] Spain’s approach differs still, with a comprehensive regulatory framework.[49] Thus, research regulation can be culture-specific due to variations in applied principles. Diverse cultures call for various approaches to ethical permissibility.[50] Only an adaptive-deliberative model can address the cultural constructions of self and achieve positive, culturally sensitive stem cell research practices.[51] II. Religious Perspectives on ESC Embryonic stem cell sources are the main consideration within religious contexts. While individuals may not regard their own religious texts as authoritative or factual, religion can shape their foundations or perspectives. The Qur'an states: “And indeed We created man from a quintessence of clay. Then We placed within him a small quantity of nutfa (sperm to fertilize) in a safe place. Then We have fashioned the nutfa into an ‘alaqa (clinging clot or cell cluster), then We developed the ‘alaqa into mudgha (a lump of flesh), and We made mudgha into bones, and clothed the bones with flesh, then We brought it into being as a new creation. So Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.”[52] Many scholars of Islam estimate the time of soul installment, marked by the angel breathing in the soul to bring the individual into creation, as 120 days from conception.[53] Personhood begins at this point, and the value of life would prohibit research or experimentation that could harm the individual. If the fetus is more than 120 days old, the time ensoulment is interpreted to occur according to Islamic law, abortion is no longer permissible.[54] There are a few opposing opinions about early embryos in Islamic traditions. According to some Islamic theologians, there is no ensoulment of the early embryo, which is the source of stem cells for ESC research.[55] In Buddhism, the stance on stem cell research is not settled. The main tenets, the prohibition against harming or destroying others (ahimsa) and the pursuit of knowledge (prajña) and compassion (karuna), leave Buddhist scholars and communities divided.[56] Some scholars argue stem cell research is in accordance with the Buddhist tenet of seeking knowledge and ending human suffering. Others feel it violates the principle of not harming others. Finding the balance between these two points relies on the karmic burden of Buddhist morality. In trying to prevent ahimsa towards the embryo, Buddhist scholars suggest that to comply with Buddhist tenets, research cannot be done as the embryo has personhood at the moment of conception and would reincarnate immediately, harming the individual's ability to build their karmic burden.[57] On the other hand, the Bodhisattvas, those considered to be on the path to enlightenment or Nirvana, have given organs and flesh to others to help alleviate grieving and to benefit all.[58] Acceptance varies on applied beliefs and interpretations. Catholicism does not support embryonic stem cell research, as it entails creation or destruction of human embryos. This destruction conflicts with the belief in the sanctity of life. For example, in the Old Testament, Genesis describes humanity as being created in God’s image and multiplying on the Earth, referencing the sacred rights to human conception and the purpose of development and life. In the Ten Commandments, the tenet that one should not kill has numerous interpretations where killing could mean murder or shedding of the sanctity of life, demonstrating the high value of human personhood. In other books, the theological conception of when life begins is interpreted as in utero,[59] highlighting the inviolability of life and its formation in vivo to make a religious point for accepting such research as relatively limited, if at all.[60] The Vatican has released ethical directives to help apply a theological basis to modern-day conflicts. The Magisterium of the Church states that “unless there is a moral certainty of not causing harm,” experimentation on fetuses, fertilized cells, stem cells, or embryos constitutes a crime.[61] Such procedures would not respect the human person who exists at these stages, according to Catholicism. Damages to the embryo are considered gravely immoral and illicit.[62] Although the Catholic Church officially opposes abortion, surveys demonstrate that many Catholic people hold pro-choice views, whether due to the context of conception, stage of pregnancy, threat to the mother’s life, or for other reasons, demonstrating that practicing members can also accept some but not all tenets.[63] Some major Jewish denominations, such as the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements, are open to supporting ESC use or research as long as it is for saving a life.[64] Within Judaism, the Talmud, or study, gives personhood to the child at birth and emphasizes that life does not begin at conception:[65] “If she is found pregnant, until the fortieth day it is mere fluid,”[66] Whereas most religions prioritize the status of human embryos, the Halakah (Jewish religious law) states that to save one life, most other religious laws can be ignored because it is in pursuit of preservation.[67] Stem cell research is accepted due to application of these religious laws. We recognize that all religions contain subsets and sects. The variety of environmental and cultural differences within religious groups requires further analysis to respect the flexibility of religious thoughts and practices. We make no presumptions that all cultures require notions of autonomy or morality as under the common morality theory, which asserts a set of universal moral norms that all individuals share provides moral reasoning and guides ethical decisions.[68] We only wish to show that the interaction with morality varies between cultures and countries. III. A Flexible Ethical Approach The plurality of different moral approaches described above demonstrates that there can be no universally acceptable uniform law for ESC on a global scale. Instead of developing one standard, flexible ethical applications must be continued. We recommend local guidelines that incorporate important cultural and ethical priorities. While the Declaration of Helsinki is more relevant to people in clinical trials receiving ESC products, in keeping with the tradition of protections for research subjects, consent of the donor is an ethical requirement for ESC donation in many jurisdictions including the US, Canada, and Europe.[69] The Declaration of Helsinki provides a reference point for regulatory standards and could potentially be used as a universal baseline for obtaining consent prior to gamete or embryo donation. For instance, in Columbia University’s egg donor program for stem cell research, donors followed standard screening protocols and “underwent counseling sessions that included information as to the purpose of oocyte donation for research, what the oocytes would be used for, the risks and benefits of donation, and process of oocyte stimulation” to ensure transparency for consent.[70] The program helped advance stem cell research and provided clear and safe research methods with paid participants. Though paid participation or covering costs of incidental expenses may not be socially acceptable in every culture or context,[71] and creating embryos for ESC research is illegal in many jurisdictions, Columbia’s program was effective because of the clear and honest communications with donors, IRBs, and related stakeholders. This example demonstrates that cultural acceptance of scientific research and of the idea that an egg or embryo does not have personhood is likely behind societal acceptance of donating eggs for ESC research. As noted, many countries do not permit the creation of embryos for research. Proper communication and education regarding the process and purpose of stem cell research may bolster comprehension and garner more acceptance. “Given the sensitive subject material, a complete consent process can support voluntary participation through trust, understanding, and ethical norms from the cultures and morals participants value. This can be hard for researchers entering countries of different socioeconomic stability, with different languages and different societal values.[72] An adequate moral foundation in medical ethics is derived from the cultural and religious basis that informs knowledge and actions.[73] Understanding local cultural and religious values and their impact on research could help researchers develop humility and promote inclusion. IV. Concerns Some may argue that if researchers all adhere to one ethics standard, protection will be satisfied across all borders, and the global public will trust researchers. However, defining what needs to be protected and how to define such research standards is very specific to the people to which standards are applied. We suggest that applying one uniform guide cannot accurately protect each individual because we all possess our own perceptions and interpretations of social values.[74] Therefore, the issue of not adjusting to the moral pluralism between peoples in applying one standard of ethics can be resolved by building out ethics models that can be adapted to different cultures and religions. Other concerns include medical tourism, which may promote health inequities.[75] Some countries may develop and approve products derived from ESC research before others, compromising research ethics or drug approval processes. There are also concerns about the sale of unauthorized stem cell treatments, for example, those without FDA approval in the United States. Countries with robust research infrastructures may be tempted to attract medical tourists, and some customers will have false hopes based on aggressive publicity of unproven treatments.[76] For example, in China, stem cell clinics can market to foreign clients who are not protected under the regulatory regimes. Companies employ a marketing strategy of “ethically friendly” therapies. Specifically, in the case of Beike, China’s leading stem cell tourism company and sprouting network, ethical oversight of administrators or health bureaus at one site has “the unintended consequence of shifting questionable activities to another node in Beike's diffuse network.”[77] In contrast, Jordan is aware of stem cell research’s potential abuse and its own status as a “health-care hub.” Jordan’s expanded regulations include preserving the interests of individuals in clinical trials and banning private companies from ESC research to preserve transparency and the integrity of research practices.[78] The social priorities of the community are also a concern. The ISSCR explicitly states that guidelines “should be periodically revised to accommodate scientific advances, new challenges, and evolving social priorities.”[79] The adaptable ethics model extends this consideration further by addressing whether research is warranted given the varying degrees of socioeconomic conditions, political stability, and healthcare accessibilities and limitations. An ethical approach would require discussion about resource allocation and appropriate distribution of funds.[80] CONCLUSION While some religions emphasize the sanctity of life from conception, which may lead to public opposition to ESC research, others encourage ESC research due to its potential for healing and alleviating human pain. Many countries have special regulations that balance local views on embryonic personhood, the benefits of research as individual or societal goods, and the protection of human research subjects. To foster understanding and constructive dialogue, global policy frameworks should prioritize the protection of universal human rights, transparency, and informed consent. In addition to these foundational global policies, we recommend tailoring local guidelines to reflect the diverse cultural and religious perspectives of the populations they govern. Ethics models should be adapted to local populations to effectively establish research protections, growth, and possibilities of stem cell research. For example, in countries with strong beliefs in the moral sanctity of embryos or heavy religious restrictions, an adaptive model can allow for discussion instead of immediate rejection. In countries with limited individual rights and voice in science policy, an adaptive model ensures cultural, moral, and religious views are taken into consideration, thereby building social inclusion. While this ethical consideration by the government may not give a complete voice to every individual, it will help balance policies and maintain the diverse perspectives of those it affects. Embracing an adaptive ethics model of ESC research promotes open-minded dialogue and respect for the importance of human belief and tradition. By actively engaging with cultural and religious values, researchers can better handle disagreements and promote ethical research practices that benefit each society. This brief exploration of the religious and cultural differences that impact ESC research reveals the nuances of relative ethics and highlights a need for local policymakers to apply a more intense adaptive model. - [1] Poliwoda, S., Noor, N., Downs, E., Schaaf, A., Cantwell, A., Ganti, L., Kaye, A. D., Mosel, L. I., Carroll, C. B., Viswanath, O., & Urits, I. (2022). Stem cells: a comprehensive review of origins and emerging clinical roles in medical practice. 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Accountability in research, 13(1), 101–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/08989620600634193. [35] Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics, 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6 [36]Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies. https://www.aabb.org/regulatory-and-advocacy/regulatory-affairs/regulatory-for-cellular-therapies/international-competent-authorities/saudi-arabia [37] Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: Interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics, 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6 [38] Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: Interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics, 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6 Culturally, autonomy practices follow a relational autonomy approach based on a paternalistic deontological health care model. The adherence to strict international research policies and religious pillars within the regulatory environment is a great foundation for research ethics. However, there is a need to develop locally targeted ethics approaches for research (as called for in Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics, 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6), this decision-making approach may help advise a research decision model. For more on the clinical cultural autonomy approaches, see: Alabdullah, Y. Y., Alzaid, E., Alsaad, S., Alamri, T., Alolayan, S. W., Bah, S., & Aljoudi, A. S. (2022). Autonomy and paternalism in Shared decision‐making in a Saudi Arabian tertiary hospital: A cross‐sectional study. Developing World Bioethics, 23(3), 260–268. https://doi.org/10.1111/dewb.12355; Bukhari, A. A. (2017). Universal Principles of Bioethics and Patient Rights in Saudi Arabia (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/124; Ladha, S., Nakshawani, S. A., Alzaidy, A., & Tarab, B. (2023, October 26). Islam and Bioethics: What We All Need to Know. Columbia University School of Professional Studies. https://sps.columbia.edu/events/islam-and-bioethics-what-we-all-need-know [39] Ababneh, M. A., Al-Azzam, S. I., Alzoubi, K., Rababa’h, A., & Al Demour, S. (2021). Understanding and attitudes of the Jordanian public about clinical research ethics. Research Ethics, 17(2), 228-241. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016120966779 [40] Ababneh, M. A., Al-Azzam, S. I., Alzoubi, K., Rababa’h, A., & Al Demour, S. (2021). Understanding and attitudes of the Jordanian public about clinical research ethics. Research Ethics, 17(2), 228-241. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016120966779 [41] Dajani, R. (2014). Jordan’s stem-cell law can guide the Middle East. Nature 510, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/510189a [42] Dajani, R. (2014). Jordan’s stem-cell law can guide the Middle East. Nature 510, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/510189a [43] The EU’s definition of autonomy relates to the capacity for creating ideas, moral insight, decisions, and actions without constraint, personal responsibility, and informed consent. However, the EU views autonomy as not completely able to protect individuals and depends on other principles, such as dignity, which “expresses the intrinsic worth and fundamental equality of all human beings.” Rendtorff, J.D., Kemp, P. (2019). Four Ethical Principles in European Bioethics and Biolaw: Autonomy, Dignity, Integrity and Vulnerability. In: Valdés, E., Lecaros, J. (eds) Biolaw and Policy in the Twenty-First Century. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 78. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05903-3_3 [44] Council of Europe. Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (ETS No. 164) https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=treaty-detail&treatynum=164 (forbidding the creation of embryos for research purposes only, and suggests embryos in vitro have protections.); Also see Drabiak-Syed B. K. (2013). New President, New Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Policy: Comparative International Perspectives and Embryonic Stem Cell Research Laws in France. Biotechnology Law Report, 32(6), 349–356. https://doi.org/10.1089/blr.2013.9865 [45] Rendtorff, J.D., Kemp, P. (2019). Four Ethical Principles in European Bioethics and Biolaw: Autonomy, Dignity, Integrity and Vulnerability. In: Valdés, E., Lecaros, J. (eds) Biolaw and Policy in the Twenty-First Century. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 78. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05903-3_3 [46] Tomuschat, C., Currie, D. P., Kommers, D. P., & Kerr, R. (Trans.). (1949, May 23). Basic law for the Federal Republic of Germany. https://www.btg-bestellservice.de/pdf/80201000.pdf [47] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Germany. Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-germany [48] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Finland. Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-finland [49] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Spain. Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-spain [50] Some sources to consider regarding ethics models or regulatory oversights of other cultures not covered: Kara MA. Applicability of the principle of respect for autonomy: the perspective of Turkey. J Med Ethics. 2007 Nov;33(11):627-30. doi: 10.1136/jme.2006.017400. PMID: 17971462; PMCID: PMC2598110. Ugarte, O. N., & Acioly, M. A. (2014). The principle of autonomy in Brazil: one needs to discuss it ... Revista do Colegio Brasileiro de Cirurgioes, 41(5), 374–377. https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-69912014005013 Bharadwaj, A., & Glasner, P. E. (2012). Local cells, global science: The rise of embryonic stem cell research in India. Routledge. For further research on specific European countries regarding ethical and regulatory framework, we recommend this database: Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Europe. Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-europe [51] Klitzman, R. (2006). Complications of culture in obtaining informed consent. The American Journal of Bioethics, 6(1), 20–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265160500394671 see also: Ekmekci, P. E., & Arda, B. (2017). Interculturalism and Informed Consent: Respecting Cultural Differences without Breaching Human Rights. Cultura (Iasi, Romania), 14(2), 159–172.; For why trust is important in research, see also: Gray, B., Hilder, J., Macdonald, L., Tester, R., Dowell, A., & Stubbe, M. (2017). Are research ethics guidelines culturally competent? Research Ethics, 13(1), 23-41. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016116650235 [52] The Qur'an (M. Khattab, Trans.). (1965). Al-Mu’minun, 23: 12-14. https://quran.com/23 [53] Lenfest, Y. (2017, December 8). Islam and the beginning of human life. Bill of Health. https://blog.petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2017/12/08/islam-and-the-beginning-of-human-life/ [54] Aksoy, S. (2005). Making regulations and drawing up legislation in Islamic countries under conditions of uncertainty, with special reference to embryonic stem cell research. Journal of Medical Ethics, 31:399-403.; see also: Mahmoud, Azza. "Islamic Bioethics: National Regulations and Guidelines of Human Stem Cell Research in the Muslim World." Master's thesis, Chapman University, 2022. https://doi.org/10.36837/ chapman.000386 [55] Rashid, R. (2022). When does Ensoulment occur in the Human Foetus. Journal of the British Islamic Medical Association, 12(4). ISSN 2634 8071. https://www.jbima.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2-Ethics-3_-Ensoulment_Rafaqat.pdf. [56] Sivaraman, M. & Noor, S. (2017). Ethics of embryonic stem cell research according to Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic, and Islamic religions: perspective from Malaysia. Asian Biomedicine,8(1) 43-52. https://doi.org/10.5372/1905-7415.0801.260 [57] Jafari, M., Elahi, F., Ozyurt, S. & Wrigley, T. (2007). 4. Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.), Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press. https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005 [58] Lecso, P. A. (1991). The Bodhisattva Ideal and Organ Transplantation. Journal of Religion and Health, 30(1), 35–41. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27510629; Bodhisattva, S. (n.d.). The Key of Becoming a Bodhisattva. A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life. http://www.buddhism.org/Sutras/2/BodhisattvaWay.htm [59] There is no explicit religious reference to when life begins or how to conduct research that interacts with the concept of life. However, these are relevant verses pertaining to how the fetus is viewed. ((King James Bible. (1999). Oxford University Press. (original work published 1769)) Jerimiah 1: 5 “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee…” In prophet Jerimiah’s insight, God set him apart as a person known before childbirth, a theme carried within the Psalm of David. Psalm 139: 13-14 “…Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” These verses demonstrate David’s respect for God as an entity that would know of all man’s thoughts and doings even before birth. [60] It should be noted that abortion is not supported as well. [61] The Vatican. (1987, February 22). Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation Replies to Certain Questions of the Day. Congregation For the Doctrine of the Faith. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19870222_respect-for-human-life_en.html [62] The Vatican. (2000, August 25). Declaration On the Production and the Scientific and Therapeutic Use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Pontifical Academy for Life. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdlife/documents/rc_pa_acdlife_doc_20000824_cellule-staminali_en.html; Ohara, N. (2003). Ethical Consideration of Experimentation Using Living Human Embryos: The Catholic Church’s Position on Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Retrieved from https://article.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/30/2-3/pii/2003018/77-81.pdf. [63] Smith, G. A. (2022, May 23). Like Americans overall, Catholics vary in their abortion views, with regular mass attenders most opposed. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/05/23/like-americans-overall-catholics-vary-in-their-abortion-views-with-regular-mass-attenders-most-opposed/ [64] Rosner, F., & Reichman, E. (2002). Embryonic stem cell research in Jewish law. 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Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.), Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press. https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005 [68] Gert, B. (2007). Common morality: Deciding what to do. Oxford Univ. Press. [69] World Medical Association (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA, 310(20), 2191–2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053 Declaration of Helsinki – WMA – The World Medical Association.; see also: National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1979). The Belmont report: Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research. 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