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Dimensionality and reliability of the epworth sleepiness scale in dental patients referred for oral appliance therapy
No full textBackground: There is a limited amount of published research on the dimensionality and reliability of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaire for adult patients referred for oral appliance therapy. This information is crucial for dentists, who often lack objective measures of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) during titration process of an oral appliance. This study investigated the dimensionality and reliability of ESS scores in adult dental patients with SDB undergoing oral appliance treatment. Methods: In 103 dental patients with SDB referred by a physician (mean age: 52.3 ± 13.0 years35% female), the dimensionality of the ESS was investigated using exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) to determine how many scores are needed to characterize the construct. ESS questionnaires were administered twice before treatment. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed. Results: Horn\u27s parallel analysis suggested a one-factor model. Extracting one factor and standardizing loadings led to strong loadings for all items, ranging from 0.53 to 0.82. The fit indices indicated a good model fit (Comparative Fit Index = 0.999, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.020, and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.064). Cronbach\u27s alpha with 95% confidence interval (CI) was 0.85 (0.82-0.88), indicating strong internal consistency. The intraclass correlation coefficient type 2,1 (95% CI) was 0.86 (0.79-0.90), and the weighted kappa ranged from 0.50 to 0.81. Conclusions: In this patient population, the ESS reliably characterizes excessive daytime sleepiness with a single score and appears suitable for individual assessment in dental patients undergoing oral appliance treatment for SDB
Analysis of absorption of European funds from the Rural Development Program 2014–2020 in comparison with other countries of the European Union
No full textKmetijstvo je gospodarska dejavnost posebnega družbenega pomena zaradi njegove večnamenske vloge. Ustvarja neposredne in posredne zaposlitve, je vir hrane, predstavlja osnovni pogoj ohranjanja biotske raznovrstnosti in krajinske pestrosti, ohranja poseljenost podeželja, predstavlja temelj sonaravnega turizma ter omogoča okoljske in družbene funkcije prostora, na primer ekosistemske, estetske, kulturne in rekreacijske. Pri obvladovanju teh izzivov je za države članice Evropske unije bistveno, da ohranjajo kmetijsko krajino in spodbujajo konkurenčnost kmetijstva.
Čeprav je danes delež kmetijstva v gospodarstvu razvitih držav, kakršno je tudi gospodarstvo Evropske unije, majhen, so se državne intervencije v zadnjem času okrepile v obliki kmetijsko-podeželskih politik, ki so poleg tradicionalne funkcije pridelave hrane podprle tudi druge vidike te primarne dejavnosti, kot so trajnostni razvoj, boj proti podnebnim spremembam, načrtovanje rabe zemljišč in prostorsko načrtovanje, večja raznovrstnost in oživljanje podeželskega gospodarstva, javno zdravje, kakovost proizvodov ter proizvodnja energije in biomaterialov.
Zaključujejo se finančni programi skupne kmetijske politike za obdobje 2014–2020 do 2022. V magistrskem delu sem podrobno razdelal to obdobje na področju črpanja evropskih sredstev iz Programa razvoja podeželja v Republiki Sloveniji in vse skupaj primerjal z drugimi državami Evropske unije. Želel sem ugotoviti, kako uspešna je bila Slovenija pri črpanju teh sredstev v primerjavi z drugimi državami članicami. Zlasti na področju razvoja podeželja je o tem zelo malo informacij. Analiza kaže, da je bila do zdaj Slovenija pri tem relativno uspešna. Analiza med drugim kaže tudi, da je učinkovitost črpanja sredstev povezana z administrativnimi in upravnimi kapacitetami države.Agriculture is an economic activity of particular societal importance due to its multifunctional role. It generates both direct and indirect employment, serves as a source of food, and is a fundamental prerequisite for preserving biodiversity and landscape diversity. It also maintains rural population levels, forms the basis of nature-based tourism, and enables environmental and social functions of rural space, such as ecosystem services, aesthetics, culture, and recreation. In addressing these challenges, it is essential for European Union Member States to preserve agricultural landscapes and promote the competitiveness of agriculture.
Although the share of agriculture in the economy of developed countries—such as the European Union—is relatively small today, public interventions have recently intensified through agricultural and rural development policies. These go beyond the traditional role of food production and support other aspects of this primary activity, such as sustainable development, climate change mitigation, land use and spatial planning, diversification and revitalization of rural economies, public health, product quality, and the production of energy and bio-based materials.
The financial programming period of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2014–2020 is coming to a close, extending until 2022. In this master’s thesis, I analyzed this period in detail, focusing on the absorption of EU funds under the Rural Development Programme in the Republic of Slovenia and attempted to compare it with other EU Member States. My aim was to determine how successful Slovenia has been in drawing down these funds compared to other countries. There is a notable lack of information on this topic, particularly in the area of rural development. The analysis indicates that Slovenia has been relatively successful in this regard. It further shows that the effectiveness of fund absorption is closely linked to a country’s administrative and institutional capacities
Artificial intelligence and creativity: visions of machine poetry in Stanisław Lem’s science fiction
No full textČlanek se posveča poljskemu klasiku znanstvenofantastične književnosti Stanisławu Lemu (1921–2006), njegovi pripovedi o robotu-pesniku iz zbirke Kiberiada (1965) in njegovi razpravi o futuristični viziji književnosti, ki tematizirata danes aktualno vprašanje strojne kreativnosti. Na podlagi besedilne analize in didaktičnih izhodišč za obravnavo kratke zgodbe, ki vključujejo delo s klepetalnim robotom ChatGPT, odpira teme delovanja umetne inteligence na področju kreativnosti, perspektiv književnosti, pomena spremljanja, kritičnega mišljenja in sodelovanja humanistike pri razvoju tehnoloških inovacij.The article focuses on the Polish science fiction author Stanisław Lem (1921-2006), and his classic story of a robot-poet from the collection Cyberiad (1965), as well as his futuristic vision with regard to literature, as both deal with the idea of machine creativity, an issue that is now increasingly topical. Through textual analysis and didactic approaches to teaching this short story, including interactions with ChatGPT, the article addresses artificial intelligence’s role in creativity, its implications for literature, and the importance of oversight, critical thinking, and the involvement of the humanities in the development of such technological innovations
A method for secure preview of suspicious PDF attachments using locked-down image conversion and an email agent as the user interface
No full textDatoteke PDF so lahko nosilke zlonamerne kode, ki v obliki priponk dosegajo uporabnikov e-poštni predal. Prispevek predlaga novo metodo tehnične rešitve za varen, hiter in enostaven ogled datotek PDF dvomljivega izvora. Z uporabo statično povezane knjižnice Poppler (Linux) napravimo enosmerno lokalno pretvorbo vsebine PDF v slikovni zapis (JPG). Proces izvajanja pretvorbe izvedemo znotraj peskovnika Seccomp v depriviligiranem vsebniku Docker, ki varuje zaledni operacijski sistem pred morebitnim izvajanjem škodljive kode med pretvorbo dokumenta. Takšna zasnova zmanjšuje napadalno površino, povezano z dinamično interpretacijo strukture PDF, in je primerna za integracijo v okolja z omejenimi varnostnimi privilegiji. Pretvorba se izvede izjemno hitro, saj se izognemo zahtevam po polni virtualizaciji sistema, ki bi jo sicer morali uporabiti za doseganje podobne ravni varnosti. Poleg samostojne izvedbe v obliki lokalnega orodja CLI članek predlaga arhitekturo oblačne mikrostoritve z agentom za elektronsko pošto, ki omogoča razumljiv in nezahteven uporabniški vmesnik na ravni enostavnega pošiljanja sporočil elektronske pošte agentu sistema. Prispevek vključuje tehnični opis izvedbe, oceno učinkovitosti in primerjavo s klasičnimi virtualizacijskimi pristopi.PDF files can act as carriers of malicious code, reaching users’ email inboxes in the form of attachments. This paper proposes a novel method for a technical solution enabling the secure, fast, and simple viewing of PDF files from untrusted sources that may potentially contain malicious code. Using the statically linked Poppler library, a one-way local conversion of the PDF content into an image format (JPG) is performed. The conversion process is executed within a Seccomp sandbox located within an unprivileged Docker container, which protects the underlying operating system from the potential execution of malicious code during the document conversion. This design reduces the attack surface associated with the dynamic interpretation of the PDF structure and is suitable for integration into environments with limited security privileges. The conversion is exceptionally fast, as it eliminates the need for full system virtualization that would otherwise be required to achieve a similar level of security. In addition to a standalone implementation as a local CLI tool, the paper proposes an architecture for a cloud-based microservice with an email agent, which provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface at the level of simply sending an email message to the system agent. The paper includes a technical description of the implementation, an efficiency evaluation, and a comparison with classical virtualization-based approaches
The importance of (un)dissolved gases on early-stage cavitation dynamics within an acoustic field
No full textGas content strongly affects cavitation dynamicshowever, most studies rely solely on dissolved gas measurements, overlooking the influence of undissolved bubbles. This study investigates their role by introducing air bubbles (<200 µm) into water samples with identical dissolved gas levels and analyzing cavitation at both inception and developed phases using high-speed imaging and hydrophone measurements. The results show that the presence of pre-existing bubbles alters cavitation dynamics at the inception and developed phases. Under low dissolved gas and in the absence of air bubbles, cavitation can initiate from a single nucleus, and the developed phase exhibits transient vaporous cavitation with the highest acoustic intensity. In contrast, pre-existing bubbles promote the formation of conical-like bubble structures early in the inception phase and affect their dynamics in the developed phase, reducing the acoustic pressure and attenuating the noise spectrum. These effects are reversible upon bubble removal and independent of dissolved gas concentration, demonstrating that dissolved gas alone cannot represent gas-related influences on cavitation. Characterizing not only dissolved but also undissolved gas content is therefore essential for cavitation studies and applications
Migration on Twitter (X) : communication relations in the hybrid media sphere
No full textV okviru raziskave Migracije na Twitterju (X): Komunikacijska razmerja v hibridni medijski sferi je bila ustvarjena podatkovna zbirka, ki zajema slovenske objave na Twitterju na temo migrantske »krize« v obdobju med septembrom in decembrom 2015. Vključuje 35.543 objav, ki jih je ustvarilo 3103 uporabnikov. Podatki so bili pridobljeni 25. aprila 2021 prek Twitterjevega akademskega API vmesnika na podlagi nabora ključnikov in ključnih besed, povezanih z migracijami, begunci, mejnim nadzorom in varnostjo.
Osrednji namen raziskave je bil pridobiti vpogled v strukturo razprave na Twitterju z vidika modela hibridnega medijskega sistema. Omenjeni model nam omogoča, da preučimo, kako se digitalizacija, vzpon spleta 2.0 in platform družbenih medijev prepletajo s tradicionalnimi medijskimi strukturami ter oblikujejo sodobna komunikacijska razmerja. Model smo dopolnili s teorijo prednostnega tematiziranja in teorijo omrežij. Upoštevali smo tudi kritično perspektivo k proučevanju medijev, ki je omogočila sočasno obravnavo delovanja uporabnikov in strukturnih zmožnosti platforme (na primer kratkost objav, možnost retvitanja, viralnost, anonimnost). Metodološko smo izhajali iz pristopa mešanih metodologij, ki združuje kvantitativne (analiza socialnih omrežij) in kvalitativne (kritična diskurzivna analiza objav) metode.
V raziskavi smo naslovili tri tematske sklope. V prvem smo se osredotočili na prepoznavanje središčnih uporabnikov v razpravi. V drugem nas je zanimalo, katere objave in hiperpovezave so na ravni celotne migracijske razprave prejele največ retvitov. Analizirali smo, katere diskurze te objave reproducirajo, kdo so njihovi avtorji in ali vsebujejo hiperpovezave do vsebin množičnih medijev ter drugih morebitnih virov informiranja. V tretjem smo proučevali, kako se v omrežju retvitov odraža hibridnost medijske sfere. Preverili smo, katere skupnosti sestavljajo omrežje, kdo so najvplivnejši uporabniki, kateri viri informiranja najpogosteje krožijo prek hiperpovezav in kateri migracijski diskurzi so najviralnejši.
Podatkov, s katerimi smo naslovili vse tri sklope, javno ne objavljamo. Pridobljeni so bili izključno za namene konkretne raziskave ob zagotovilu, da ne bodo uporabljeni za komercialne namene, politične kampanje, profiliranje ali druge oblike sekundarne rabe. Javna objava celotne zbirke podatkov bi namreč omogočila njihovo nadaljnjo uporabo v nasprotju s pogoji, pod katerimi so bili prvotno pridobljeni.As part of the research Migration on Twitter (X): Communication Relations in the Hybrid Media Sphere, a database was created covering Slovenian Twitter posts on the topic of the migrant “crisis” posted between September and December 2015. The dataset includes 35,543 posts created by 3,103 users. The data were obtained on 25 April 2021 through the Twitter Academic API based on a set of hashtags and keywords related to migration, refugees, border control, and security.
The main purpose of the research was to gain insight into the structure of the Twitter discussion from the perspective of the hybrid media system model. This model enables an examination of how digitalization, the rise of Web 2.0, and social media platforms intertwine with traditional media structures and shape contemporary communication relations. The model was supplemented with agenda-setting theory and network theory. The analysis also incorporates a critical perspective on media studies, enabling the simultaneous examination of user activities and the structural affordances of the platform (e.g., brevity of posts, the possibility of retweeting, message virality, and user anonymity). Methodologically, the research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative methods (social network analysis) and qualitative methods (critical discourse analysis).
The research addressed three thematic areas. The first focused on identifying central users in the discussion. The second examined which posts and hyperlinks received the highest numbers of retweets across the migration-related discussion. We further analyzed the discourses reproduced in these posts, their authorship, and whether they contained hyperlinks to mass media content and other potential sources of information. In the third section, we examined how the hybridity of the media sphere is reflected in the retweet network. We analyzed which communities make up the network, who the most influential users are, which sources of information are most frequently circulated via hyperlinks, and which migration discourses are most viral.
The data used to address all three thematic areas are not publicly available. They were obtained exclusively for the purposes of this specific research, under the assurance that they would not be used for commercial purposes, political campaigns, profiling, or other forms of secondary use. Public release of the complete dataset would allow for uses that are not aligned with the conditions under which the data were originally obtained
Cannabinoid ligand-mediated glycogen depletion in astrocytes is associated with increased intracellular calcium, energy metabolism, and membrane dynamics
No full textAstrocytes orchestrate brain energy metabolism and respond to endocannabinoids via cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R), whereas the contribution of CB2R remains uncertain. We combined live-cell Förster resonance energy transfer sensors for D-glucose and L-lactate, intracellular Ca imaging, glycogen assays, and whole-cell patch-clamp capacitance measurements to define how cannabinoid ligands shape astrocyte physiology in primary rat cultures. The CB1-selective agonist ACEA triggered rapid, transient elevations in [Ca]ᵢ and metabolic readouts, whereas the CB2-biased ligands AM1241 and Gp1a produced sustained metabolic effects, including prolonged increases in intracellular D-glucose and L-lactate. AM1241 additionally evoked glycogen depletion. Ligand applications also increased membrane capacitance, consistent with enhanced exocytotic activity and altered membrane dynamics. CB1 immunoreactivity predominated over a weak CB2-like signal, and RT-qPCR detected Cnr1 but not Cnr2 transcripts under our conditions. Accordingly, we interpret AM1241/Gp1a actions as ligand-evoked effects that are predominantly CB1-linked (and/or off-target at the concentrations used). Together, these results show that cannabinoid ligands robustly remodel astrocytic energy metabolism and membrane behavior chiefly through CB1-associated pathways, highlighting a functional axis between cannabinoid signaling, Ca mobilization, glycogen remodeling, and exocytosis in astrocytes
Additive technology in practice: test analysis of a hydraulic valve with an innovative valve plate
No full textŠtudija proučuje uporabo dodajalnih (oz. aditivnih) tehnologij pri izdelavi hidravličnih komponent, z osre- dotočenostjo na 3D-tiskane ventile in priključne plošče z integriranimi tlačnimi senzorji. Aditivne tehnolo- gije, kot sta Metal Binder Jetting (MBJ) in Selective Laser Melting (SLM), omogočajo oblikovno svobodo, konsolidacijo delov in optimizacijo notranje geometrije za zmanjšanje tlačnih izgub ter mase. V raziskavi so izdelani in testirani kovinski ventili, izdelani s postopkom MBJ, ki omogoča visoko produktivnost in izde- lavo kompleksnih struktur brez podpor. Primerjava s SLM razkriva prednosti MBJ zaradi večjih izdelovalnih hitrosti, nižjih stroškov in manjši potrebi po podpornih strukturah. Meritve pretoka in tlaka so pokazale, da ima aditivno izdelana ventilska plošča za približno 4 MPa nižji padec tlaka pri enakem pretoku, kar pomeni večjo učinkovitost. Poleg tega je 3D-tiskano ohišje ventila za 67 % lažje od konvencionalno izdelanega. Rezultati potrjujejo, da so aditivno izdelane komponente primerne za serijsko uporabo v hidravlični indu- striji, saj ponujajo boljše izkoristke, krajše čase montaže in možnost oblikovne optimizacije, kljub višjim stroškom v primerjavi s konvencionalnimi deli.The study investigates the use of additive manufacturing technologies in the production of hydraulic components, focussing on 3D-printed valves and manifolds with integrated pressure sensors. Additive te- chnologies such as Metal Binder Jetting (MBJ) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM) enable design freedom, component consolidation and optimisation of internal geometry to reduce pressure losses and mass. In the study, metal valves were manufactured and tested using the MBJ process, which enables high pro- ductivity and the production of complex structures without supports. A comparison with the SLM process shows the advantages of the MBJ process through higher production speeds, lower costs and a reduced need for support structures. Flow and pressure measurements showed that the additively manufactured valve manifold has a lower pressure drop of around 4 MPa at the same flow rate, which means greater efficiency. In addition, the 3D-printed valve body is 67% lighter than the conventionally manufactured one. The results confirm that additively manufactured components are suitable for series use in the hydraulics industry, as they offer better efficiency, shorter assembly times and the possibility of design optimisation despite higher costs compared to conventional parts
Contemporary Slovak fiction and ritual in terms of the use of narrative and linguistic devices (using the example of Katarína Kucbelová’s novella The bonnet)
No full textPrispevek se posveča analizi novele Kataríne Kucbelove z naslovom Čepiec (2019), ki predstavlja eno od tendenc v sodobni slovaški prozi z izpostavljenim vprašanjem identitete in odnosa do tradicije v regionalno, etnično in konfesionalno pestrem okolju. Izhodišče naše jezikovne in literarnovedne analize je ritual, ki je že nekaj časa v središču pozornosti etnoloških, antropoloških, kulturoloških in jezikoslovnih raziskav. Zanima nas, kako se uresničuje v besedilu z vidika literarnih postopkov in izbire uporabljenih jezikovnih sredstev. Literarni del analize obravnava uporabo pripovednih strategij, povezanih z ritualom (tematsko, žanrsko, strukturno). Jezikovni del se osredotoča na jezikovna sredstva, s katerimi avtorica dosega učinek ritualnosti, predvsem z izbiro leksike, simboliko, metaforiko in frazeologijo, ter raziskovana besedila preučuje zlasti z vidika etnolingvistike.The article analyses Katarína Kucbelová’s novella The Bonnet (Čepiec, 2019), which represents one of the tendencies in contemporary Slovak fiction, highlighting the question of identity and the relationship to tradition in a regionally, ethnically and confessionally diverse environment. The basis of our linguistic and literary analysis is ritual, which has long been at the centre of attention in ethnological, anthropological, cultural and also linguistic research. We are interested in how it is manifested in the text in terms of literary procedures and the choice of linguistic devices used. The literary part of the analysis deals with the use of narrative strategies related to ritual (thematically, genre-wise, structurally). The linguistic part focuses on the linguistic means used by the author to achieve the effects of rituality, mainly through the choice of lexis, symbols, metaphors and phraseology, and examines the texts under study mainly from an ethno-linguistic perspective
Unveiling European capacity-building
No full textIn an era of accelerating global competition, digital transformation, and technological disruption, Europe stands at a crossroads. To remain competitive and resilient, the European Union must invest not only in advanced technologies but also in the capacity of its people, institutions, and infrastructure to drive innovation and adapt to change. This brief explores Europe’s strategic efforts to strengthen its innovation ecosystem through coordinated investment in digital infrastructure, public-private collaboration, researchindustry alignment, and targeted upskilling initiatives. Drawing on the latest policy frameworks—including the Digital Decade Programme, Horizon Europe, and recommendations from the Letta Report—it highlights how digital capacity-building is being positioned as a cornerstone of Europe’s economic and social future. From bridging rural broadband gaps and scaling digital innovation hubs to introducing a “fifth freedom” for knowledge mobility and building pan-European data and research platforms, the article examines key policy tools and investment priorities. It also addresses the urgent need to attract global talent, reform research careers, and close the digital skills gap, ensuring all citizens benefit from the digital and green transitions. Read the full brief to discover how the EU can turn knowledge, diversity, and cooperation into lasting competitive advantage on the global stage