Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preliminary assessment of the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Questionnaire to Assess Affective and Cognitive Empathy (QAACE) in Children

This article reports the Polish adaptation of the Questionnaire to Assess Affective and Cognitive Empathy (QAACE) by Zoll and Enz – a multidimensional self-report questionnaire used to measure empathy in children aged 8-14. The QAACE is based on a two-factor cognitive-emotional model of empathy. It has a number of international adaptations and offers a convenient Polish-language tool for use with young children and adolescents.The sample consisted of 677 children aged 8-13. The survey was conducted on school premises, during classes, by an appro-priately prepared researcher.Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a good fitting measurement model representing the original underlying factor struc-ture of the QAACE among Polish children. The reliability of the questionnaire as measured by Cronbach’s α and McDon-ald’s ω was good. The reliability of the scale as assessed by the test-retest method (after four weeks) was . 80. We assessed the validity of the tool by analyzing the correlation of empathy with love and sadism. General empathy, as well as cogni-tive and affective empathy, is positively related to love. The hypothesis that sadism is significantly related to empathy was also partially confirmed. General empathy and affective empathy are negatively correlated with sadism, while there was no relationship between sadism and cognitive empathy.The questionnaire is the first widely available tool of this type to examine empathy and its components appropriate for chil-dren and adolescents in Poland. The questionnaire can be a useful screening test for detecting children’s level of empathy.
Identifying Important Proteins in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction with Explainable Artificial Intelligence

Meibomian gland dysfunction is the most common cause of dry eye disease, which is a prevalent condition that can damage the ocular surface and cause reduced vision and substantial pain. Meibum secreted from the meibomian glands makes up the majority of the outer, protective lipid layer of the tear film. Changes in the secreted meibum and markers of glandular damage can be detected through tear sampling. Several studies have investigated the tear film protein expression in meibomian gland dysfunction, but less work apply machine learning to analyze the protein patterns. We use machine learning and methods from explainable artificial intelligence to detect potential clinically relevant proteins in meibomian gland dysfunction. Two different explainable artificial intelligence methods are compared. Several of the proteins found important in the models have been linked to dry eye disease in the past, while some are novel. Consequently, explainable artificial intelligence methods serve as a promising tool for screening for proteins that are relevant for meibomian gland dysfunction. By doing so, one may be able to discover new biomarkers and treatments, and gain a better understanding of how diseases develop.
Finite frequency H ∞ filtering for uncertain two-dimensional continuous systems

This paper investigates the problem of robust finite frequency (FF) H ∞ filtering for two-dimensional (2D) continuous systems described by the Roesser state-space model with norm-bounded uncertainties. A further generalized Kalman–Yakubivich–Popov (KYP) lemma for 2D continuous Roesser systems is presented in a unified form. By the given generalized KYP lemma, the problem of standard H ∞ filtering for uncertain 2D continuous Roesser systems is extended to the FF case. Finally, an illustrative example is provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Semigroups whose Julia sets are Cantor targets

ABSTRACT We consider semigroups generated by two rational functions whose Julia sets are Cantor targets. Noting that a Cantor target has no interior points, we construct a polynomial semigroup whose Julia set has no interior points and the Hausdorff dimension of whose Julia set is arbitrary close to 2.
The western Pacific subtropical high and tropical cyclone landfall: Seasonal forecasts using the Met Office GloSea5 system

We investigate the relationship between the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and tropical cyclone (TC) landfall in the ERA‐Interim reanalysis and two configurations of the UK Met Office Global Seasonal forecasting system version 5 (GloSea5): Global Atmosphere 3.0 (GA3) and Global Coupled configuration 2 (GC2). Both model configurations have the same horizontal and vertical resolution in the ocean and the atmosphere, but differ in terms of model physics. The WPSH strongly modulates TC activity over the subtropical western North Pacific (WNP) and TC landfall over East Asia (Japan, Korea and East China). Here we show that both model configurations GA3 and GC2 show significant skill for predictions of the WPSH and TC variability over the subtropical WNP, as well as TC frequency along the coast of East Asia, during the boreal summer (June–August). An extension of the analysis to include the full WNP typhoon season (June–November) is also examined; however, only a weak significant relationship between the WPSH index and the observed TC frequency over East Asia is found during this period, and no significant relationship is present in either GloSea5 GA3 or GC2. Results highlight the potential for operational seasonal forecasts of TC landfall risk for Japan, Korea and East China over the June–August period using predictions of the WPSH indices from GloSea5.
Management of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia at Extremes of Age

Simple Summary This review summarizes various unique aspects of managing APL in very elderly and pediatric patients, particularly treatment with ATO, toxicities, and dose modifications. Abstract Tailored treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) has revolutionized the outcome of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) from a uniformly fatal disease to one of the most curable malignant diseases in humans. Due to its high efficacy, ATO/ATRA is the standard first-line therapy in younger adult, non-high-risk APL patients. However, early death is still a major issue in APL, particularly in older patients. Thus, rapid diagnostics, immediate access to ATRA-based therapy, and supportive care are of utmost importance. Nevertheless, challenging situations occur, particularly in patients excluded from controlled studies with clinical knowledge mainly based on case reports and registries. Besides the treatment of newly diagnosed patients, managing toxicities and complications remains challenging. This review discusses the approach to the treatment of APL in elderly and pediatric patients.
Morbidities, Self-reported Health, Purpose, and Satisfaction with Life in Older Adults

Abstract This study aims to estimate the prevalence of overall satisfaction with life regarding sense of purpose in life, morbidities, and self-reported health, and to identify their direct and indirect associations among the domains in community-dwelling older adults. The research has a cross-sectional design, and we evaluated 419 older adults. Morbidities were assessed using a dichotomous question; self-reported health and satisfaction with life were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale; and sense of purpose was assessed using the Ryff and Keyes 10-item scale. An analysis of structural equations was conducted using Path Analysis. The relationship between morbidities and overall satisfaction with life was mediated by self-reported health; purpose in life mediated the relationship between self-reported health and overall satisfaction with life. Beyond managing chronic illnesses, subjective assessments of health and well-being are key to successful aging.
The effect of auricular vagus nerve stimulation on electroencephalography and electromyography measurements in healthy persons

Objectives: Auricular vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a non-invasive treatment modality. Opinions that it can be used in the treatment of various clinical problems have gained importance in recent years. In this study, it was aimed to lay the groundwork for the use of the auricular VNS in different ears. Methods: Healthy individuals (n = 90) were divided into three groups: unilateral left (n = 30), unilateral right (n = 30), and bilateral (n = 30) auricular VNS. Electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) measurements were performed before and after auricular VNS (10 Hz, 300 µs, 20 min) for a single session. Results: An increase in wrist extensor muscles activation was detected on the contralateral side of the auricular VNS application side. It has been observed that there is a general decrease in the power of high-frequency waves and an increase in the power of lower-medium frequency waves in various parts of the brain. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the projection of the auricular VNS in the central nervous system may also affect the corticospinal tracts.
Representativeness in Statistical Reasoning: Identifying and Assessing Misconceptions

The purpose of the study was to develop a valid and reliable test instrument to identify students who hold misconceptions about probability. A total of 263 students completed a multiple-choice test that used a two-part format rather than the typical one-part format. Results of the study showed that even students with formal instruction in statistics continue to demonstrate misconceptions. The test instrument developed in this study provides instructors with (1) a valid and reliable method of identifying students who hold common misconceptions about probability, and (2) diagnostic information concerning students' errors not frequently available through other formats. The test instrument was further evaluated in an instructional intervention study.
The influence of organizational justice on achieving job happiness for employees in Egyptian hotels and travel agencies.

Although job happiness is still considered a relatively new idea within management theory, it has lately gained importance across all institutions. Job happiness is an essential component of happiness on the personal level. As such, there are factors that contribute to job happiness in the field of work, one of which is organizational justice. The existence of positive work climate is based on the appreciation and respect of employees, and encouraging them contributes to enhancing their sense of job happiness . this study's aim is to determine how organizational justice impacts on job happiness for employees in tourism and hotel sector. The research conducted in this study utilized a quantitative approach with a deductive reasoning method. The study utilized a single quantitative method, specifically a field survey that involved the administration of a structured questionnaire. The survey was conducted among 597 employees employed in travel agents and hotels in Egypt. Statistical analysis was conducted (SPSS, V23) software. The findings proved that organizational justice dimensions positively affected job happiness dimensions. The study provides further theoretical and applied contributions to tourism and hospitality sectors.
Minimum preserving subsampling-based fast image de-fogging

Dark channel prior based techniques have been widely used in image and video de-fogging which produce real and impressive results. Their major limitation is the large computational cost of dark channel estimation. For the image of size M × N, to find n × n dark channel, operations are required, which increase its computational complexity. In this work, a novel approach of image subsampling is proposed, which preserves the value of local minimum in a patch. This subsampled image is used to construct the dark channel to improve the computational efficiency. Transmission map is refined using fast guided filter to remove blocking artifacts. Atmospheric light is calculated by ignoring pixels of bright light sources. To make the results uniformly bright, adaptive post processing is performed on de-fogging results. The image de-fogging technique is further extended for videos. It is demonstrated that proposed technique produces better results than existing state-of-the-art techniques while achieving real-time processing speed.
An Improved Memristor Model and Applications

Memristors are promising and useful electronic elements with good memory and switching properties. Due to their nano-sizes, low energy consumption and good compatibility to CMOS high-density integrated chips, memristors could be utilized in neural networks, memory crossbars, and many other electronic schemes. In this work, an improved and simple, fast-functioning model of metal-oxide memristors is offered. Its corresponding LTSPICE library model is generated and applied for analysis of memory crossbars. The suggested model successfully operates at high-frequency signals, expressing the main fingerprints of memristors. Its appropriate operation in complex memristor-based electronic devices and circuits is established.
The Gender Gap in Mathematics: Evidence from Chile

Using a large administrative data set from Chile, we find that on average boys perform better than girls in math. In this article, we document several features of boys versus girls’ relative performance in math. First, we note that the gender gap appears to increase with age (doubles between fourth grade and eighth grade). Second, we test whether commonly proposed explanations such as parental background and investments, unobserved ability, and classroom environment (including teacher gender) help explain a substantial portion of the gap. While none of these explanations help in explaining a large portion of the gender gap, we show that boys and girls differ significantly in perceptions about their own ability in math. Conditional on math scores, compared to boys, girls are much more likely to state that they dislike math or find math difficult. We highlight differences in self-assessed ability as areas for future research that might lead to a better understanding of the gender gap in math.
Using Lemongrass in Functional Food Production

Children suffer from malnutrition and mineral deficiency, which leads to many diseases, the most important of which is a lack of growth and concentration. Children love cookies because they are easy to carry as a daily breakfast in schools. Therefore, we tried to fortify the cookies with lemongrass because of its health benefits, it contains 1607.545 (mg GAE/100 g) phenols, which can fight free radicals resulting from exposure to various types of environmental pollution. A percentage of crude fibers, protein and carbohydrates were 27.38%, 7.92% and carbohydrates 53.68%, respectively.
The dynamic connectedness between private equities and other high-demand financial assets: A portfolio hedging strategy during COVID-19

In view of the need for portfolio diversification, we investigate the interlinkages between a private equity ETF and a set of high-demand asset classes including bonds, equities, crude oil, gold, commodities, currency, Bitcoin, and shipping within a spillover framework. For this objective, we apply the enhanced modification of the Diebold and Yilmaz approach for the period 1 January 2010 to 31 January 2023. The empirical findings indicate a modest degree of connectedness among the investigated markets, whereas volatility spillovers showed acceleration during tumultuous periods. In addition, we assess the capacity of private equities for hedging, for the whole sample period and during COVID-19 infectious disease, in order to suggest investors for potential portfolio restructures. Results demonstrate that the short position in the volatility of private equity ETF can result in strong hedging effectiveness for investors holding long positions in Bitcoin, shipping, bonds, and crude oil. JEL Classification: C32, C58, G11, G15
2′-fucosyllactose alone or combined with resistant starch increases circulating short-chain fatty acids in lean men and men with prediabetes and obesity

Background Infusion of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) to the distal colon beneficially affects human substrate and energy metabolism. Here, we hypothesized that the combination of 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) with resistant starch (RS) increases distal colonic SCFA production and improves metabolic parameters. Methods In this randomized, crossover study, 10 lean (BMI 20–24.9 kg/m2) and nine men with prediabetes and overweight/obesity (BMI 25–35 kg/m2) were supplemented with either 2′-FL, 2′-FL+RS, or placebo one day before a clinical investigation day (CID). During the CID, blood samples were collected after a overnight fast and after intake of a liquid high-fat mixed meal to determine plasma SCFA (primary outcomes). Secondary outcomes were fasting and postprandial plasma insulin, glucose, free fatty acid (FFA), glucagon-like peptide-1, and peptide YY concentrations. In addition, fecal SCFA and microbiota composition, energy expenditure and substrate oxidation (indirect calorimetry), and breath hydrogen excretion were determined. Results In lean men, supplementation with 2′-FL increased postprandial plasma acetate (P = 0.017) and fasting H2 excretion (P = 0.041) compared to placebo. Postprandial plasma butyrate concentration increased after 2′-FL and 2′-FL+RS as compared to placebo (P < 0.05) in lean men and men with prediabetes and overweight/obesity. Additionally, 2′-FL+RS decreased fasting and postprandial plasma FFA concentrations compared to placebo (P < 0.05) in lean men. Conclusion Supplementation of 2′-FL with/without RS the day before investigation increased systemic butyrate concentrations in lean men as well as in men with prediabetes and obesity, while acetate only increased in lean men. The combination of 2′-FL with RS showed a putatively beneficial metabolic effect by lowering plasma FFA in lean men, indicating a phenotype-specific effect. Clinical trial registration nr. NCT04795804.
Supervised Policy Update

We propose a new sample-efficient methodology, called Supervised Policy Update (SPU), for deep reinforcement learning. Starting with data generated by the current policy, SPU optimizes over the proximal policy space to find a non-parameterized policy. It then solves a supervised regression problem to convert the non-parameterized policy to a parameterized policy, from which it draws new samples. There is significant flexibility in setting the labels in the supervised regression problem, with different settings corresponding to different underlying optimization problems. We develop a methodology for finding an optimal policy in the non-parameterized policy space, and show how Trust Region Policy Optimization (TRPO) and Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) can be addressed by this methodology. In terms of sample efficiency, our experiments show SPU can outperform PPO for simulated robotic locomotion tasks.
Damage Assessment of Glass-Fibre-Reinforced Plastic Structures under Quasi-Static Indentation with Acoustic Emission

The use of fibre-reinforced plastics (FRPs) in various industrial applications continues to increase thanks to their good strength-to-weight ratio and impact resistance, as well as the high strength that provides engineers with advanced options for the design of modern structures subjected to a variety of out-of-plane impacts. An assessment of the damage morphology under such conditions using non-destructive techniques could provide useful data for material design and optimisation. This study investigated the damage mechanism and energy-absorption characteristics of E-glass laminates and sandwich structures with GFRP face sheets with PVC cores under quasi-static indentation with conical, square, and hemispherical indenters. An acoustic emission (AE) technique, coupled with a k-means++ pattern-recognition algorithm, was employed to identify the dominant microscopic and macroscopic damage mechanisms. Additionally, a post-mortem damage assessment was performed with X-ray micro computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy to validate the identified clusters. It was found that the specific energy absorption after impact with the square and hemispherical indenters of the GFRP sandwich and the plain laminate differed significantly, by 19.29% and 43.33%, respectively, while a minimal difference of 3.5% was recorded for the conical indenter. Additionally, the results obtained with the clustering technique applied to the acoustic emission signals detected the main damaged modes, such as matrix cracking, fibre/matrix debonding, delamination, the debonding of face sheets/core, and core failure. The results therefore could provide a methodology for the optimisation and prediction of damage for the health monitoring of composites.
Geopolitical risk and military expenditures: Evidence from the US economy

Exploring the nexus between geopolitical risk (GPR) and military expenditures (ME) has been limited during the past period. It is justified by the absence of a well-published proxy for GPR. Recently, the work of Caldara and Iacoviello (2022) stimulated scholars to examine the consequences of GPR. Our paper seeks to understand the relationship between GPR and ME in the United States (US). It designs a theoretical framework and computes an econometric model using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag methodology based on annual data (1960–2021). In addition, it uses the pairwise Toda–Yamamoto causality test. The results show that the relationship between GPR and ME is one of unidirectional causality and runs from ME to GPR in the US. Further, this relationship is statistically significant and positive in the short and long run. This finding supports our hypothesis that the USGPR is a consequence of resource allocation, i.e., ME, and can be controlled, directed, and mitigated. Thus, ME is a tool to achieve the US international hegemony’s strategic goals. From a policy implication perspective, it has been proved that GPR has broad negative consequences for various economies. Thus, moving toward cooperation and coordination with other nations instead of accumulating ME tends to support the international economy.
Heat Capacities of N-Acetyl Amides of Glycine, L-Alanine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, and L-Leucine

As a follow-up to our effort to establish reliable thermodynamic data for amino acids, the heat capacity and phase behavior are reported for N-acetyl glycine amide (CAS RN: 2620-63-5), N-acetyl-L-alanine amide (CAS RN: 15962-47-7), N-acetyl-L-valine amide (CAS RN: 37933-88-3), N-acetyl-L-isoleucine amide (CAS RN: 56711-06-9), and N-acetyl-L-leucine amide (CAS RN: 28529-34-2). Prior to heat capacity measurement, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray powder diffraction were performed to determine decomposition temperatures and initial crystal structures, respectively. The crystal heat capacities of the five N-acetyl amino acid amides were measured by Tian–Calvet calorimetry in the temperature interval (266–350 K), by power compensation DSC in the temperature interval (216–471 K), and by relaxation (heat-pulse) calorimetry in the temperature interval (2–268 K). As a result, reference heat capacities and thermodynamic functions for the crystalline phase from 0 K up to 470 K were developed.