This study contributes the first systematic application of Cultural Theory's grid-group typology to Romanian European Values Study (EVS) data, utilizing cluster analysis of 1,613 respondents from the 2017-2021 wave to identify distinct cultural worldviews, their socio-demographic determinants, and their implications for environmental attitudes and redistributive preferences in a post-socialist context. The research identifies four distinct cultural profiles, reflecting a complex cultural landscape. The findings reveal a sizable group committed to both environmental values and personal autonomy, challenging conventional associations between ecological concern and collectivist worldviews. Another group exhibits a sense of institutional disillusionment coupled with reliance on state structures. A third reflects deference to hierarchical authority and an emphasis on social order. A fourth profile is characterized by civic engagement and egalitarian values, emphasizing collective responsibility and environmental stewardship. These patterns suggest the formation of hybrid cultural configurations that extend beyond the boundaries of Douglas's original typology. In particular, the coexistence of individualism and environmental concern points to new forms of value synthesis. Educational attainment emerges as the most significant factor in distinguishing between these cultural profiles. These findings have implications for understanding political behavior, environmental policy, and the consolidation of democracy in transitional societies.
Monitoring adolescent team-sport athletes may benefit from combining performance and molecular markers, but empirical evidence supporting this approach in youth team sports remains limited. OBJECTIVE:Our study investigated molecular and physiological adaptations to seasonal training in elite U18 ice hockey players, focusing on aerobic capacity, salivary cortisol, serum irisin, and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) dynamics. METHODS:National-level U18 players were enrolled in our study (n = 23 for cross-sectional analysis, n = 12 longitudinal) during the pre- and early-competition season. Aerobic performance was assessed via graded treadmill VO2max testing, and the biochemical markers quantified using ELISA-based assays. RESULTS:From pre- to early-season (paired n = 12), VO2max increased by 10.6% (g = +1.00, p = 0.003) and irisin by 14.7% (g = +0.83, p = 0.010). cfDNA decreased by 60.8% (g = -0.54, p = 0.070; moderate effect, not statistically clear), while cortisol remained stable (+11.3%; p = 0.667). Inter-individual variability increased for VO2max and irisin and decreased by 82% for cfDNA. Exploratory cross-sectional positional analysis indicated higher irisin levels in forwards and elevated cfDNA in defensemen, although differences did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS:These preliminary findings provide cohort-size limited longitudinal evidence of chronic irisin elevation in ice hockey players and highlight the possibility of combining VO2max + irisin + cfDNA to assist individualized load/recovery in elite youth ice hockey.
The present study investigates the stereotypical cultural and linguistic manifestations of Englishness in Michael Bond’s book for children entitled A Bear Called Paddington as source text and its Hungarian retranslation by Miklós Gábor Kövesdi Paddington megérkezik ‘Paddington arrives’ as target text. The paper draws on insights from translation studies and imagology, especially focusing on the verbal cues employed in the two texts, considered as a parallel corpus consisting of eight stories in each volume. Due to the fact that the specific target audience of the texts are children, both the writer’s and the translator’s aim is to educate and to amuse. Through a close microanalysis of the source text, the recurrent representations of Englishness are first identified (e.g. culture-specific vocabulary, different levels of formality, indirectness, forms of politeness, understatement, and humour). Then, as a second step, these elements are traced in the Hungarian retranslation, trying to answer the question whether the image of stereotypical Englishness is perpetuated or domesticated in the translation.
This study examines the index tracking problem using constrained optimization with sector weight and turnover constraints. We implement a mixed-integer quadratic programming (MIQP) model using the Gurobi framework. Our goal is to construct concentrated portfolios that replicate the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 100 performance. The approach employs a rolling window methodology with in-sample optimization and out-of-sample validation periods to assess performance across varying market conditions. The analysis evaluates constraint combination effects on tracking accuracy, portfolio stability, and computational requirements for 10- and 20-stock portfolios. Results demonstrate that constraints improve index alignment and portfolio stability, while enabling substantial computational efficiency gains primarily through solution space reduction.
This study explores the digital language practices of Hungarian university students in Romania, focusing specifically o n t heir u se o f the mother tongue in digital environments and the factors influencing its occurrence. These students draw on a multilingual repertoire that includes their mother tongue, the official s tate l anguage (Romanian), a nd English. They use Hungarian as a primary means of expressing cultural identity, rely on Romanian for local social integration, and view English as essential for participation in global social, educational, and economic domains. The findings r eveal t hat t he H ungarian s tudents’ d igital a ctivities align with typical patterns observed in their age group, including social media engagement, online communication, and information seeking for academic or personal purposes. Hungarian youth in Romania operate as multilingual users in digital spaces, yet they demonstrate a clear preference for their mother tongue. Their language choices in digital contexts depend heavily on topic, audience, and platform. On platforms such as Facebook, Hungarian dominates, reflecting local identity and close social ties, whereas English is more commonly used on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, where entertainment and self-promotion are central. Students tend to use Hungarian to maintain personal relationships, English for entertainment and self-development, and Romanian primarily for navigating local services. The study confirms t hat d igital e nvironments o ffer a n e nabling context for the expression of multilingualism and the continued use of minority languages, as these spaces impose fewer linguistic restrictions than offline communication. However, high levels of English proficiency correlate with a reduced tendency to engage exclusively in digital activities using the mother tongue.
