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This paper aims to bring to the forefront the most important connecting element of society, namely socialization. Improving socialization through motor games is, perhaps, a solution to many problems, as children align emotionally, emotionally, volitionally, physically, cognitively, etc. The study was conducted on a sample of 59 students aged 6 to 9 years. The sociometric technique was used to determine negative, positive, and neutral interpersonal relationships by age level before and after the use of the chosen motor games. The index of preferred status, cohesion index, arithmetic mean and progress rate were used for statistical interpretation.

Introduction: Intracranial epidermoid and dermoid cysts are the result of an embryogenesis dysfunction leading to an abnormal migration of ectodermal cells characterised by a slow and benign rate of growth which is associated with minimal neurological symptoms in large or giant tumors. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the case files of 17 patients with epidermoid and dermoid cysts operated using the operative microscope and neuronavigation in our department between January 2011 and December 2015. Results: Reviewing the case files we selected fourteen patients with epidermoid cysts and 3 patients with dermoid cysts who underwent surgical resection. Most of the cysts were located infratentorial (64%) with a propensity for the CP angle (81%). Total resection was attempted in all cases but was possible in only 13 cases. All cases with subtotal resection were infratentorially located in close relation to the brainstem or cranial nerves. Conclusion: When the tumor extension reaches beyond the limits of the surgical approach used, the tumor remnant should be addressed in a second surgery. Using the cysternal anatomy and the vessels dissection technique the risks aseptic meningitis and of injuring the cranial nerves are diminished.

This study analyses the European Union's regulatory frameworks on data protection and consumer rights. It examines landmark legislations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Governance Act (DGA), and others that shape data privacy, digital content management, and consumer protection across the EU. Utilizing Iramuteq software for content analysis, it identifies thematic clusters and relationships within the texts, uncovering core concepts like digital service conformity, consumer rights, and the role of public data governance. Through cluster and factor analysis, the study reveals how these legal instruments collectively promote data security, innovation, and market fairness while ensuring consistent consumer protection and legal compliance throughout EU member states.

Intercultural studies have underexplored the issue of children's theatre as a tool for symbolic representations of (new, hybrid) identities. In this paper, I analyze two theatrical productions addressing both Spanish society and Romanian diaspora (first/second generation) to answer these questions: how are diasporic identities re-constructed in literary works written in the country of origin and translated by diaspora translators for mixed audiences? How useful are these products for bilingual/bicultural children and adolescents in their search for new spaces of belonging? How can educators incorporate them? Methodology envisages translators' decisions (titles, names, prosody); imagology (text/performance) and reception (in-depth interviews and survey).

We use the Chebfun programming package to approximate numerically the structure of the set of positive radial solutions for a class of supercritical semilinear elliptic Dirichlet boundary value problems. This structure (bifurcation diagram) is provided only at the heuristic level in many important works. In this paper, we investigate this structure, as accurately as possible, for the class of problems mentioned above taking into account the dimension of Euclidean space as well as the physical parameter involved.

BackgroundThe identification of modifiable risk factors for intracranial glioma remains a significant challenge. While lifestyle factors and metabolic syndrome are well-established risk factors for various other cancers, their association with glioma risk remains unclear.ObjectivesThis study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of lifestyle factors and metabolic factors in relation to glioma risk.MethodsThe Cohort of Norway (CONOR) is a prospective, population-based health survey encompassing anthropometric measurements, blood tests and health questionnaires. CONOR data were linked to the National Cancer Registry to identify incident glioma cases. Follow-up time was calculated in person-years from the baseline examination until the date of glioma diagnosis, death, or the end of the follow-up period. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR).ResultsThe study cohort included 160,938 women and men. Over 2.8 million person-years of follow-up, 319 intracranial gliomas were diagnosed. Lifestyle factors such as physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking, and marital status were not associated with glioma risk. There was no increased glioma risk among participants with diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Furthermore, metabolic syndrome in both women and men was not associated with an elevated risk of glioma. Blood lipids, including total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL, were not linked to glioma risk. However, increasing LDL levels were associated with a decreased risk of glioma in men (HR per category 0.84; 95% CI 0.74-0.96), but not in women.ConclusionThis is the first comprehensive prospective cohort study to evaluate potentially modifiable risk factors for glioma. Our findings do not support previously suggested associations between smoking, alcohol consumption, or metabolic syndrome and glioma risk.

A trait labelled as “morality” has been argued to be perceived and prioritised during first impressions of faces; however, immorality is not a homogenous concept. Violations of purity are frequently distinguished from other violations via distinct behavioural and emotional patterns, arguably stemming from physical disgust, sexual content, or “weirdness” impure scenarios. In the current research, participants were asked to rate unfamiliar faces based on social traits and their likelihood of engaging in immoral or nonmoral behaviours. Across two studies, perceived engagement in most autonomy and purity moral violations but also the non-moral sexual and “weird” acts was predicted by lower facial morality. There was also a distinction wherein most purity violations and physical disgust were more associated with male gender, and most autonomy violations with ratings of high dominance. The scenarios also differed within categories, such as sexually impure scenarios and disgust associated with unattractive faces; while behaving “weirdly” and certain other purity violations were associated with low dominance. Taken together, our results suggest faces seemingly low on the trait labelled “morality” are perceived as more likely to engage in most immoral behaviours, but also in other socially relevant, nonmoral behaviours. Social judgements are also not homogenous within or between theory-based categories of moral violations.

Background and objectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) causes myocardial and microvascular impairment, with subclinical dysfunction and eventually permanent cardio-vascular damage. The long-term influence of SSc therapies on subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction is insufficiently investigated. We aimed to assess 2D and 4D cardiac ultrasound parameters of heart function in patients with different forms of SSc versus controls and to determine the evolution of cardiac function and arterial stiffness parameters under therapy. Materials and methods: A total of 60 subjects with SSc were studied at baseline; 30 SSc patients were compared to 30 matched controls. A total of 52 SSc subjects were reassessed after 1 year and 30 after 2 years of treatment. Cardiac function was evaluated through 2D standard echocardiography, tissue Doppler, speckle tracking and 4D auto LV quantification echo. Arterial stiffness was determined via the cardio-ankle vascular index and ankle brachial index. Results: At baseline, the standard echo parameters were normal. The 4D and myocardial work parameters, although in normal limits, were significantly altered in the SSc group vs. controls (4D ejection fraction 54.5 ± 8.5% in SSc vs. 63.8 ± 3.1% in controls; 4D longitudinal strain −14.2 ± 2.4% in SSc vs. −22.0 ± 2.7% in controls; global constructive work 2124.2 ± 449.5 mmHg% in SSc vs. 3102.8 ± 337.5 mmHg% in controls, for all p ≤ 0.02). Both at 1 year and 2 years of treatment, all echo and arterial stiffness parameters were similar to baseline, with no correlation to treatment type. Conclusions: SSc determines subclinical systolic dysfunction. Non-invasive assessment methods do not detect a functional cardiovascular decline in patients on classical therapy. Complex cardiac follow-up should be implemented in cases at risk for complications.

We propose semi-analytical models to compute alternating current (AC) power loss in a stack of N high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7−x (or Y–Ba–Cu–O) tapes subjected to a time-varying magnetic field perpendicular to the tapes with zero transport current. The models take into account screening of the interior superconducting tapes of the stack from the external magnetic field. We validate the results by experiments carried out at temperature T = 77.2 K under an applied magnetic field with the amplitude of its induction B ext = 0.57 T and frequencies up to 110 Hz. As follows from our models, the AC loss per tape in stacks of N tapes decreases with N in agreement with experiments. The approach is extended to compute the AC loss for lower temperatures, larger magnetic fields strengths, and for frequencies up to several kHz. These studies are important for understanding and predicting the AC loss for contemporary motors and generators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating road vehicles into broader Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystems is an important step in the development of fully connected and smart transportation systems. This research explores the potential of using communication technologies that achieve a balance between low-power and long-range (LPLR) capabilities while remaining cost-effective, specifically Bluetooth Classic BR-EDR, Bluetooth LE, ZigBee, nRF24, and LoRa—for Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) and Vehicle-to-IoT (V2IoT) ecosystem interactions. During this research, several field tests were conducted employing different types of communication modules, across three distinct environments: an open-field inter-urban road, a forest inter-urban road, and an urban road. The modules were evaluated based on the communication range, messaging rate, error rate, and geographical data from GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) coordinates, using point-to-point communication between a roadside unit (RSU) and a moving vehicle equipped with an onboard unit (OBU). The results demonstrate the usability of these technologies for integrating vehicles into both public infrastructure (for V2I services) and private IoT systems, highlighting their potential for scalable, cost-effective deployment in smart transportation systems.

Achieving complex pulses with high-power lasers necessitates rigorous testing of specially designed optical components. The qualification of these components using complementary devices to access both the high-resolution and the large-aperture properties, followed by validation using propagation simulations, is proposed here. In particular, the topology of a large-aperture staircase-like Fresnel phase plate used to generate vortex pulses is qualified using a non-contact optical profiler and a large-aperture wavefront measurement setup based on a Shack–Hartmann sensor. The resulting topography is further used for simulating the focus of laser beams after passing through the phase plate. Step height distribution effects on the doughnut-shaped focus are identified, and avoiding the indicated pitfall in the design of the phase plate provides at least a 10-fold reduction of the irradiance modulation on the circumference of the focus in the super-Gaussian case.

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Background: The identification of modifiable risk factors for intracranial glioma remains a significant challenge. While lifestyle factors and metabolic syndrome are well-established risk factors for various other cancers, their association with glioma risk remains unclear. Objectives: This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of lifestyle factors and metabolic factors in relation to glioma risk. Methods: The Cohort of Norway (CONOR) is a prospective, population-based health survey encompassing anthropometric measurements, blood tests and health questionnaires. CONOR data were linked to the National Cancer Registry to identify incident glioma cases. Follow-up time was calculated in person-years from the baseline examination until the date of glioma diagnosis, death, or the end of the follow-up period. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR). Results: The study cohort included 160,938 women and men. Over 2.8 million person-years of follow-up, 319 intracranial gliomas were diagnosed. Lifestyle factors such as physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking, and marital status were not associated with glioma risk. There was no increased glioma risk among participants with diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Furthermore, metabolic syndrome in both women and men was not associated with an elevated risk of glioma. Blood lipids, including total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL, were not linked to glioma risk. However, increasing LDL levels were associated with a decreased risk of glioma in men (HR per category 0.84; 95% CI 0.74-0.96), but not in women. Conclusion: This is the first comprehensive prospective cohort study to evaluate potentially modifiable risk factors for glioma. Our findings do not support previously suggested associations between smoking, alcohol consumption, or metabolic syndrome and glioma risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Eccentric bruxism is a complex parafunctional activity that involves grinding of teeth and occurs more frequently during sleep. This study aimed to assess differences in condylar parameters (sagittal condylar inclination -SCI and Bennett angle -BA) and mandibular and condylar kinematics during functional and parafunctional movements in bruxers and non-bruxers and to assess a digital method for quantifying eccentric bruxism using an optical jaw tracking system (Modjaw®). Methods: The study group included subjects diagnosed with eccentric bruxism according to validated clinical diagnostic criteria. A control group of non-bruxer subjects with demographic characteristics similar to the study group was considered. Each participant underwent Modjaw® examination twice to assess the recordings' repeatability. The anterior guidance, mastication, and simulated eccentric bruxism were recorded. The SCI and BA were computed. The trajectories of interincisal inferior point (IIP), left condyle (LC), and right condyle (RC) in the frontal (F), sagittal (S), and horizontal (H) planes were outlined in rectangles to calculate areas of mastication and areas of eccentric bruxism (mm2). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the recordings' repeatability. Comparisons between groups were performed using Student's t- and Mann–Whitney tests. The receiver–operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the diagnostic quality of the digital method. Results: Twenty bruxers (10 F and 10 M) and 20 non-bruxers (10 F and 10 M) were included. The ICC had values higher than 0.85. SCI, BA, and area of mastication for IIP, LC, and RC were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). The area of eccentric bruxism was significantly wider in the bruxers (p < 0.001). According to the ROC curve, the following cut-off areas (mm2) for eccentric bruxism were found in F, S, and H planes: IIP (18.05, 13.43, 16.28); LC (3.74, 10.83, 3.35); and RC (4.21, 10.63, 2.9), corresponding to sensitivity > 0.8, specificity > 0.75 and area under the curve (AUC) > 0.85. Conclusions: Mandibular and condylar kinematics during functional movements were similar in bruxers and non-bruxers. A novel digital method for quantifying eccentric bruxism was found using Modjaw®, which could serve as a tool for early detection of eccentric bruxism before the onset of clinical consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensive technologies used in orchards can lead to chemical and physical soil imbalances. It is essential to constantly monitor these characteristics to prevent soil degradation and ensure the sustainability of the orchard. This paper aims to analyze how technologies have influenced the physical and chemical characteristics of soil and provide recommendations for appropriate soil management. For soil analysis, the profile method was used, the observations made concerned the texture, hygroscopicity coefficient, soil reaction (pH), total carbonate content (CaCO3), humus, total nitrogen, mobile phosphorus, and potassium, sum of exchangeable bases, ability to cation exchange (T) and degree of saturation in bases. The analysis carried out revealed differences in terms of physical and chemical characteristics on depth horizons and recommended specific management for each analyzed parameter. By adopting proper management, based on continuous monitoring and adjustment, soil quality can be maintained and sustainable productivity of the orchard can be ensured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data has become a valuable resource due to the rapid growth of technology. Nevertheless, data has little value when held by its "collectors". The true value of data unfolds through its reuse, necessitating the role of data intermediaries to facilitate this process. From the data intermediation services, as employed in the Data Governance Act (DGA), we are going to discuss the data intermediaries organized in data cooperatives, which ensure the technical, legal, and logistical support for data transactions, according to the European framework. The aim of this paper is to analyze the role of the cooperative as a data-sharing intermediary within the European context. We will adopt a threefold approach, examining the topic from legal, psychological, and technical perspectives to achieve a comprehensive understanding. To accomplish our objectives, we will conduct a thorough literature review. The DGA does not specify whether data cooperatives are cooperative societies, whose primary function is to facilitate the reuse of data, or whether they are a form of cooperation between data subjects and one-person undertakings or SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), on the one hand, and potential data users, on the other. Therefore, we will consider both interpretations and make an effort to clarify the following: What type of organization is the data cooperative? What are the primary goals of the data cooperative as stated by DGA? What are the trigger issues and drawbacks associated with participating in a data cooperative from the legal and psychological perspective of a data subject and from the small entrepreneurs' point of view? Finally, we will briefly go over the technical solutions that will enable the data cooperative to operate as a cooperative society and, more broadly, as a data space across Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The care and services offered in the treatment of active military personnel and veterans with PTSD take a variety of forms, ranging from residential to outpatient treatment programs. The differences in the organization of care between these programs make comparisons difficult; however, an intermediate alternative exists in the form of intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), whose organization and range of care are closer to that offered in residential programs. This review compares and evaluates the effectiveness of residential programs to that of IOPs in the treatment of PTSD in active military personnel and veterans. Nine databases were searched from September/November 2022 to include primary studies evaluating the treatment of PTSD in active military personnel and veterans in residential programs and IOPs. Results were summarized in a narrative synthesis. A meta-analysis using a random effects model examined changes in standardized mean differences in PTSD symptom scores at baseline and discharge. Thirty-two studies in 41 publications were included. There was a notable decrease in PTSD symptom scores at the end of treatment in both programs, and no significant difference was found between them. However, IOPs effectiveness may be influenced by patient type (active military personnel or veterans). Regardless, our results suggest a positive effect of both types of programs on reducing PTSD symptoms. It is essential to be aware of the constraints inherent in the literature on the subject, including the lack of comparative studies, the potential impact of comorbidities, and the differential response of active military personnel and veterans to similar treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the unprecedented challenges of construction pressurized by the global climate crisis, housing shortage, and growing shortage of skilled labor, this research presents a radical shift in the construction lifecycle of buildings, from linear processes that produce static continuous buildings to interrelational processes linking adaptative eco-systems of collaborative robots and reconfigurable building parts. Inspired by natural builders, the interdisciplinary field of collective robotic construction (CRC) offers the potential for scalable, adaptive, and resilient construction with simple robots. We establish a design framework for autonomous collaborative robotic construction (ACRC) through modular robotic material eco-systems (MRMES) trained with deep multi-agent reinforcement learning (DMARL). This involves the integration of three core aspects: (1) modular robotic material eco-systems (2) cyber-physical simulation and control with bidirectional feedback (3) adaptive intelligence through deep multi-agent reinforcement learning. The framework is implemented through three comparable case studies for collaborative modular robotic assembly of reconfigurable building parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A trait labelled as "morality" has been argued to be perceived and prioritised during first impressions of faces; however, immorality is not a homogenous concept. Violations of purity are frequently distinguished from other violations via distinct behavioural and emotional patterns, arguably stemming from physical disgust, sexual content, or "weirdness" impure scenarios. In the current research, participants were asked to rate unfamiliar faces based on social traits and their likelihood of engaging in immoral or nonmoral behaviours. Across two studies, perceived engagement in most autonomy and purity moral violations but also the non-moral sexual and "weird" acts was predicted by lower facial morality. There was also a distinction wherein most purity violations and physical disgust were more associated with male gender, and most autonomy violations with ratings of high dominance. The scenarios also differed within categories, such as sexually impure scenarios and disgust associated with unattractive faces; while behaving "weirdly" and certain other purity violations were associated with low dominance. Taken together, our results suggest faces seemingly low on the trait labelled "morality" are perceived as more likely to engage in most immoral behaviours, but also in other socially relevant, nonmoral behaviours. Social judgements are also not homogenous within or between theory-based categories of moral violations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) is a common problem in clinical practice that affects the functionality of the shoulder. This study investigates the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) assisted therapy in treating this syndrome, focusing on assessment using the Constant-Murley shoulder score. Materials and Methods: A group of 288 participants was randomly divided into two categories: an experimental group that received VR therapy and a control group that underwent conventional therapy. The Constant-Murley shoulder score assessed patients' progress, measuring shoulder function, joint mobility, and associated pain. Results: The participants underwent therapeutic interventions for 50 weeks, and the results were compared between the two groups. The experimental group that benefited from VR therapy showed significant improvements in Constant-Murley scores, indicating an increase in shoulder functionality, joint mobility, and pain reduction compared to the control group. Conclusion: VR therapy has proven effective in improving shoulder functionality in patients with SIS according to the Constant-Murley score. These results support the use of VR as an innovative and promising therapeutic option in treating this musculoskeletal condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumours that originate from chromaffin cells and occur in the adrenal medulla and in the sympathetic or parasympathetic ganglia. Nearly 70% of PPGLs result from germline or somatic mutations in a single driver gene. The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic background and clinical characteristics related to genetic profile of patients with PPGLs from Romania. We retrospectively retrieved data of 125 patients consecutively registered, diagnosed with PPGLs in a tertiary referral center of endocrinology from Romania, between 1976 and 2022. We identified 88 (70.4%) women, and 37 (29.6%) men, with a mean age at diagnosis of 48.5 ± 15 years. From these 125 patients, 80 (64%) were submitted to the genomic study; 35% (n = 28) had a germline mutation (20 RET, 3 VHL, 1 SDHB, 1 NF1, 1 SDHD, 1 FANCA, 1 CASR) while 65% (n = 52) presented sporadic disease. Patients with hereditary disease had significantly lower age at diagnosis comparing to sporadic cases (37 ± 15 vs. 49.9 ± 12.2 years, p = 0.001). Bilateral tumors developed in twelve patients from the hereditary group. Metastatic disease was described in 4 out of 80 patients (2 of them with hereditary disease). Patients from sporadic group tended to have a right lateralisation of the tumour compared to hereditary cases, where the tumour was more often left sided. RET pathogenic variant (p.Cys634Trp) associated with MEN2A syndrome was the most prevalent in Romanian population with PPGLs and could be considered as a founder effect. Patients with hereditary disease are diagnosed at a younger age and develop bilateral tumors more frequently compared to sporadic cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]