J. Selye University

Lucas atoms are irreducible factors of Lucas polynomials and they were introduced in Sagan and Tirrell (Adv Math 374:107387, 2020). The main aim of the authors was to investigate, from an innovatory point of view, when some combinatorial rational functions are actually polynomials. In this paper, we see that the Lucas atoms can be introduced in a more natural and powerful way than the original definition, providing straightforward proofs for their main properties. Moreover, we fully characterize the p-adic valuations of Lucas atoms for any prime p, answering to a problem left open in Sagan and Tirrell (2020), where the authors treated only some specific cases for $p \in \{2, 3\}$. Finally, we prove that the sequence of Lucas atoms is not holonomic, contrarily to the Lucas sequence that is a linear recurrent sequence of order two.

Despite the widespread consensus on the importance of equal treatment, discrimination persists in the workplace, affecting numerous individuals. This research delves into the perceptions of discrimination among company owners in Georgia, Slovakia, and Spain. The study intends to shed light on the prevalence and forms of discrimination within these contexts. This investigation contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding workplace equality and diversity, offering insights that could inform future policies and practices, fostering inclusive work environments. Respondents from Slovakia (n = 36) reported higher instances of discrimination against sexual orientation, while in Spain (n = 95), gender-based discrimination was more frequently acknowledged. In Georgia (n = 43), age and medical condition were the main reasons for discrimination. These findings suggest a complex interplay of cultural, legal, and economic factors influencing workplace discrimination.

Our study examines sports participation among socioeconomically disadvantaged children in Slovakia, with a focus on identifying barriers and motivational factors influencing their involvement. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, data was gathered from students in public schools across southern Slovakia’s least developed districts, employing a stratified sampling method to ensure diverse socioeconomic representation. The primary instrument was a self-administered questionnaire which captured data on demographics, sporting habits, and perceived barriers to sports participation. The results indicate significant disparities in sports engagement between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged children. Disadvantaged children reported higher barriers to participation, notably financial constraints, limited accessibility to facilities, and lack of social support from family and community. Despite these barriers, sports are viewed as a potential medium for enhancing social inclusion and personal development among these children. The findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to reduce these barriers, such as improved accessibility to sports facilities, financial support, and community-driven sports programs. This study contributes to understanding the multifaceted impact of socioeconomic status on sports participation and highlights the importance of sports in fostering social equity and health benefits among disadvantaged youth.

In the constantly changing economic and social life, the examination of employee satisfaction and motivation is inexhaustible both from a scientific and practical point of view. The main goal of the research was to explore and understand the workplace factors that most affect the satisfaction and motivation of employees working in southern Slovakia. Our goal was to identify the extent to which the factors we identified, i.e. wages and benefits, professional development and learning opportunities, working environment and conditions, and leadership style, affect employee satisfaction and motivation. The study was based on the primary and secondary research. A quantitative research method, a questionnaire survey, was used during the primary research. The snowball method was chosen as the sampling method. The data collection took place in the spring of 2024, among employees working in SME. The research followed the logic of deductive research, according to which the hypotheses were formulated on the basis of similar research. A total of 172 evaluable responses were collected, of which 156 were used to test the hypotheses. For the statistical analysis of the data, linear regression analysis and the Durbin-Watson test were performed. Satisfaction and motivation are closely related phenomena, the development of which in an employee can still be mostly linked to wages and the existence of benefits. Adequate working conditions and an exemplary leadership style also have a significant impact on employee satisfaction, thus their commitment and staying with the company.

Innovation is vital in the modern economic environment, as it aims to improve the operational efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability of enterprises. The study aimed to examine the innovation activity of Hungarian small and medium-sized enterprises and the most important factors influencing their innovation. The paper employed a questionnaire survey in the spring of 2024. During the survey, a total of 253 companies were interviewed about their innovation factors. Based on the results, the innovation activity of the Hungarian SME sector shows a developing tendency. A positive attitude toward innovation is increasingly present among SMEs. More than half of the respondents (53%) believe that innovation plays a key role in maintaining competitiveness. However, in practice, almost two-thirds (58%) of managers do not involve their employees in innovation processes, or only partially, suggesting that companies’ decision-making processes remain centralized. Statistical analyses showed that neither the companies’ size nor age showed a significant correlation with innovation. However, the research results showed a close relationship between innovation and the use of knowledge transfer. This result shows that knowledge management plays a decisive role in the innovation processes of Hungarian small and medium-sized enterprises. AcknowledgmentsThis study is funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant “Strategy of structural and technological modernization of the basic sectors of the economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan based on ESG: criteria, mechanisms and forecast scenario” No. BR24993089).

This study aims to explore the importance of basic psychological needs satisfaction (BPNS) and mindfulness of university students in their career adaptability (CA), career self-efficacy (CSE), and future career choice (CC). The sample consisted of 1026 undergraduate students, of which 495 (48.2%) were female and 531 (51.8%) male, from three public universities in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia. The assessments, such as the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire Short Form, the Career Adapt-Ability Short Form Five Scale, the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale, and the Career Choice scale instruments were used. Findings from a parallel mediation model showed that both CA and CSE had a direct positive effect on the BPNS of university students. Additionally, this study found that both BPNS and mindfulness had a substantial and positive direct effect on the students’ CC. Importantly, we found that both CA and CSE significantly and indirectly predicted the future CC through BPNS and mindfulness. In addition, BPNS and mindfulness also partially mediate the relationship between CA, CSE, and the students’ future CC. Importantly, we found that mindfulness and BPNS fully and partially mediated the relationship between CA, CSE, and CC. These results support the notion that both psychological constructs (BPNS and mindfulness) play a crucial role in explaining the relationship between CA, CSE, and CC. By enhancing students’ BPNS and mindfulness, institutions can empower students to make informed decisions about their future career paths, ultimately nurturing their personal and professional growth.

Computer programming belongs to the important profile subjects in the curriculum of first-degree study programs of both Applied Informatics and Teaching of Informatics at the J. Selye University. In order to acquire computer programming competencies, students need to gain well-developed algorithmic and logical thinking skills. In this article, we describe an assessment related to algorithmic and logical thinking which was conducted in the academic year 2023/2024, and involved 75 first-year computer science students. Participants completed the measurement instrument online using a specifically designed framework. This instrument contained 16 tasks related to algorithmization, problem-solving and logical thinking, which can be grouped into four types: (1) tasks related to the execution of a given algorithm, (2) tasks associated with the analysis of an algorithm, (3) tasks associated with the development of an optimal algorithm, and (4) tasks related to problem-solving and logical thinking. During the evaluation of the survey, we focus on the comparison of students’ responses to each task type, by considering the solution times. We examine solution time differences between correct and incorrect answers, and determine the relation between solution time and expressed confidence. Finally, we draw our conclusions and mention our future research plans.

In this paper we analyze the Beurling-Malliavin density and some other quantities related to it. Then we consider the upper Pólya density and show how its existence is connected with the concept of subadditivity; moreover a theorem is presented that clarifies the connection between the upper Pólya and the Beurling-Malliavin densities. In the last section we discuss the classical definition of the upper Pólya density and we prove a result which seems to be new.

The aim of this article is to investigate the relations between the exponent of the convergence of sequences and other characteristics defined for monotone sequences of positive numbers. Another main goal is to characterize such monotone sequences (an) of positive numbers that, for each n≥2, satisfy the equality an=K(an−1,an+1), where the function K:R+×R+→R+ is the mean, i.e., each value of K(x,y) lies between min{x,y} and max{x,y}. Well-known examples of such sequences are, for example, arithmetic (geometric) progression, because starting from the second term, each of its terms is equal to the arithmetic (geometric) mean of its neighboring terms. Furthermore, this accomplishment generalized and extended previous results, where the properties of the logarithmic sequence (an) are referred to, i.e., in such a sequence that every n≥2 satisfies an=L(an−1,an+1), where L(x,y) is the logarithmic mean of positive numbers x,y defined as follows: L(x,y):=y−xlny−lnxifx≠y,xifx=y.

The paper presents the most comprehensive and large-scale global study to date on how higher education students perceived the use of ChatGPT in early 2024. With a sample of 23,218 students from 109 countries and territories, the study reveals that students primarily used ChatGPT for brainstorming, summarizing texts, and finding research articles, with a few using it for professional and creative writing. They found it useful for simplifying complex information and summarizing content, but less reliable for providing information and supporting classroom learning, though some considered its information clearer than that from peers and teachers. Moreover, students agreed on the need for AI regulations at all levels due to concerns about ChatGPT promoting cheating, plagiarism, and social isolation. However, they believed ChatGPT could potentially enhance their access to knowledge and improve their learning experience, study efficiency, and chances of achieving good grades. While ChatGPT was perceived as effective in potentially improving AI literacy, digital communication, and content creation skills, it was less useful for interpersonal communication, decision-making, numeracy, native language proficiency, and the development of critical thinking skills. Students also felt that ChatGPT would boost demand for AI-related skills and facilitate remote work without significantly impacting unemployment. Emotionally, students mostly felt positive using ChatGPT, with curiosity and calmness being the most common emotions. Further examinations reveal variations in students’ perceptions across different socio-demographic and geographic factors, with key factors influencing students’ use of ChatGPT also being identified. Higher education institutions’ managers and teachers may benefit from these findings while formulating the curricula and instructions/regulations for ChatGPT use, as well as when designing the teaching methods and assessment tools. Moreover, policymakers may also consider the findings when formulating strategies for secondary and higher education system development, especially in light of changing labor market needs and related digital skills development.

Education is a critical component in the advancement of global sustainable development. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in research output within higher education institutions dedicated to this pivotal area. This study aims to identify emerging trends in higher education research on sustainable development goals and examine the specific focus areas in which researchers are engaged. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted on scholarly articles on education for sustainable development (ESD), utilizing data from the Scopus database. 2221 documents were extracted from the database of scientific articles published between 1990 and 2023. After a thorough screening, 1013 articles met the eligibility criteria and were subsequently analyzed using the R-Studio software platform. The findings indicate a significant increase in scientific output in this area since 2018, peaking in 2022 and then declining in 2023. The most prominent journal in this field is Sustainability, published in Switzerland. Gericke is identified as the most prolific author, followed by notable contributions from Leal and Kopnina, who have the highest H-index impact. Regarding publication volumes, China, Spain, and Germany are the leading countries. Thematic analysis revealed a predominant emphasis on the environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable development, with a comparatively less focus on social sustainability. This imbalance has significant implications, as social sustainability is critical to achieving societal stability. The findings of this research highlight the necessity for a comprehensive approach to higher education research that considers social sustainability, intending to promote a more holistic and enduring sustainability in the future.

Objectives: Many studies draw attention to the negative consequences of the pandemic or lockdown on the well-being and lifestyle of different sections of the population. This study considers whether changes occurred in dietary regime and level of physical activity during three periods-before the pandemic, during the lockdown, and during the present in older Slovak adults. We also investigate whether individual weights changed during the pandemic. Methods: The study has a cross-sectional design. We collected 436 questionnaires from older adults (60+) living in Slovakia; 277 come from the first phase of online data collection (04/2022-06/2022) in university students of the third age, and 159 from the second phase of offline collection (07/2022-11/2022) in social service facilities. We monitored if there were any changes within the observed periods in the variables of diet regime, physical activity, and BMI. The database has been processed in IBM SPSS Statistics. Results: During the lockdown, the frequency of physical activity decreased (p < 0.001), the quality of movement worsened (p < 0.001), and the time respondents devoted to physical activity during the week decreased (p < 0.001). At present, the variables have increased. Within the dietary regimen, statistically significant changes occurred in appetite and non-alcoholic beverage intake (p = 0.002). However, there were no significant changes in the number of daily meals (p = 0.190), or the amount of alcohol consumed (p = 0.066). The BMI of older men and women did not change after the pandemic (p = 0.519), and it did not differ between men and women either before the pandemic (p = 0.281) or after it (p = 0.449). Also there is no difference between UTA students and social facility living seniors before the pandemic (0.933) and now (0.317). The results showed that even though physical activity significantly decreased during the lockdown, the older adults in our study did not eat more during the lockdown, nor did they gain weight. However, this probably had negative consequences for the quality of their movement. Conclusion: It is essential to simultaneously create compensatory measures while implementing future anti-epidemic (or other) measures. They would help maintain the desired amount of physical activity or other healthy habits on an optimal level.

Large Language Models (LLMs) have transformed natural language processing, yet their deployment remains challenging due to substantial computational, memory, and energy demands. Post-training quantization has emerged as a key strategy for enabling efficient inference, particularly in resource-constrained settings. This systematic review focuses on weight-activation quantization, with a unique emphasis on the emergent outlier phenomenon in LLM activations. This work evaluates recent techniques that mitigate activation outliers and improve quantization efficiency, distinguishing itself from prior reviews. Using the PRISMA methodology, we examine 52 recent studies to uncover key trends and evaluate the effectiveness of different approaches. By synthesizing insights from these works, this review presents a diverse set of techniques and their implications for activation quantization, laying the groundwork for future research and practical advancements in LLM deployment.

The logistics and transport sector has experienced unprecedented growth over the past decade. It is one of the most dynamically developing business sectors. The unexpected pandemic crisis had a severe impact on the business activities of various entities, significantly affecting not only the existence of business entities but also their business success. The goal of the present research was to examine the emergence and impact of COVID-19, with a particular focus on the logistics sector, primarily transport activities. The study is addressing freight transport in Hungary, using a questionnaire survey that included the participation of 312 business entities. Data processing was conducted uisng SPSS statistical software as a quantitative method. Based on the research results, the authors recommend the implementation of innovations and green logistics practices to ensure sustainable business activities within this sector. Based on the findings, it can be stated that the more diverse a company’s activities are, and the faster it can respond to economic challenges, the smaller the losses it will incur.

Simple Summary Teat morphology, milking-induced changes in teat structures, and the connection of these factors to milking parlor settings, milkability, and udder health have been heavily researched and discussed over recent decades. Ultrasonography is an invaluable tool in research; however, its practical application on the farm is limited. Nevertheless, the information it could provide about teat conformation and milking-induced changes would be useful in practice thanks to the close relationship of these factors with udder health and milking effectiveness. This study aims to test if it is possible to predict teat morphology and milking-induced changes based on milkability, which can be automatically assessed, and teat structures, which can easily be measured by ultrasonography. We found that some factors like teat length and canal and barrel thickness are significantly affected by multiple milkability parameters and have the potential to be predicted reliably. The prediction of the teat apex, wall, and cistern might be more challenging, as there is a need to include other effects. Precisely identifying these relations might help to develop practical tools that can be used on dairy farms, and further research into this topic could create a detailed computer model for changes in teat structures during milking and throughout production life without the need for ultrasonography.

Leary interperszonális modellje (Interpersonal Circumplex) alapján Wubbels dolgozta ki az interperszonális viselkedés modelljét, melyet a QTI (Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction) kérdőív segítségével tudunk mérni. Jelen kutatásunkban 431 szülő vett részt. Felmérésünkben arra a kérdésre kerestük a választ, hogy a szülők milyen véleménnyel vannak az ideális tanári interperszonális viselkedésről. A szülők szerint az ideális tanári interperszonális viselkedés fő jellemzői közé tartozik az irányító, határozott, segítőkész és megértő attitűd; míg azt kevésbé jellemzi a kétkedő és elégedetlen attitűd. A szigorúság és az engedékenység tekintetében megoszlanak a vélemények.

Advances in natural language processing highlight the importance of text data preparation with machine learning. It has been reported that the traditional methods often fail to deal with the language complexity which affects model performance. Consequently, this paper proposes an approach which uses tokenization, noise reduction, and normalization to improve text quality.

The need for social sustainability through education is greater than ever. Despite numerous studies on this topic, there is still a gap in the research on the role and contribution of public higher education instructors in social sustainability. To address this, the researchers of this study conducted a study on the contributions of instructors in public higher education to social sustainability in Ethiopia. The study aimed to provide evidence for policy briefs and guide public universities. A quantitative method was employed, and the reliability of the structured questionnaire was tested using Cronbach’s alpha. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that 62.9% of instructors contributed to social sustainability, with significant predictors identified at 5%. Research and applied university instructors were 3.36 and 2.20 times more likely, respectively, to contribute compared to comprehensive universities. Furthermore, the results indicated that females were 0.64 times less likely to participate compared to males. Instructors who were optimistic about research implementation were 4.9 times more likely to engage, and those indicating “probably yes” were 18.5 times more likely as compared to the reference category. Educators involved in multiple roles were 0.13 times less likely to contribute than those focused solely on teaching. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education and university leaders should support female teachers and master’s-level faculty at applied and comprehensive universities.

The economic crisis of recent years has had a significant impact on the well-being of employees at work. The coronavirus that appeared in 2019 and the economic crisis have become one of the most powerful influencing factors in terms of workplace well-being. The actuality of the topic is given by the fact that the effects caused by the coronavirus crisis have still left a noticeable impact in many areas of working life. The primary goal of the study was to analyse the workplace well-being in Slovakian small and medium-sized enterprises. The methodology of the research was a questionnaire survey, interviewing a total of 772 employees in 2023. According to the research hypothesis, a significant correlation can be shown between workplace anxiety, nervousness, and sadness (negative emotions) and the achievement of workplace well-being. The obtained results support the correctness of the hypothesis that there is a significant correlation between the prevalence of negative emotions and the achievement of well-being at work. The results also showed how the order of the elements of the negative emotional factor affects the achievement of well-being at work: first of all, sadness at work, then anxiety at work, and finally nervousness at work, had an impact on the development of job satisfaction.