Decomposed Mutual Information Optimization for Generalized Context in Meta-Reinforcement Learning

Adapting to the changes in transition dynamics is essential in robotic applications. By learning a conditional policy with a compact context, context-aware meta-reinforcement learning provides a flexible way to adjust behavior according to dynamics changes. However, in real-world applications, the agent may encounter complex dynamics changes. Multiple confounders can influence the transition dynamics, making it challenging to infer accurate context for decision-making. This paper addresses such a challenge by Decomposed Mutual INformation Optimization (DOMINO) for context learning, which explicitly learns a disentangled context to maximize the mutual information between the context and historical trajectories, while minimizing the state transition prediction error. Our theoretical analysis shows that DOMINO can overcome the underestimation of the mutual information caused by multi-confounded challenges via learning disentangled context and reduce the demand for the number of samples collected in various environments. Extensive experiments show that the context learned by DOMINO benefits both model-based and model-free reinforcement learning algorithms for dynamics generalization in terms of sample efficiency and performance in unseen environments.Comment: NeurIPS 202

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese version of the 20-item Prosopagnosia Index (PI20)

Prosopagnosia, also known as facial blindness, has attracted wide attention in the social field in recent years. However, it mainly depends on the self-report of the chief complaint in the actual diagnosis. In addition, there is a lack of standardized measurement basis, which brings a lot of inconvenience to the patients themselves and follow-up researchers. In this study, we tested the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of 20 - item prosopagnosia index (PI-20). 647 young people aged 18-45 filled in PI-20, the adult autistic quotient scale, the empathy quotient questionnaire, and completed the retest one month later. Results showed that the PI-20 has good internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, and has good validity. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis shows that the model can well fit the data of Chinese population and can be used for large-scale measurement. The Chinese version PI-20 is a reliable measurement for prosopagnosia

Non-invasive and accurate risk evaluation of cerebrovascular disease using retinal fundus photo based on deep learning

BackgroundCerebrovascular disease (CeVD) is a prominent contributor to global mortality and profound disability. Extensive research has unveiled a connection between CeVD and retinal microvascular abnormalities. Nonetheless, manual analysis of fundus images remains a laborious and time-consuming task. Consequently, our objective is to develop a risk prediction model that utilizes retinal fundus photo to noninvasively and accurately assess cerebrovascular risks.Materials and methodsTo leverage retinal fundus photo for CeVD risk evaluation, we proposed a novel model called Efficient Attention which combines the convolutional neural network with attention mechanism. This combination aims to reinforce the salient features present in fundus photos, consequently improving the accuracy and effectiveness of cerebrovascular risk assessment.ResultOur proposed model demonstrates notable advancements compared to the conventional ResNet and Efficient-Net architectures. The accuracy (ACC) of our model is 0.834 ± 0.03, surpassing Efficient-Net by a margin of 3.6%. Additionally, our model exhibits an improved area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.904 ± 0.02, surpassing other methods by a margin of 2.2%.ConclusionThis paper provides compelling evidence that Efficient-Attention methods can serve as effective and accurate tool for cerebrovascular risk. The results of the study strongly support the notion that retinal fundus photo holds great potential as a reliable predictor of CeVD, which offers a noninvasive, convenient and low-cost solution for large scale screening of CeVD

Amphiphilic Polyphosphazene for Fluorocarbon Emulsion Stabilization

High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) have been of great interest for fabricating fluorinated porous polymers having controlled pore structures and excellent physicochemical properties. However, it remains a challenge to prepare stable fluorocarbon HIPEs, due to the lack of suitable surfactants. By randomly grating hydrophilic and fluorophilic side chains to polyphosphazene (PPZ), a comb-like amphiphilic PPZ surfactant with biodegradability is designed and synthesized for stabilizing water/fluorocarbon oil-based emulsions. The hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of PPZs can be controlled by tuning the grating ratio of the two side chains, leading to the preparation of stable water-in-oil HIPEs and oil-in-water emulsions, and the production of fluorinated porous polymers and particles by polymerizing the oil phase. These fluorinated porous polymers show excellent thermal stability and, due to the hydrophobicity and porous structure, applications in the field of oil/water separation can be achieved

Emotional Resilience Mediates the Relationship Between Mindfulness and Emotion

Previous studies have shown that mindfulness promotes positive mood states and reduces negative ones; however, the underlying mechanisms are still controversial. This study assessed the role of emotional resilience as a mediator between mindfulness and emotional regulation. A total of 421 college students (M age = 20.0 year, SD = 2.0; males/females/missing are 152/248/4) completed the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Profile of Mood States, and Adolescents' Emotional Resilience Questionnaire (AERQ). The ability to generate positive emotion (GP) and the ability to recover from negative emotion (RN) are two subscales of the AERQ. A Structural Equation Modeling analysis indicated that emotional resilience mediated the connection between mindfulness and emotion. Specifically, GP mediated the relationship between mindfulness and both positive and negative emotions while RN mainly mediated the relationship between mindfulness and negative emotions. These findings suggest that mindfulness may play a role in regulating positive and negative emotions through the two different aspects of emotional resilience

State Mindfulness Scale: Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version

ObjectivesMindfulness training has become increasingly popular among people in China over the last few decades. However, current research on mindfulness primarily focuses on trait rather than state mindfulness, which is reflected in the measurements used. Thus, here, we validated and assessed the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the State Mindfulness Scale (SMS) in a non-clinical sample of Chinese university students.MethodsSMS was translated into Chinese, and was back-translated. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was then implemented, and its reliability and validity were examined (sample n(1) = 382, sub-sample n(2) = 266).ResultsThe Chinese SMS (SMS-Ch) exhibited good internal consistency and acceptable test-retest reliability. CFA provided support for the higher-order 2-factor model. The correlations between SMS and validity scales (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Toronto Mindfulness Scale) also provided a preliminary basis for the convergent and discriminant validity.ConclusionsOur results showed that the SMS-Ch has acceptable psychometric properties and is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing state mindfulness in a Chinese cultural context.PreregistrationThis study was not pre-registered

Influencing gambling attitudes : what the media tells youths?

In this article, an overview of existing literature regarding influences of films and advertisements on youth gambling is provided. Next, major theories explaining how media impacts gambling among youths, are outlined. With that as a foundation, a review of specific tools and techniques used in films and advertisements, which encourage pro-gambling attitudes and behaviour in youths, is addressed. Lastly, discussed techniques will be applied to anti-gambling media content to propose improvements to consistency and effectiveness in aiding the prevention of gambling among youths.Bachelor of Art

Lynn and Accardi Sensitivity Scale (LASS): psychometric properties of the Chinese version

Most measurements of sensitivity focus on specific domains. The present study aimed to revise a scale that measures a broader concept of psychological sensitivity and ensure its applicability in the Chinese cultural context. We validated and assessed the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Lynn and Accardi Sensitivity Scale (LASS) in a non-clinical sample of Chinese university students. The LASS was translated into Chinese and back-translated. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the 3-factor structure of the LASS (Negative Self-Evaluation, Emotional Sensitivity, Social Approval). Subsequently, its reliability and validity were examined (Sample 1: n = 622, Subsample 2: n = 38). CFA provided support for the 3-factor model. The LASS-Ch demonstrated good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The correlations between the LASS-Ch and established scales (Highly Sensitive Person Scale, Emotional Intensity Scale, Social Interpersonal Anxiety Scale, Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-RSC, Patient Health Questionnaire-9) provided preliminary evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. The results of this study indicate that the LASS-Ch possesses good psychometric properties and is an effective and reliable tool for assessing psychological sensitivity in the Chinese cultural context

When and how is depression associated with ostracism among college students? The mediating role of interpretation bias and the moderating role of awareness rather than acceptance

Depression is closely related to individual social functions. The current study aimed to examine whether depression is associated with ostracism, whether interpretation bias mediates this relationship, and whether trait mindfulness moderates direct and indirect relationships between depression and ostracism. Overall, 389 Chinese college students completed the Center for Epidemiological Survey, Depression Scale, Interpretation Bias Questionnaire, Philadelphia mindfulness scale, and perceived ostracism scale at two-time points. Latent Profile analysis and moderated mediation analysis were performed. After controlling for sex and age, depression (t1) was positively correlated to perceived ostracism, with this relationship being partially mediated by negative interpretation bias (IBN, t2). The effect of IBN on perceived ostracism was weak when awareness was high at time 2. Acceptance had a non-significant moderating role in the relationship between IBN and perceived ostracism at time 2. LPA delineated three profiles: high awareness, high acceptance, and medium mindfulness. The moderating role of the different profiles in the relationship between IBN (t2) and perceived ostracism (t2) was significant. Depressed individuals appear to experience more ostracism because of IBN. Awareness might alleviate the effect of IBN on perceived ostracism.</p

Effects of short-term Huatou Chan training on health

Previous studies have shown that perennial Chan training leads to improvements in brain functioning. However, few studies have investigated the effects of short-term Huatou Chan training. The current study explored the effects of a three-day Huatou Chan training on physical and emotional health, as well as brain state. Seventy healthy subjects were recruited and divided into two groups: the Huatou Chan group and the Control group. The Huatou Chan group received a 3-day Huatou Chan training, while the Control group waited for three days. Both groups completed a 6 min Brain State Index recording, the SCL-90, the brief profile of mood state, the meaning in life questionnaire, and the Index of Well-being, prior to and after the training or waiting period. Results showed that short-term Huatou Chan training had significant benefits on some aspects such as physical and emotional health (obsessive-compulsive, depression, hostility, and psychoticism), negative emotions (tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, fatigue-inertia, and confusion-bewilderment), well-being, and attitude towards life. In addition, short-term Chan training can significantly improve brain state, as shown by the index of depression, anxiety, alerting and intelligence. This is the first study to provide direct evidence for the benefits of short-term intensive Huatou Chan training on physical and mental health.(c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</p