Search Results (167)

In recent years, the persistent emergence of novel infectious pathogens (epitomized by the global coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)) has propelled nucleic acid testing (NAT) into an unprecedented phase of rapid development. As a key technology in modern molecular diagnostics, NAT achieves precise pathogen identification through specific nucleic acid sequence recognition, establishing itself as an indispensable diagnostic tool across diverse scenarios, including public health surveillance, clinical decision-making, and food safety control. The reliability of NAT systems fundamentally depends on reference materials (RMs) that authentically mimic the biological characteristics of natural viruses. This critical requirement reveals significant limitations of current RMs in the NAT area: naked nucleic acids lack the structural authenticity of viral particles and exhibit restricted applicability due to stability deficiencies, while inactivated viruses have biosafety risks and inter-batch heterogeneity. Notably, pseudovirus has emerged as a novel RM that integrates non-replicative viral vectors with target nucleic acid sequences. Demonstrating superior performance in mimicking authentic viral structure, biosafety, and stability compared to conventional RMs, the pseudovirus has garnered substantial attention. In this comprehensive review, we critically summarize the engineering strategies of pseudovirus platforms and their emerging role in ensuring the reliability of NAT systems. We also discuss future prospects for standardized pseudovirus RMs, addressing key challenges in scalability, stability, and clinical validation, aiming to provide guidance for optimizing pseudovirus design and practical implementation, thereby facilitating the continuous improvement and innovation of NAT technologies. Full article

The Diamond Sutra (Vajracchedikā-Prajñāpāramitā-Sūtra) translated by the Sui Dynasty monk Dharmagupta is the fourth Chinese rendition of the Diamond Sutra. Characterized by unprecedented linguistic opacity and syntactic complexity within the history of Buddhist textual transmission, this translation’s distinctive features have attracted significant scholarly attention. This study synthesizes existing academic perspectives and employs Sanskrit–Chinese textual criticism and comparative analysis of parallel translations to conduct a granular examination of Dharmagupta’s retranslation. Our findings reveal that this text fundamentally deviates from conventional sutras designed for religious dissemination or liturgical recitation. Its defining traits, including morphological calquing of Sanskrit structures, simplified pronominal systems, and etymologically prioritized equivalence, collectively reflect a pedagogical focus characteristic of language instructional texts. Dharmagupta’s approach epitomizes a translation-as-pedagogy paradigm, with the text’s deviations from conventional norms resulting from the interplay of religious development, historical context, and translator agency. We argue that the Diamond Sutra retranslation constitutes a radical experimental paradigm in translation history, warranting re-evaluation of its significance within the broader trajectory of Buddhist textual practice. Full article

This paper explores the presence of Florus in Jerome’s works, with particular focus on the Vitae monachorum. Scholars of the Vita Pauli and Vita Malchi have identified passages where Jerome would employ words or expressions from Florus (no such evidence appears in the Vita Hilarionis). The significance of these lexical borrowings is assessed here. Jerome’s knowledge extends not only to Florus’ Epitome, but also to the fragmentary treatise Vergilius orator an poeta (whose attribution to the same Florus remains debated). If intertextual analysis allows for the investigation of an author’s engagement with another one, there are indications that Jerome may have been familiar with this text as well. This paper provides a comparative analysis of passages in Jerome and Florus, discussing lexical borrowings, sources, rhetorical features, and individual words and expressions, including those drawn from other authors and works. Full article

The Guyang Cave contains an extensive collection of late Northern Wei (late fifth to early sixth century) statue and stele combinations. While existing scholarship has recognized the exceptional nature of these statue–stele pairings, their systematic stylistic classification and contextual interpretation have yet to receive sustained scholarly attention. This investigation analyzes ten paradigmatic cases, organized into three distinct stylistic groups. The discussion subsequently focuses on four particularly representative examples that epitomize divergent approaches to stele implementation. These stylistic differentiations emerge as direct responses to specific spatial contingencies within the cave’s architecture. Instead of being merely decorative, these innovative configurations served as ritual instruments, amplifying patrons’ devotional objectives within the cave’s competitive environment. Ultimately, this study contributes to the theoretical discourse on “ritual art” by revealing how spatial negotiations between patrons manifested as a dynamic ritual process—one that both informed and was sustained by artistic creation in the Guyang Cave. More broadly, in the late Northern Wei period, artistic expression and ritual practice emerged as mutually constitutive elements in the dynamic formation of religious and cultural traditions. Full article

The pathogenesis of obesity is complex and incompletely understood, with an underlying interplay between our genetic architecture and obesogenic environment. The public understanding of the development of obesity is shrouded in myths with widespread societal misconceptions. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a highly heritable trait. However, despite reports from recent genome-wide association studies, only a small proportion of the overall heritability of BMI is known to be lurking within the human genome. Other non-genetic heritable traits may contribute to BMI. The gut microbiome is an excellent candidate, implicating complex interlinks with hypothalamic control of appetite and metabolism via entero-endocrine, autonomic, and neuro-humeral pathways. The neonatal gut microbiome derived from the mother via transgenerational transmission (vaginal delivery and breastfeeding) tends to have a permanence within the gut. Conversely, non-maternally derived gut microbiota manifest mutability that responds to changes in lifestyle and diet. We should all strive to optimize our lifestyles and ensure a diet that is replete with varied and unprocessed plant-based foods to establish and nurture a healthy gut microbiome. Women of reproductive age should optimize their gut microbiome, particularly pre-conception, ante- and postnatally to enable the establishment of a healthy neonatal gut microbiome in their offspring. Finally, we should redouble our efforts to educate the populace on the pathogenesis of obesity, and the role of heritable (but modifiable) factors such as the gut microbiome. Such renewed understanding and insights would help to promote the widespread adoption of healthy lifestyles and diets, and facilitate a transition from our current dispassionate and stigmatized societal approach towards people living with obesity towards one that is epitomized by understanding, support, and compassion. Full article

The traditional folk houses in Pengcheng Town preserve the architectural style of the southern part of Hebei Province and integrate local living customs and cultural traditions. These folk houses reflect the deep cultural origins of Pengcheng and the Cizhou Kiln. “Wang’s Old House” is the largest and tallest building among numerous residential settlements in Pengcheng Town. It is not only the residence of the Wang family but also the epitome of Cizhou Kiln culture. Taking “Wang’s Old House” in Pengcheng Town as an example of a location in the process of restoration, this paper uses field investigation, oral history methods, and digital technology, combined with an analysis of the overall architectural style of Handan folk houses, oral historical materials, and existing architectural sites, to carry out detailed research and prediction on the plane layout, facade modeling, construction structure, and decorative details of Wang’s Old House, in order to restore the original appearance of Wang’s Old House. This study provides valuable information on and experience in restoring traditional dwellings in the vicinity of Cizhou Kiln, so that we can have a deeper understanding of traditional dwellings’ historical and cultural connotations. Full article

The articles presented in this Special Issue epitomize the convergence of cutting-edge sensor technologies, innovative data processing techniques, and advanced algorithmic approaches in ocean remote sensing. Through studies ranging from sensor calibration and data fusion to the application of deep learning and transformer models, the research showcased here pushes the boundaries of what can be achieved in ocean observation. A recurring theme among these contributions is the importance of integrating data from multiple sources and employing state-of-the-art computational methods. Deep learning and the transformer architecture highlight a paradigm shift in remote sensing data analysis. These advanced techniques help extract complex features from high-dimensional datasets and can process large amounts of data quickly and automatically. Furthermore, research focusing on spatiotemporal dynamics and environmental monitoring highlights the critical role of remote sensing in addressing global challenges. By capturing the dynamic interactions between atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial processes, these studies provide important insights into the drivers of climate and environmental change. This information is valuable for developing predictive models and informing policy decisions related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Full article

In an ongoing series of interviews, Challenges Advisory Board member and Nova Institute for Health Fellow Alan C. Logan meets with thought leaders, scientists, scholars, healthcare professionals, artisans, and visionaries concerned about health at the scale of individuals, communities, and the planet. Here, Dr. Pragya Mishra responds to a set of questions posed by Challenges. Dr. Mishra, a legal academician and one of the few global scholars with a PhD specifically in neurolaw, is at the forefront of research examining the intersection of law and brain sciences. As a concept and developing field, the promise of neurolaw is that it will lead to a more equitable and less punitive justice system, one based on objective science rather than prescientific assumptions of blameworthiness and willpower. Here, Dr. Mishra reflects on the promises and pitfalls of neurolaw, the growing challenges to the free will assumptions held by the courts, and her work in a field that epitomizes a transdisciplinary effort. She discusses the place of contemplative practices within neurolaw, with special emphasis on the hope of rehabilitation. Dr. Mishra describes neurolaw through a holistic lens, one that embraces future possibilities and the shaping of evidence-based policy changes. While planetary health embraces justice as a broad term, it has paid little attention to the criminal justice system. Discussions of neurolaw are important to the ethical frameworks of planetary health. Neurolaw, as Dr. Mishra explains, is at the heart of the many interconnected challenges of our time. Full article

As described in several recent studies, the appropriation of the concept “religion 宗教” in modern Japan made “Buddhism 仏教” enter a transformation process that led, ultimately, to the reimagining of its very content; according to historian of religions Isomae Junichi, one of these elements was, for instance, an emphasis on “belief” to the detriment of “practice”. However, in terms of Buddhism’s reframing into the category of “religion”, we should also pay attention to the construction of the idea of “superstition 迷信”, which appears during this time as a concept relative to “belief” or “faith”. Often considered the epitome of this belief-centered version of the dharma, the so-called New Buddhism movement (shinbukkyō undō 新仏教運動) that occurred in the turn of the 20th century played a fundamental role in establishing the concept of “superstition”. This paper focuses on Sakaino Kōyō (境野黄洋 1871–1933), a pioneer of Chinese Buddhist studies in modern Japan and one of the main leaders of the movement. In order to explore the intellectual context that gave birth to such reformist efforts, I explore his ideas during the later 1890s, a period in which he was dedicated to differentiating “belief” from “superstition”. During this time, he emphasized the eradication of “superstition”, arguing that it constituted an unsound element both socially and intellectually. Sakaino offered the idea of “poetical Buddhism” (shiteki bukkyō 詩的仏教), a method for interpreting scripture in general, and segments thereof contemporarily regarded as “superstitious” specifically. This paper situates Sakaino’s contributions to Buddhist reform—analyzed through historical and hermeneutical methods and influenced by liberal Christian theology—within the global discourse on religion and science, while critically examining how his reinterpretations navigated tensions between modern rationality and the preservation of Buddhist truth in Meiji Japan. Full article

Grazing shapes rangelands globally, but it is difficult to study. Acoustic monitoring enables grazing to be described in terms of jaw movements, which are fundamental to how herbivores interact with their foraging environment. In an observational study on Mediterranean herbaceous rangeland, 10 beef cattle cows were monitored continuously over multiple days in two seasons. The algorithm used to analyze the acoustic signal furnished (without classification) a data sample of ≈5 M ingestive and ruminatory jaw movements. These were analyzed as between-event intervals and as minutely rates. The rumination displayed a consistent, strong rhythm and pattern of jaw movements. In contrast, there was no single “signature” jaw movement pattern for grazing (i.e., non-rumination). Although the underlying natural rhythm of rumination dominated non-rumination, it was intermittently and irregularly interrupted by longer intervals, whose size scaled logarithmically. There was evidence of further substructure, with a degree of separation between “grazing” and “resting” in the conventional sense. Three broad grazing styles emerged. In the “intense” style, animals sustained long runs of jaw movements in the natural rhythm, with relatively few interruptions. In the “regular” style, comprising the majority of non-rumination jaw activity, the natural rhythm still dominated, but was punctuated at irregular intervals by eruptions of somewhat longer intervals. The “diffuse” style comprised shorter runs in the natural rhythm, punctuated by highly erratic intervals spanning orders of magnitude. When the jaw movement events were viewed as minutely rates, the non-rumination population showed strong bimodality in the distribution of non-zero rates, with peaks at ≈60 and ≈15 jaw movements min⁻¹, suggesting two modes of grazing. The results strongly support the notion of behavioral grazing intensity and call into question the approach of viewing grazing as a binary state or expecting measures of grazing time to be strongly indicative of intake rate. Rate- and interval-based analyses of information at the jaw movement level can yield a penetrating profile of how an animal interacts with its foraging environment, epitomized in a graphical formulation termed the time accumulation curve. These results strengthen the case for the further development of this sensor technology. Full article

Background/Objectives: This systematic review integrates Cognitive Load Theory (CLT), Educational Neuroscience (EdNeuro), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) to examine their combined impact on optimizing learning environments. It explores how AI-driven adaptive learning systems, informed by neurophysiological insights, enhance personalized education for K-12 students and adult learners. This study emphasizes the role of Electroencephalography (EEG), Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), and other neurophysiological tools in assessing cognitive states and guiding AI-powered interventions to refine instructional strategies dynamically. Methods: This study reviews n = 103 papers related to the integration of principles of CLT with AI and ML in educational settings. It evaluates the progress made in neuroadaptive learning technologies, especially the real-time management of cognitive load, personalized feedback systems, and the multimodal applications of AI. Besides that, this research examines key hurdles such as data privacy, ethical concerns, algorithmic bias, and scalability issues while pinpointing best practices for robust and effective implementation. Results: The results show that AI and ML significantly improve Learning Efficacy due to managing cognitive load automatically, providing personalized instruction, and adapting learning pathways dynamically based on real-time neurophysiological data. Deep Learning models such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs), and Support Vector Machines (SVMs) improve classification accuracy, making AI-powered adaptive learning systems more efficient and scalable. Multimodal approaches enhance system robustness by mitigating signal variability and noise-related limitations by combining EEG with fMRI, Electrocardiography (ECG), and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR). Despite these advances, practical implementation challenges remain, including ethical considerations, data security risks, and accessibility disparities across learner demographics. Conclusions: AI and ML are epitomes of redefinition potentials that solid ethical frameworks, inclusive design, and scalable methodologies must inform. Future studies will be necessary for refining pre-processing techniques, expanding the variety of datasets, and advancing multimodal neuroadaptive learning for developing high-accuracy, affordable, and ethically responsible AI-driven educational systems. The future of AI-enhanced education should be inclusive, equitable, and effective across various learning populations that would surmount technological limitations and ethical dilemmas. Full article

Chinese classical gardens serve as restorative environments that epitomize the essence of Chinese aesthetics. Despite their recognized Outstanding Universal Value, research on the multisensory experiences and associated well-being benefits they offer remains insufficiently explored. This study examines the Humble Administrator’s Garden through a multisensory framework incorporating visual, auditory, and tactile dimensions. By employing a mixed methods approach that integrates questionnaires and physiological measurements, we assessed the psychophysiological responses of 78 participants before and after entering the garden, as well as at distinct landscape points. Key findings reveal the following: (1) the traditional garden environment evoked significant positive perceptual effects; (2) the garden, with its diverse combination of landscape elements—including architecture, water features, rock formations, and plants—was strongly associated with enhanced well-being outcomes. A higher diversity of visual landscapes yielded more pronounced benefits, with water features exerting the most substantial positive influence on health, while rock formations showed a comparatively lesser effect; and (3) physiological and psychological responses of participants varied within the same landscape setting, with tactile experiences eliciting the most profound psychological changes. These findings underscore the pivotal role of multisensory engagement in Chinese classical gardens for fostering well-being, offering valuable health-related benefits beyond their cultural and ecological significance. Full article

As the world faces an escalating challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with phenotypes ranging from allergic chronic immuno-inflammatory diseases to neuropsychiatric disorders, it becomes evident that their seeds are sown during the early stages of life. Furthermore, within only a few decades, human obesity has reached epidemic proportions and now represents the most serious public health challenge of our time. Recent demonstrations that a growing number of these conditions are linked to aberrant gut microbiota composition and function have evoked active scientific interest in host-microbe crosstalk, characterizing and modulating the gut microbiota in at-risk circumstances. These efforts appear particularly justified during the most critical period of developmental plasticity when the child’s immune, metabolic, and microbiological constitutions lend themselves to long-term adjustment. Pregnancy and early infancy epitomize an ideal developmental juncture for preventive measures aiming to reduce the risk of NCDs; by promoting the health of pregnant and lactating women today, the health of the next generation(s) may be successfully improved. The perfect tools for this initiative derive from the earliest and most massive source of environmental exposures, namely the microbiome and nutrition, due to their fundamental interactions in the function of the host immune and metabolic maturation. Full article

Nostalgic scenes can trigger nostalgia to a considerable extent and can be effectively used as a nostalgic trigger that contributes to the psychological comfort of the elderly and immigrant populations, but a design system has not been adequately studied. Therefore, the design principles and digital twin (DT) design system of nostalgic scenes is proposed in this study. It focuses on the construction of a nostalgic scene DT model based on the system of system (SoS) theory. Nostalgic scenes related to farm work are selected and photos of this DT model from a particular perspective are generated for presentation. Co-occurrence analysis is used to verify the correlation between elements within the scene. We invited two groups of residents in Xi’an, the regional group and the non-regional group, a total of 68 people, as participants to rate three photos with different degrees of design on the Likert scale. The results of data analysis show that systematic and well-composed nostalgic scene images, which incorporate relevant elements, are more likely to evoke participants’ nostalgic emotions than ones without those elements mentioned above. Likewise, a series of nostalgic scene images spanning various periods can stimulate participants’ nostalgic emotions more effectively than a single image. Furthermore, region-specific nostalgic scene images that resonate with participants sharing similar lifestyles can trigger their nostalgic feelings more effectively. The digital twin model of the nostalgia scene contains multi-source data, which can be dynamically visualised to represent regional nostalgic experiences. The design system can be used to design nostalgic scenes to improve emotional health, social bonding, tourism, and sustainable urban and rural development. Full article

The article explores the unique friendship and creative synergy between two towering figures of late Soviet underground culture, the avant-garde jazz musician Sergei Kuriokhin and the poet Arkady Dragomoshchenko. Both outsiders in Leningrad, they shaped its literary and musical landscapes without aligning with any movements. Dragomoshchenko, a seminal poet, defied categorization, while Kuriokhin, a polymath, challenged conventions across music, performance, and politics. Their collaboration epitomized innovation, blending Dragomoshchenko’s cerebral poetry with Kuriokhin’s avant-garde music. Despite linguistic barriers, their connection transcended verbal communication, rooted in shared modes of nonlinear thinking and creative experimentation. Kuriokhin’s revolutionary Pop Mekhanika, a chaotic fusion of genres and sensory experiences, mirrored Dragomoshchenko’s relentless poetic evolution. Their friendship catalyzed pivotal encounters, such as with the American poet Lyn Hejinian, expanding their artistic horizons. Dragomoshchenko’s poetic vision, centred on perception’s fleeting nature and the boundaries of possibility, echoed Kuriokhin’s multisensory assaults on audience expectations. Through their unconventional artistry, Kuriokhin and Dragomoshchenko navigated the shifting cultural landscape of late Soviet society, embodying a spirit of defiance and exploration. Their enduring influence transcends their untimely deaths, leaving an indelible mark on Russian avant-garde culture. Full article