University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava

Tobacco exposure has been associated with molecular alterations in the oral cavity, including changes related to inflammation and oxidative stress. This study aimed to characterize metabolomic and proteomic differences between young smokers and nonsmokers using a non-invasive buccal swab-based multi-omics approach. Using a cross-sectional study design, we performed semi-quantitative metabolomic and proteomic profiling via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). We analyzed buccal swabs from a cohort of 108 young adults (18–25 years) to investigate smoking-associated molecular changes with putative identification of compounds. Smokers displayed increased levels of eight metabolites (N-acetylcadaverine, N-acetylspermine, pipecolic acid, tyramine, methylthiophene, spermidine, 5-oxoproline, and histidine). Proteomic profiling identified thirteen significantly elevated proteins in smokers including, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), C-reactive protein (CRP), salivary alpha-amylase (AA), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), transferrin, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), serum amyloid A (SAA), endothelial PAS domain protein 1 (EPAS1), myeloid-related protein 8 (MRP8/S100A8), myeloid-related protein 14 (MRP14/S100A9), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and haptoglobin (all p < 0.05). These findings indicate a distinct molecular profile in smokers characterized by inflammatory and oxidative-stress-associated alterations in the oral cavity. Our findings are broadly consistent with previous reports and extend current evidence on smoking-associated metabolomic and proteomic differences in young adults. This study suggests that buccal swab multi-omics may help characterize smoking-associated molecular alterations in young adults and highlights several inflammatory-related molecules as targets for future validation. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and clarify their biological and potential clinical relevance.

This study examined the cognitive benefits of regular logical game play by comparing long-term memory performance and self-efficacy levels between experienced players who regularly play logic games and the general population. The research employed a quantitative approach with N = 60 participants, equally divided into a regular playing group (N = 30), who regularly play logic games and a general population comparison group (N = 30). Data collection involved both a production experiment to assess long-term memory capabilities and standardized self-efficacy measurement using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES). Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (p = 0.000) favoring the logic game players in terms of long-term memory performance, while no significant differences emerged between groups regarding self-efficacy levels. These findings suggest that incorporating logic games into educational frameworks as play-based learning, or utilizing it as a preventive intervention against cognitive impairment in adults, offers measurable cognitive benefits and supports healthy aging initiatives.

. Interlingual lexical interference has long been an object of scholarly research. It is well documented that when learning a foreign language genetically related to the learner's native language, increased levels of cross-linguistic interference can occur. From this perspective, interlingual homonyms represent particularly high-risk lexical items, as their formal similarity may lead to incorrect mapping between form and meaning. Embedding models capture distributional differences in language use and broader semantic associations. In the present study, static embedding models (fastText and MUSE) and a deep embedding model (OpenAI) were applied to a dataset of Russian-Slovak lexical pairs consisting of interlingual homonyms and translation equivalents (150 items in each category). Based on similarity patterns observed across the models, a five-level typology of interlingual homonymy was proposed (evident-risk, hidden-risk, medium-risk, conceptual-risk, and asymmetric-risk). The predictive potential of the model was tested on a sample of 46 Slovak learners of Russian as a foreign language. A consistent correspondence between model-based risk predictions and learner performance was observed. Lexical items classified as high-risk produced significantly higher error rates among learners, and an asymmetry between productive and receptive tasks was also observed. The results suggest that embedding models may serve as an empirically grounded tool for supporting vocabulary learning in closely related languages.

INTRODUCTION: In an increasingly competitive and digitally connected marketplace, small businesses face significant challenges in attracting and retaining customers. Traditional marketing strategies often fail to deliver the same impact as they do for larger corporations with greater resources. To address this gap, recent research has begun exploring the intersection of neuroscience and entrepreneurship, identifying neuromarketing as a promising avenue for innovation and competitive advantage among small enterprises. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this paper is to examine how neuromarketing principles and tools can support small businesses in developing smarter, customer-centric strategies. Specifically, the study seeks to demonstrate how insights from neuroscience can enhance consumer engagement, optimize decision-making, and foster innovation in entrepreneurial contexts. METHODS: The research employs a qualitative, exploratory approach, analyzing existing literature on neuromarketing and entrepreneurship. It integrates theoretical perspectives from neuroscience with practical business frameworks. Additionally, case studies of small businesses that have successfully applied neuromarketing techniques - such as eye-tracking, facial expression analysis, and EEG-based studies - are examined to assess real-world applications and outcomes. RESULTS: Findings indicate that neuromarketing techniques provide small businesses with actionable insights into consumer preferences, emotional responses, and subconscious decision drivers. The integration of these insights enables small enterprises to design more emotionally resonant marketing campaigns, enhance customer satisfaction, and build loyalty. The analyzed case studies reveal measurable benefits, including increased engagement, improved brand perception, and revenue growth. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that neuromarketing represents a valuable strategic asset for small businesses seeking to operate as “smart businesses.” By leveraging technology, innovation, and cognitive insights, these enterprises can adopt data-driven marketing approaches previously accessible mainly to larger corporations. Ultimately, integrating neuromarketing into entrepreneurial practice can foster sustainable competitiveness and long-term customer relationships.

Trust between podcast listeners and hosts is widely regarded in the literature as the central mechanism behind podcast advertising effectiveness. Prior theoretical work argues that listeners who perceive the host as authentic and credible transfer part of that trust to the products and brands the host mentions, a process often described as parasocial trust transfer (Brinson & Lemon, 2022, 2023; Nguyen et al., 2025). Despite the prominence of this argument in the theoretical literature on podcast advertising, the relationship between listener-host trust and actual purchasing behaviour has rarely been tested directly on empirical data; most existing studies infer the mechanism from qualitative reasoning or from attitudes towards advertising in general, rather than from the host relationship as a distinct, measurable construct. This creates a relevant gap for research focused on Generation Z, the cohort for which podcasts have become a daily media habit and for which the host is frequently described as a trusted, friend-like figure rather than a distant media personality. If host trust indeed functions as a trust-transfer mechanism, listeners who report higher trust in the host, a stronger sense of personally "knowing" the host, and greater importance attached to the host's recommendations should also report a higher incidence of purchasing a product or service on the basis of a podcast. The present study therefore addresses the following research problem: to what extent is Generation Z listeners' trust in the podcast host, and the strength of their relationship with the host, associated with their reported willingness to purchase a product or service on the basis of a podcast? JEL Codes: Keywords: consumer behaviour, generation Z, parasocial relationship, podcast, advertising