Objectives This study aimed to identify multilocus sequence type (MLST), serotype, average nucleotide identity (ANI), antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), virulence genes (VGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) from whole-genome sequences of 10 Escherichia coli isolated from seafood in Bangladesh and compared them with the global datasets of beta-lactamase-producing E. coli . Methods Ten E. coli isolates (crab = 3, shrimp = 1, tuna = 6) were subjected to whole-genome sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (Oxford, UK). In-silico bioinformatics analyses were performed using online tools and Linux-based commands. A systematic advanced search in PubMed identified 722 global genomes of beta-lactamase-producing E. coli for comparative analysis. A population structure and global phylogeny were constructed to illustrate the current status of beta-lactamase-producing E. coli from diverse sources (seafood, human, aquatic, wastewater, and environmental) across countries, based on their STs, ARGs, VGs, MGEs, and serotypes. Results Bioinformatics analysis revealed that most isolates displayed unique sequence types (STs) and core genome sequence types (cgSTs), while three isolates shared both ST1431 and cgST104784, indicating close genetic relatedness supported by ANI analysis. In shrimp and tuna isolates, both O and H antigens were detected, whereas crab isolates carried either O or H antigens. Pangenome analysis identified 56.4% strain-specific genes, 34.2% dispensable genes, and 9.4% core genes, with functions categorized into clusters of orthologous groups (COGs). Several ARGs, including beta-lactamase genes ( CTX-M-15, AmpC, bla DHA-1 ), were detected across isolates, with crabs harboring the highest number. The VGs were more common in tuna isolates. Plasmids were only detected in crabs (Col440I, IncFIA, IncFIB(pHCM2), and ColRNAI) carrying qnrB4 , dfrA17 , qacE , mph(A) , sul1 , bla DHA-1 ARGs, but were absent in shrimp and tuna. Population structure analysis showed that ST345 in Bangladesh closely matched wastewater (Czech Republic) and human (USA) isolates. Some STs overlapped with international records, while others appeared novel, suggesting limited global distribution. Globally, wastewater and human isolates from the Czech Republic showed the greatest similarity to our strains. Conclusion These findings underscore the potential role of seafood in disseminating beta-lactamase-producing E. coli , highlighting the urgent need for integrated surveillance to mitigate antimicrobial resistance risks in humans, animals, and the food chain.

ABSTRACT An essential path towards full-scale CO2 injection is via storage pilot projects intended to demonstrate proof-of-concept in different regions, jurisdictions, and geological provinces. long-term storage integrity is imperative for any CO2 storage project and must be addressed through risk assessment techniques, as several factors are inherently uncertain. This paper presents preparatory work in advance of a proposed onshore storage pilot in the Moravia region, South-East Czech Republic, where such risk assessment methods were developed and applied for the Žarošice oil and gas field. The focus of this paper is to evaluate abandoned wellbores as future leakage pathways. A novel approach has been developed based on stochastic leakage modelling coupled with a ground-level CO2 gas dispersion model to predict possible exposure to humans, animals, and plants in the vicinity of the injection site. Threshold levels for CO2 were used to describe the degree of severity of different exposure levels. A key aspect has been to quantify and propagate uncertainty throughout the model-chain of the analysis. By using this approach, value may be gained by managing and reducing uncertainties, to guide planning of risk-reducing measures and actions, determine safe operating conditions and use the inherent uncertainty to facilitate well-founded decisions in a transparent way.

Abstract This article examines the dynamics of deinstitutionalization of residential services for people with disabilities in the Czech Republic, focusing on barriers, tensions, and opportunities for social work to support disability rights. Deinstitutionalization, understood as the development of community-based services replacing large residential facilities, is analyzed across three interconnected levels: political, organizational, and everyday practice. Drawing on 62 semi-structured interviews with people with disabilities, social workers, activists, and regional representatives, complemented by field journals and analyzed using situational analysis, the study shows that at the political level, deinstitutionalization is constrained by fragile commitment, project-based funding, and neoliberal fiscal rationality. At the organizational level, competing care rationalities—paternalistic protection, neoliberal activation, and relational, person-centered practice—produce diverse interpretations of community-based services. At the everyday level, social workers navigate tensions between promoting independence and enforcing responsibility. Autonomy emerges as contested between competence-based and interdependence-oriented approaches. The article contributes to international debates on deinstitutionalization under neoliberalism and the role of social work. It emphasizes the need for political advocacy for systemic changes in disability services, the adoption of relational and rights-based frameworks of social work practice, and the recognition of interdependence as a way of rethinking autonomy. Such approaches can strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in post-socialist contexts, where deinstitutionalization remains an ongoing and uncertain process.

Introduction Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) of the K1/ST23 lineage is an emerging global threat associated with invasive community-acquired infections. Increasing reports of virulence–resistance convergence highlight the need for genomic surveillance, particularly within Europe where data remain limited. This study characterizes clinical K1/ST23 KP isolates circulating in the Czech Republic and compares them to a global genomic background to evaluate virulence architecture, resistance acquisition and plasmid evolution. Methods From 2017 to 2025, 570 K. pneumoniae isolates from a tertiary-care hospital were screened for hvKp markers. Ninety-six K1/ST23 isolates were subjected to long-read whole-genome sequencing and plasmid reconstruction. Genomes were analyzed alongside 2,463 international ST23 datasets using core-SNV phylogenomics, virulence/resistance profiling, and structural plasmid mapping. Chromosomal integrations were examined through analysis of flanking insertion-sequence contexts. Results The Czech K1/ST23 KP population exhibited high virulence uniformity (95/96 isolates scoring 9/9) without evidence of a single-clone outbreak, instead forming multiple phylogenetic lineages consistent with recurrent introductions. Eighty-three isolates carried pLVPK-like virulence plasmids; however, structural plasticity was prominent. The iro cluster was relocated to conjugative IncFII/rep_cluster_1418 plasmids in two isolates—one carrying additional AMR genes—and was chromosomally integrated via IS1-mediated recombination in three others. Iut was chromosomally integrated via IS903 (IS5 family) with either classical target-site duplication or recombination-associated insertion. Nine virulence–resistance fusion plasmids (IncFIB–IncFII–IncHI1B or IncC-based) were identified, representing early convergence toward MDR-hvKp. Conclusion K1/ST23 KP circulating in the Czech Republic is highly virulent yet genomically diverse, driven by active plasmid exchange, insertion-sequence–mediated chromosomal integration, and emerging virulence–resistance fusion plasmids. Although carbapenemase genes were absent, ESBL determinants and transmissible virulence loci indicate strong evolutionary potential toward MDR-hvKp. Continuous genomic surveillance and early intervention strategies are essential to mitigate future clinical impact.

Effect of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) levels on helminth infections in small mammals.

Congenital parvovirus B19 (PB19) infection can lead to severe fetal anemia and hydrops fetalis, necessitating in-utero transfusion (IUT) as a life-saving intervention. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with unfavorable perinatal outcome following IUT in hydropic fetuses with PB19 infection, with the goal of optimizing transfusion strategies and improving fetal survival. A retrospective, multicenter, international cohort study was conducted across nine specialized fetal medicine centers in France, Belgium and the Czech Republic. This study included pregnant women with a fetus diagnosed with hydrops due to PB19 infection that underwent at least one IUT for severe fetal anemia between January 2014 and May 2024. Clinical, demographic and procedural data were analyzed. The primary outcome was to identify maternal, fetal, obstetric or IUT-related risk factors associated with adverse fetal or neonatal outcome, defined by a composite criterion of unfavorable outcome that included perinatal mortality and/or severe and persistent fetal anomalies, including severe fetal brain injury at follow-up. Statistical analysis was conducted using logistic regression models to assess potential risk factors. Of the 84 eligible cases, 78 pregnancies were included in the final analysis. The rate of perinatal survival without severe brain injury was 59.0% (46/78), while 41.0% (32/78) of cases had an unfavorable outcome, including 20 (25.6%) cases of stillbirth, nine (11.5%) cases of termination of pregnancy, one (1.3%) case of continuation of pregnancy despite severe prenatal neurological findings and two (2.6%) cases of neonatal death. Notably, a higher fetal hemoglobin (Hb) level (> 9.3 g/dL) after the first or second IUT was significantly associated with a reduced risk of unfavorable outcome (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.6 (95% CI, 0.4-0.8)). A femur length Z-score of < -2 was associated with unfavorable outcome (aOR, 5.4 (95% CI, 1.3-27.0)). Transplacental vs transamniotic funicular puncture was not significantly associated with perinatal survival. IUT remains a cornerstone intervention for managing severe fetal anemia caused by PB19 infection; however, rates of perinatal loss continue to be substantial, especially in the presence of severe hydrops. Achieving higher post-transfusion Hb levels appears to be an important factor in improving survival outcomes for hydropic fetuses with PB19 infection. © 2026 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Timing of final oncologist visit and systemic treatment use near the end of life in pretreated patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: a multinational cohort study.

Valuing hunting as an ecosystem service: a national-level assessment using cost-based and benefit transfer methods in the Czech Republic

The topic reflects the political science significance of the exercise of judicial power as an independent pillar of democracy. The decision-making of lay judges, who lack legal education, may be influenced by various cognitive biases, posing a risk to fair trial standards, the legitimacy of decisions, and public trust in the judiciary. This article examines the impact of cognitive biaseson the decision-making of lay judges in the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Sweden. Based on a comparative analysis of legislative frameworks, international approaches to the education of lay judges, and the author's personal experience as a lay judge in a criminal panel, it highlights the risks of lay adjudication without systematic training. The aim is to propose a training model in cooperation with the Judicial Academy of the Slovak Republic that would contribute to improving the quality of decision-making and enhancing public trust in the judiciary. Particular attention is paid to the psychological aspects of decision-making, especially cognitive biases that may affect the impartiality and fairness of judicial decisions.

3-dimensional surface geometry, optical properties dataset of Scots pine and Norway spruce shoots.

The wars following the breakup of Yugoslavia led to mass displacement, violence, and long-term psychological suffering among civilians. While clinical responses to war-related trauma and refugee experiences have been widely studied, less is known about how survivors make sense of these events decades later and how trauma and emigration continue to shape their identity, relationships, and wellbeing. This study examines the long-term psychological impacts of war and migration among civilian survivors of the Balkan wars resettled in the Czech Republic, with attention to meaning-making processes decades after the original events. We conducted an interpretative phenomenological analysis of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with four adult civilian survivors of the Balkan wars, all of whom experienced emigration and long-term resettlement. Participants described wartime life as isolating, marked by survival-focused coping. They highlighted the importance of close relationships, routines, and developmental stage in shaping how they endured this period. Decades later, they reported persistent vigilance, moral reflection, and existential questioning, alongside posttraumatic growth. Migration was perceived as a prolonged, transformative process reshaping identities and relationships to cultural roots. Intergenerational impact emerged, with participants reflecting on survival strategies transmitted to their children. The findings suggest that war trauma and migration are not discrete events but temporally extended, relational processes, unfolding across the lifespan. This perspective advances psychological understanding of trauma trajectories, identity reconstruction, and intergenerational adaptation.

A patient pathway is an evidence-based tool that details the phases of care with the aim of increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of patient care. We describe diagnostic and treatment pathways and related overall survival (OS) of non-small cell lung cancer patients. This was a longitudinal, historical descriptive cohort study based on administrative claim data, spanning from 2017 to 2022. The index date was determined by the first bronchoscopy with lung biopsy (BX) followed by histopathological (HP) examination, alongside the presence of the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision diagnosis code C34. Incident patients aged ≥18 without prior malignancy. Pharmacotherapies (PHT), including chemotherapy (PHT_CT), precision therapy (PHT_IOTT), as well as surgery (SX) and radiotherapy (RT), were investigated associated with OS. A presence of multidisciplinary team (MDT) and treatment at a Complex Oncological Center (COC) with high-load experience was considered. We analysed 5819 patient pathways. Less than half (45.6%) of patients had MDT reported within a median of 20 days. Of the 4417 patients treated, 30% underwent more than one BX, 47.7% received PHT_CT, 25.9% underwent SX, 16.4% underwent RT and 9.08% PHT_IOTT. Early initiation of treatment within 4 weeks from BX was identified in 21% of SX patients, 30% of patients treated with PHT_CT and 23% of RT patients. The centralisation of care in COCs primarily concerned SX and PHT_IOTT, while 33% of patients indicated to PHT_CT were treated elsewhere. The median OS reached approximately 16 months in the overall population, 21 months in the verified treated cohort and 13 months in patients treated with PHT_CT, while it was not reached in patients treated with SX. We observed a positive association between patient prognosis and treatment centralisation in COCs. This methodology can be implemented as a technical infrastructure to fulfil the organisation and quality evaluation routines in cancer care, largely based on administrative data.

The PRECISE-DAPT score is a useful tool for predicting the risk of bleeding after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) requiring dual antiplatelet therapy. We aimed to validate the PRECISE-DAPT score as a mid-term mortality predictor in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). All patients with ACS hospitalized between October 2018 and October 2023 were analyzed. Mortality data were acquired in cooperation with the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic. We used a standard PRECISE-DAPT threshold ≥ 25. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the predictive performance of the PRECISE-DAPT score for mortality with a mean follow-up of 1.9years. Area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for each ACS subtype and different antithrombotic strategy regimes at discharge to quantify discrimination ability, with higher values indicating better prediction. We included 2953 patients with ACS. There were mostly men (69.1%, n = 2040), 37.1% ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI, n = 1095), 45.2% non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI, n = 1336) and 17.7% unstable angina pectoris (UAP, n = 522) patients. The mean age was 67.4 (SD 12.5) years. There were 78.4% patients treated by PCI (n = 2314). The PRECISE-DAPT score best predicts mortality in STEMI, AUC = 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI] from 0.82 to 0.87), while its predictive ability is lower for NSTEMI, 0.78 (95% CI from 0.76 to 0.80) and UAP 0.75 (95% CI from 0.71 to 0.79). Antithrombotic treatment strategy at discharge does not influence the predictive ability of the PRECISE-DAPT score (AUC = 0.78, 071 and 0.72 for dual antiplatelet therapy, dual antithrombotic therapy, and triple therapy, respectively), p = 0.61. The PRECISE-DAPT score may be used for predicting mid-term all-cause mortality in acute coronary syndrome, with the best predictive ability in STEMI. The standard threshold ≥ 25 maintain acceptable prognostic performance regardless of antithrombotic treatment strategy at discharge.

Purpose The prices and rents of land depend on its marginal productivity and a number of other factors (the range of economic and policy-related factors). Significant changes in the European Union (EU) agricultural policy and changes in productivity models in recent years have influenced land market dynamics. To properly understand the dynamics in the land market and relate it to changes in agricultural production and policy, it is important to establish a multi-factor model that would allow the main factors determining changes in land rental prices in the EU to be assessed. Design/methodology/approach The article proposes an index decomposition analysis model to explain changes in land price at the country level. The logarithmic mean Divisia index is used for the decomposition of agricultural land prices into their key contributing factors. The proposed index decomposition analysis model is used with data from the Farm Accountancy Data Network. The empirical case of the EU countries over 2004–2022 is considered. The proposed approach allows one to measure the contributions of different factors towards changes in land rent based on the production theory. Findings The results indicate that growth in agricultural output per hectare appears to be the major cause behind changes in agricultural land rent. Increasing land productivity can be attributed to improved agricultural practices and the application of intermediate inputs. The price changes are also included in the analysis. During the period under review, land and rental prices and farm profitability indicators increased in most EU countries. Average growth in land rents in the EU-28 was around 2.2%, while land prices grew at 1.3%. The fastest growth in rental prices was recorded in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic (10.6–17.1%), while that for land prices was recorded in Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia (10.4–26.2%). Land prices have also increased relative to the income generated by a land unit. This can be attributed to a €12/ha increase in the land rent price. Increasing agricultural subsidies have also played a stimulating role with respect to changes in agricultural land rent in the EU-28. However, this effect amounted to an increase in the agricultural land rent of just €7/ha. Originality/value The proposed approach allows one to isolate the effects of land rent price changes with respect to multiple factors. These factors explain land productivity, support rate and the situation in the land market. The proposed model can also be adjusted to explain dynamics in the land rent in other contexts.

Accurate Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) are essential for managing forest drainage networks as a crucial element of water management, yet dense canopies and complex micro-topography challenge Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) precision. This study evaluates the vertical accuracy of an ALS-derived DTM specifically within forest drainage ditches, utilizing 706 GNSS and total station measurements for validation. The results indicate a positive elevation bias, with a mean elevation error of 0.415 m and an RMSE of 0.464 m, 54.7% higher than the 0.3 m declared in the DTM technical report. Forest height, acting as a proxy for forest structural density and canopy closure, was significantly associated with a reduction in ground reflection density and an increase in the distance to the nearest ground reflection (p &lt; 0.05). Mixed-effects ANOVA confirmed that there are significantly more ground reflections in low vegetation (0–1 m). Crucially, multiple regression analysis revealed that forest height was not the primary driver of elevation error; instead, ditch geometry was the most significant predictor. Narrower ditches exhibited substantially higher errors than wider ones, regardless of the canopy height. Furthermore, while ground reflection density decreased in mature stands, this reduction did not significantly diminish DTM vertical accuracy, suggesting that some of the LiDAR reflections of low vegetation could be misclassified as ground reflections, decreasing accuracy. These findings suggest that while ALS is effective for general forest topography and mapping drainage infrastructure, its application may require corrections for ditch dimensions rather than vegetation height alone to mitigate systematic overestimation of ditch bed elevations.

Abstract Open biomass burning (OBB) emits large amounts of air pollutants, significantly impacting air quality and climate change. Herein, chemical (carbonaceous content, metals, NR-PM 1 : organics, SO 4 2− , NO 3 − , NH 4 + , Cl − ) and physical (number size distribution, absorption and scattering) properties of OBB-derived aerosols, and their vertical distribution, and night-time evolution were investigated during the country-wide burning of the witches (BoW) in the Czech Republic and neighboring states. The mass concentrations of most of the aerosol components sharply increased during the BoW, and a fast change in their chemical composition, size distribution, and optical properties was observed. The BoW led to significantly higher concentrations of carbonaceous aerosols, with a concentration enhancement ratio ranging from 4.5 to 11.4. The vertical distribution of equivalent black carbon (eBC) was also altered during the BoW due to OBB emissions (eBC BB ) contributing up to &gt; 90% and 67% of eBC at 4 m and 230 m a.g.l., respectively. At 4 m, eBC BB was affected by local OBB plumes trapped within the mixing layer, whereas eBC BB at 230 m was most probably affected by longer distance transported plumes. Cl − and K, Zn, Pb and Cu were also significantly enhanced (2.6–10.8) due to OBB and coexisting sources (combustion of old tires and trash and fireworks activities). The freshest OBB emissions, made of 73% organics, with mobility diameter of 20 nm and 80 nm, rapidly grew during the first hours of the event with a single peak of ~ 100 nm. The higher concentrations of brown carbon led to an elevated absorption Ångström exponent (2.13 ± 0.26) and may also explain the enhanced scattering coefficients observed during this event. The BoW may significantly affect air quality and represents an excellent context to provide valuable background information on the physicochemical properties and night-time aging of non-heating OBB-derived aerosols in temperate climates. Graphical Abstract

ABSTRACT Cremation became the dominant funerary practice in the Middle Danube Region during the Roman Period (RP) (1st–4th century) and reappeared in the Early Medieval Ages (EMA) (6th/7th–8th century). This study aims to reconstruct differences in cremation conditions from the Gbely‐Kojatín site (Slovakia, RP and EMA) and the Přítluky site (Czech Republic, EMA) through FTIR‐ATR (IRSF, C/C, OH/P, and BPI) and carbon and oxygen isotope (δ 13 C and δ 18 O) analyses of cremated remains. The findings suggest that Gbely‐Kojatín (RP) exhibited higher levels of heat intensity and more controlled practices, whereas Přítluky revealed lower levels of heat intensity with greater variability. Gbely‐Kojatín (EMA) exhibited intermediate values, indicating potential deviations or alternative cremation strategies. Results demonstrate that technological differences in cremation between sites and periods were shaped primarily by ritual and pyre management, rather than environmental factors.

The process of digitization keeps accelerating and the consequences of the transformation of the existing traditional practices is manifesting in all areas of human life. However, technological advances bring a whole range of significant changes that put increased demands on both their adoption and their successful management and, last but not least, the continued effective improvement of the development. To meet these requirements and to ensure the efficiency of transformation processes associated with growing digitization, digital skills are an indispensable necessity. Digital skills are the core stone of the 4.0 industrial revolution. The paper analyses the state of digital skills in the Czech Republic in the years 2014-2016. The Czech Republic is developing a number of initiatives to contribute to the development of digital skills. However, it is important to build a closer relationship and cooperation between industry, research centres and universities to reflect the reality effectively and appropriately. The document draws conclusions and makes recommendations based on the research findings, which are the subject of discussion.

An international observational study was conducted to describe the preferred techniques for obstetric analgesia and anesthesia in the Czech Republic (CZE) and Slovakia (SVK), as well as during the period after the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, the authors present only results about analgesia during vaginal delivery. To determine whether modes of obstetric analgesia are adequate and in line with the needs of women in labor and current trends. An international multicentric observational study. A total of 149 centers were invited to participate; 64 from CZE and 22 from SVK supplied the electronic case report form for obstetric analgesia (prepared by the steering committee); the study period was November 2022. Patients who underwent vaginal delivery. Labor analgesia during vaginal delivery. Modes of labor analgesia and complication rates. In CZE, of the total number of births, 5914 were born, 1552 (26.2%) of which were cesarean deliveries. In Slovakia, the total number of births was 2030, of which 684 (33.7%) were cesarean deliveries. Obstetric analgesia was administered by an anesthesiologist to 1331 (23.3%) parturients, 900 (20.6%) in the CZE group and 431 (32%) in the SVK group. In most cases, 1280 (96.5%) epidural analgesia was used; 874 (97.4%) parturients were in the CZE, and 406 (94.2%) parturients were in the SVK. Complications from epidural analgesia occurred in 74 (5.8%) parturients. This study describes the limited use of epidural analgesia in CZE (20.0%) and SVK (30.2%), which are associated with a low incidence of complications. Regularly performed audits or national registers would provide relevant data for describing daily practices. The study was registered at http://www. gov.NCT04912791. June 2, 2021 Trial Overview Official Title: Obstetric Anaesthesia and Analgesia Month Attributes - in COVID-19 (OBAAMA-COV) Sponsor: Brno University Hospital, Czech Republic Condition Studied:Obstetric anesthesia care during the COVID‑19 pandemic Study Type: Observational national survey across the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Abstract This study investigates the adoption of precision agriculture technologies (PATs) in the Czech Republic. Using unbalanced panel data from the Czech Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) survey spanning the period from 2017 to 2021, it aims to identify the drivers and barriers to the adoption of PATs in Czech field crop production. The estimation of a probit binary choice model with a within-between random effects (WBRE) specification – a novel approach to addressing heterogeneity in panel data choice models – reveals that PATs adoption is significantly influenced by socio-economic factors such as labor intensity, indebtedness, manager education, and farm economic size, as well as environmental factors such as localization and land quality. Furthermore, the adoption of PATs is associated with temporal dynamics in labor intensity, production efficiency, specialization, and land ownership. The findings underscore the need for targeted policy measures to promote the adoption of technology and enhance agricultural efficiency. The contribution of this study lies in deepening the understanding of the determinants and barriers to precision agriculture adoption in the EU context, where empirical research remains relatively scarce.