[Cognitive differences between Taoism and medical science in the location of "Jiaji"].

The differences in the cognition on the location of "Jiaji" between Taoism and medical science are summarized through literature searching. In the medical field, "Jiaji" is generally described as "Jiaji Xue (point)", which is considered as EX-B 2, while, in Taoism, it is expressed as "Jiaji Guan (pass)", focusing on the crucial parts of the body. Medical scholars lay their attention to the distance of "Jiaji" lateral to the spine, in which "Jia" (place on both sides) is mostly considered. In comparison, the Taoists emphasize the central axis on the back of human body expressed as "Jiaji Gu (bone)" and "Jiaji Sanguan (three crucial parts)", in which, "Ji (spine)" is the key. Due to the therapeutic purposes of acupuncture, medical scholars focus on the communication of "Jiaji" with the body surface ultimately. Based on the inner perspective of Taoism, "Jiaji" is connoted to be the three-dimensional structural space located deeply inside of the body. The cognitive differences in the location of "Jiaji" between Taoism and medical science reflect the discrepancy in the cognitive dimensions and approaches to the human body between them, which provide the references for the textual research of "Jiaji" in traditional Chinese medicine.

Mammalian Cell-Line-Expressed CD2v Protein of African Swine Fever Virus Provides Partial Protection against the HLJ/18 Strain in the Early Infection Stage.

A cell line expressing the CD2v protein of ASFV was generated. The efficient expression of CD2v protein was determined by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. The CD2v protein was Ni-affinity purified from the supernatant of cell cultures. The CD2v-expressing cells showed properties of hemadsorption, and the secreted CD2v protein exhibited hemagglutinating activity. The antigenicity and immunoprotection ability of CD2v were evaluated by immunizing pigs alone, combined with a cell-line-expressed p30 protein or triple combined with p30 and K205R protein. Immunized pigs were challenged with the highly virulent ASFV strain HLJ/18. Virus challenge results showed that CD2v immunization alone could provide partial protection at the early infection stage. Protein p30 did not show synergistic protection effects in immunization combined with CD2v. Interestingly, immunization with the triple combination of CD2V, p30 and K205R reversed the protection effect. The viremia onset time was delayed, and one pig out of three recovered after the challenge. The pig recovered from ASFV clinical symptoms, the rectal temperature returned to normal levels and the viremia was cleared. The mechanism of this protection effect warrants further investigation.

A Novel Conserved Linear Neutralizing Epitope on the Receptor-Binding Domain of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein.

The continuous emergence of new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has made it challenging to develop broad-spectrum prophylactic vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. Here, we have identified a broad-spectrum neutralizing antibody and its highly conserved epitope in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein (S) S1 subunit of SARS-CoV-2. First, nine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the RBD or S1 were generated; of these, one RBD-specific MAb, 22.9-1, was selected for its broad RBD-binding abilities and neutralizing activities against SARS-CoV-2 variants. An epitope of 22.9-1 was fine-mapped with overlapping and truncated peptide fusion proteins. The core sequence of the epitope, 405D(N)EVR(S)QIAPGQ414, was identified on the internal surface of the up-state RBD. The epitope was conserved in nearly all variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2. MAb 22.9-1 and its novel epitope could be beneficial for research on broad-spectrum prophylactic vaccines and therapeutic antibody drugs. IMPORTANCE The continuous emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 has caused great challenge in vaccine design and therapeutic antibody development. In this study, we selected a broad-spectrum neutralizing mouse monoclonal antibody which recognized a conserved linear B-cell epitope located on the internal surface of RBD. This MAb could neutralize all variants until now. The epitope was conserved in all variants. This work provides new insights in developing broad-spectrum prophylactic vaccines and therapeutic antibodies.

[Distinguishment of XU Qiu-fu's thirteen ghost points].

In addition to the well-known thirteen ghost points in Qianjin Fang (Important Formulas worth a Thousand Gold Pieces), "XU Qiu-fu's thirteen ghost points" is recorded in other medical books. The contents of "XU Qiu-fu's thirteen ghost points" are not exactly same among these medical books, which mainly focus on the nomination and selection of the ghost points. Even though, there are many similarity when compared with the thirteen ghost points in Qianjin Fang in terms of acupoint selection, acupoint location and the sequence of needle insertion, as well as the therapeutic methods. The authors believe that "XU Qiu-fu's thirteen ghost points" is actually adapted based on the framework of the thirteen ghost points in Qianjin Fang.

Comprehensive mapping of antigenic linear B-cell epitopes on K205R protein of African swine fever virus with monoclonal antibodies.

African swine fever virus causes an acute, highly contagious swine disease with high mortality, leading to enormous losses in the pig industry. The K205R, a nonstructural protein of African swine fever virus, is abundantly expressed in the cytoplasm of infected cells at the early stage of infection and induces a strong immune response. However, to date, the antigenic epitopes of this immunodeterminant have not been characterized. In the present study, the K205R protein was expressed in a mammalian cell line and purified using Ni-affinity chromatography. Furthermore, three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs; 5D6, 7A8, and 7H10) against K205R were generated. Indirect immunofluorescence assay and western blot results showed that all three mAbs recognized native and denatured K205R in African swine fever virus (ASFV)-infected cells. To identify the epitopes of the mAbs, a series of overlapping short peptides were designed and expressed as fusion proteins with maltose-binding protein. Subsequently, the peptide fusion proteins were probed with monoclonal antibodies using western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The three target epitopes were fine-mapped; the core sequences of recognized by the mAbs 5D6, 7A8, and 7H10 were identified as 157FLTPEIQAILDE168, 154REKFLTP160, and 136PTNAMFFTRSEWA148, respectively. Probing with sera from ASFV-infected pigs in a dot blot assay demonstrated that epitope 7H10 was the immunodominant epitope of K205R. Sequence alignment showed that all epitopes were conserved across ASFV strains and genotypes. To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize the epitopes of the antigenic K205R protein of ASFV. These findings may serve as a basis for the development of serological diagnostic methods and subunit vaccines.

[Paradigm transformation from structural meridians to functional meridians：a hypothesis of "the brain controls the meridians"].

The "meridian" is the core concept of acupuncture medicine. It can be said that almost all the theories and clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion in traditional Chinese medicine are based on this concept. However, up to now, scientists have failed in finding the "meridian" described in Chinese classic textbooks and fall into the dilemma of the meridian essence research. In fact, the meridian is independent of currently known anatomical tissues. Nevertheless, researches obtained highly valuable outcomes of life science through long-term studies, especially the cerebral science endowed the meridian theory with new connotations. The modern meridian theory is composed of new knowledge and traditional meridian knowledge. In the present paper, we put forward a new hypothesis that "the brain controls the meridians", and a new academic paradigm, that is, the meridians research should turn from looking for the structure of meridian to exploring the functions of meridian, which can be realized with the help of brain function.

[Exploring theory of contemporary acupuncture manipulation and its application characteristics: in the perspective of acupuncture technique in Acupuncture and Moxibustion].

Through reviewing acupuncture technique in various editions of the state-compiled teaching material of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the hierarchical structure, definitions, and variations of acupuncture manipulation were collected, the theory of contemporary acupuncture manipulation as well as its application characteristics were explored. In the perspective of the hierarchical structure, acupuncture technique with filiform needle is predominated. It is implied in the description of the definition of acupuncture technique that the devices of acupuncture have been developed from single form to multivariant one and the stimulation regions have no longer limited to acupoints. The types of acupuncture manipulations have been enriched gradually during the development of teaching materials. But a part of acupuncture manipulation have been deleted from the knowledge hierarchy of acupuncture technique in textbooks. Acupuncture and Moxibustion is comprehensive and normative, which is important in the inheritance and application of the theory of acupuncture and moxibustion. However, it has to some extent restricted the diversified development of knowledge on acupuncture manipulation.

[Beginning of foreign exchange of acupuncture-moxibustion in New China: the whole story of the experts from the former Soviet Union studying acupuncture-moxibustion in China in 1956].

Through checking the archives from China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS), the event that the experts from the former Soviet Union visiting China and learning acupuncture-moxibustion in 1956 was sorted out. In 1956, under the framework of Sino-Sovien Agreement on Scientific and Technology Cooperation, 3 medical experts assigned by the former Soviet Union came to China for the investigation and study of acupuncture-moxibustion. Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, CACMS was in charge of this activity at that time. The Institute had developed a detailed plan, in which, the teaching schedule was designed on the base of New Acupuncture and Moxibustion written by ZHU Lian and ZHU Lian herself gave the lecture. After 3-month study, the experts had mastered the basic theory and clinical techniques of acupuncture-moxibustion and had launched the relevant clinical and scientific work of acupuncture-moxibustion successfully after returning to their country. This event opens up the foreign exchange of acupuncture-moxibustion in New China and provides the foundation for international training and higher education of acupuncture-moxibustion thereafter.

[Constitution and flow of knowledge in acupuncture-moxibustion discipline from three debatable questions].

The paper studied the constitution and flow of knowledge in acupuncture-moxibustion discipline based on three questions. (1) Can a doctor of acupuncture-moxibustion be incapable of patient treatment? (2) Can acupuncture-moxibustion practice without the theoretical foundation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) be recognized as an authentic acupuncture? (3) Are scholars who had not learned acupuncture-moxibustion incompetent in making any acupuncture-related remarks? The knowledge of acupuncture-moxibustion discipline can be divided into two parts, its core and periphery. The core is the theory and practice of acupuncture and moxibustion, witch constitutes the academic knowledge system of acupuncture and moxibustion, while the periphery absorbs interdisciplinary intellectual sources, and they commonly constitute the knowledge system of acupuncture-moxibustion discipline and the knowledge flows through time, space, and the crowd regardless of its core or periphery.

[Formation, evolution and differentiation of acupunctology discipline in view of interdiscipline].

Acupuncture-moxibustion, acupunctology and acupunctology discipline are three closely related concepts, with the first one being covered by the later one. In the present paper, we analyzed the formation, evolution and differentiation of acupunctology discipline and its significance. The knowledge system and academic institutions of acupuncture-moxibustion combine together to construct the acupunctology discipline. The introduction of interdisciplinary methods and academic perspectives is the core motivation of the formation, development and evolution of the acupunctology discipline, which not only enriches its problema-tic domains, but also interacts with the academically organizing force. The participation of interdiscipline promotes the broader and deeper development of the knowledge of acupunctology, and the knowledge expansion is also the inevitable result of infiltration of cross-disciplines. Hence, the maturity of the acupuntology discipline unavoidably leads to differentiation of the subject. At present, the acupunctology discipline can be divided into four main branches: clinical acupuncture-moxibustion, techniques, mechanisms and humanities of acupuncture and moxibustion. Currently, the acupunctology subject has formed a direction of expansion in multiple dimensions of the knowledge system due to continuous collision, nourishment and infiltration from many other related disciplines. However, because it is from the classical learning, its knowledge system inevitably has the characteristics of inertial stability, insufficient motivation and vitality in breaking the traditional framework. These issues now need being faced up to and being solved at the moment.

[Periodization of the history of acupuncture-moxibustion discipline and its research methods and challenges].

As a discipline, the independent knowledge system of acupuncture-moxibustion has been established in Wei-Jin Dynasties, while the education and management institutes have tended to be formalized since Northern and Southern Dynasties and continue to late imperial period. In the period of the Republic of China, acupuncture-moxibustion discipline began to be constructed intentionally, and the knowledge system, education institutes and institution have changed significantly with the characteristics of modern science. Now acupuncture has fully met the conditions of modern subjects. The study of the history of acupuncture-moxibustion discipline needs the perspective of internal and external history integration, focusing on the differences from academic history and educational history. In addition, four important topics in the current research of the history of acupuncture-moxibustion discipline are suggested: the relationship between acupuncture- moxibustion discipline and related disciplines, scientific value and technology philosophy, international recognition and branch disciplines.

Simultaneous detection of classical swine fever virus and porcine circovirus 3 by SYBR green I-based duplex real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.

In the present study, the SYBR green I-based duplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was developed for simultaneous detection of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3). The assay was used to detect both CSFV and PCV3 in one sample by their distinct melting temperatures (melting peaks at 87°C for CSFV and 81.5 °C for PCV3), and no specific fluorescence signals were detected for other non-targeted porcine pathogens. The assay had a high degree of linearity (R2 > 0.998) with the detection limits of 23 copies/µL for CSFV and 36 copies/µL for PCV3, and exhibited high repeatability and reproducibility with a low coefficient of variation below 2.0% in both intra- and inter-assay. In this study, 130 clinical samples collected from sick pigs in the field were tested by this assay with the positive rates of 9.23% (12/130) for CSFV and 21.54% (28/130) for PCV3 respectively, and the positive rate of CSFV and PCV3 co-infection was 6.92% (9/130). Our results showed that the developed method was a reliable diagnostic tool to monitor and survey CSFV, PCV3 and CSFV/PCV3 co-infection in the field.

[Brief analysis on The Latest Practicing Western Acupuncture].

The Latest Practicing Western Acupuncture, a book of acupuncture translated from Japanese version, The Practicing Acupuncture Collections, is considered as the earliest acupuncture book that introduced anatomy into acupoints in modern times of China. What the book said are very abundant, which mainly about the history of acupuncture, anatomy of the acupoints, acupuncture treatment, and case report. The Latest Practicing Western Acupuncture was compiled and published by the scientific acupuncture tide that time; western knowledge are very rich in content, introducing anatomy into acupoints depiction, which is one of distinctive characteristics. Western medical names of disease are also employed by this book, that inspired so much for traditional acupuncture innovation of China. This article outlines the book's profile, compiler's information, the main contents of each chapter, and takes a brief discussion on the book's content characteristics and the influence on acupuncture of China later.

[Exploration on Zhongguo Zhenjiuxue (Chinese Acupuncture-Moxibustion Science) in the Republic of China].

Zhongguo Zhenjiuxue (Chinese Acupuncture-Moxibustion Science) is a professional periodical of acupuncture-moxibustion, created by YANG Yi-ya in Peking, the Republic of China and issued nationally. In this paper, the editorial board, distribution, main category and content were collected and analyzed systematically. It is shown that acupuncture-moxibustion scholars in the Republic of China had made the active exploration for promoting the exchange and progress of acupuncture and moxibusiton. This periodical displays the clinical experiences and academic thoughts of acupuncture-moxibustion masters in that era and their responsibility to the spreading of medical information. Moreover, this periodical is one of the platforms for the integration of acupuncture-moxibustion with western medicine in the Republic of China, as well as for the exchange of the updated knowledge. This periodical is the important literature on acupuncture and moxibustion in the era of the Republic of China and is valuable for the literature and historical researches.

[Discussion on theoretical history of Jingluo: a review of Thousands of Years Innovations of Jingluo: Theoretical and Clinical Thinkings Through the Ages by ZHANG Jian-bin].

The author reviewed the book of Thousands of Years Innovations of Jingluo: Theoretical and Clinical Thinkings Through the Ages by ZHANG Jian-bin, and put forth some evaluations, believing that the book has 4 extraordinary perspectives, clear definition for Jingluo theory, clinical thinking angle, zangfu-jingluo integrating narrative, and discipline structure maintaining. In addition, the values, trends andmethods of Jingluo theory research were also proposed in this book review.

[Impact of Japanese Medical Acupuncture Literature Introduced Before 1949 on Development of Chinese Acupuncture-moxibustion].

The literature of Japanese medical acupuncture introduced before 1949 has a definite impact on Chinese acupuncture and moxibustion in the period of Republic of China and the early period of the establishment of the People's Republic of China. In the present paper, the authors introduce its impact from: 1) Chinese medical works on acupuncture and moxibustion absorbed a lot of western medicine knowledge, and interpreted some underlying mechanisms chiefly according to the theory of nerve, blood and endocrine, including the meridian-collateral theory based on the structures of blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves, etc.; 2) In some Chinese clinical books, some Japanese new techniques as "tube-needling" (sparrow-pecking needling, etc.) were introduced, the acupuncture treatment of disorders was discussed from the nomenclature of western medicine and some operative standards (dissection of acupuncture needles, etc.) in clinical practice were accepted; 3) Some western medicine courses, and subject settings were introduced in Chinese acupuncture education. In general, Japanese acupuncture literature introduced before 1949 promotes integration of traditional acupuncture theory and western medicine in the early period of new China, enriches practical techniques in clinical practice and accelerates the development of acupuncture education in some way.

[On Ziwuliuzhu (midnight-noon ebb-flow) needling of acupuncture theory and rigidification process of acupuncture theory in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties].

The Ziwuliuzhu (midnight-noon ebb-flow) needling of acupuncture theory was generally considered to be a representative perfect example of traditional acupuncture theory. It is created in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, and has been being frequently cited thereafter. It is mainly derived from and inherits the theory of Wuxing (five-elements) doctrine of traditional Chinese culture in ancient China, for which the Wushu-points, five specific acupoints on the distal ends of the arm and leg, i. e., Jing (Well-points), Xing (Spring-point), Shu (stream-point), Jing (river-point) and He (sea-point) to match the Wuxing so as to calculate their open time according to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches designating the years, months, days and hours in ancient China. Although it has been repeatedly copied in Chinese medical books, this theory was not really used by clinical acupuncturists in the Jin, Yuan and following dynasties. The present theory came up in the special time, primarily being derived from the combination of medical and Confucian theories in the Song Dynasty. Nowadays, we should thoroughly make known its connotations, and do not make heedless affirmation and clinical validation.

[Practice and diversion of acupuncture-moxibustion scientization in modern times: taking ZHU Lian as the center].

By following the acupuncture scholar ZHU Lian's academic thought in modern times, and comparing with other contemporary acupuncture scholars, it is found that since the Republic of China, there has been an obvious practice tendency of scientization among academic thoughts of acupuncture, especially in ZHU Lian. This tendency of scientization continues until the early stage of New China. Accompanied with the process of acupuncture high education, academic thoughts represented by acupuncture-moxibustion textbook are different from scientization that is represented by ZHU Lian, and the basic path of acupuncture-moxibustion education and academic theory changed from here.

[Location of disease: acupoint view from the angle of clinic].

Doctor WANG Zhi-zhong in the Southern Song Dynasty proposed the acupoint view of "location of disease", which explained the connotation of acupoints from the angle of clinic. Its meaning included two levels, one level meant pathological change on the body surface, that was the location of acupuncture diagnosis-treatment, and the other one indicated that the body surface which was the reflecting point of pathological change on the distal area or inside the body was the location of acupuncture diagnosis-treatment. The specific connotations of clinical acupoints were: location of pathogenic factors or reflection of pathogenic factors, regularity between acupoints un- der disease and specific organ, morphological differences and positioning variability after acupoints under disease, and acupoints examination, diagnosis and treatment.