From the initial cloning of animal-salamander to the first cloning of primate-monkey, nuclear transfer research spans a substantial history of 96 years. Throughout this nearly century-long research journey, it has not only tackled a range of significant scientific questions but has also found applications in various practical contexts. In this context, I offer a comprehensive overview of the developmental history, practical applications, and present status of nuclear transfer research.

Various "Four Great Inventions" of ChinaYiren Qin1,* 1Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.*Correspondence address: [email protected]             For the Chinese, the "Four Great Inventions" are what they take great pride in and never tire of mentioning. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the popular song "Chinese Beauty" by Tian Zhen sang, "In the past, we had many world records, the Four Great Inventions are widely acclaimed." The Beijing Olympics also specifically showcased China's "Four Great Inventions" to the world. 1.      Technical Four Great Inventions         The evolution of the "Four Great Inventions" was first recognized by Western scholars as the "Three Great Inventions," namely printing, gunpowder, and the compass, as proposed by Francis Bacon. This later gained acknowledgment from thinkers like Malthus and Marx. Bacon stated in "The New Instrument," "Printing, gunpowder, and the compass have changed the entire appearance and situation of things throughout the world: the first in academic aspects, the second in military matters, and the third in navigation." Marx inherited Bacon's ideas, believing that "gunpowder, the compass, and printing – these are the three great inventions which heralded the arrival of bourgeois society. Gunpowder shattered the knightly feudal hierarchy, the compass opened up the world market and colonial territories, and printing became the instrument of the new learning, the last and mightiest lever for the development of human mind." The British sinologist Matuzi pointed out that the three great inventions of the Chinese had an extraordinary impetus on the development of European civilization. Later, the missionary and sinologist Joseph first included papermaking in the forementioned three great inventions, which is now what we commonly refer to as the "Four Great Inventions." American scholar Thomas Francis Carter first explicitly put forward the term "Four Great Inventions": "The spread of the Four Great Inventions in Europe at the beginning of the Renaissance played a significant role in the formation of the modern world. ... These Four Great Inventions, as well as other inventions, mostly originated from China."            I refer to the above "Four Great Inventions" as the "Technical Four Great Inventions."2.      Feudal Four Great Inventions             During the New Culture Movement, figures like Hu Shi, Zhou Zuoren, and Lu Xun criticized the feudal culture of China, pointing out another set of four great inventions that truly impacted the Chinese people: eunuchs, foot binding, eight-legged essays, and opium consumption. I refer to these as the "Feudal Four Great Inventions." As Mr. Hu Shi said, "In this world, each of them alone is enough to form a system."          The "Feudal Four Great Inventions" had a far greater impact on the Chinese people, both physically and spiritually, as well as on the entire culture of China, than the "Technical Four Great Inventions." They inflicted the most direct harm and devastation on the Chinese people, lasting for hundreds to over a thousand years, even amounting to a kind of trampling on human nature. It is lamentable that, as Zhou Zuoren said, "Japan imitated Chinese culture, yet they did not adopt eunuchs from the Tang Dynasty, foot binding from the Song Dynasty, eight-legged essays from the Ming Dynasty, or opium from the Qing Dynasty."3.      New Four Great Inventions         In contemporary China, it has developed into the world's second-largest economy. In recent years, the concept of the "New Four Great Inventions" has been proposed, namely: high-speed rail, online shopping, Alipay, and shared bikes, hailed as "Marking China, Inspiring the World." It is stated that "In the 'New Four Great Inventions,' high-speed rail and online shopping did not originate in China, but the Chinese, with their wisdom and creativity, have erected a world pinnacle of 'new inventions' and turned them into a shining 'Chinese calling card'." They describe the high-speed rail as "The world's first in total mileage and expanding globally"; online shopping as "Move your fingertips, bringing shops and restaurants to your home"; Alipay as "QR codes replacing the change baskets of vegetable-selling aunties"; and shared bikes as "Green transportation, 'just go when you want to'." However, the BBC's Chinese and English website reports that the "New Four Great Inventions" were not invented on the Chinese mainland; some similar products existed decades ago. It is just that the Chinese mainland is leading in terms of technological refinement and promotion mode.4.      Everlasting Four Great Inventions          With the highly modernized and Westernized culture and technology in contemporary China, most of China's traditional culture and inventions have gradually faded and been eliminated. In recent years, the government has vigorously promoted and carried forward traditional Chinese culture, emphasizing that "without the prosperity and flourishing of Chinese culture, there would be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." However, many of China's traditional cultural inventions such as Chinese calligraphy, Peking opera, Go, silk, suona, erhu, traditional Chinese medicine, etc., have relatively small influence in today's world. Even in China, they are gradually declining and moving towards the point of being declared world heritage. However, a few distinctive Chinese inventions are still flourishing worldwide and influencing people around the world. These are: porcelain, tea, chopsticks, and Chinese delicacies such as hotpot, dumplings, and tofu. I refer to these four great inventions as the "Everlasting Four Great Inventions." Below, I will elaborate on these "Four Great Inventions":4.1  Porcelain                  Also known as china or ceramic, it is composed of materials such as porcelain stone and kaolin, with an outer glaze or painted design. It needs to be fired at high temperatures (around 1200°C–1400°C) to be produced. The English word for porcelain is "porcelain," and in some English-speaking countries, it is also referred to as "china." The reason for this is that ceramics were first imported from China. Many believe that the English word "China" is named after "china," which inverts the logical sequence. China was the earliest production site of porcelain, and the high-fired clay-glazed vessels excavated from the Shang Dynasty in Zhengzhou are considered the earliest known porcelain in the world. China was the largest producer and exporter of porcelain in the world for a long period in history. The influence of porcelain on humanity is immense, from art to everyday porcelainware (tableware, bathroom ware, etc.), and even to high-end industries such as automobile and aircraft manufacturing, semiconductors, construction, aerospace, biomedicine, etc. In today's high-tech era, it is still widely used.4.2  Tea            Originating in China, tea was introduced to Korea and Japan during the Tang Dynasty. In the seventeenth century, tea was brought to Europe and later spread worldwide. The tea-making techniques of various countries around the world are directly or indirectly derived from China. The British scholar Alan Macfarlane stated in his work "Green Gold: The Empire of Tea," "Only tea has successfully conquered the world." Today, Chinese tea still exerts an enduring influence on the world.4.3  Chopsticks            Originating in China, they are the primary utensil in most Asian countries, and Asian immigrant communities around the world still use chopsticks as their main eating utensils. The Italian Matteo Ricci was among the first to introduce chopsticks to Europe, and his work "China in a Nutshell" also described the culture and usage of chopsticks. With the continuous migration of Chinese people to Western countries, chopsticks are also familiar to Westerners, and many households have them. The French Tourism Association has established a "Golden Chopsticks Award" to commend outstanding Chinese catering businesses.4.4  Chinese Delicacies : Hotpot, Dumplings, and Tofu.             The Chinese people's dedication and development of culinary culture undoubtedly rank them at the forefront of global gastronomy. The diversity of Chinese cuisine is almost unparalleled worldwide, making Chinese cuisine a dominant force in the vast realm of food [27]. Among the many Chinese delicacies, hotpot, dumplings, and tofu have the greatest global influence to this day.4.4.1        Hotpot                There are currently 600,000 hotpot restaurants in China, making it a major pillar of the Chinese catering industry with an annual income of over 500 billion [28]. Currently, hotpot is also very popular and widespread in Asian and Western countries, known by almost everyone.4.4.2        Dumplings                 A significant food item for important festivals such as Chinese New Year and Winter Solstice, and also one of the main foods consumed throughout the year in northern provinces of China. Furthermore, dumplings are also well-loved in contemporary Western countries.4.4.3        Tofu                Originating in China and with a history of over 2,000 years of consumption. Currently, tofu is a very common household food in many Asian countries. The English word is "tofu," and it is also a well-known and beloved food among modern Westerners, especially favored by vegetarians as a meat substitute [29].5. Conclusion            In summary, China's "Technical Four Great Inventions" played a significant role in human development and the formation of modern civilization. The "Everlasting Four Great Inventions" continue to spread and influence people's lives around the world, making a great impact. However, both sets of "Four Great Inventions" were created over a thousand years ago in ancient China, showcasing the wisdom of ancient Chinese people. The originality of the "New Four Great Inventions" is not particularly strong, and labeling them as inventions might be a bit of a stretch. They simply hold a leading position in terms of technological refinement and promotion mode.            In other words, from the 15th to the 16th century, nearly all significant inventions that could change the world were dominated by Western countries, such as telescopes, microscopes, steam engines, mechanical clocks, ultrasound and microwave technology, thermometers, vaccines, antibiotics, stethoscopes, X-rays, CT, MRI, contraceptives, condoms, pasteurization, anesthesia, test-tube babies, genetically modified technology, trains, tanks, cars, airplanes, nuclear energy, rockets, missiles, satellites, lasers, washing machines, radios, explosives, stainless steel, plastics, electricity, movies, air conditioning, televisions, refrigerators, cameras, light bulbs, telephones, mobile phones, computers, fiber optics, the internet, artificial intelligence, pianos, orchestral music, rock music, oil painting, skyscrapers, etc. [30]. China has almost never produced a major influential invention since then. This is the most thought-provoking issue for us, and it is also the central issue in the history of Chinese science and technology – the Joseph Needham Question [31]. The "Feudal Four Great Inventions" also offer the most valuable lessons for the Chinese people, having inflicted physical and mental harm on them for hundreds to over a thousand years. We must understand that only through deep reflection on history and recognizing our own shortcomings can we work hard to make progress. Why was Japan, which was once obsessed with learning Chinese culture, able to completely avoid adopting the "Feudal Four Great Inventions"?           In the past twenty years since the beginning of this century, Japan has produced twenty-one Nobel laureates on its own soil [32]. On average, a Japanese person wins a Nobel Prize every year, second only to the United States. Ancient Japan humbly learned from Chinese culture, taking its essence and discarding its dross. In today's world, it is time for China to humbly learn from Japan.6. References[1] Wikipedia: Four Great Inventionshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Great_Inventions [2] Wikipedia: Joseph Needhamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Needham[3] Wikipedia: Four Great Inventionshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Great_Inventions[4] Hu Shi Collection: "Faith and Reflection," "On Faith and Reflection Again," "On Faith and Reflection for the Third Time"[5] Zhou Zuoren: "Knowledge Hall Collection"[6] Wikipedia: Eunuchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunuch [7] Bai Yang: "Outline of Chinese History"[8] Wikipedia: Foot Bindinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_binding[9] Apple Daily: "Curious History: Revealing the Profound Sexual Connotation of 'Three-Inch Golden Lotus'"https://hk.appledaily.com/china/20130401/HRBUAJS5J35AL44UBDTFCW6C7E/[10] Wikipedia: Eight-legged Essayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-legged_essay[11] Wikipedia: Gu Yanwuhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gu_Yanwu[12] Wikipedia: Opiumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium[13] Wikipedia: Sick Man of Asiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sick_man_of_Asia[14] Xinhua Net: "The 'New Four Great Inventions': Marked with China, Enlightening the World"http://www.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2017-08/11/c_1121468680.htm[15] Xinhua Net: "Introducing the 'New Four Great Inventions'!"http://www.xinhuanet.com/info/2017-10/27/c_136709316.htm[16] Wikipedia: New Four Great Inventionshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Four_Great_Inventions[17] BBC News. 2018-04-03, Pratik Jakhar. Who really came up with China's 'four new inventions'?https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-43406560[18] BBC News Chinese: Pratik Jakhar. BBC Fact Check: Who Actually Proposed China's "Four New Inventions"https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-43624852[19] People's Daily: Inheriting and Carrying Forward Excellent Traditional Chinese Culturehttp://opinion.people.com.cn/n1/2021/0218/c1003-32030343.html[20] Wikipedia: Chinese Culturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_culture[21] Wikipedia: Porcelainhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porcelain[22] Wikipedia: Porcelainhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porcelain[23] National Science and Technology Infrastructure Platform - Classification and Prospects of Ceramic Materialshttp://www.ecorr.org/news/science/2016-12-26/164055.html[24] Wikipedia: Teahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea[25] Baidu Baike: Teahttps://baike.baidu.com/item/%E8%8C%B6%E5%8F%B6[26] Wikipedia: Chopstickshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chopsticks[27] Wikipedia: Chinese Cuisinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_cuisine[28] Wikipedia: Hot Pothttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_pot[29] Wikipedia: Tofuhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tofu[30] Wikipedia: Timeline of Inventionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_invention[31] Wikipedia: Joseph Needhamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Needham[32] Wikipedia: List of Japanese Nobel laureateshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_Nobel_laureates

Wu Lien-teh was born in 1879 on the island of Penang in Malaya (four days before Einstein). He hailed from Taishan, Guangdong. In 1896, at the age of 17, Dr. Wu excelled and was awarded the Queen’s Scholarship by Queen Victoria to study at the University of Cambridge in London. During his research, he successively studied at St. Mary’s Hospital in the UK, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the Hygiene Institute at the University of Halle in Germany, and the Pasteur Institute in France. He was mentored by Nobel laureates Professor Elie Metchnikoff and Professor Frederick Gowland Hopkins. Dr. Wu pursued his studies abroad for seven years, earning a total of five degrees from the University of Cambridge: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Surgery, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Medicine. He obtained his doctorate at the young age of 24. He was also the first Chinese person in the world to be awarded a doctorate from the University of Cambridge

Wu Lien-teh: Pioneer of Modern Medicine in China Yiren Qin**Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai,New York, NY 10029E-mail: [email protected] Lien-teh was born in 1879 on the island of Penang in Malaya (four days before Einstein). He hailed from Taishan, Guangdong. In 1896, at the age of 17, Dr. Wu excelled and was awarded the Queen’s Scholarship by Queen Victoria to study at the University of Cambridge in London. During his research, he successively studied at St. Mary’s Hospital in the UK, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the Hygiene Institute at the University of Halle in Germany, and the Pasteur Institute in France. He was mentored by Nobel laureates Professor Elie Metchnikoff and Professor Frederick Gowland Hopkins. Dr. Wu pursued his studies abroad for seven years, earning a total of five degrees from the University of Cambridge: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Surgery, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Medicine. He obtained his doctorate at the young age of 24. He was also the first Chinese person in the world to be awarded a doctorate from the University of Cambridge.In 1907, Dr. Wu was invited by Yuan Shikai to return to China and serve as the Vice President of the Tianjin Military Medical School.In 1910, after the outbreak of the Great Manchurian Plague, Dr. Wu was appointed to the critical position of Chief Medical Officer. In less than four months, he managed to bring this deadly infectious disease, which had left both the Russians and Japanese helpless and claimed over 60,000 lives, to a complete halt. This extraordinary feat, a century-defining epidemic, astounded the world and saved millions of lives. Dr. Wu Lien-teh, who led this epidemic prevention effort, became renowned worldwide.Dr. Wu immediately confirmed that the plague was bubonic plague, and the culprit was the muskrat. Additionally, he boldly speculated that this plague was not transmitted from rats to humans in the usual way, but rather from person to person. This was because it spread through the respiratory tract and presented symptoms such as fever, coughing, and pulmonary infection. He first introduced the concept of pneumonic plague. At that time, although there was some understanding of bubonic plague, it was believed that it was transmitted from rats to humans, and those who contracted it would not further spread it to others. In other words, human-to-human transmission was not considered possible. Therefore, when Kitasato Shibasaburo, a Japanese scientist known as the ”Oriental Pasteur,” who first discovered the plague bacillus in the world, sent people to dissect thousands of rats in Harbin, they did not find the plague bacillus and denied that it was bubonic plague. On the other hand, Gérald Mesny, a well-known French doctor with experience in combating the plague, believed that it was spread by rats and that human-to-human transmission was not possible. This is what we now know as glandular plague. He even claimed that he was more qualified than Dr. Wu Lien-teh and demanded that Dr. Wu relinquish full authority over epidemic prevention in Northeast China and let him take sole command. However, Gérald Mesny did not take proper precautions, directly contacted patients, and succumbed to the plague in less than three days. The final outcome told us that Dr. Wu Lien-teh’s speculation and measures for pulmonary plague were correct. Because of his astounding achievements, an International Plague Conference, attended by representatives from Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Mexico, and China, was held in Shenyang. Dr. Wu Lien-teh served as the chairman of the conference, and the Japanese scientist Kitasato Shibasaburo, who discovered the plague bacillus, humbly took the position of vice chairman. This conference was the first international academic conference ever held in Chinese history. Dr. Wu took full charge, and it had a profound impact on the development of modern medicine and life sciences in China.During the first major outbreak of pulmonary plague in the Three Eastern Provinces (1910-1911), Dr. Wu Lien-teh harbored the idea of conducting in-depth research on this highly infectious disease and writing a dedicated treatise. However, the conditions were not ripe for it that year. In April 1911, at the International Plague Conference held in Fengtian, Dr. Wu Lien-teh first proposed the ”pulmonary plague” theory, which was recognized by experts from various countries in attendance. In July 1911, Dr. Wu Lien-teh led assistants Chen Sibang and Dr. Cang, along with Russian experts including Professor Saburov, to form a Sino-Russian joint inspection team to investigate the prevalence of plague among tarabagans on the Sino-Russian border. The results of this investigation were compiled by Dr. Wu Lien-teh into a report titled ”Investigation into the Relationship of Tarabagan (Mongolia Marmot) to Plague,” which was published in the internationally renowned journal ”The Lancet” (Lancet, 1913, 185, 529).Dr. Wu Lien-teh remained stationed at the border, successfully preventing the Shanxi plague of 1918 (which claimed around 16,000 lives) and the second major outbreak of plague in Northeast China (resulting in around 9,300 deaths). During his second campaign against the plague, he did not hold an official position, and therefore, lacked the authority to mobilize manpower or resources. He wasn’t a high-ranking official and didn’t have access to funds. What he relied on was his unparalleled medical skills honed over a decade.Due to his astonishing achievements, Dr. Wu Lien-teh gained global renown. The Northeast Anti-epidemic Bureau, established by Dr. Wu, became the world’s premier institution for researching epidemics. It not only held an international leading position in disease prevention but also achieved a world-leading level in scientific research. The collection of samples from pulmonary plague patients and specimens of wild rodents was exceptionally comprehensive, making it unique in the world at that time. The epidemiological data gathered on the prevalence of plague was unmatched by any other research institution. Therefore, the Northeast Anti-epidemic Bureau consistently held a leading position in the world in various aspects of plague, including its prevalence, monitoring, diagnosis, and animal experiments. Additionally, it made outstanding contributions to the prevention, control, and treatment of cholera, also holding a world-leading position in this field. At that time, many renowned scholars from abroad sought to further their studies and work under his guidance, including Yonghan Chen from the University of Cambridge, an Austrian from the University of Vienna named Borlase, Sibong Chen from the University of Cambridge, Ronald, a Briton from the University of Edinburgh, Ruiheng Liu, a graduate of Harvard University, and later the first Chinese dean of Peking Union Medical College, among others.While at the Northeast Anti-epidemic Bureau, Dr. Wu Lien-teh conducted groundbreaking research in the field of bacteriology by designing and successfully conducting ”Tarabagan Plague Inhalation Experiments”. These experiments confirmed that the Tarabagan plague could be transmitted through respiration, marking a significant advancement in the field. Building on a series of experimental studies, Dr. Wu Lien-teh completed ”A Treatise on Pneumonic Plague” (Geneva: League of Nations, Health Organization, 1926), a 480-page theoretical monograph on plague. This work established the theory of ”pneumonic plague” and laid the foundation for the classification of various types of plague, including bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, and septicemic plague. This treatise is hailed as a milestone in the theory of plague prevention and control.The establishment of the theory of pneumonic plague brought international recognition to its author. As a result, Dr. Wu Lien-teh was nominated as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1935. However, Dr. Wu himself remained indifferent to this recognition and did not utter a word about it. His children were also unaware of it. In 2007, the Singapore National Television — Asia News Television (Channel NewsAsia) planned to produce a three-part documentary series titled ”Dr. Wu Lien-teh: Plague Fighter,” with Ms. Wang Li-feng, the Vice President of International News at the channel, serving as the planner and scriptwriter. During the research process, they discovered the original documents recommending Dr. Wu Lien-teh as a Nobel Prize candidate. Dr. Wu’s daughter, Wu Yu-ling, was exceptionally excited upon learning about this and described the document as being unveiled for the first time.In his later years, Liang Qichao commented on Dr. Wu Lien-teh, saying, ”In the past fifty years of scientific endeavors, among the scholars who could meet the world on equal terms, there is only Dr. Wu Lien-teh!”Dr. Wu Lien-teh was later referred to by posterity as the ”Triple Scholar,” signifying the first Chinese to obtain a doctorate from the University of Cambridge, an imperial medical licentiate personally conferred by the emperor, and a plague fighter honored by the League of Nations Health Organization. This was the epitome of an extraordinary national figure.Even when summoned by three successive heads of state, Prince Regent of the Qing Dynasty, Yuan Shikai, and Chiang Kai-shek, to serve as Minister of Health, Dr. Wu declined. He opted instead for the position of Director-General of National Ports Quarantine.Dr. Wu Lien-teh discovered that many epidemics, including cholera and plague, were entering through the customs. At that time, the quarantine authority at the ports was in the hands of foreigners. Dr. Wu advocated for reclaiming control. The foreigners used to say that China had no scientists, but now when they looked at Dr. Wu Lien-teh, the internationally renowned plague fighter, they had no choice but to concede it to China. Dr. Wu Lien-teh personally drafted the country’s first port quarantine regulations, known as the ”Port Quarantine Regulations.” This was later hailed as the precursor of independent quarantine in China.The first to be reclaimed was the largest quarantine station in the country - the Shanghai Quarantine Station. Dr. Wu himself took up the post of director. He gradually regained control over quarantine authority at various ports. He delved into major ports to oversee and inspect quarantine work, train quarantine personnel, conduct scientific research, and enhance medical equipment and transportation. In the seven years from its establishment to the eve of the Anti-Japanese War, the management office had set up 20 service stations, quarantine hospitals, and laboratories at various ports, with over 2,000 beds. This formed a nationwide network. When infectious diseases spread, quarantine hospitals in various port cities actively participated in isolating and treating patients. This was especially significant in areas without infectious disease hospitals. In just seven years, Dr. Wu elevated China’s quarantine standards to an international level, making it a first-class quarantine institution in Southeast Asia. The success of China’s current port quarantine efforts, in terms of sovereignty, unified command, and operational capacity, is inseparable from Dr. Wu Lien-teh’s unwavering and diligent efforts.Later, he not only prevented two major outbreaks of cholera in Harbin but also, while overseeing customs quarantine in Shanghai, averted the largest cholera epidemic in China. Moreover, the death rate from cholera was much lower in China compared to countries like England, America, France, and Japan at the time. It can be said that Wu Lien-teh’s research and prevention efforts against epidemics were of the highest standard in the world at that time.As a leading figure in the Chinese medical community, Dr. Wu Lien-teh collaborated with the Rockefeller Foundation to establish Peking Union Medical College, which is now known as China Union Medical University. This institution played a crucial role in training a large number of medical professionals in China. Dr. Wu was also the first to propose the creation of the China Medical Association. Alongside Yan Fuqing and others, he co-founded the association and served as its first and second president. He initiated the publication of the Chinese Medical Journal and became its first editor-in-chief.Dr. Wu personally spearheaded the establishment of the most modern hospital in China at the time - Beijing Central Hospital, which is now known as Peking University People’s Hospital. He served as the first hospital director for four years. In total, Dr. Wu led the establishment of 20 quarantine stations, hospitals, and research institutes, providing a total of 2,387 beds. In addition to the Beijing Central Hospital, other significant establishments included epidemic hospitals set up in various parts of Northeast China in 1912, the Northeast Army Hospital, commissioned by Zhang Zuolin, which was the largest in the country at the time, and quarantine hospitals established at various ports under the management of the National Quarantine Service after 1930. In 1926, he also founded the Binjiang Medical Specialized School, which was later renamed Harbin Medical University in 1938.Furthermore, after graduating from the University of Cambridge, Dr. Wu Lien-teh consistently stood at the forefront of the anti-drug movement. Whether in his birthplace of Malaysia and Singapore, or in China, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries, he staunchly advocated for drug prohibition. He can be considered a pioneer of modern drug prohibition. In this endeavor, he invested a significant amount of effort and dedication, determined to eradicate drugs from the countries he visited. However, despite his utmost efforts during his lifetime, the proliferation of drugs remained a matter of great regret and frustration for him.Dr. Wu Lien-teh, together with Wang Ji-min, co-authored a book in English titled ”History of Chinese Medicine.” This book broke through the ethnic biases of Western scholars, allowing people to witness the glorious era of Chinese medicine. It filled the gap in which Chinese scholars had not previously introduced the history of Chinese medicine to the world in English. The book objectively presents the development of medicine in China, thus advancing the study of Chinese medical history. As a pioneering work, it has had a significant impact on the international history of medicine and is still considered a reference book in the field. Especially with regards to the development of modern medicine in China, including primary source materials on the research of plague and cholera conducted by the Northeast Anti-Epidemic Plague Bureau, as well as a wealth of data from the port quarantine, it has become essential reading for future generations studying the history of modern medicine in China. Due to this contribution, Dr. Wu was appointed as a Corresponding Fellow of the International Academy of the History of Science, and to this day, there are fewer than ten Chinese individuals who hold this title in the International Academy of the History of Science.The methods of isolation, disinfection, and wearing masks that are currently employed during epidemic outbreaks all draw from the strategies used by Dr. Wu Lien-teh to combat the Great Epidemic of Northeast China. It’s also worth noting that the rotating dining table we use today was invented by Dr. Wu Lien-teh. His contributions have had a lasting impact on public health practices worldwide.Before Dr. Wu Lien-teh passed away, he wrote his autobiography in English, titled ”Plague Fighter: The Autobiography of a Modern Chinese Physician.” It was published by Cambridge University Press and gained worldwide renown. His autobiography can be found in major libraries in the United States and the United Kingdom, but curiously, not in major libraries in China. It’s worth noting that all of Dr. Wu Lien-teh’s research and work took place on Chinese soil. Over the course of 30 years, from the age of 28 to 58, he devoted the best years of his life to China, benefiting the Chinese people. When I introduce Dr. Wu Lien-teh to people, most of them say, ”Is Dr. Wu Lien-teh Chinese, or is he a Chinese expatriate? There are so many Chinese expatriates like him, such as Yang Zhenning, Ding Zhongxing, and even more recently, Nobel laureate Qian Yongjian, etc.” (I posted many students’ replies on DXY). I feel deeply saddened when I hear such remarks, because Dr. Wu Lien-teh is so internationally renowned. In his autobiography published by Cambridge, he clearly states that he is a Chinese. The title of his book is ”Plague Fighter: The Autobiography of a Modern Chinese Physician.” Yet, we have revoked Dr. Wu Lien-teh’s Chinese citizenship. I believe that today’s university and graduate students, in addition to mastering their professional knowledge, really need to enhance their humanistic cultivation. Many outstanding students aspire to go abroad and hope that the country will invest in them, but they may not think about what they can contribute to our beloved motherland and the hardworking Chinese people. Of course, Yang Zhenning, Ding Zhongxing, Qian Yongjian, and others are all very great, but what sets Dr. Wu Lien-teh apart from them is that he dedicated all his contributions to us Chinese people, truly benefiting the Chinese people. The person the Chinese people truly appreciate is Dr. Wu Lien-teh. Without Dr. Wu Lien-teh’s efforts to take control of the ports in Northeast China and stop the rat-borne plague that could have devastated the land of China, we really don’t know what China would be like now. Just look at the current global panic caused by the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico. We can see that the truly frightening thing in today’s world is a major epidemic. Dr. Wu Lien-teh was an international authority in this field. In an era without antibiotics, when people had little understanding of modern medical knowledge, Dr. Wu Lien-teh not only eradicated the Great Epidemic of Northeast China, which claimed the lives of nearly 60,000 Chinese people, in less than four months, but he also effectively prevented major cholera outbreaks multiple times. I believe Dr. Wu Lien-teh’s contributions to the Chinese people are truly immense. It’s a great pity that very few Chinese people know his name, including fellow medical professionals and students who work in the same field as Dr. Wu. Every time I think about this, my emotions are truly hard to calm.On January 21, 1960, at No. 39 Lorong Kinta, Penang, a humble yet extraordinary retired physician passed away. Dr. Wu Lien-teh, aged 81, departed with serenity and composure. Very few of the people in the homeland he once served knew of him. Despite his strong confidence in New China and his early decision to donate his residence in Beijing to the nation for use by the Chinese Medical Association, he chose to live out his days as a simple physician, foregoing the accolades he rightfully deserved.In 1983, in the ”Dictionary of Epidemiology” edited by the renowned epidemiologist Last, the only Chinese name mentioned is Wu Lien-teh.Today, Wu Lien-teh does not live on in the hearts of us Chinese. Very few people know who he is, and those who do have only a vague knowledge about him. Wu Lien-Teh: “The Old China, to which the author had devoted the best part of his life, from the later days of the Manchu Dynasty through the formative years of the Chinese Republic until the collapse of the Kuomintang regime, is still fresh in the minds of many, and it is hoped that the ascendency of the new Chines People’s Government may result in the continued happiness and prospersity of that great country, which in the course of its 4000-5000 years of history has seen so many triumphs and vicissitudes before achieving its present status in this everchanging world.” 

Some iconic symbols representing numbers are more animated, picturesque, and impressive. Here we describe a kind of new numeral symbols from one to septillion. These symbols are regular and simple. Meanwhile it is easy to write and remember these number symbols. They are composed of 27 basic components. After these basic components are regularly combined, simple and effective numeral symbols from one to septillion can be generated. They might be used in games, movies, animations, computer science and even in other arts. 

Evaluating quality of research papers of U.S. and China via Nature Index journalsYiren Qin1,*1Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.*Correspondence address: [email protected] Japanese research institution reported that the quality of scientific research papers published by China has surpassed that of the U.S., ranking first in the world. However, the conclusion is questionable. Currently, there is no standard way to compare the quality of published research papers. In general, most high-quality papers are consistently published in Nature Index journals. Therefore, the quality of research papers can be assessed by comparing the number of papers published in Nature Index journals, which is a reliable method. Here, I first analyze the number of research papers published in all Nature Index journals in the last 3 years of U.S. and China. Further, I assess the quality of research papers published in China and the U.S. We can find that in the four fields of natural science research including chemistry, earth and environmental science, life science and physical science, the number of publications in the United States is higher than that in China. Among them, the gap is the largest in the field of life science research, the United States is 4.2 times that of China, the gap is the smallest in the field of chemical research, the United States is only 1.4 times that of China. When comparing the number of articles published in all Nature Index journals, the U.S. is 1.8 times that of China, still in the leading position. Therefore, in terms of the number of articles published in the internationally recognized Nature Index journals, the quality of the papers published in the U.S. still surpasses that of China.         Recently, a Japanese research institution reported that the number and quality of scientific research papers published by China has surpassed that of the U.S., ranking first in the world [1]. The study found that in the top 1% of the world's most cited papers in 2018-2020, there were 4,330 studies in the U.S., accounting for 24.9%, but in comparison, there were 4,744 studies in China, accounting for 27.2%. Therefore, they concluded that the quality of research papers published by China also surpasses that of the U.S. and ranks first in the world. In terms of the number of research papers, it is well-documented that the total number of research papers published by China currently exceeds that of the U.S. However, the conclusion that the quality of research papers published by China also surpasses that of the U.S. is questionable.         Currently, there is no standard way to compare the quality of published research papers. However, in general, most high-quality papers are consistently published and indexed in Nature Index journals. Therefore, the quality of research papers can be assessed by comparing the number of papers published in Nature Index journals, which is a reliable method. Here, I first analyze the number of research papers published in all Nature Index journals in the last 3 years (2019, 2020, 2021) of U.S. and China. Further, I assess the quality of research papers published in China and the U.S.         At present, there are 82 journals included in the Nature Index journals, which are distributed in the four fields of natural science research including chemistry, earth and environmental science, life science and physical science. These four fields include 20, 16, 43 and 24 journals respectively. Among them, the Nature Index journals in these four research fields repeatedly include 5 large-scale comprehensive journals, such as Nature, Science, The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature communications, and Science Advances.        1. The number of papers published in nature Index journals in chemistry in the U.S. and China         The U.S. published 47,990 articles in 20 Nature Index journals in chemistry, compared with 35,349 in China. The U.S. is 1.4 times that of China (Figure 1 and Table 1). However, there are 7 journals in which China published more articles than the US. They are Advanced Materials, Analytical Chemistry, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Chemical Communications, Chemical Science, Inorganic Chemistry, and The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. Among them, the journal with the largest surpassing range is Chemical Communications, and the number of articles published in this journal in the United States is only 20% of that in China.       2. The number of papers published in Nature Index journals in earth and environmental science in U.S. and China       In the 16 kinds of natural index journals in earth and environmental science, the total number of articles published in the U.S. is 38,645, and that in China is 16,923. The U.S. is 2.3 times that of China. Among them, China surpassed the US in the number of publications in only one journal - Water Research (Figure 1 and Table 2).       3. The number of papers published in Nature Index journals in life science in the U.S. and China        The U.S. published a total of 67,529 articles in 43 journals in life science, compared with 16,087 in China, and the U.S. is 4.2 times that in China (Figure 1 and Table 3). It should be pointed out that among these journals, none of the articles published in China exceeded that of the U.S.      4. The number of papers published in Nature Index journals in physical science in the U.S. and China          The U.S. published a total of 62,459 articles in 24 journals in physical science, compared with 35,291 in China. The U.S. is 1.8 times that of China (Figure 1 and Table 4). There are 6 journals in which China published more articles than the US. They are ACS Nano, Advanced Functional Materials, Advanced Materials, Applied Physics Letters, European Physical Journal C, and Physical Review A. Among them, the journal with the largest surpassing range is Advanced Functional Materials. The number of articles published in the journal in the United States is only 40% of that in China (Table 4).       5.  The number of papers published in all Nature Index in the U.S. and China          The U.S. published a total of 130,323 articles in all 82 Nature Index journals, compared with 70,906 in China. The U.S. is 1.8 times that of China (Figure 1 and Table 5).      6. Conclusion       From the above data, we can find that in the four fields of natural science research including chemistry, earth and environmental science, life science and physical science, the number of publications in the United States is higher than that in China. Among them, the gap is the largest in the field of life science research, the United States is 4.2 times that of China, the gap is the smallest in the field of chemical research, the United States is only 1.4 times that of China. When comparing the number of articles published in all Nature Index journals, the U.S. is 1.8 times that of China, still in the leading position. Therefore, in terms of the number of articles published in the internationally recognized Nature Index journals, the quality of the papers published in the U.S. still surpasses that of China. References[1] Ryosuke Matsuzoe, Nikkei, China tops U.S. in quantity and quality of scientific papers. August 10, 2022 Figure LegendsFigure 1. The number of research papers in Nature Index journals in chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, life sciences, and physical sciences and all Nature Index journals in China and U.S.

The original music artists and their music I love - The BeatlesYiren Qin1,*1Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.*Correspondence address: [email protected]           If one day YouTube can’t be used, the most painful thing may be that I can no longer enjoy my favorite original music and its videos I love. When my work is not going well, it makes me irritable, dull and even pessimistic and disappointed from time to time. However, it is the original music that allows me quickly alleviate from this unhappiness and gives me the motivation and courage to continue working hard. It is the original music that makes me feel the charm of the art more deeply and lets me get more inspiration and enlightenment to do scientific research. Here, I’d like to write down the original music artists and their music I love and share them with my readers.           First, let me introduce my favorite rock band - The Beatles.        Speaking of the Beatles, we will think of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) from Liverpool, England. From their 20-year-old debut to conquest of the world, to the disbandment of the band that had been working for less than ten years, to the early death of Lennon at 40 and Harrison at 58, as a complete fan of the Beatles, my heart is filled with sadness. Only when I see them still singing in the video, do I feel that the Beatles are always there and live young forever in my heart.      As a band in the 1960s, most Chinese people probably only heard about it literally, and seldom listened, felt and understood the Beatles’ songs. There are 188 original songs created by the Beatles [1], most of which were created by the core of the band Lennon and McCartney individually or together (The creation here means writing lyrics and composing music), and the public contributions are marked with Lennon-McCartney. In addition, lead guitarist Harrison created 25 songs and drummer Starr created 2 songs. There are 78 my favorite songs of the Beatles. Whenever I walk to the supermarket and wait in a long line, whenever I am thinking quietly in the middle of the night, whenever I feel down, I play these 78 songs in a continuous loop on YouTube and listen to them ecstatically. Here, I introduce representative songs of the Beatles, the achievements and honors of the Beatles and its members, and the development of each member after the disbandment of the band.    1. Representative songs of the Beatles    1.1. Love songs in the early stage of the band     Just as Jeannette Catsoulis, a reporter from The New York Times, described her personal experience when she participated in the Beatles concert in 1964 in an article published in this newspaper in 2015: “I think I had my first orgasm at a Beatles concert - then again, how would I have known? When you’re preteen, prepubescent and pretty much pre-everything, ‘I want to hold your hand’ seems the height of erotic ambition. And that was especially true in 1964, before the sexual revolution and the Internet made that kind of ignorance unimaginable” [2].     1.1.1 “I want to hold your hand”     This is a love song created and sung by Lennon and McCartney together in 1963 that can ignite youth hormones. It sounds tight-paced and canty, cheerful and euphonic, amazing and passionate. It is also a perfect tune played in harmony with Harrison and Lennon’s guitar, McCartney’s bass and Starr’s drumming, and has become the best-selling single of the Beatles in the world [3]. This song is ranked 16th on the Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest songs of all time [4].     1.1.2 “She loves you”       This is an unusual love song created and vocalized by Lennon and McCartney in 1963, and harmonically vocalized by Harrison. As a lovesickness song, the melody sounds musical and euphonic, but with a little miss and concern. In addition, what is unusual about this song is that the lyrics are not about the writer's love for the person he likes, but as an intermediary to describe a love that is impossible to be together, as described in the lyrics:              “You think you lost your love,       Well, I saw her yesterday.      It's you she's thinking of       And she told me what to say.      She says she loves you ...      You hurt her      She didn't know why      It wasn't your fault      And didn't turn around      Oh yes she loves you      Because with you alone she can only be happy...”      This song was the highest-selling single of the Beatles in the UK. It also was the highest-selling single among all artists in the 1960s [5]. Rolling Stones ranked it 64th on the 500 greatest songs of all time [4].       1.1.3 “I should have known better”      This love song was created by Lennon alone in 1964 and sung by Lennon and McCartney together. It sounds very dulcet, euphonic, joyful and pleasant. Harrison's superb guitar chords make the tune of this song even more sublime. In a live video of the Beatles that I like most to watch, all four of them perform extremely cheerfully. In addition to playing the guitar, Lennon also plays the harmonica interspersed. McCartney squints Lennon from time to time to keep up with his rhythm. Harrison dances happily while playing his guitar. Starr can’t close his mouth gladly. What's interesting is that at the end of this video, a fan admires the performance of the Beatles with ecstasy. When he finally raises his hand to cheer, he finds himself in handcuffs with another cheering person. This is the state of the Beatles fanaticism.     1.1.4 “And I love her”       This is a very sweet love song created and sung by McCartney alone in 1964. McCartney's beautiful singing voice combined with slow guitar and soft drum accompaniment sounds very pleasant and melodious. McCartney called it the first lyrical song to impress him [6]      1.1.5 “When I am sixty-four”        This is a song created by McCartney at the age of about 16 and released in 1967 [7]. It describes the young guy hoping to be with the person he loves and grow old. The song is sung by McCartney alone, and the melody sounds soothing, euphonic and musical. Incorporating Starr's harmonious and powerful drumming, it also sounds a touch of sadness and concern. I like listening to this song very much, but I also think that the two members of the Beatles did not live to 64 years old, so I feel a trifle sad.     1.1.6 “Yesterday”     This is a slightly sentimental love song created by McCartney in 1965. It’s sung by McCartney alone by playing the guitar. It’s also the first solo song performed by the Beatles. The melody sounds simple, dulcet and melodious. It is still popular today. There are more than 2,200 cover versions of this song and it is considered to be the most covered song in the recorded music history [8]. This song was voted as the best song of the 20th century in the BBC radio poll in 1999 [8]. It was ranked 13th in the Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest songs of all time [4]. According to the biographers of McCartney and the Beatle, this song was conceived by McCartney when he was dreaming of the entire melody. He played it in front of the piano immediately after he woke up so as not to forget [8]. The same is true when I write articles. I often dream of new ideas when I sleep. I take notes immediately after I wake up.         1.2 Representative songs created and sung by Harrison during the band      Harrison was the youngest in the band (3 years younger than Lennon and Starr, and 1 year younger than McCartney). His music creation and singing talents during the Beatles were mostly overshadowed by the geniuses of Lennon and McCartney, so he said he was an "invisible" singer in the band. Here, I introduce the two most famous songs he created when he was in the band, "While my guitar gently weeps" and "Something". Both of them entered the Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest songs of all time, ranking 136th and 278th respectively [4], and both of them entered Rolling Stone’s top 10 songs of the Beatles of all time [9].      1.2.1 “While my guitar gently weeps”     This song was inspired by the Chinese I Ching. When Harrison went to his parents’ home, saw the book for the first time and he finished reading it, he found that the Eastern culture he had felt was the opposite of what was introduced in the West [10], as described in the lyrics:       “...I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping       Still my guitar gently weeps.       I don't know why nobody told you       How to unfold your love        I don't know how someone controlled you        They bought and sold you...        With every mistake we must surely be learning        Still my guitar gently weeps        I don't know how you were diverted        You were perverted too        I don't know how you were inverted.”       This song conveys Harrison’s disappointment that there is unrealized potential for universal love in this world, just as he said "The love there that's sleeping". The melody of the song sounds incredibly euphonic, beckoning and melodious at the same time with a hint of disappointment and sentimentality. It is one of my favorite songs of the Beatles. In addition, this song was ranked 7th among the Rolling stone’s 100 greatest guitar songs of all times [11].         1.2.2 “Something”        Some music historians believed that this song reflected that Harrison's music creation level could catch up with Lennon and McCartney [12]. When this song was composed, Harrison and Pattie, Lennon and Yoko, McCartney and Linda, Starr and Maureen were all in the love of the duo. The melody of the song sounds sweet, dulcet, euphonic and comfortable, which is very suitable for men and women in love. This song has been covered by more than 150 artists and is the second most covered song of the Beatles after "Yesterday". It is ranked 17th among the most covered songs of the 20th century listed by Broadcast Music Incorporated. In addition, the song was named the best songwriting and composition song of 1969 by the Ivor Novello Award [12].        1.3 The song created and vocalized by Starr during the band - “Octopus’s Garden”         This song sounds very peaceful and easy, also musical and joyful. Harrison, who helped Starr complete the song, commented on the song: "This cosmic song is lovely and so peaceful" [13], as the lyrics mention:       “I'd like to be        Under the sea        In an octopus' garden        In the shade...        Oh what joy        For every girl and boy        Knowing they're happy        And they're safe...”        Besides, due to the peaceful and cheerful rhyming of lyrics and music, it is sometimes regarded as a children's song [13].       1.4 Sad songs in the band's later stage       In the later stage of the Beatles, McCartney became the actual leader of the band, and he created and sang most of the songs. Because the band was facing disbandment, some songs created in this period sounded sad. Here I list the 3 most representative songs:        1.4.1 “Hey Jude”        This is an almost household song of the Beatles, created and sung by McCartney alone in 1968. The creative inspiration came from the radical changes caused by the band's later disbandment. It was also at this time that Lennon left his wife Cynthia and his 5-year-old son Julian for Yoko. During this period, McCartney drove to visit Cynthia and Julian, and wrote this song on the way back. It was originally called "Hey Jules" and later changed to "Hey Jude". This song was to comfort Julian from the pressure of separation from his parents [14]. As the lyrics describe:       “Hey Jude, don't make it bad.        Take a sad song and make it better.         Remember to let her into your heart,        Then you can start to make it better.        Hey Jude, don't be afraid.        You were made to go out and get her.        The minute you let her under your skin,        Then you begin to make it better.         And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain,         Don't carry the world upon your shoulders.         For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool         By making his world a little colder...”         This song sounds sort of sad, yet soothing and euphonic. The simple and beautiful melody fully embodies McCartney's genius for music creation. This song is the highest-ranked single of the Beatles, ranking 8th among the Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest songs of all time [4]. At the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, 70-year-old McCartney was still passionate about playing and performing this song in front of the piano. Singing with everyone present, he walked to the big stage to wave his hands and interact with the audience, which brought the atmosphere on the scene to a climax.       1.4.2 “The long and winding road”      This song was created and sung solely by McCartney in 1968 and released publicly in 1970. The creative intention came from the growing tension between the band members. The melody of the song sounds very sad and moving, making people cry. In a live video in the studio of the Beatles, McCartney sat in front of the piano practicing the song. He looked a bit decadent with a long beard while Lennon and Yoko sat on the carpet together smoking cigarettes and flirting. This was the scene in the late stage of the Beatles.       1.4.3 Let it be        The creative inspiration of this song was the same as the above "The long and winding road". Faced with the possible disbandment of the band in the future, McCartney was very sad and disappointed. At this time, he often thought of his mother who left him when he was 14 years old. Once in a dream, his mother Mary told him: "It will be all right, just let it be", so he named this song "Let it be" [15], as the lyrics describe:     “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me      Speaking words of wisdom, let it be      And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me      Speaking words of wisdom, let it be      Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be      Whisper words of wisdom, let it be      And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree      There will be an answer, let it be      For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see      There will be an answer, let it be...”      In this song, McCartney’s excellent singing voice and his beautiful piano performance, Harrison and Lennon’s melodious and harmonious guitar ensemble, and Starr’s sonorous and powerful drum accompaniment, make the whole melody perfect. This song was the last single of the Beatles before McCartney announced his departure from the band. It is also one of the most well-known songs of the Beatles. Rolling Stones ranked it 20th in the 500 greatest songs of all time [4].         1.5 Some other songs     In addition to the above songs, I’d like to recommend some little-known and wonderful songs from the Beatles:      Fast-paced and cheerful songs: "Thank you girl" (Created by Lennon and Paul McCartney and dedicated to female fans as a gift. Drumming-based accompaniment brings Starr’s percussion wisdom to the extreme.), "Hold me tight", "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", "Drive my car", "Birthday";      Soothing and melodious songs: “Free as birds” (Created by Lennon in 1977 after the disbanding of the band, and recorded by the Beatles members together again), “Golden slumber”, “Carry that weigh”, “We can work out”, “Black bird”, “Two of us”, “Do you want a secret”, “Wait”, “Here, there and everywhere”, “Yes it is”;       Harmonious and moving songs: "This boy" (A perfect and harmonious tune vocalized by Lennon, McCarney, and Harrison at the same time);       Kind of sad, yet affecting songs: “Girl”, “Don’t let me down” (A anguished love song created by Lennon for Yoko);        Touching and beautiful songs: “Things we said today”, “Ask my why”;       The first non-love song of the Beatles: “Nowhere man”.       1.6 The Beatles vs Mozart       Some people might laugh at me: "In the new era, you actually even introduce us to the old-fashioned songs that grandpas listened to". The following is my defense:       First of all, in the 1960s in China, our grandpa’s generation had never heard of rock music in their youth, nor had they had the opportunity to listen to and understand the Beatles’ songs.           Secondly, according to data from Spotify, the world's largest music media streaming provider, the Beatles' songs were played 1.7 billion times in 2019, and 30% of the listeners were 18 to 24 years old [16]. It suggested that “the Beatles remain a popular culture phenomenon even among Gen Z fans” [16].       Thirdly, Mozart’s music is more than two hundred years old. Why not only does no one say that it is old-fashioned, but it is hailed as a classic and elegant art and played in the extravagant music hall for non-ordinary people to appreciate? In comparison, is the popular music of the Beatles vulgar than the classical music of Mozart? As far as art itself is concerned, as sad music, Mozart's "Symphony No.40" is more objectively superior to the Beatles' "Let it be"? NO! In an article entitled "Mozart vs the Beatles" published by American philosopher Gary Gutting in The New York Time in 2013, he commented: “…the alleged superiority of high culture has often supported the pretensions of an aristocratic class claiming to have privileged access to it … The Beatles, attracted people for their catchy melodies, teasing lyrics, cool attitudes, sense of musical adventure, political views, and by now even the memories they evoke … The same can be true of works of high art” [17]. Interestingly, Gutting's article is also accompanied by a satirical cartoon. It describes a pianist stepping onto the stage, picking up Mozart's sheet music, and playing intoxicatingly. But the close-up of a male and female listeners scratch their heads and can't understand the music. After the pianist finish playing, he goes back to his car with flowers, and then play Britney Spears' CD and drive away with headphones. I think that in a society where the hereditary aristocracy has been eliminated, even billionaire entrepreneurs would not listen to dull and tedious classical music every day, but would enjoy free and individual popular music at every moment of their leisure.            Last, among the Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest songs of all time in 2010, 39.2% were from the 1960s, 26.2% from the 1970s, 11% from the 1980s, 4.4% from the 1990s, 5.4% from the 2000s [4]. These data fully suggest that the appreciation value and artistic level of modern popular music are demonstrating a clear downward trend. I personally think that in the era of artificial intelligence, the artistic wisdom and creativity of human beings may have also declined.       2. The achievements and honors of the Beatles and its members       2.1 The rise of the Beatles ended the era of American non-original singer Elvis Presley, and achieved the Beatles era that conquered the world, and made the British music invade the United States, the birthplace of rock music.        2.2 The Beatles are by far the highest-selling music artists [18]. In addition, in the 1960s, the British economy was in a crisis of depletion of the U.S. dollar and could not maintain its commitment to fix the exchange rate at 2.8 U.S. dollars per pound. The savior of this crisis was the Beatles, and it was the money the Beatles made from touring the United States and other countries that turned the tide [19]. According to media statistics, the Beatles made $650 per second from 1964 to 1966 [19]. Nearly half a century after the disbandment of the Beatles, the four members earned 71 million U.S. dollars in 2013 [20], earning $2.25 per second.      2.3 Among the 500 greatest songs listed by Rolling Stones in 2004/2010, the artist with the most selected songs were the Beatles, contributing 23 songs, of which 10 are in the top 100 [4].       2.4 The famous media's evaluation of the Beatles      2.4.1 Among the 100 greatest artists of all time from Rolling Stone, the Beatle ranked first [21].      2.4.2 Among the 100 most successful artists listed by Billboard in 2008, the Beatles ranked first [22];      2.4.3 Among the 100 most influential people of the 20th century collected by Times, the Beatles was listed [23].      2.5 Famous media’s evaluation of the members of the Beatles:      2.5.1 Among the 100 greatest British people named by the BBC in 2002, Lennon and McCartney ranked 8th and 19th respectively. Only two scientists ranked above them, Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton. Harrison ranked 62nd, surpassing steam engine inventor James Watt and comedian Charlie Chaplin [24].        2.5.2 Among the 100 greatest songwriters of all time from Rolling Stones, McCartney ranked second, Lennon ranked third, and Harrison ranked 65th [25].       2.5.3 Among the 100 greatest singer of all time from Rolling Stones, Lennon ranked 5th and McCartney ranked 19th [26].       2.5.4 Among the 100 greatest guitarists of all time from Rolling Stones, Harrison ranked 11th and Lennon ranked 55th [27]. Lennon was not only a genius of music creation and singing, but he was also an outstanding guitarist, which is less known, so Lennon said that he was the "invisible" guitarist in the band.        2.5.5 Among the 100 greatest drummers of all time from Rolling Stones, Starr ranked 14th [28]. Although Starr is not the drummer with the best percussion skills among the rock bands, he can play the most perfect rock music with other members of the Beatles. Some people call him the godfather of rock percussion, because his art of playing percussion with his own sense and wisdom has taught other drummers with better skills a vivid lesson: Drumming is not only a violent beating with your hands, but more importantly, using your brain.      3. The development of each member after the disbandment of the band       After the Beatles was disbanded, the four members independently developed their own music careers.            As a peace activist and philosophical artist, Lennon created the astounding masterpiece - "Imaging". Rolling Stones described this song as Lennon's greatest musical work dedicated to the world [29]. The song’s calm and clear melody, and soft chord progress make it perfect. It is ranked No. 3 on the Rolling Stone’s the 500 greatest songs [4]. At the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, a video of Lennon playing and singing the song in front of the piano was shown on the giant screen.       “Imagine there's no heaven        It's easy if you try        No hell below us        Above us, only sky        Imagine all the people        Livin' for today        Ah...”        It seems that Lennon “Get back” (a famous song created by McCartney at the late stage of the Beatles).        McCartney has been very depressed and sad for a while after the band just disbanded, so he composed the famous song "Maybe I'm Amazed" to express his mood at that time, as the lyrics describe:       “Maybe I'm amazed at what's going on ...         Maybe I'm a man and maybe you're the only woman who could ever help me;         Baby won't you help me understand ...         Maybe I'm amazed at the way you pulled me out of time, hung me on the line,         Maybe I'm amazed at the way I really need you."        Later, McCartney and his wife Linda and other members formed the Wings, which became one of the most successful bands in the 1970s [30]. In addition, McCartney is also one of the richest musicians in the world, with an estimated wealth of 800 million pounds as of 2020 [31]. During the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, famous singers from all over the world participated in a live online global concert with the theme "One World: Together At Home" to thank and encourage the medical staff who are fighting on the front lines. 78-year-old McCartney was invited to participate in the performance. He looked still vigorous and sang the famous song "Lady Madonna" that he created during the Beatles period while playing the piano.       Harrison independently developed his own music career after the band was disbanded, and has also made brilliant achievements. He created many very beautiful and high-selling songs, the most famous such as "My sweet lord", which became the No.1 single in the international rankings at the end of 1970 and early 1971 [32]. Harrison was also a very wealthy musician, with a fortune of 100 million pounds during his lifetime [33].        After the band was disbanded, Starr’s music career also flourishes. He becomes the richest drummer in the world, with an estimated wealth of 350 million pounds as of 2020 [34].        The brief introduction of the Beatles is over, but listening to the Beatles' music is endless.                 This article is dedicated to my beloved the Beatles!        Yiren Qin         Nov. 2021, Manhattan, New YorkReferences[1] List of songs recorded by the Beatles, Wikipedia[2] Jeannette Catsouli, The Beatles Awaken a New Sensation. The New York Times, 2015.  [3] I Want to Hold Your Hand, Wikipedia[4] 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, Rolling Stone[5] She Loves You, Wikipedia[6] And I Love Her, Wikipedia[7] Paul McCartney: The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Publisher: ‎ Liveright (November 2, 2021), ISBN-10: ‎ 163149256X, p791.[8] Yesterday (Beatles song), Wikipedia[9] The Top Ten Beatles Songs of All Time, Rolling Stone[10] While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Wikipedia  [11] Rolling Stone‘s 100 Greatest Guitar Songs Of All Time[12] Something (Beatles song), Wikipedia[13] Octopus’s Garden, Wikipedia[14] Hey Jude, Wikipedia[15] Let It Be (Beatles song), Wikipedia[16] UCR CLASSIC ROCK & CULTURE: Thirty Percent of Spotify Beatles Streams Are by 18-24-Year-Olds[17] Gary Gutting, Mozart vs. the Beatles, The New York Times, 2013[18] List of best-selling music artists, Wikipedia[19] Kristin Forbes, Financial “deglobalization”?: capital flows, banks, and the Beatles[20] How The Beatles Earned $71 Million This Year, Sort Of, Forbes[21] 100 Greatest Artists, Rolling Stone[22] Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists, The Billboard[23] The Beatles- Irrepressible and irresistible, they were — and remain — the world's most astonishing rock-'n'-roll band, Times[24] 100 Greatest Britons, Wikipedia[25] 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time, Rolling Stone[26] 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, Rolling Stone[27] 100 Greatest Guitarists, Rolling Stone[28] 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time, Rolling Stone[29] Imagine (John Lennon song), Wikipedia[30] Paul McCartney and Wings, Wikipedia[31] Paul McCartney, Wikipedia[32] My Sweet Lord, Wikipedia[33] George Harrison, Wikipedia[34] Ringo Starr, Wikipedia        

The original music artists and their Music l love II: Bob DylanYiren Qin1,*1Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.*Correspondence address: [email protected]       

Some iconic symbols representing numbers are more animated, picturesque, and impressive. Here we describe a kind of new numeral symbols from one to septillion. These symbols are regular and simple. Meanwhile it is easy to write and remember these number symbols. They are composed of 27 basic components. After these basic components are regularly combined, simple and effective numeral symbols from one to septillion can be generated. They might be used in games, movies, animations, computer science and even in other arts.