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The book "Cartooning China: Punch, Power, & Politics in the Victorian Era" by Amy Matthewson explores the role of cartoons in shaping the British imaginary of China during the 19th and 20th centuries. The cartoons published in Punch magazine depicted China as sick, decadent, and backward, perpetuating xenophobic tropes and negative stereotypes. These representations influenced public perceptions of China and contributed to the rise of anti-Chinese sentiment. The book covers the period from 1841 to 1901, coinciding with significant events in China's history, such as the Opium Wars and the creation of the Republic of China. The author argues that the cartoons played a significant role in popularizing the racist and denigratory British view of China. [Extracted from the article]

The urothelium of the bladder functions as a waterproof barrier between tissue and outflowing urine. Largely quiescent during homeostasis, this unique epithelium rapidly regenerates in response to bacterial or chemical injury. The specification of the proper cell types during development and injury repair is crucial for tissue function. This Review surveys the current understanding of urothelial progenitor populations in the contexts of organogenesis, regeneration and tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we discuss pathways and signaling mechanisms involved in urothelial differentiation, and consider the relevance of this knowledge to stem cell biology and tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria and archaea rely on appendages called type IV pili (T4P) to participate in diverse behaviors including surface sensing, biofilm formation, virulence, protein secretion and motility across surfaces. T4P are broadly distributed fibers that dynamically extend and retract, and this dynamic activity is essential for their function in broad processes. Despite the essentiality of dynamics in T4P function, little is known about the role of these dynamics and molecular mechanisms controlling them. Recent advances in microscopy have yielded insight into the role of T4P dynamics in their diverse functions and recent structural work has expanded what is known about the inner workings of the T4P motor. This review discusses recent progress in understanding the function, regulation, and mechanisms of T4P dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]