4,877 research outputs found
Application of the ex-Gaussian function to the effect of the word blindness suggestion on Stroop task performance suggests no word blindness.
No full textThe aim of the present paper was to apply the ex-Gaussian function to data reported by Parris et al. (2012) given its utility in studies involving the Stroop task. Parris et al. showed an effect of the word blindness suggestion when Response-Stimulus Interval (RSI) was 500 ms but not when it was 3500 ms. Analysis revealed that: (1) The effect of the suggestion on interference is observed in μ, supporting converging evidence indicating the suggestion operates over response competition mechanisms; and, (2) Contrary to Parris et al. an effect of the suggestion was observed in μ when RSI was 3500 ms. The reanalysis of the data from Parris et al. (2012) supports the utility of ex-Gaussian analysis in revealing effects that might otherwise be thought of as absent. We suggest that word reading itself is not suppressed by the suggestion but instead that response conflict is dealt with more effectively
Biography of Ceerno Ndiaye Ba
No full textThis manuscript is a biography of Ceerno Ndiaye Ba Bababe, in Mauritania. It is one of a series of biographies that the author has written about Islamic leaders in West Africa.Ce manuscrit est une biographie de Ceerno Ndiaye Ba Bababe, en Mauritanie. Elle fait partie d'une série de biographies que l'auteur a écrites sur les dirigeants islamiques en Afrique de l'Ouest
Bilingualism provides a neural reserve for aging populations
No full textIt has been postulated that bilingualism may act as a cognitive reserve and recent behavioral evidence shows that bilinguals are diagnosed with dementia about 4-5 years later compared to monolinguals. In the present study, we investigated the neural basis of these putative protective effects in a group of aging bilinguals as compared to a matched monolingual control group. For this purpose, participants completed the Erikson Flanker task and their performance was correlated to gray matter (GM) volume in order to investigate if cognitive performance predicts GM volume specifically in areas affected by aging. We performed an ex-Gaussian analysis on the resulting RTs and report that aging bilinguals performed better than aging monolinguals on the Flanker task. Bilingualism was overall associated with increased GM in the ACC. Likewise, aging induced effects upon performance correlated only for monolinguals to decreased gray matter in the DLPFC. Taken together, these neural regions might underlie the benefits of bilingualism and act as a neural reserve that protects against the cognitive decline that occurs during aging
Poems of Sheikh Muhammad al-Ghaly Ba
No full textThis volume contains seven poems handwritten by Muhammad al-Ghāli Ba. According to the author's son, Mountaga Ba, the poems were probably composed in the mid-1970s a time when the author lived in Mauritania, while working at the country's national radio station and serving as a special counsel to then president Moktar Ould Daddah (1924–2003). The poems adress various issues. The first is a call to action addressed to the Mauritianian youth, urging them to join in the collective work for the development of the country. The second poem is a hagiography on Ceerno Ahmad Nene Ba of Kaedi (Mauritania). The poem eulogizes the virtues of the patron. The third describes the event of Sharif Muhammad al-Habib's visit to the region of Fuuta region (Senegal), namely the village of Pate Galo. The fourth poem contains greetings and expresions of love addressed to the author's friends in the town of Kaedi. The fifth poem is a remembrance about good times. The author reminisces and praises the qualities of a woman named Jaari.The sixth poem describes one afternoon journey of the author. The seventh poem is a mournful praisesong in which the author laments the loss of a cherished person.Ce volume contient sept poèmes manuscrits de Muhammad al-Ghāli Ba. Selon le fils de l'auteur, Mountaga Ba, les poèmes ont probablement été composés au milieu des années 1970, à une époque où l'auteur vivait en Mauritanie, alors qu'il travaillait à la radio nationale du pays et était conseiller spécial du président de l'époque, Moktar Ould Daddah (1924). –2003). Les poèmes abordent diverses questions. Le premier est un appel à l'action adressé aux jeunes mauriciens, les exhortant à s'associer au travail collectif pour le développement du pays. Le deuxième poème est une hagiographie sur Ceerno Ahmad Nene Ba de Kaedi (Mauritanie). Le poème fait l'éloge des vertus du mécène. Le troisième décrit l'événement de la visite de Sharif Muhammad al-Habib dans la région de la région de Fuuta (Sénégal), à savoir le village de Pate Galo. Le quatrième poème contient des salutations et des expressions d'amour adressées aux amis de l'auteur dans la ville de Kaedi. Le cinquième poème est un souvenir des bons moments. L'auteur rappelle et loue les qualités d'une femme nommée Jaari. Le sixième poème décrit un après-midi de voyage de l'auteur. Le septième poème est une louange mélancolique dans laquelle l'auteur déplore la perte d'une personne chérie
Task conflict in the Stroop task: When Stroop interference decreases as Stroop facilitation increases in a low task conflict context.
No full textIn the present study participants completed two blocks of the Stroop task, one in which the response-stimulus interval (RSI) was 3500 ms and one in which RSI was 200 ms. It was expected that, in line with previous research, the shorter RSI would induce a low Task Conflict context by increasing focus on the color identification goal in the Stroop task and lead to a novel finding of an increase in facilitation and simultaneous decrease in interference. Such a finding would be problematic for models of Stroop effects that predict these indices of performance should be affected in tandem. A crossover interaction is reported supporting these predictions. As predicted, the shorter RSI resulted in incongruent and congruent trial reaction times (RTs) decreasing relative to a static neutral baseline condition; hence interference decreased as facilitation increased. An explanatory model (expanding on the work of Goldfarb and Henik, 2007) is presented that: (1) Shows how under certain conditions the predictions from single mechanism models hold true (i.e., when Task conflict is held constant); (2) Shows how it is possible that interference can be affected by an experimental manipulation that leaves facilitation apparently untouched; and (3) Predicts that facilitation cannot be independently affected by an experimental manipulation
Longitudinal analysis of serum neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5 in patients receiving monoclonal antibodies
No full textThe emergence of Omicron sublineages impacts the therapeutic efficacy of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Here, we evaluate neutralization and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activities of 6 therapeutic mAbs against Delta, BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5. The Omicron subvariants escape most antibodies but remain sensitive to bebtelovimab and cilgavimab. Consistent with their shared spike sequence, BA.4 and BA.5 display identical neutralization profiles. Sotrovimab is the most efficient at eliciting ADCC. We also analyze 121 sera from 40 immunocompromised individuals up to 6 months after infusion of Ronapreve (imdevimab + casirivimab) or Evusheld (cilgavimab + tixagevimab). Sera from Ronapreve-treated individuals do not neutralize Omicron subvariants. Evusheld-treated individuals neutralize BA.2 and BA.5, but titers are reduced. A longitudinal evaluation of sera from Evusheld-treated patients reveals a slow decay of mAb levels and neutralization, which is faster against BA.5. Our data shed light on antiviral activities of therapeutic mAbs and the duration of effectiveness of Evusheld pre-exposure prophylaxis
Boundary Algebra: A Simpler Approach to Boolean Algebra and the Sentential Connectives
No full textBoundary algebra [BA] is a algebra of type , and a simplified notation for Spencer-Brown’s (1969) primary algebra. The syntax of the primary arithmetic [PA] consists of two atoms, () and the blank page, concatenation, and enclosure between ‘(‘ and ‘)’, denoting the primitive notion of distinction. Inserting letters denoting, indifferently, the presence or absence of () into a PA formula yields a BA formula. The BA axioms are A1: ()()= (), and A2: “(()) [abbreviated ‘⊥’] may be written or erased at will,” implying (⊥)=(). The repeated application of A1 and A2 simplifies any PA formula to either () or ⊥. The basis for BA is B1: abc=bca (concatenation commutes & associates); B2, ⊥a=a (BA has a lower bound, ⊥); B3, (a)a=() (BA is a complemented lattice); and B4, (ba)a=(b)a (implies that BA is a distributive lattice). BA has two intended models: (1) the Boolean algebra 2 with base set B={(),⊥}, such that () ⇔ 1 [dually 0], (a) ⇔ a′, and ab ⇔ a∪b [a∩b]; and (2) sentential logic, such that () ⇔ true [false], (a) ⇔ ~a, and ab ⇔ a∨b [a∧b]. BA is a self-dual notation, facilitates a calculational style of proof, and simplifies clausal reasoning and Quine’s truth value analysis. BA resembles C.S. Peirce’s graphical logic, the symbolic logics of Leibniz and W.E. Johnson, the 2 notation of Byrne (1946), and the Boolean term schemata of Quine (1982).Boundary algebra; boundary logic; primary algebra; primary arithmetic; Boolean algebra; calculation proof; G. Spencer-Brown; C.S. Peirce; existential graphs
Monitoring of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1/BA.2 lineage transition in the Swedish population reveals increased viral RNA levels in BA.2 cases
No full textBACKGROUND: Throughout the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, multiple waves of variants of concern have swept across populations, leading to a chain of new and yet more contagious variants dominating COVID-19 cases. Here, we tracked the remarkably rapid shift from Omicron BA.1 to BA.2 sublineage dominance in the Swedish population in early 2022 at a day-by-day basis. METHODS: Using a custom SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 lineage-typing RT-PCR assay, we analyzed 174,933 clinical upper airway samples collected during January to March 2022. FINDINGS: Our study demonstrates the feasibility and reliability of parallel lineage assignment of select variants at population scale, tracking the dominant sublineage transition from BA.1 to BA.2 at day-to-day resolution and uncovering nearly 2-fold higher levels of viral RNA in cases infected with Omicron BA.2 relative to BA.1. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide unique insights into the Omicron BA.1 to BA.2 transition that occurred in Sweden during early 2022, and later, across the world. This may help to understand the increased transmissibility of the BA.2 variant
[[alternative]]A Pedagogical Grammar of the Chinese Disposal(Ba) Construction
No full text[[abstract]]Current pedagogical grammar of the Chinese disposal construction (ba) is based on Shou-hsin Teng’s theoretical framework and methodology in his A Pedagogical Grammar of Chinese (2003), which draws on 7,710 examples from a corpus of authentic material and theoretical linguistics/grammar research, and emphasizes the learner as a crucial parameter, providing an exhaustive description of the Chinese disposal construction. In my thesis, I identify three semantic functions of the Chinese disposal construction based on Teng’s theoretical framework: disposal, accidental, and causative. (The disposal semantic function comprises 94.53% of the 7,288 examples in the Academia Sinica Corpus.) Additionally, I seek to establish seven basic sub-structures of the disposal construction: ba 1) S ba OV + aspect; ba 2) S ba OV + result; ba 3) S ba OV + goal; ba 4) S ba OV + direction; ba 5) S ba OV + extent; ba 6) S ba OV + range; ba 7) S ba OV + reduplication.
Drawing on Teng’s principles regarding multiple sequences and the assessment of the difficulty grammar of points, I posit eight principles for assessing the difficulty of seven disposal construction sub-structures, and order such sub-structures according to their level of difficulty; in so doing, I assess the sequencing, pedagogical stages, and grading of the sub-structures, and create a model for disposal construction pedagogy which includes a series of computer-based, task-oriented scenarios. I believe my thesis can help bridge the gap between the fields of pedagogical grammar and pedagogy, and provide a discursive platform on which relevant issues can be further examined. Hopefully, my research and the potential discursive platform arising from it will lend themselves to discrediting the common belief that disposal construction pedagogy is best formulated according to an educator’s personal experiences. This thesis thereby situates the pedagogy of the disposal construction firmly in the realm of empirical science. Additionally, I seek to help educators to develop their pedagogical methodology according to my sequence of the disposal construction, and to systematically improve their teaching methods. In so doing, educators will enable second language learners not only to fully grasp the disposal construction and other related grammar points, but also to grasp the entirety of the Chinese grammar system. Thus they will ultimately allow learners to actively engage speakers of the target language in an appropriate, effective manner.
‘Ba’ for effective knowledge management: in the era of digitalization in construction organisations
No full textThis study aims to explore what design of ‘ba’, the Japanese concept which translates into ‘place’ or ‘space’ in English, facilitates effective knowledge creation in construction organisations. Although many scholars have investigated the field of knowledge management in construction organisations, few have focused on ‘ba’, where the knowledge creation process takes place (Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1998). ‘Ba’ is defined as ‘a shared context in which knowledge is shared, created and utilised (Nonaka et al., 2000)’, and ‘ba’ can be physical (e.g. meeting rooms), virtual (e.g. e-mails), and even mental space (e.g. shared values). Although ‘ba’ has been recognised as the essential part of knowledge creation, it is not fully clear what design of ‘ba’ can facilitate organisational knowledge creation better due to its ambiguity and intractability. Moreover, new ICT tools have emerged and used for ‘ba’ since the concept was first introduced in the 1990s, and the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of virtual environments in business. Also, few examined the impact of individuals’ traits such as generational differences in values and Belbin team roles on ‘ba’. Therefore, exploring ‘ba’ in accordance with the above aspects can contribute to enhancing knowledge creation in organisations. This research is divided into three parts: literature study, qualitative data collection and analysis, and recommendations. In the literature study, the conceptual model of ‘ba’ is reconstructed based on the extant literature in order to clarify the nature of ‘ba’. The model suggests the nature of ‘ba’ is “a shared space given meaning by inter-subjective relationships and inter-corporeal relationships”. Moreover, the four categories of enabling conditions that stimulate ‘ba’ are identified, namely social/behavioural, cognitive/epistemic, information systems, and strategy/structure. Subsequently, the empirical data obtained by semi-structured interviews with East Japan Railway Company show both physical and virtual ‘ba’ are used in the organisation. Comparing physical ‘ba’ with virtual ‘ba’, most informants described that physical ‘ba’ that allows face-to-face communication is appropriate for knowledge creation activities. Sharing the physical space allows participants to convey their ideas adequately with inter-corporeal interaction. As the construction industry heavily depends on tacit knowledge due to its intrinsic nature, the environment where tacit knowledge conversion is easily taken place is considered effective for knowledge creation. Also, focusing on individuals’ characteristics specifically generation differences and Belbin orientation, these variables do not affect the perception of ‘ba’ that facilitates knowledge creation. On the other hand, organisational tenure may indirectly influence the perception of ‘ba’ since most of the interviewees have worked for a long time within the same organisation and the organisation’s values and philosophy can be steeped in their minds as their tenures increased. Finally, recommendations were developed to facilitate the knowledge-creating process by combining the results of the literature study and empirical study. The following three key recommendations were proposed: design 'ba' with corporeality; complement the lack of corporeality; Clarify the meaning of ‘ba’. Civil Engineering | Construction Management and Engineerin
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