Regions Of Slovakia Research Articles

Land-use determines the distribution of large branchiopods in climatically homogeneous northern Pannonia

Large branchiopods are key biota of temporary pools in Central European lowlands. Due to land use changes, they are among the most threatened aquatic invertebrates in Europe. The lack of information on the main drivers of species distribution hinders effective protection and conservation prioritisation. We selected eight branchiopod species with representative data on their occurrence in the northern Pannonia to identify the most important drivers of their distribution and to predict their distribution in unexplored temporary pools across the Pannonian region of southern Slovakia, south-eastern Czech Republic, and eastern Austria. Data on pool size and isolation, soil characteristics, land use and climate were used to generate species distribution models using five modelling techniques and ensemble predictions. The distribution of species was mainly affected by the proportion of arable land within the pool (e.g. Triops cancriformis, Leptestheria dahalacensis), land use (e.g. Eubranchipus grubii, Lepidurus apus) and distance from the river (e.g. Branchinecta ferox and Chirocephalus carnuntanus). Wetland size and habitat isolation were also important for some species, mainly for Branchipus schaefferi and Imnadia yeyetta, respectively. As we focused on a climatically homogeneous area, climatic conditions only had the most important effect on the distribution of species that have their distribution limit in northern Pannonia (B. ferox, C. carnuntanus, I. yeyetta). Overall, the diversity of large branchiopods increased with pool size, while decreased with distance to a river and habitat isolation. As some distribution patterns emerged repeatedly in the models, the effective protection can be simplified to consider species that require contrasting conditions. Particular attention should be paid to ephemeral wetlands on arable land, crucial habitats for large branchiopods, yet lacking any protection. Our results can contribute to better conservation of large branchiopods by facilitating surveys of species in understudied areas and improving the knowledge on the species environmental niches.

Are Slovak Regions Ready for Crises? Analysis of Their Socio-economic Resilience

Are Slovak Regions Ready for Crises? Analysis of Their Socio-economic Resilience

Exploring Nursing Professionalism: A Focused Ethnography of Community Nurses in Slovakia.

Background: Professionalism is a multidimensional and dynamic concept that is a fundamental requirement to providing safe, quality nursing care. In the Slovak sociocultural context, professionalism is given only limited attention, and research in this area is completely lacking in community nursing. Purpose: To explore how community nurses (CNs) working in home care agencies understand professionalism in the context of their practice in Slovakia. Methods: This focused ethnography involved 10 CNs working in home care in two Slovak regions. The study was conducted between January and July 2022 and employed semistructured interviews, field notes, and reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: In this specific group and setting, understanding of professionalism was reflected through four themes: professional socialization, community service provision, job satisfaction, and professionalism in danger. Conclusions: The findings showed the need to improve the conditions of the working environment of nurses in the community setting. Implications for practice: The findings have implications for local policy, home care agency management, and nursing education in terms of strengthening professionalism in this specific nursing setting and cultural context.

Content of Biogenic Elements in Sheep Wool by the Regions of Slovakia.

The quality of nutrition and environmental pollution are crucial chemical indicators influencing animal health, reflected in element concentrations in animal tissues and coats. This study investigates the concentrations of biogenic elements (calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, copper, and iron) in sheep wool from various regions of Slovakia to compare concentrations and identify possible correlations between individual elements. Samples were collected from six different regions, and concentrations of elements were measured using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in element levels among the examined regions. Calcium concentrations ranged from 729.2 to 4065ppm, with the highest concentrations in the Kysuce region and the lowest in the Šariš region. Potassium concentrations ranged from 2315 to 3282ppm, with the lowest values in the Zemplín region and the highest in the Liptov region. Magnesium, sodium, copper, and iron also exhibited varying concentrations across the regions. Correlation analysis identified significant associations between several elements. The findings suggest that regional environmental differences influence element concentrations in sheep wool, highlighting the importance of monitoring biogenic elements for assessing environmental pollution and animal health. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms driving element accumulation in wool and its implications for animal welfare and environmental management.

The Susceptibility of Escherichia Coli to Antibiotic Treatment for Pediatric Patients With Febrile Urinary Tract Infections in the Bratislava Region.

Urinary tract infections are one of the most common types of bacterial infections in childhood. Normally, empiric antibiotic therapy is given based on local antimicrobial susceptibility. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate bacterial resistance and clinical responses to antibiotics in childhood febrile urinary tract infections (fUTIs) in the Bratislava region of Slovakia. A total of 182 children with a fUTI were enrolled in our retrospective study. 84,07% of these fUTIs were caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli). According to microbial antibiotic susceptibility tests, the most effective antibiotic agents were third-generation cephalosporins (susceptibility was observed in 92,16% (n=141) of the cases), followed by aminopenicillins with betalactamase inhibitor (susceptibility was observed in 84,97% (n=130) of the cases) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (susceptibility was observed in 79,74% (n=122) of the cases). In contrast, E. coli was susceptible to second-generation cephalosporins in just 3,92% (n=6). Patients treated with third-generation cephalosporins achieved a clinical response to therapy almost in all of the cases (95,7% (n=66)), whereas second-generation cephalosporins were associated with a clinical response to therapy in only 55,9% (n=33) of the cases. Third-generation cephalosporins and aminopenicillins with a betalactamase inhibitor appear to be the most suitable initial antibiotic therapies in pediatric patients with fUTIs. Following current guidelines alongside the regular assessment of regional microbial antibiotic susceptibilities should provide the best treatment management for children with fUTIs.

Deterministic approach to assess landslide susceptibility and landslide activity in the Central-Western Region of Slovakia

Quantitative assessments in landslide susceptibility evaluation are typically dominated by statistical analyses. However, this paper employs a deterministic approach to construct such maps, specifically focusing on the stability assessment of shallow landslides with slip surfaces generally not exceeding 5 m in depth at a regional scale. The study area chosen for this research is the landslide-prone region between Hlohovec and Sereď towns in the central-western part of Slovakia. Our focus is on the activation of shallow landslides, representing the youngest, third generation of landslide evolution in the area. For the stability assessment, three scenarios were considered using deterministic analysis: a scenario involving dry slopes, a scenario under partially saturated conditions, and a scenario of fully saturated slopes. This approach enables the assessment of stability conditions based on qualitative parameters derived from both field and laboratory research. The results from the deterministic analysis aid in defining different stages of activity within the landslide body. These Landslide susceptibility maps were verified directly in the field, and most landslides reactivated from 2011 to the present fell into the class with the safety factor below 1.0. In comparison with the landslide hazard map created by using bivariate statistical analysis, it was observed that 89.97% of the area is in a very high level of landslide hazard, given a safety factor below 1.0. This highlights the effectiveness of the deterministic approach in capturing the vulnerability of the region to shallow landslides.

Integrated investment for improved regional competitiveness of Slovak Regions: Human Agency and Regional Innovation

As regions emerge as critical drivers of economic growth and development, understanding the dynamics of these economic agents becomes imperative for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to enhance regional prosperity. This research delves into the potential roles of existing economic agents/tools, including actors and agencies, for integrated investment proposals. The research is about how to plan integrated investments for improved regional competitiveness for Slovak self-governing regions by considering the soft factors for regional competitiveness with a special focus on underdeveloped regions, including regions affected by the attenuation of mining activities and negatively related side effects. Through a mixed-method approach, our investigation synthesizes relevant literature on regional innovation and competitiveness; we analyze the intricate interactions and alignments of actors and agencies, exploring how their dynamics contribute to the region's ability to attract and leverage investments for promoting innovation and competitiveness. This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on effective strategies for regional economic development and offers actionable recommendations for policymakers, businesses, and stakeholders to benefit from the potential. Ultimately, our investigation seeks to empower decision-makers with the knowledge needed to place-based/place-sensitive policies and initiatives that facilitate innovation, foster competitiveness, and drive regional success to new dimensions.

Stakeholders’ participation in decreasing wildfire risk in the context of natural resource management in the Podpoľanie region of Slovakia

Key MessageAs the number and extent of wildfires are increasing due to climate change and human impacts, the demand for effective risk reduction strategies is growing. Due to limited resources or management capabilities in Slovakia, appropriate multistakeholder participation could help decrease the risk of wildfires while continuing to implement the principles of sustainable forest management. Thus, we recommend improving relationships with responsible stakeholders and increasing their knowledge.ContextAlthough the frequency of wildfires has declined in Slovakia, the total burned area per year and the average burned area per fire have increased rapidly, mainly due to traditional land management and increasing numbers of natural disasters resulting from climate change.AimThe objective of this study is to assess the participation and management of stakeholders in the region of Podpoľanie, which is the region of Slovakia that is most prone to wildfires. In particular, this study investigates the questions of who is accountable, in what networks, and with regard to what issues with the goal of enhancing efforts to combat wildfires.MethodsThis single-country case study features an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. While stakeholders’ participation was explored via face-to-face interviews and interest-influence matrices, stakeholders’ prioritization was assessed via an online survey and the quantitative mapping of stakeholders’ involvement, power, interest, and knowledge.ResultsWe separately identified primary stakeholders (e.g., fire departments and state-owned forest enterprises) and secondary stakeholders (e.g., municipalities and community members). Tasks related to efforts to combat wildfires were largely in compliance with legal regulations and other mandates. Nonetheless, some stakeholders (e.g., governmental organizations involved in nature protection or nonstate forest owners and the associated enterprises) lacked the knowledge, experience, or responsibility necessary to perform these tasks.ConclusionThese stakeholders should be informed and monitored closely to achieve outcomes that can benefit a variety of stakeholders. We recommend a plan that involves improving the relationships among primary and secondary stakeholders, increasing their knowledge, and promoting effective participation to decrease the risk of wildfires in the region.

Regional fertility predictors based on socioeconomic determinants in Slovakia

The study's primary purpose was to recognise the effects of determinants on the level of fertility and thereby explain the differences in trends in the regions of Slovakia. At the turn of the century, the differences in fertility in regions increased, but the total fertility rate decreased. Multivariate statistical methods clarified the regional effects of the level and nature of fertility. Initial regression surveys indicated weak effects between regions, which led to applying factor and cluster analysis to establish regional types. Comprehensive regression analysis was then applied. The strength and nature of regional relationships differed at the inter- and intra-regional levels. Research has demonstrated significant differences in fertility rates dependent on the socioeconomic environment, as regional types uniquely link to determinants. Moreover, each determinant has specific spatial patterns with unequal regression coefficients at different regional levels, which cannot be evaluated constantly. Knowing how spatial variation in fecundity occurs will enable future studies to elucidate the processes involved. Finally, fertility is vital for social assessment and policy formulation, the study’s findings could inform local decision-makers and planners in identifying the socioeconomic conditions underlying fertility at the regional level and planning appropriate intervention strategies.

Movement games from the point of view of primary education teachers in Slovakia

The main goal of the survey carried out by us is to find out the current opinions of teachers at the primary level of education in Slovakia for teaching the thematic unit activities in nature and seasonal movement activities with a focus on the place of movement games in their teaching. Using a survey, they obtained data from 1,363 teachers of primary education who teach physical and sports education in 75 elementary schools from 8 regions of Slovakia. As many as 15% of all respondents answered that they do not teach the thematic unit outdoor activities and seasonal physical activities at all. Overall, the most commonly taught activity in nature is hiking and spending time in nature. The least respondents like teaching cross-country skiing. Despite the broad and demanding focus of teachers in the primary level of education, we consider it necessary that the teaching of the thematic unit outdoor activities and seasonal physical activities (due to their importance from the point of view of health and the creation of a future lifestyle) is implemented either in winter or summer with 100% occupancy. The obtained results are applicable for compensation of identified deficiencies and subsequent optimization of the educational process in this important period of children's development. Since the results of our study are from the whole of Slovakia, they have a nationwide social impact and significance.

Distribution of plant species Iris sibirica and its vegetation affinity in Slovakia

Iris sibirica is a threatened plant species of the Central European flora, but its distribution and vegetation ecology in Slovakia have not been studied so far. Therefore, we aimed to compile a complex chorology of this species and to analyse phytosociological plots with the species occurrence. Our results suggest that Iris sibirica occurs almost in the whole Slovakia, with two distributional centres situated in the south-western region (Pannonian bioregion) and in the southern regions of central Slovakia (Carpathian bioregion), but a higher proportion of recent records was identified in the Carpathians. Vegetation classification using the TWINSPAN algorithm divided 80 vegetation plots into 5 clusters. They were interpreted syntaxonomically as follows: i) Calthion palustris alliance, ii) Deschampsion cespitosae alliance, iii) Molinion caeruleae alliance, iv) vegetation of the successional stages and transitional status between wet meadows (Calthion palustris and Molinion caeruleae) and fens (Scheuchzerio palustris-Caricetea fuscae), and v) vegetation with a transitional status between hygrophilous, fen vegetation of the alliances Molinion caeruleae, Caricion davallianae, Caricion fuscae and mesic habitats. Variation in the species composition of vegetation plots, analysed using detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and interpreted using Ellenberg indicator values for vascular plants, showed a shift along the first DCA axis from taxa typical for nutrient-rich and shaded but thermophilic sites to taxa of open and relatively cold habitats on nutrient-poor soils. The second DCA axis corresponded to the moisture gradient, which controlled the pattern of plant species richness.

Far-Right Extremism, Elections and Hate Crime: A Temporal Evaluation of Bias-Motivated Violence in Slovakia

Abstract The present study provides an initial attempt to assess the impact of extremist right electoral support on racially motivated and extremist violent crime rates across Slovak regions. We transcend previous research by examining associations between national and regional elections, immigration rates, vote-shares, and violent hate crime rates utilizing temporal statistics on racially motivated and extremist violent crimes, which are linked with data on support for nationalist parties and on indicators of socio-economic development. Results illustrate that extreme right parties matter, such that the higher their electoral vote-shares, the higher the violent hate crime incidence and victimization rates. We, also, find that high immigration rates strengthen the effect of electoral vote-shares on bias crime in Slovakia.

MEASUREMENT OF MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF RAW GOAT´S MILK BY LASER FLOW CYTOMETRY

The popularity of goat's milk and its products is growing in Slovakia. Among the mandatory health safety features of raw goat's milk is the total bacterial count. It can be determined by the anchor plate-cultivation method, which is, however, tedious, and laborious. Laser flow cytometry is a modern alternative method for measuring the microbiological quality of raw milk. To use the results from laser flow cytometry method for legislative purposes, it is necessary to create a representative conversion of the primarily measured results obtained by this method into the CFU/mL scale. This work describes the creation of such a conversion for raw goat's milk, which will be valid for the Slovak region. After measuring several hundred individual and bulk tank samples of raw goat's milk on a BactoScan FC laser flow cytometer and at the same time using the anchor method according to STN EN ISO 4833-1 and after their subsequent logarithmic transformation, such a conversion was created in the form of log10(CFU/mL) = 1.0174 x log10(IBC/ml) + 2.7483. Subsequently, this was verified by comparing the recalculated and directly measured results in CFU/mL, using additional data set of samples. The influence of the somatic cell count in raw goat's milk, as a possible interfering factor, was also assessed.

Spatial disparities in the mortality burden of the covid-19 pandemic across 569 European regions (2020-2021)

Since its emergence in December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in deaths worldwide. This article presents a detailed analysis of the mortality burden of the COVID-19 pandemic across 569 regions in 25 European countries. We produce age and sex-specific excess mortality and present our results using Age-Standardised Years of Life Lost in 2020 and 2021, as well as the cumulative impact over the two pandemic years. Employing a forecasting approach based on CP-splines that considers regional diversity and provides confidence intervals, we find notable losses in 362 regions in 2020 (440 regions in 2021). Conversely, only seven regions experienced gains in 2020 (four regions in 2021). We also estimate that eight regions suffered losses exceeding 20 years of life per 1000 population in 2020, whereas this number increased to 75 regions in 2021. The contiguity of the regions investigated in our study also reveals the changing geographical patterns of the pandemic. While the highest excess mortality values were concentrated in the early COVID-19 outbreak areas during the initial pandemic year, a clear East-West gradient appeared in 2021, with regions of Slovakia, Hungary, and Latvia experiencing the highest losses. This research underscores the importance of regional analyses for a nuanced comprehension of the pandemic’s impact.

Correlation of the technical subjects teachers burnout syndrome incidence level on the geographical teacher action in a specific region of Slovakia

The presented paper discusses the incidence of burnout syndrome among secondary school teachers of technical subjects. Teachers experience burnout syndrome to an increased extent, especially with certain variables. The main goal of the paper is to map the level of burnout syndrome, specifically of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal satisfaction among teachers of technical subjects. Specifically, we analysed the incidence of burnout among technical subjects in the context of all self-governing regions of Slovakia. The research sample consisted of 213 technical subject teachers working at secondary vocational schools of primarily technical orientation in various self-governing regions of Slovakia. Data collection was carried out using the MBI-ES online questionnaire. Statistical analyses were used to evaluate the results of the questionnaire survey. The results show that teachers of technical subjects experience burnout to a moderate degree, statistical significance is observed in the degree of burnout, specifically in the factor of personal satisfaction, in connection with teachers acting in different self-governing regions of Slovakia.

A comprehensive model for predicting populist attitudes

Populist attitudes are multi-causal, but their determinants are often studied separately, in small groups, or in different samples. This study presents a comprehensive model for the prediction of populist attitudes using a single sample. We use an ideological approach and measure of populist attitudes as anti-elitism, popular sovereignty, and homogeneity, while the differences between the elite and the people are Manichean. Analyzing a sample based on a representative quota for gender, age, education and region of Slovakia (N = 254), it was found that relative deprivation, belief in simple solutions, external political efficacy, trust towards experts, and conspiracy mentality were significant predictors of populist attitudes after controlling for other variables. The effect of education and subjective income faded out after adding variables into the model. The model explained 54% of the variance in populist attitudes. The results are discussed in detail with respect to its limitations and country specifics.

Effective creation of ESG reporting using data from financial accounting in the food industry company

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reports in the synergy of the accounting system of the company. In building a system for ESG reporting, it is necessary to comply with valid transnational and national levels and at the same time create a system that will be able to fulfil its tasks in the future. This study presents an analysis possibility of using the company's accounting system for the efficient creation of ESG reporting. The paper presents the focused on the investigation of factors that influence the tendency to using the financial data for effective ESG reporting. Next step of the conducted analysis was the estimation of individual model to investigate specific factors and to identify differences between selected companies of food industry in region of western Slovakia. We used Binary logit model for estimated, based on the data coming from questionary survey in selection company. In this study strongly significant variable DocFA with a positive effect on the dependent variable referred to the agreement of respondents to use documentation from financial accounting for effective ESG reporting. For instance, respondents from the selected western region of Slovakia in the field of food industry have an 82% higher chance of using this documentation for effective ESG reporting. Significant variable AccountS is strongly significant (p-value less than 0.01) in selected companies in western region of Slovakia in field of food industry, which has positive impact to use financial data for effective ESG reporting.

The role of gender in shaping mayoral grant-seeking behaviours

ABSTRACT Research suggests that women face anticipated stereotypes and voter penalisations in their pursuit of political office. To overcome these challenges women have to be better than men in terms of their experience, candidate quality, and political work. We test the hypothesis that women politicians exert more effort compared to men by analysing grant applications submitted by towns in Slovakia between 2016 and 2021. We investigate municipalities in a Slovak region where local governments apply for subsidies in two policy areas, one stereotypically feminine and one masculine. We test whether women apply more often for grants in the realm of the feminine policy compared to masculine policy. We find that municipalities led by women mayors are more active than those led by men mayors in the number of grant applications regardless of the area of policy. Our analysis confirms that once in political office, women show higher effort compared to men.

Determinants of irregular demand for regional rail passenger services – case study of High Tatras in Slovakia

AbstractThe demand for public transport by tourists increases significantly in tourist-attractive destinations. This is in addition to regular passengers commuting to school and work. The level of irregular demand is influenced by several factors related to the characteristics of the day of the week, the period of the year, and the current weather. The main goal of the paper is to verify which factors most influence the irregular demand for transport in a tourist-attractive area to ensure operational planning of public passenger transport. Thanks to this, it is possible to ensure sufficient capacity and, at the same time, the efficiency of the operation of public passenger transport. The paper analyzes the main determinants of the irregular demand for regional public rail passenger transport in the High Tatras region of Slovakia. Multiple linear regressions were used to model the number of irregular passengers. The variables representing the day of the week, the attractiveness of the period, and the holiday were found to be the most significant. The variables describing the weather such as maximum daily temperature, precipitation, clouds, and wind had less influence. The obtained mathematical models for forecasting the irregular demand for public passenger transport can help optimize the timetable’s operational setting and the train sets’ size.

Development and causes of migration in lagging regions in the years 2017–2021: a case study of the Slovak Republic

Migration represents a process where people leave their homes for various reasons. The aim of the article is to evaluate the level and development of migration in Slovakia and to identify its causes in the Gemer region, which is among the least economically productive regions of Slovakia. We quantified the development and level of migration based on secondary data through selected analytical indicators of migration. We determined the motivations of the residents of the Gemer region to migrate using a questionnaire survey. Until 2004, Slovakia was an emigration country, but in recent years it has turned into a destination country. However, the situation is not the same for all regions of the country. A negative migration balance persists in the Gemer region, although restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic have slowed this trend. We found that up to 21 % of respondents from the region migrate for work. Up to 45 % of respondents want to move out of the region, while in 64 % of cases the migration is motivated by economic reasons. The opinion on migration is influenced by the gender of the respondent but is not related to the level of education achieved.