Regions Of Slovakia Research Articles

Chorology and phytosociological affinity of Greater Spearwort (Ranunculus lingua L.) in Slovakia

Ranunculus lingua is an Euro-Siberian vascular plant species of freshwater habitats. Distribution and vegetation preferences of this rare species, which is native to the Slovak flora, have not yet been critically revised. The present paper aimed i) to provide the first complex distribution pattern of this species in Slovakia and ii) to analyse all available vegetation plots with species occurrence in order to elucidate the variability of plant communities. The distribution data were retrieved from herbarium specimens, literature records and field surveys. Our revision suggests that R. lingua was found particularly in the lowland areas of the western, south-western and south-eastern parts of the country. It was very rare in other regions of Slovakia, and several populations have become extinct due to drainage or habitat destruction. New localities of secondary origin were additionally documented in some human-made habitats. The temporal trend showed a strong decrease in the number of localities in natural habitats, mainly in the hilly and mountainous regions of the Western Carpathians from the 1980s to the end of the twentieth century. R. lingua was recorded in both forest and treeless swamp communities. Vegetation analysis revealed numerous records mainly in eutrophic marshes (Phragmito-Magnocaricetea class), willow and alder carrs (Franguletea and Alnetea glutinosae).

Prevalence of Dichelobacter nodosus and Fusobacterium necrophorum on dairy farms in Slovakia

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of bacteria Dichelobacter nodosus (D. nodosus) and Fusobacterium necrophorum (F. necrophorum) in non-lame dairy cows on eight Slovak dairy herds. In total, 1,631 Holstein Friesian dairy cows were included in the study. Information of the cows was collected from on-farm software included cow ID, lactation number (heifer/cow), year milk yield (kg), and DIM on collection date. The PCR method detected D. nodosus and F. necrophorum on the feet of 1,394 (85.5%) and 373 (22.1%) dairy cows, respectively (p < 0.05). No dairy farm could be found without positive samples for D. nodosus and the majority of the farms were free or had very low prevalence of F. necrophorum (0–9.1%). Statistical difference for the prevalence of D. nodosus and F. necrophorum in different Slovak regions was detected for both strains. Logistic regression revealed an association between both D. nodosus and F. necrophorum identification and annual milk production (odds ratios = 0.69 and 0.32, respectively). Our data demonstrates that D. nodosus is present on the feet of almost every dairy cow what means a potential risk for cattle to develop foot rot. Furthermore, both bacteria are associated with decreased annual milk production.

Molecular Detection of Nosema spp. in Three Eco Regions of Slovakia.

Microsporidia are unicellular obligate intracellular parasitic fungi that infect a wide range of vertebrates and invertebrates. There are two known species of microsporidia infecting honey bees in Slovakia- first Nosema apis and also Nosema ceranae. Our aim was to examine samples of honey bees collected from bee queen breeders in three ecoregions of the Slovak Republic in 2021 and 2022. First, microscopic diagnostics were used, and then randomly selected samples were examined using molecular methods. There were 4018 samples examined using microscopic diagnostics and the positivity was demonstrated in 922 samples. From the microscopically diagnosed positive samples, 507 samples were randomly selected, and using molecular methods, the positivity was proved in 488 samples. After sequencing the positive PCR products and comparing the sequences (BLAST) with the sequences stored in the gene bank, the Nosema ceranae species was detected in all positive samples.

LOCAL AND REGIONAL ELECTIONS IN SLOVAKIA IN 2022: THE IMPACT ON THE INTER-PARTY BALANCE AND STRUCTURING OF THE POLITICAL SPACE

The article analyzes local and regional elections in Slovakia in the context of identifying and systematizing the changes and trends in the political-party balance and structuring of the political space in this country. The author identifies the role of party blocs/coalitions, as well as the specifics of party representation in the councils/representative bodies of self-governing regions of Slovakia. The combinations of party blocs/coalitions of political parties participating in 2022 local and regional elections in Slovakia are also studied. The author states that the electoral choice of the Slovakian population remains quite personalized, since the tendency to personify the images of political parties is clearly preserved. Given this, the relationship between the electoral support of separate political parties in the analyzed election campaign is traced in accordance with their parliamentary or non-parliamentary positions. The study characterizes the results of the main participants of the election races in the regional dimension, as well as the role of local or subnational party projects. The researcher traces the structuring of the party space in Slovakia based on the regional differences of various regions of Slovakia (especially along the «west-east» line). In addition, the parameters of the ideological positioning of political parties, as well as the peculiarities of the representation of separate ethnic groups at local level are determined. It is revealed that (overcoming the threshold of inclusion and representation) Roma parties have become a political institution that represents the interests of their ethnic group on a par with «Hungarian» parties, which have been representing the interests of the Hungarian minority in Slovakia for a long time. Finally, particular attention is paid to the division of the participants of local and regional elections into «pro-Ukrainian» and «pro-Russian» ones, in particular in accordance with the newest spectrum of party-political structuring.

Unambiguous Linkage Between the Vaccination Coverage and the Spread of COVID-19: Geostatistical Evidence from the Slovak LAU 1 Regions

This case study refutes some controversial findings about a minor connection between the vaccination coverage and the spread of COVID-19. We try to eliminate some methodological shortcomings and risks, which are included in such previously published studies. Firstly, our selection comprises all regional units in one country. Secondly, the quality of data is basically identical in all examined regions within the country. Thirdly, all Slovak regions had an equal starting position. They were at the same stages of the COVID-19 wave, and the measures taken were analogous in all regions. Slovakia with a significantly different vaccination rates among regions is a very suitable study case. We used the empirical data at the level of its LAU 1 regions for the two latest COVID-19 waves at that time (Delta, Omicron). The methods of regression analysis and geostatistical methods were applied in the study. Indubitably, there is an obvious link between the vaccination coverage and the spread of COVID-19. We have shown that the incidence-trajectories among regions vary based on the vaccination rates. The positivity and incidence in the most vaccinated regional populations were significantly lower than in the least vaccinated regions in a whole analyzed period. Their values in the best vaccinated regions were lower by roughly 20–25 % during the delta and omicron wave-peaks. Using the spatial autocorrelation, we also managed to clearly identify a close relationship between vaccination on the one hand and standardized incidence and positivity on the other hand, although some regions deviated from this general finding.

Regional Labelling as a Tool for Supporting Rural Development: A Slovak Case Study

Regional product labelling has become a trend in recent years, with the goal of being able to stimulate and support local economies; increase the sales of quality local products and services; preserve and maintain traditions, local cultural values, and the character of rural landscapes; and promote the use of local resources, potential, and raw materials. The existing Slovak studies deal primarily with the perception of consumers and tourism. In this article, we analysed forms of rural development in connection with regional product labelling and the Slovak regions of Kopanice and Záhorie. This theme is a relatively new phenomenon in Slovakia, and that is the author’s main contribution. The research was conducted using an online questionnaire administered between May and July 2022 in each district of the region, with a total of 283 respondents participating. The results obtained from the questionnaire survey were statistically processed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. We used STATISTIC 109 software (Tibco software, Palo Alto, California). The questionnaire method is the most suitable method for determining the perceptions of the respondents. The goal was to analyse rural development in connection with regional product labelling and to identify areas of the application of regional product labels. The term regional product was associated with production in a specific region (50.5%) and with the customs and traditions of the region (43.8%). Supporting employment and entrepreneurship in the region were considered by 43.1% of the respondents as the most important in the region. From the perspective of the application of regional labelling in connection with rural development, we confirmed gender and education dependence. Women with first- and second-level higher education saw regional labels as the main element in the development of the region and the local economy.

Current Parents and Children's Leisure Time

This paper presents research focused on investigating contemporary parents and selected aspects of their influence on children's leisure time, emphasizing how and to what extent parents organize their children's leisure time. Parents from different regions of Slovakia participated in the research, and we processed the results using descriptive statistics. For comparison, we used the Student T-test, Mann-Whitney Test (for comparing two groups), and Kruskal-Wallis Test (for comparing three or more groups). The research showed that respondents judge current parenting as different and significantly more challenging compared to the past. They perceive differences in the sphere of leisure time of families, especially in the fact that parents give fewer responsibilities to children than the previous generation of parents. The research also shows that the problem of contemporary families is the absence of time spent together by parents and children, the absence of family communication, and the high level of organization of children's leisure time by parents. The authors point out that parents in a postmodern society have to deal with the difficulties of ensuring the family's economic stability, which is why two-career marriages are a reality in contemporary families. It has been proven that today's parents are busier with work and are more engaged outside the family, as a result of which they spend less time with their children, which negatively affects their upbringing, there is a lack of quality family communication, and children feel lonely and deprived of parental attention. It was also found that in the modern family, students are involved in housework much less than in the past, so they mostly have no experience of work in this aspect. It is emphasized that the compensation of parental influence with other means of education - media, technology (smartphones, tablets, computers), and the virtual world (social networks) is alarming. The decline in the development of reading interests in the family is outlined, and the tendency of parents to replace the joint reading of children's books with modern technologies is revealed.

Evaluation of missed nursing care in neonatal intensive care units: A cross-sectional study

PurposeEvaluation of missed nursing care in neonatal settings, especially in intensive care, is essential for safe and quality care. Our study aimed to report the prevalence, patterns, reasons, and predictors of missed care in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study included 121 nurses working in NICUs in four teaching hospitals in different regions of Slovakia. Data were collected between May and September 2022 using the MISSCARE Survey-NICU. ResultsNeonatal nurses most frequently omitted emotional support provided to parents/family (92.6%). Frequent interruptions were the most commonly reported reasons for missed care (99.2%). Missed care was significantly predicted by education, nurse experience, and age (p < 0.05). ConclusionsThe evaluation of missed care in NICUs is often neglected, although its prevalence is alarmingly high, indicating a serious problem. Further research should focus on a detailed analysis of contributing factors in neonatal care units.

Interdependence of selected socio-demographic characteristics of consumers and consumer preferences toward brands

Given the changing market conditions due to the globalization of the economy, legal environment, competitiveness, and consumer base, brand management must apply innovative approaches that reflect these changes. This paper aims to analyze the relations between selected socio-demographic characteristics of consumers and their preferences toward brands (i.e. the reasons they would replace their preferred brand with another one). The survey targeted 2025 consumers from the eight regions of Slovakia in March 2019. The respondents’ age had to be at least 15. Thirty-four questions formed the survey questionnaire, which was separated into three sections. Three socio-demographic factors were selected for analysis: age (three categories), education (three categories), and social status (six categories). The correspondence analysis was carried out via IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 25. The results were plotted on a multidimensional map. The average age is 40.24; the largest frequency is associated with primary/vocational graduates, 51.11%; 50.67 % of employees are recognized as having the greatest frequencies for social status. The findings indicate that the higher the age of consumers, the lower the effect of the image; the higher the level of education, the lower the effect of price on consumers’ motivation to replace their preferred brand with the alternative one. Furthermore, social status is mostly contingent upon the age. Hence, this paper observed similar correspondence analysis results between these socio-demographic characteristics; the most specific groups are students and the unemployed. AcknowledgmentThis study was financially supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency – Grant No. APVV-15-0505: Integrated model of management support for building and managing the brand value in the specific conditions of the Slovak Republic.

Genomic analysis of Paenibacillus larvae isolates from the Czech Republic and the neighbouring regions of Slovakia

Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB), a devastating disease of honeybee larvae. In the Czech Republic, two large infested regions were recognised. This study aimed to analyse P. larvae strains occurring in the Czech Republic in the years 2016–2017 and to characterise the genetic structure of their population with the use of Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus genotyping (ERIC), multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis. The results were complemented by the analysis of isolates collected in the year 2018 in areas of Slovakia located near the Czechia-Slovakia border. ERIC genotyping revealed that 78.9% of tested isolates belonged to the ERIC II genotype and 21.1% to ERIC I genotype. MLST showed six sequence types with ST10 and ST11 being the most frequent among isolates. Within six isolates we found discrepancies in correlations between MLST and ERIC genotypes. The use of MLST and WGS analysis of isolates revealed that each of the large infested geographic regions had its own dominating P. larvae strains. We assume that these strains represented primary sources of infection in the affected areas. In addition, the sporadic presence of strains identified by core genome analysis as genetically related was unveiled in geographically distant regions suggesting possible human-mediated transmission of AFB.

Synchronization of Ovulation and Timed Insemination in Lactating Dairy Cattle

Abstract Successful reproduction of lactating dairy cattle, or in other words its reproductive performance is a limiting factor in the profit ratio of cattle breeding regarding market production. The aim of this research was to evaluate the success rate of synchronization protocols Ovsynch, Presynch/Ovsynch, and Double Ovsynch within the period of 24 months. The success rate of the 1st insemination, 2nd insemination, and after more than 2 inseminations was evaluated. The cattle were of Holstein Friesian breed with a milk yield of 10 200 kg. The animals were sorted into two categories – heifers (protocol Ovsynch) and primiparous, multiparous cows (protocols Presynch/Double Ovsynch). The research proved a 54 % success rate in the category of heifers after the 1st insemination. In the category of primiparous and multiparous cows was the success rate of 41 % after the 1st insemination, 39 % after the 2nd insemination, and 52 % after more than 2 inseminations for the Presynch/Ovsynch protocol. The success rate for Double Ovsynch protocol was 45 % after the 1st insemination, 42 % after the 2nd insemination and 51 % after more than 2 inseminations. The results for the given geographic region of Slovakia exceeded the average.

'Celtoscythians': Ethnical Processes and Cultural Contacts in the Baltic-Black Sea Region (3rd Century BC — 1st Century AD)

The paper deals with the ethnocultural processes that took place in the 3rd century BC – 1st century AD on the territory of Ukraine and neighbouring lands of Central and Eastern Europe. These processes, in particular, have expressed themselves in the emergence of terms ‘Celtoscythians’ and ‘Bastarnae’. The author aims to show that ancient Greeks and Romans used these names to define barbaric population, which, was living on the territory of Scythia according to geographical concepts of those days, but had material culture and customs similar to Celtic and, to some extent, could use Celtic dialects. It is stated that the lands of present-day Ukraine were stretched across the distinct periphery of the ‘Celtic world’.A group of Celtic settlements and burials which occupied the Transcarpathian region was a rather typical sub-group of the La Tene culture, similar to those in nearby regions of Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. There are only traces of the ‘Celtic’ military raids and micro-migrations in the lands eastward of the Carpathian Mountains and they had no significant impact on the cultural situation in the region. At the turn of the eras, in the basins of Dniester and Dnipro, the new Poieneşti-Lukashevka and Zarubyntsi archaeological cultures emerged. Both combined Jastorf and La Tène traditions and local traditions. The Greek and Roman authors used the new ‘umbrella’ ethnic entities ‘Bastarnae’ and ‘Κελτοσκύθαι’. Such mixed groups of the population emerged as a result of intensifying cultural contacts between the Baltic and Pontic areas. One may pay attention to the communication route from Hellespont to the Baltic shores that Plinius the Elder described in his Naturalis Historia (NH. IV. 28). Apparently, the route following Dniester and Vistula played a significant role in exchange of prestigious artefacts, as well as ideas and technologies between various groups of population of the Northern and Eastern fringes of the Celtic world. The contact zone that formed along this route played an important role in the processes of ethnogenesis on the territory of Ukraine over the following centuries.

Potential of Regulating Ecosystem Services in Relation to Natural Capital in Model Regions of Slovakia

The growing demands of satisfying human well-being call for a sustainable way of managing the landscape, which requires the introduction of tools for evaluating and assessing ecosystem services. The aim of the study is to evaluate regional differentiations in the values of regulating ecosystem services in relation to natural potential in four small pilot regions of the Slovak Republic with the application of the modified matrix approach. The results in the pilot regions of the Slovak Republic indicated that the spatial distribution of individual ecosystems in the country, in combination with a higher altitude and a larger area of forests and protected areas, can represent significant factors influencing the potential of the territory to provide benefits resulting from regulating ecosystem services. Mountain areas generally have a higher capacity to provide regulating ecosystem services, mainly due to their rich forest vegetation. Regulating ecosystem services, to the greatest extent, reflects the multifunctionality of the territory.

Citogenetička analiza odabranih genetski uvjetovanih bolesti u istočnoj Slovačkoj

This work presents the results of cytogenetic analysis performed during the period 1990-2021. The work focuses on cytogenetic analysis of selected diseases that represent a serious medical and social problem in the Prešov region of eastern Slovakia. The analysis also included the determination of cytogenetic and molecular-genetic marker frequency related to selected clinical genetic diseases in a specified population of Roma ethnicity. Chromosome analysis confirmed a wide spectrum of chromosomal aberrations in patients with Down’s syndrome and Turner syndrome, revealing a spectrum of aberrations from monosomy X, isochromosome Xq, and deletions Xp to marker chromosomes. Chromosomal aberrations cause 5.5% of fertility disorders in couples, with numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations found in 2.1 and 3.4% respectively, revealing a risk finding for offspring of carriers of balanced translocations. Microdeletions, combined microdeletions (AZFb,c) and complete deletion of the AZF region of the Y chromosome were found in men diagnosed with azoospermia. In addition, pathological karyotypes were detected in men and women (13 and 10%). Another set of analyses in patients with onco-haematological diseases revealed presence of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) in 94.4% of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia, complex translocation of chromosomes 8, 9, 22; mosaic karyotype of Ph1. Chromosomal aberrations in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome also included also atypical and as yet unpublished cytogenetic markers. Myeloproliferative diseases were detected in 28.3% of patients with heterogenous chromosomal aberrations. Revelations from cytogenetic analysis enable improvement in the efficiency of health care, diagnostics, therapeutic significance and prognosis of affected people in the majority population and Roma minority in this region of Slovakia.

Regional Differences in the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Demand for Bus Transport in the Slovak Republic

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic and the anti-pandemic measures taken have significantly affected the activities of the society and the associated need for mobility, as well as the transport behaviour of inhabitants. The goal of this research is to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the change in the demand of residents for suburban bus transport (SBT) services in the regions of Slovakia. Due to the impact of the pandemic of COVID-19, there was a decrease in the number of passengers transported by SBT as well as a decrease in the supply of bus services offered in all the regions under study. The decrease in the number of passengers in the pandemic year was caused not only by COVID-19 and the anti-pandemic measures, but also by the reduction in the supply of SBT. The research confirmed the relation between the reduction in the offer of SBT and the decrease in passenger demand.

Associations between prevalence of chronic diseases and socio-economic status in adult population of Slovakia.

The study presents associations between prevalence of chronic diseases and selected socio-economic (SES) attributes in adult population of Slovakia and analyses the prevalence of chronic diseases in regions of Slovakia. In total, 735 respondents (146 men and 589 women) with a mean age of 37.79 ± 13.6 participated in this cross-sectional study. The main observed characteristics were chronic diseases and their associations with SES attributes, namely household income, education, age and lifestyle represented by frequency in engaging in recondition-relaxation activities. In order to obtain data, a self-administrated online questionnaire was used. Data were analysed by calculation of odds ratio and chi-square test. The significance level was set at 0.05. Apart from lung disease which are least suffered in central Slovakia (χ^2 = 9.850, df = 1, p = 0.043), the prevalence of chronic diseases is equally represented in all 8 administrative regions of Slovakia. Prevalence of chronic diseases is significantly influenced by age. The age of 40 is critical for the occurrence of chronic diseases. Respondents with higher education level have a lower prevalence of chronic diseases and vice versa (OR = 1.127; RR = 1.079). A better lifestyle represented by higher frequency of engaging in recondition relaxation activities was found in healthy respondents (OR = 0.700549 and RR = 0.936958; χ^2 test p = 0.000798). Household income did not show a significant association with the prevalence of chronic diseases (OR = 1.06; RR = 1.025; χ^2 test, p = 0.778). The study did not confirm a higher prevalence of chronic diseases in regions with weaker SES in Slovakia. Out of the 4 monitored SES attributes, 3 of them (age, education and lifestyle) had a significant impact on the prevalence of chronic diseases. Household income showed only a minimal association with the prevalence of chronic diseases, but this interdependence was not significant (Tab. 6, Ref. 41). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: socio-economic status, chronic diseases, age, household income, education.

Spatial differentiation of daily commuting to work in Slovakia by modes of transport

Commuting to work is one of the most important forms of spatial mobility of the population. The mode of transport is one of its key characteristics. However, its spa-tial variability has so far been little explored, which is also due to the lack of reliable sta-tistical data. The census in Slovakia in 2021 addressed this issue, offering an opportunity to examine the use of individual modes of transport at various spatial levels, and in relation to the characteristics of commuters. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to evaluate the spatial differentiation of intra-municipal and inter-municipal daily commuting to work according to the main mode of transport used, and in relation to the age of the commuters. The basic spatial framework of the study is the system of functional urban regions in Slovakia. By applying statistical methods and cartographic visualization, the results demonstrating the spatial variability in the mode of transport were achieved. Regularities were also iden-tified in relation to various age categories of commuters. In addition, the study indicated a significant influence of the social-economic conditions and orography of specific territo-ries on the preference for commuting mode. The results have the potential to contribute to more effective spatial planning or investments in various forms of transport infrastruc-ture. At the same time, it is an initial study that encourages the examination of spatial pat-terns and forms of daily commuting in relation to other characteristics of commuters or geographical characteristics of the affected areas. The knowledge from this study is par-tially transferable to countries where similar statistical data are not available. URL: https://www.gcass.science.upjs.sk/

Comparison of business environment in the chosen regions

Sustainable development of the regions is presently an often discussed theme, mainly due to the worldwidesituation. The goal of the contribution is therefore to find regions in Slovakia and Ukraine that have the possibilityto have mutually advantageous ways of cooperation. The selection of the regions results from the comparison ofEuropean Union (EU) Member State’s situations and not EU Member State situations. The situation in the regionsis compared according to the regional gross domestic product per capita, the unemployment rate in the region andthe average monthly wage of employees in the regions. The results of the contribution show possible cooperationof the analyzed regions in business, mainly in the area of industrial production, with unemployment decreasing.The use of the results is in the area of finding strategies for improvement and cooperation.

Masarykova univerzita v Brne, Filozofická fakulta, Ústav evropské etnologie

The present study deals with the mutual influence of urban and traditional clothing on the examples of so-called Slovak shirts. The emergence of these shirts is related to the efforts to create a ‘national garment' in the second half of the 20th century, through which the Slovak intelligentsia demonstrated their political and cultural convictions and nation-building aspirations. The credit for their spread goes to the exhibition of embroidery in Martin, organised by Živena in 1887, and later to the Národopisná výstava českoslovanká in 1895. Soon after their spread among the Slovak intelligentsia, embroidered shirts embodied the clothing of nationally conscious craftsmen and peasants. This happened first in Turiec, but soon afterwards we can find embroidered shirts all over Slovakia. In the regions of Hont, Novohrad, Gemer, Myjava and Turiec, they became an organic part of men's traditional clothing. The present work will attempt to describe the process of the emergence and establishment of Slovak shirts, both in urban and rural environments. It describes the individual variants of these shirts in their specific forms in which they have been domesticated in different regions of Slovakia. This topic has received almost no attention in literature, so the study seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the history of clothing in Slovakia.

Obraz Turka a „tureckého“ v povestiach regiónu Požitavia

This article deals with analyzing the Turkish-themed legends in the Žitava River region. This region was hit hard and intensively during the Ottoman wars lasting from 1526 to 1683 with certain periods of peace. Therefore, this region is relatively rich in Turkish-themed legends. Due to the fact that this region was (temporarily) incorporated under the Ottoman administration, the local population had specific contacts with the Ottomans. Over time, an image of Ottomans and Ottoman people took shape in the collective memory, which manifested itself in historical legends. Many motifs and images are identical to motifs that are also found in other regions of Slovakia, but there are also anomalies. Legends collected by enthusiasts and local historians (in 1998) were used as sources of analyzed data, supplemented by archival research of the socalled collections of Professor Frank Wollman (carried out mainly in the 1930s) and the author´s field research (in 2015, 2022). As a theoretical tool, an imagological analysis focused on the image of the Ottomans, combined with folkloristic theories about collective memory and metageography, is used. The legends are compared (if possible) with historical facts to see the shift and differences within the historical collective memory and historiography.