Areas Of Central Europe Research Articles

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in Swiss History Textbooks: Concepts, Templates, and Omissions

Abstract The claim “We want visibility” can not only be made for the representation of non-European areas and states but arises within the European continent as well. The contribution enquires about the representation of the history of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before the division of Poland before 1772 in Swiss history textbooks. There only can be found fragmentary references. Thereby, one has to put more specific questions as to which of the references in the textbooks have related and still relate to the history of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, as to what is lacking and also what loss in knowledge and orientation is connected with this for the pupils and students in Switzerland. At a larger scale the questions arise as to how the Early Modern era has been conveyed in Swiss textbooks in spatial terms and still is. It is thereby not irrelevant what in fact is omitted. In the case of the strong neglection of the Central European area of the Early Modern Times in general and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in particular in Swiss textbooks, one takes the risk of hardly being able to create the awareness for a European diversification.

Assessments on the impact of high-resolution-sensor pixel sizes for common agricultural policy and smart farming services in European regions

High-resolution (5–50 m) remote sensing satellite sensors provide a reliable, free and open data infrastructure for public and private agriculture and land use services. The further market penetration of these services critically depends on the fraction of agricultural fields and area that the services can cover. EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and smart farming services require a minimum of spectrally pure measurements per agricultural field. The impact of pixel size on the coverage of agriculture is studied in this paper considering present free and open optical sensors (Sentinel-2 and LANDSAT). It further studies the implications of the selection of spatial resolution of planned extensions of these sensors, i.e. the next generation of Sentinel-2, as well as Copernicus’s hyperspectral CHIME and thermal LSTM future candidate missions.The paper analyzes the 2018 vector boundaries and crop types of 3.6 million agricultural fields in the German States of Bavaria and Lower Saxony and the Netherlands. The fields were rasterized using Sentinel-2 flight geometry and a pixel spacing of 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 m. The study specifically considered: (1) fields with no pure pixel inside where no CAP services can be provided and (2) fields with less than 50 pure pixels inside, which is estimated to be the critical number for site-specific smart farming. The percentage of agricultural fields and agricultural area was determined for the main crop types. It shows, that with 10 m pixel spacing 2–4% and 20 m pixel spacing 12–22% of the agricultural fields in the study area do not contain a single pure spectral sample (Sentinel-2 case). This fraction decreases to 1–3% at 5 m spacing and increases to 25–40% for 30 m (LANDSAT and CHIME) and 50–70% for 50 m (LSTM) spacing. The percentage of fields with less than 50 pure pixels is 20–50% at 10 m and 70–85% at 20 m spacing (Sentinel-2). This fraction decreases to 5–12% for 5 m spacing and reaches the level of 92–97% for 30 m (LANDSAT) and 99% for 50 m spacing (LSTM). Our analysis shows, that with a pixel spacing of 5 m the Sentinel-2-based site-specific smart farming services could increase their potential customer base from ~50% to ~90% of the agricultural fields and could potentially cover 99% of the regions’ agricultural area. A 20 m pixel spacing would increase the agriculture area from 23% to 56% in the Central and Western European study regions on which the Copernicus hyperspectral candidate mission CHIME is capable to measure pure and full spectra for highly advanced future site-specific management services. LSTM would also profit from a spatial resolution of 30 m, which would raise coverage of the agricultural area in Central Europe with pure thermal measurements from 3% at 50 m to 23% at 30 m.

Fusing Multiseasonal Sentinel-2 Imagery for Urban Land Cover Classification With Multibranch Residual Convolutional Neural Networks

Exploiting multitemporal Sentinel-2 images for urban land cover classification has become an important research topic, since these images have become globally available at relatively fine temporal resolution, thus offering great potential for large-scale land cover mapping. However, appropriate exploitation of the images needs to address problems such as cloud cover inherent to optical satellite imagery. To this end, we propose a simple yet effective decision-level fusion approach for urban land cover prediction from multiseasonal Sentinel-2 images, using the state-of-the-art residual convolutional neural networks (ResNet). We extensively tested the approach in a cross-validation manner over a seven-city study area in central Europe. Both quantitative and qualitative results demonstrated the superior performance of the proposed fusion approach over several baseline approaches, including observation- and feature-level fusion.

Ploidy level and breeding system in some populations of Pilosella (Asteraceae) in eastern and southern Slovakia

The ploidy level/breeding system was determined in following species and hybrids originating from populations of the agamic polyploid complex of Pilosella in Slovakia: P. bauhini (either sexual tetraploids or apomictic pentaploids), P. hoppeana subsp. testimonialis, P. lactucella, P. onegensis (all three taxa diploid and so supposedly sexual), P. officinarum (pentaploids, hexaploids and octoploids, all cytotypes apomictic), P. glomerata (one pentaploid, another plant hexaploid and apomictic), P. macrostolona (apomictic hexaploids), P. schultesii, (mostly tetraploid, one plant an apomictic pentaploid), P. lactucella × P. onegensis (diploid and sexual), P. lactucella × P. aurantiaca (triploid and apomictic) and P. bauhini × P. officinarum (both sexual and apomictic tetraploids, apomictic pentaploids and apomictic hexaploids). The paper provides two karyological novelties in Pilosella: (a) A new hexaploid cytotype was revealed in Pilosella glomerata; (b) The octoploid apomictic and monoclonal plants of Pilosella officinarum were grown from seeds suggesting an occurrence of fruiting octoploid maternal plant(s). Such a cytotype would represent a new highest ploidy level detected in P. officinarum in the field. The cytotypes that were attributed both to P. officinarum and to the hybrids of P. bauhini and P. officinarum differed in a within-population clonal diversity. This effect could result from a different impact of (residual) sexuality and/or a different rate of origin of particular hybrid cytotypes. All findings presented in the paper are compared with published data on Pilosella species that refer preferentially to Slovakia, but also to a broader area in Central Europe.

Environmental consequences of the urban sprawl in the suburban zone of Nitra: An analysis based on landcover data

One of the most important territorial processes in the highly urbanised continent of Europe is suburbanisation, urban sprawl which occurs in a gradual manner over long periods and is not perceived as dramatic. Nevertheless the built-up urban areas and the urban lifestyle occupy step by step the periurban territories. Urban sprawl affects the essential environmental, economic and social functions of the impacted settlements. In the last decades these processes reached the less urbanised Central European region, leading to very fast and less planned changes in its settlement system. The research deals with these processes in the Central European non-metropolitan areas, around regional centres, and with their environmental impacts. The aim of this paper is, based on theoretical and empirical knowledge, to point out to spatial patterns of urban sprawl and suburbanisation in functional urban areas (FUA). This paper examines the urban sprawl and its impacts in Slovakia in the case of Nitra Functional Urban Area, in the agglomeration of an economically growing regional centre. The research is based on standard geographical methods including field research. Desktop and field empirical researches were conducted, with different methods such us GIS analysis of land use change. The analysis shows then to what extent cities and urban areas grow, from which one can conclude to how landscape surrounding the urban residential areas has changed, how the proportion of non-permeable surfaces increased, basically influencing the runoff of precipitation. The data demonstrate, moreover, how artificial patches and barriers fragment landscape more and more, endangering thereby biodiversity and decreasing green surfaces. The examination covers the 2000-2018 period, using the CORINE CLC 2000, 2006, 2012 and 2018 databases. Thereby the authors are able to examine changes in a longer period of almost two decades, and three internal periods. All this is compared to the demographic changes of the urban area of Nitra as well, in order to see to what extent the change in the number of population contributes to the transformation of land cover and thereby to environmental impacts. The characteristic features of Nitra and its hinterland within this are analysed, then the Nitra FUA and within that the suburban zone is examined in detail. Nitra and its area feature high enlargement dynamics looking at the whole of the period, compared to other FUAs. It is typical almost everywhere that the enlargement of areas surrounding cities is more intensive than the growth of the city itself, which demonstrates general suburbanisation.

Geomorphometric relief classification with the k-median method in the Silesian Upland, southern Poland

The aim of this study is geomorphometric relief classification of a temperate latitude upland area in Central Europe. The Silesian Upland represents diversified structural relief which contains a fan-shaped configuration of long thresholds and wide erosion depressions. A 20 m × 20 m digital elevation model (DEM) provided input data for the analysis. The k-median method was applied to examine morphometric variables of the relief. The aim of these activities was to identify clusters with objects of similar mathematical characteristics. These clusters were the basis of landform classification. Smaller numbers of clusters 4 transparently show hypsometric relationships. Key elements of the morphology of the area were clearly visible. The division into 6 clusters gives the best results—a detailed but clear image of the morphological diversity by distinguishing characteristic landform elements. The results for 8 clusters show significant background noise and are ambiguous, which makes them difficult to identify. Our research has confirmed that the k-median method is a useful tool for landform classifications. We determined optimal parameters of this method (filtering window size, DEM resolution, number of clusters, aspect influence).

Detection of microbiota in the vineyards of the Tokaj wine region

Tokaj is an important Central European wine-growing area with controlled planting and authorized varieties of white vines. This area has a specific microflora composition which changes based on its climate dependence, as well as during the fermentation process of wine production. Therefore, the aim of this study was, by culture examination of the samples, to detect the microbiota of soil, leaves, berries and fermentation must from two vineyards from the Slovak part of Tokaj. The highest total viable count (5.60 ±0.01 log cfu.g-1) and the highest total yeast and mould count (4.32 ±0.01 log cfu.g-1) in soil samples were recorded in vineyard Berecký. The highest total viable count in soil samples (6.71 ±0.01 log cfu.g-1) was confirmed by examination of samples originating from the vineyard of Čierna Hora. When determining the total yeast and mould count, the highest numbers were recorded in the must samples (4.15 ±0.01 log cfu.mL-1). Lactic acid bacteria were collected in samples from both vineyards, only in very low numbers. Overall, statistically significant differences (p <0.001) were detected by comparing the microbiota of the samples taken from the Berecký and Čierna Hora vineyards. The specific characterisation and identification of yeast was carried out using ITS-PCR-RFLP methods. The analysis confirmed the presence of yeasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Zygosaccharomyces bailii, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, Candida parapsilosis and Candida tenuis and their subsequent transfer to the must at varying percentages.

Host‐plant range expansion to Gymnocladus dioica by an introduced seed predatory beetle Megabruchidius dorsalis

AbstractA seed predatory beetle, Megabruchidius dorsalis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) native to the Oriental region was first found to utilize a North American Gymnocladus dioica (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) in its introduced area in Central Europe. A maximum of three adult exit holes were found on a single seed. Host‐plants of the bruchine beetle have been reviewed from its native and introduced regions, including a host record of Gleditsia fera from Taiwan. Our review indicated the beetle's strict oligophagy on caesalpinioid Gleditsia species. On the contrary, our finding suggests that the beetle's host‐range extends to the caesalpinioid Umtiza clade. On the plant side, this study provides a counterexample to the enemy release hypothesis that predicts fewer predators/parasites in an organism's range of introduction than in their native range; Gy. dioica is attacked by the seed predator in its introduced region, whereas in its native range it is free from seed predators.

Air concentrations and deposition of chlorinated dioxins and furans (PCDD/F) at three high alpine monitoring stations: Trends and dependence on air masses

Ambient air concentrations and bulk deposition of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo–furans (PCDD/F) were monitored at three high Alpine stations in Germany (Schneefernerhaus/Zugspitze: 2650 m a.s.l.), Switzerland (Weiβfluhjoch: 2663 m a.s.l.), and Austria (Sonnblick Observatory: 3106 m a.s.l.) from 2005 to 2018. High-volume active air samplers were selectively in operation on a daily basis according to predicted source-regions of air masses. Air concentrations showed only small differences between the three sites and were one or two orders of magnitude lower than in urbanized areas in central Europe. Calculation of source contribution revealed waste incineration, heating, and coal combustion as major sources of PCDD/F in ambient air. Air masses from the northeast were characterized by higher concentrations of PCDD/F than those from northwest and south. However, air masses from the northeast source region are significantly less frequent at the three Alpine stations than air masses from the other source regions. Only at Schneefernerhaus, the majority of congeners exhibit a clear decreasing temporal trend in ambient air concentrations. Deposition rates of PCDD/F measured at the three stations were almost as high as at monitoring stations in urban agglomerations. Despite lower precipitation rates in the central Alps, deposition of PCDD/F was higher at the Sonnblick Observatory than in the Northern Alps (Schneefernerhaus). Bulk deposition for Weiβfluhjoch and Schneefernerhaus exhibit a decreasing temporal trend.

Unification of data from various seismic catalogues to study seismic activity in the Carpathians Mountain arc

AbstractThe Carpathian Mountainsarc is the most seismically active area in Central Europe. Analysis of the seismicity of entire Carpathian arc requires data from each of the particular catalogues which have to be properly and uniformly entered, standardized and merged. For our study we first had to prepare a database of seismic events (ML≥ 1.6) compiled from the data of earthquakes taken from individual national seismic networks as well as data from international seismic centers. However, a careful review of these catalogues has uncovered significant inconsistencies, particularly discrepancies in the description of the location, magnitude and completeness of seismic events. To address these inconsistencies, a newly created compound earthquake catalogue was compiled from the aforementioned seismic catalogues and included events that occurred in the Carpathian Mountains arc area between 1976 and 2017. This work is intended to point out some of the problems associated with collecting data from various seismic catalogues as well as the need for their very careful verification, in order to create a uniform set of seismic data across a large area spanning numerous countries. The results suggest that compiling a uniform and dependable earthquake catalogue is crucial for reliable seismic studies.

Reconstitution de l’histoire de la couverture végétale des chernozems d’Europe par la spectroscopie proche infrarouge qualitative

Chernozems are considered to be typical soils of continental steppe environments. Nonetheless, they exist in many areas in Central Europe, where the climate is convenient for the growth of trees and forest vegetation. Otherwise, these areas of Central Europe have been under intensive human influence since the Neolithic period. The natural conditions of the distribution of chernozems in Central Europe cannot be identified without taking into account relevant palaeoenvironmental data. Qualitative near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was proven to be an innovative method to discover the vegetational origin of soil organic matter (SOM). In our study, we developed a special NIRS reference library for chernozems and soils on loess that is based on two reference groups: soils under grassland and soils under woodland. In order to explore their palaeoenvironmental history in Central Europe, we applied the reference library on a set of 23 sites of European chernozems. We concluded that the majority of the examined chernozems have a grassland past, but some of them had also existed under woodland. The chernozems, which are currently under woodland, have a grassland past. Landscape management is a crucial factor for the pedogenesis of chernozems in Central Europe since the Neolithic. Therefore, it is inappropriate to subscribe the development of these soils just to one scenario or to consider the presence of chernozems as an undoubtable proxy for continuous grassland in the Holocene.

Lowland pine forests in the northwestern Pannonian Basin: between natural vegetation and modern plantations

Lowland Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests cover extensive areas in Central Europe. Most of them are considered to be the results of relatively recent plantation-oriented forest management. We investigated the long-term history of lowland pine forests in the Zahorska Lowland region of aeolian sands in the northern margin of the Pannonian Basin. Pine monocultures were planted there already in the mid-seventeenth century and currently prevail in the land cover of the region. Our aim was to challenge the commonly accepted idea that the present pine-dominated forests lack connections to pre-plantation pine forests of the Early Holocene. Using multi-proxy data, we compared palaeoeocological data with archaeobotanical data, anthracological finds and evidence on past human settlement. Palaeoecological results suggested a distinct compositional linkage of recent pine-dominated forests with their Early Holocene predecessors. Moreover, no significant change was detected in tree dominants in at least the past two millennia. Contrary to palaeoecology, archeaeobotany suggested that broadleaved trees (mostly oak) dominated during the past 4000 years. However, this result is probably strongly biased by human preferences for wood for specific purposes. On the other hand, pine in palaeoecological data is doubtless overrepresented because of its abundant pollen production. We conclude that pine forests with a significant admixture of oak continuously covered the sandy substrates of the Zahorska Lowland throughout the Holocene. The present pine forests can therefore be considered fairly close to the original vegetation of the study region.

Napĺňanie minoritných práv maďarskej menšiny na Slovensku koncom 40. rokov 20. storočia

The Institute of Social Sciences of the CSPS of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Košice is an interdisciplinary workplace of social sciences and humanities with a primary research focus on the area of Central Europe in the field of social psychology, sociology and history.

Ústavnoprávne pomery po zániku Československa v roku 1939

The Institute of Social Sciences of the CSPS of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Košice is an interdisciplinary workplace of social sciences and humanities with a primary research focus on the area of Central Europe in the field of social psychology, sociology and history.

Vzťahy Rusínov a Ukrajincov v rokoch 2004 – 2017

The Institute of Social Sciences of the CSPS of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Košice is an interdisciplinary workplace of social sciences and humanities with a primary research focus on the area of Central Europe in the field of social psychology, sociology and history.

Tragické návraty. Osudy ukrajinských reemigrantů z Československa v SSSR

The Institute of Social Sciences of the CSPS of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Košice is an interdisciplinary workplace of social sciences and humanities with a primary research focus on the area of Central Europe in the field of social psychology, sociology and history.

Reemigrácie bývalých československých optantov a ich potomkov z Ukrajiny na Slovensko v 90. rokoch 20. storočia

The Institute of Social Sciences of the CSPS of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Košice is an interdisciplinary workplace of social sciences and humanities with a primary research focus on the area of Central Europe in the field of social psychology, sociology and history.

Život ukrajinskej emigrácie v medzivojnovom Československu v prácach českých a slovenských historikov

The Institute of Social Sciences of the CSPS of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Košice is an interdisciplinary workplace of social sciences and humanities with a primary research focus on the area of Central Europe in the field of social psychology, sociology and history.

Presídlenie Slovákov z Maďarska do Československa (propagačná činnosť Československej presídľovacej komisie a sťažnosti slovenských presídlencov počas výmeny obyvateľstva)

The Institute of Social Sciences of the CSPS of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Košice is an interdisciplinary workplace of social sciences and humanities with a primary research focus on the area of Central Europe in the field of social psychology, sociology and history.

Etnické zloženie a život minorít v Békešskej Čabe

The Institute of Social Sciences of the CSPS of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Košice is an interdisciplinary workplace of social sciences and humanities with a primary research focus on the area of Central Europe in the field of social psychology, sociology and history.