julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Individualisation in cognitive skills training: Essential or superfluous? Examining the effectiveness of an adaptive game for training executive functions in young adults
2024-07-29

Significant resources have been allocated to the development of training programmes designed to enhance executive functions. Recently, digital games have emerged as a promising tool for this purpose. However, the impact of adaptive games, which adjust game difficulty based on the player's performance, on trained and untrained executive functions (i.e., near and far transfer) remains to be investigated. In the present study, 59 young adults participated in an executive function game designed to improve shifting abilities for a total duration of 120 min, distributed over four consecutive days. The differential effects of both an adaptive and a non-adaptive game version on shifting (i.e., near transfer), and updating and inhibition (i.e., far transfer) were examined. The findings indicated that while near and far transfer effects were identified, there were no discernible variations in training outcomes between the two game versions. The present study thus contributes to the expansion of the evidence base in the field of executive function games.
A Sinification of Western Music: the Chapters on Clefs in the Lülü zuanyao (c.1680) and the Lülü zhengyi (1713)
2024-07-29

Abstract In the late seventeenth century, two treatises on Western music were written at the Qing court that conveyed the basics of the Western practice of harmony and musical notation to a Chinese audience. These were the Lülü zuanyao (Essentials of the pitch-pipes) by Tomás Pereira SJ and the far better-known Lülü zhengyi xubian (Supplement to the true principles of the pitch-pipes) by Teodorico Pedrini SJ . The former has often been mistaken for an extract from the latter. This article uses the example of the three clefs to show that the two texts describe their application in very different ways and in their own words. It will be seen that the Lülü zhengyi , which was written later, is far more adapted to the Chinese world of thought.
Jesuit-Chinese Interaction and Collaboration in Chinese Sources
2024-07-29

Abstract Over recent decades, studies on the Jesuits’ activities in China and elsewhere have been considerably facilitated by collated and published correspondence written in Western languages. In order to broaden this scholarly discussion by including more sources from the Chinese side, this article makes a modest contribution by translating and analyzing two letters from Zhu Shi 祝石 (1602–after 1689), a remnant of the Ming dynasty and a Chinese Catholic, to Lodovico Buglio (1606–1682) and Ferdinand Verbiest (1623–1688), two Jesuit missionaries at the Manchu court. Transcriptions of the two letters are found in the collected works of Zhu, Zhi hao hao xue lu 知好好學錄 (Records of knowing how to appreciate good learning; n.d.). Noteworthy subjects reflected in the letters include, among others, Zhu’s involvement in the translation and revision of Buglio’s Chaoxingxue yao 超性學要 (Essentials of transcendental nature studies; 1654–1677), a contemporary explanation of the obstacles facing evangelism in China, and Verbiest’s cannon-casting activities during the Revolt of the Three Feudatories (or the San-Fan War; 1673–ca. 1681). A close examination of these two letters not only broadens the understanding of the social networks of the two missionaries and provides supplementary historical details, but also calls attention to the value of correspondence between Chinese literati and the missionaries.
Introduction
2024-07-29

We all know what makes the world go round -money.Indeed, money lies at the core of the research and teaching of the Swiss-German sinologist Hans Ulrich Vogel, to whom this special issue is dedicated on the occasion of his seventieth birthday.For many people celebrating their seventieth birthday, talk of money probably calls to mind the idea of small change carried in the pocket.In today's China, that habit belongs to history.China leads the world in cashless payment methods, just as it led the world in the use of paper money during the early modern period -the period when the groundwork was laid for the still unfolding process we call globalization.This very period has proved to be Hans Ulrich Vogel's primary interest, but to say so obscures somewhat the broad sweep of his research across the centuries, from archaeological sites of ancient China and down to the modern world, and from texts such as the Lunyu 論語, Mengzi 孟子, and Zhuangzi 莊子 to the Yantie lun 鹽鐵論,1 from the Wenxin diaolong 1 "Das 'Yantie lun': Ereignisse und Interpretation," in Huan Kuan, Yantie Lun; Vademecum zu dem
Sulfur Manufacturing at Hot Springs in Early Modern Chinese Borderlands
2024-07-29

Abstract This article examines sulfur manufacturing and refining methods in the early modern Chinese borderlands in the context of global trade and tribute networks. The increasing demands for high-quality sulfur, crucial for gunpowder and mineral drugs, facilitated the further development of sulfur-production and -refining techniques. Constrained by limited local sulfur deposits, sulfur production in China proper relied primarily on domestic pyrite ores or pyritic nodules in coal mines, alongside imports from the Ryukyu Islands. This article focuses on case studies of various local practices in the natural sulfuric hot springs region of China’s borderlands, particularly in Yunnan and Taiwan from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries. It examines alternative methods of sulfur manufacturing that utilized geothermal resources at hot springs for various local and regional military and medical demands in global contexts.
Identification and characterization of a small-molecule metallophore involved in lanthanide metabolism
2024-07-30

Many bacteria secrete metallophores, low-molecular-weight organic compounds that bind ions with high selectivity and affinity, in order to access essential metals from the environment. Previous work has elucidated the structures and biosynthetic machinery of metallophores specific for iron, zinc, nickel, molybdenum, and copper. No physiologically relevant lanthanide-binding metallophore has been discovered despite the knowledge that lanthanide metals (Ln) have been revealed to be essential cofactors for certain alcohol dehydrogenases across a diverse range of phyla. Here, we report the biosynthetic machinery, the structure, and the physiological relevance of a lanthanophore, methylolanthanin. The structure of methylolanthanin exhibits a unique 4-hydroxybenzoate moiety which has not previously been described in other metallophores. We find that production of methylolanthanin is required for normal levels of Ln accumulation in the methylotrophic bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens AM1, while overexpression of the molecule greatly increases bioaccumulation and adsorption. Our results provide a clearer understanding of how Ln-utilizing bacteria sense, scavenge, and store Ln; essential processes in the environment where Ln are poorly bioavailable. More broadly, the identification of this lanthanophore opens doors for study of how biosynthetic gene clusters are repurposed for additional functions and the complex relationship between metal homeostasis and fitness.
Conventionally and digitally fabricated removable complete dentures: manufacturing accuracy, fracture resistance and repairability
2024-07-30

The presented testing set-up is suitable to determine the fracture behavior of dentures rather than of standards. With the possibility of digital design and individual manufacturing, dentures' mechanical stability can be significantly increased, especially with suitable dentition forms.
Unlocking biodiversity awareness: influential factors on bird species knowledge and the links with environmental attitudes and connectedness to nature.
2024-07-30

In the face of accelerating biodiversity loss, there is a need for widespread public support for conservation efforts. To increase the understanding of biodiversity issues, researchers suggest beginning with the acquisition of species knowledge. However, to optimally support the successful acquisition of species knowledge, influencing factors must first be identified. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between species knowledge, environmental attitudes, and connection to nature, as well as individual variables such as interest, perception, and animal-related activities. Species knowledge was assessed using 50 bird species. A total of 3438 German participants were asked to identify these species in an online survey. Structural equation modelling results indicated that interest in birds and involvement in animal-related activities positively influenced species knowledge. Surprisingly, the perception of birds negatively affected species knowledge, highlighting the complexity of personal biases in environmental education. While connectedness to nature doesn't directly influence bird knowledge, it emerges as a strong predictor of pro-environmental attitudes. Therefore, promoting species knowledge by stimulating interest and involvement in animal-related activities is essential for raising awareness of biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, connecting people with nature helps to foster pro-environmental attitudes, leading to a more sustainable and eco-centric future.
The impact of cultural identity on cultural and language bridging skills of first and second generation highly qualified migrants
2024-07-30

This inductive study explores on the basis of 134 semi-structured interviews for the case of Germany, the impact of cultural identity on highly qualified migrants' cultural and language bridging skills. A particular focus is put on the differentiation between first and second generation migrants. We find that cultural identity impacts migrants' cultural and language bridging skills, prompting differences not only between generations but also within them. On this basis, we establish two sub-groups of first generation migrants: those with a separated identity (heritage culture is dominant) and those with an ambiguous identity (often unclear which culture dominates); similarly, we find two sub-groups of second generation migrants: those with an integrated identity (well-balanced combination of heritage and mainstream culture) and those with an assimilated identity (mainstream culture is dominant). We further ascertain that migrants with an integrated identity possess the highest degree of cultural and language bridging skills and, thus, constitute the best bridging agents in comparison to the other sub-groups. Our study provides a more nuanced understanding of migrants' cultural identity formation and their impact on skilled migrants' cultural and language bridging skills. In addition, it demonstrates the need to consider inter- but also intragenerational differences, when studying the impact of highly qualified migrants in organizational contexts.
Genetic Testing of Patients with Inherited Retinal Diseases in the European Countries. An International Survey by the European Vision Institute
2024-07-30

Introduction: The purpose of this project was to explore the current standards of clinical care genetic testing and counseling for patients with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) from the perspective of leading experts in selected European countries. Also, to gather opinions on current bottlenecks and future solutions to improve patient care. Methods: On the initiative of the European Vision Institute, a survey questionnaire with 41 questions was designed and sent to experts in the field from ten European countries. Each participant was asked to answer with reference to the situation in their own country. Results: Sixteen questionnaires were collected by November 2023. IRD genetic tests are performed in clinical care settings for 80% or more of tested patients in 9 countries, and the costs of genetic tests in clinical care are covered by the public health service to the extent of 90% or more in 8 countries. The median proportion of patients who are genetically tested, the median rate of genetically solved patients among those who are tested, and the median proportion of patients receiving counseling are 51-70%, 61-80% and 61-80%, respectively. Improving the education of healthcare professionals who facilitate patient referrals to specialised centres, improving access of patients to more thorough genotyping, and increasing the number of available counselors were the most advocated solutions. Conclusion: There is a significant proportion of IRD patients who are not genetically tested, whose genetic testing is inconclusive, or who do not receive counseling. Educational programs, greater availability of state-of-the-art genotyping and genetic counselors could improve healthcare for IRD patients.
Remote sensing of a levitated superconductor with a flux-tunable microwave cavity
2024-07-30

We present a cavity-electromechanical system comprising a superconducting quantum interference device which is embedded in a microwave resonator and coupled via a pickup loop to a <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" overflow="scroll"><a:mn>6</a:mn></a:math>-<d:math xmlns:d="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" overflow="scroll"><d:mtext fontfamily="times">μ</d:mtext><d:mrow><d:mi mathvariant="normal">g</d:mi></d:mrow></d:math> magnetically levitated superconducting sphere. The motion of the sphere in the magnetic trap induces a frequency shift in the SQUID-cavity system. We use microwave spectroscopy to characterize the system, and we demonstrate that the electromechanical interaction is tunable. The measured displacement sensitivity of <i:math xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" overflow="scroll"><i:msup><i:mn>10</i:mn><i:mrow><i:mo>−</i:mo><i:mn>7</i:mn></i:mrow></i:msup><i:mspace width="0.1em"/><i:mrow><i:mrow><i:mi mathvariant="normal">m</i:mi></i:mrow></i:mrow><i:mo>/</i:mo><i:msqrt><i:mi>Hz</i:mi></i:msqrt></i:math> defines a path towards ground-state cooling of levitated particles with Planck-scale masses at millikelvin environment temperatures. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Statistical Learning of Incidental Perceptual Regularities Induces Sensory Conditioned Cortical Responses
2024-07-30

Statistical learning of sensory patterns can lead to predictive neural processes enhancing stimulus perception and enabling fast deviancy detection. Predictive processes have been extensively demonstrated when environmental statistical regularities are relevant to task execution. Preliminary evidence indicates that statistical learning can even occur independently of task relevance and top-down attention, although the temporal profile and neural mechanisms underlying sensory predictions and error signals induced by statistical learning of incidental sensory regularities remain unclear. In our study, we adopted an implicit sensory conditioning paradigm that elicited the generation of specific perceptual priors in relation to task-irrelevant audio–visual associations, while recording Electroencephalography (EEG). Our results showed that learning task-irrelevant associations between audio–visual stimuli resulted in anticipatory neural responses to predictive auditory stimuli conveying anticipatory signals of expected visual stimulus presence or absence. Moreover, we observed specific modulation of cortical responses to probabilistic visual stimulus presentation or omission. Pattern similarity analysis indicated that predictive auditory stimuli tended to resemble the response to expected visual stimulus presence or absence. Remarkably, Hierarchical Gaussian filter modeling estimating dynamic changes of prediction error signals in relation to differential probabilistic occurrences of audio–visual stimuli further demonstrated instantiation of predictive neural signals by showing distinct neural processing of prediction error in relation to violation of expected visual stimulus presence or absence. Overall, our findings indicated that statistical learning of non-salient and task-irrelevant perceptual regularities could induce the generation of neural priors at the time of predictive stimulus presentation, possibly conveying sensory-specific information about the predicted consecutive stimulus.
Clonal plasticity and trait stability facilitate knotweed invasion in Europe
2024-07-30

Abstract Invasive plant species pose significant ecological and economic threats due to their establishment and dominance in non-native ranges. Previous studies have yielded mixed results regarding the plants’ adaptive mechanisms for thriving in new environments, and particularly, little is known about how the phenotypic plasticity of growth and defense-related traits may facilitate plant invasion. This study addressed these uncertainties by employing the aggressive weed Reynoutria japonica as a study model. We examined the differences in growth, defense-related traits and biomass allocation between R. japonica populations from native and introduced ranges grown in two common gardens with distinct climate conditions. Our results demonstrated that while the introduced populations did not exhibit increases in height and total dry mass, nor reductions in leaf defense levels, their investment in leaf production was significantly higher compared to the native populations. Additionally, introduced populations displayed greater phenotypic plasticity in clonal ramet but less phenotypic plasticity in biomass production than native populations across varying environments. These findings highlight the roles of phenotypic plasticity and specific trait adaptations, such as clonality, in the successful invasion of R. japonica. This study has important implications for managing invasive plant species under changing environmental conditions.
Characterising the refractive error in paediatric patients with congenital stationary night blindness: a multicentre study
2024-07-30

Background/Aaims Congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) is an inherited retinal disease that is often associated with high myopia and can be caused by pathological variants in multiple genes, most commonly CACNA1F , NYX and TRPM1 . High myopia is associated with retinal degeneration and increased risk for retinal detachment. Slowing the progression of myopia in patients with CSNB would likely be beneficial in reducing risk, but before interventions can be considered, it is important to understand the natural history of myopic progression. Methods This multicentre, retrospective study explored CSNB caused by variants in CACNA1F , NYX or TRPM1 in patients who had at least 6 measurements of their spherical equivalent of refraction (SER) before the age of 18. A mixed-effect model was used to predict progression of SER overtime and differences between genotypes were evaluated. Results 78 individuals were included in this study. All genotypes showed a significant myopic predicted SER at birth (−3.076D, −5.511D and −5.386D) for CACNA1F , NYX and TRPM1 respectively. Additionally, significant progression of myopia per year (−0.254D, −0.257D and −0.326D) was observed for all three genotypes CACNA1F , NYX and TRPM1 , respectively. Conclusions Patients with CSNB tend to be myopic from an early age and progress to become more myopic with age. Patients may benefit from long-term myopia slowing treatment in the future and further studies are indicated. Additionally, CSNB should be considered in the differential diagnosis for early-onset myopia.
Glioma-associated oncogene (GLI)-specific decoy oligodeoxynucleotide induces apoptosis and attenuates proliferation, colony formation, and migration in liver cancer cells
2024-07-30

Aim: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated death. The Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway participates in the initiation, progression, migration, and recurrence of HCC cancer stem cells. Furthermore, SHH regulates various cellular behaviors such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, self-renewal, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and SHH autoregulation. Glioma-associated oncogene (GLI) family zinc finger are key transcription factors in the development of many organs and are deregulated in cancer. In this study, Huh-7 cells were treated with GLI-specific decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) to evaluate its anticancer impact. Methods: The transfection efficiency of GLI-specific decoy ODN was measured using fluorescent microscopy. Then, the effects of GLI-specific decoy ODN on apoptosis, viability, proliferation rate, colony formation, and migration capacities of Huh-7 cells were assessed. Furthermore, the expression of genes associated with the alteration of SHH was assessed. Results: Treatment of Huh-7 cells with GLI-specific decoy ODN decreased cell viability (56.36% ± 3%). Expression of certain genes such as c-MYC , SNAI2 , ZEB1 , and PROM1 decreased dramatically, while the expression of CDH1 increased significantly. Furthermore, the treated cells’ proliferation, colony formation, and migration capacity decreased considerably. This treatment induced apoptosis in the Huh-7 cells. Conclusion: Inhibition of the SHH signaling pathway using GLI-specific decoy ODN led to a decline in the growth rate of HCC cells, decreased migration, and attenuated EMT progression.
An updated chronology for Umbeli Belli and its implications for the Middle and Later Stone Ages
2024-07-30

We present a series of 12 OSL/IRSL dates that revise and complete the chronology of the important Middle (MSA) and Later Stone Age (LSA) site Umbeli Belli in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. These dates shift the previous radiometric ages thousands of years older than earlier measurements and play a key role in revising the cultural stratigraphy of KwaZulu-Natal. We also discuss how these dates bring the chrono- and cultural stratigraphy of southern Africa into clearer focus. The Robberg sequence of Umbeli Belli is now firmly dated to 21 ± 2 ka, whereas the preceding Early LSA assemblage dates to ~32 ka, representing one of the earliest dates for this cultural expression in the broader region. The final MSA assemblages from Layer 7 to 9 now date to between 35 ka and 40 ka, overlapping more tightly with comparable assemblages from Sibhudu, Umhlatuzana and other sites. Layer 10, which was previously also assigned to the final MSA, now dates to ~47–54 ka, placing the assemblage within the temporal range of the Late MSA. The new dates provide a good explanation for the clear differences in material culture between Layer 10 and the younger layers. We also present two new ages for the deeper horizons 11b and 12 at Umbeli Belli, dating to 76 ± 9 ka and 80 ± 9 ka, respectively.
The role of geographical distance for investment decisions in crowdinvesting
2024-07-30

Startups rely on alternative forms of financing, such as crowdinvesting, as they usually miss reliable credit ratings and bank loans. We explore the role of geographical distance between investors and startups, and analyze the role of signals and the investor-startup-relationship in investment decisions. Using a unique proprietary dataset from the largest crowdinvesting platform in Mexico, we show that distance between investors and startups negatively affects the investment probability and investment amount. An investor-startup-relationship only diminishes this correlation in specific instances while observable signals do in any case. Evidence is in line with the idea that investors with a close relationship to a startup should be used as fallback options instead of exclusive investors in startups' early development stage. Furthermore, it underscores that signals are of high importance in modern forms of financing.