University In Olomouc Research Articles

Academic and social challenges faced by undergraduate EFL students in a non-English-speaking country: Lesson learned from the Indonesian International Students Mobility Awards (IISMA) program

Many studies have discussed the challenges faced by international students in English-speaking countries, but little focus on the academic and social challenges in non-English-speaking countries. This study aims to investigate the academic and social challenges faced by undergraduate EFL students in a non-English-speaking country during the Indonesian International Students Mobility Awards (IISMA) program. This case study involved two participants of undergraduate Indonesian students purposively selected from the IISMA program at a state-partnered university in Olomouc, Czech Republic. The data were collected through interviews and reflective journals, and they were analyzed deductively using thematic analysis. The findings show that students have substantial challenges due to the requirement to understand varied English accents and the lack of a shared native language in the IISMA program. However, the students enhanced their English skills by interacting with local people and experiencing social and academic challenges. Despite these limitations, the use of supportive teaching methods and peer interactions enhances students' English proficiency and overall academic experience, even in non-English-speaking contexts like the Czech Republic. This suggests that such approaches could be widely applicable in similar educational environments, offering potential insights for improving language education globally.

Experiences of Students with the Implementation of the Theme of Shoah into Teaching

Aim. In this paper, we present selected results of a research survey conducted among teacher education students to determine their preconceptions about the implementation of the events of the Shoah into teaching at different levels of education. Methods. In this paper we answer the following research questions: Would the respondents welcome a greater curricular anchoring of the Shoah in the Framework Curriculum for Primary Education? Are prospective teachers interested in various books on the Shoah in their spare time? What methods and forms of work were used in teaching in connection with the events of the Shoah at the graduated primary school? In which year of primary school do respondents think it is appropriate to include Shoah topics? Are the respondents satisfied with the level of integration of the Shoah phenomenon into teaching at the Faculty of Education of Palacký University in Olomouc? Results. Most respondents believe that the Shoah phenomenon is only suitable for integration at the lower-secondary school. This preconception stems mainly from the respondents´ previous experience in primary schools. Conclusion. The results point to the fact that the transformation of the perception of the defined events, and the related broader possibilities of their application in Czech institutional teaching, will be quite complex. Cognitive value. It is necessary to begin to perceive the Shoah also in a certain transcendental, visceral level and, based on the internalisation of the resulting feelings, to begin to build pupils´ awareness of the importance of democracy, freedom, or tolerance.

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57 Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy is one of the most commonly used methods for studying meteorites. The beginning of Mössbauer research in Poland is associated with the Baszkówka meteorite, which fell on 25 August 1994 near Warsaw. The article presents some of the results of 30 years of Mössbauer studies of meteorites by the Polish team. One of the most important achievements of our group is the development of a classification method of ordinary chondrites, which constitute 87% of meteorites found on the earth’s surface. This method, which we call the 4M method (meteorites, Mössbauer spectroscopy, multidimensional discriminant analysis, Mahalanobis distance), is a quantitative method that uses certain systematicity in the Mössbauer spectra of ordinary chondrites. The basic element of the 4M method is the database, which currently consists of the results of Mössbauer measurements of 87 meteorite samples. The article also discusses the new mineral phases identified in the Morasko meteorite. Examples of the use of Mössbauer spectroscopy to distinguish meteorite-like samples from real meteorites are given. Our research plans related to the study of the formation mechanism of ordinary chondrites and the use of Mössbauer spectroscopy in future space missions are also discussed. The latter issues will be undertaken in cooperation with the Mössbauer laboratory at Palacký University in Olomouc (Czech Republic).

Evaluation of Clinical Results of Implantation of Toric Intraocular Lenses Including their Rotational Stability.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical results of the implantation of the toric intraocular lens Acrysof IQ Toric SN6AT3_8(Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX, USA), including an evaluation of its rotational stability. 30 eyes of 16 patients (4 males, 12 females; mean age 68 years) with regular corneal astigmatism ranging from -1.5 to -4.0 Dcyl were included in this retrospective study. All the patients underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery with the implantation of a toric intraocular lens (TIOL) at the Department of Ophthalmology of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of Palacký University in Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc during the course of 2020. Follow-up examinations were performed 3-6 months after cataract surgery. We monitored the resulting uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), postoperative refraction, rotational stability of the implanted lens and subjective patient satisfaction. mean preoperative corneal astigmatism was -2.41 ±0.67 Dcyl. UDVA improved from a mean value of 0.45 ±0.25 (expressed in decimal Snellen optotype values) to 0.91 ±0.16. The spherical equivalent value of 0.41 ±2.92 improved to -0.11 ±0.27 postoperatively. The mean deviation from the planned axis was 4.87 ±4.75. Subjective satisfaction was rated by patients on a scale of 1-5, with a mean score of 1.5. TIOL implantation is a safe and effective solution for patients with corneal astigmatism and cataract. Our results demonstrate improved UDVA, rotational stability of the TIOL and subjective patient satisfaction with the outcome of the surgery.

Anatomie české islamofobie v éře migrační krize

This review article focuses on the phenomena of Islamophobia and its research in the Czech Republic with a particular emphasis on the era of the so-called migration crisis (2014–2016). It is mainly based on the findings of four ground-breaking team research projects published in several milestone collective monographs in the research field: the primarily sociological and anthropological empirical research done by Daniel Topinka and his extensive team around Palacky University in Olomouc, the primarily political science research done by Přemysl Rosůlek and his collaborators from Western Bohemian University in Pilsen, the primarily political science research done by Miroslav Mareš and his team around Masaryk University in Brno, and the interdisciplinary, both empirical and theoretical, however loosely connected, research project organized by Bronislav Ostřanský and Ondřej Beránek, with their backgrounds in Middle Eastern studies. The article tries to put the main findings of the four as yet isolated research projects together, to make them communicate with each other, to show both the convergence as well as divergence in their analyses, and, where possible, offer the author’s own alternative interpretations. The aim of this enterprise is to offer readers a meaningful narrative of the evolution of contemporary Czech Islamophobia, its character, dynamics, and the possible factors that shape it. Great emphasis is put on identifying the main weaknesses of research done to date, which rather researches Islamophobic texts than its people, rather focuses more on the social than on institutionalized (state) Islamophobia, and ignores the complex mutual relations in the triangle consisting of state, society, and (Czech) Muslims.

Počátky studia předškolní výchovy na Pedagogické fakultě Univerzity Palackého v Olomouci v letech 1946–1950

The study traces the origins and formation of the curriculum of the Institute of Early Childhood Education, which in 1946–1950 at the Faculty of Education of Palacký University in Olomouc educated students of early childhood education for their profession as kindergarten teachers. The four newly established pedagogical faculties in Czechoslovakia were created at the universities of Prague, Brno, Olomouc and Bratislava in 1946 by the adoption of a special law. Their task was to prepare students – future teachers in all types of schools except universities. According to the statute issued by the Ministry of Education, the study of pre-school education was to last two years, i.e. four semesters. However, due to a shortage of kindergarten teachers, it was shortened indefinitely to one year, i.e. two semesters. The study analyses the curriculum of the Institute of Early Childhood Education at the Faculty of Education in Olomouc and compares it with the content of teaching at the Faculties of Education in Prague and Brno. The study of preschool education at all pedagogical faculties ceased in 1950 and was entrusted to the so-called pedagogical gymnasiums.

Excursions to Chemical Plants – Methodology, Creation of Interactive Map of Chemical Industry and Supporting Materials

An excursion is one of the forms of teaching in which students can see the connection between the theoretically discussed subject and practice, and realize the usefulness of the acquired knowledge for everyday life. However, organising an excursion is very time-consuming for teachers.
 In the introduction of this article, we describe the methodology of the excursion, pointing out possible occurrence of mistakes. We present the results of a questionnaire survey at the faculty high schools of Faculty of Science of Palacký University in Olomouc, which is focused on organizing excursions to a chemical plant. In the following text, we present a part of a new website called "CHEMIE ŽIJE!" ("Chemistry is Alive"), where an interactive map of the inorganic chemical industry of the Czech Republic is created, which can be a useful tool for organizing excursions. On the website, materials for the excursions are freely downloadable, e.g., documents informing generally about excursions, theoretical preparation of teachers regarding the given technology, a material used to prepare for the excursion, worksheets with solutions and a material used to consolidate the acquired knowledge.

Teleology in Aristotle's Practical Philosophy

Aither is a double-blind peer review, Open Access online academic journal published by the Philosophical Faculty of the PalackĂ˝ University in Olomouc in cooperation with the Philosophical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

De sphaera Iohannis de Sacrobosco apud Boemos The book review of: Alena Hadravová and Petr Hadrava, Sféra Iohanna de Sacrobosco - Středověká učebnice základů astronomie (Praha: Akropolis, 2019)

Aither is a double-blind peer review, Open Access online academic journal published by the Philosophical Faculty of the PalackĂ˝ University in Olomouc in cooperation with the Philosophical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

The Stoic Conception of Bodily Beauty as Symmetry

Aither is a double-blind peer review, Open Access online academic journal published by the Philosophical Faculty of the PalackĂ˝ University in Olomouc in cooperation with the Philosophical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

What Are We Fighting For: The Noble Goal of Courage in Aristotle's Ethics

Aither is a double-blind peer review, Open Access online academic journal published by the Philosophical Faculty of the PalackĂ˝ University in Olomouc in cooperation with the Philosophical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

Recenze: Peter Brown, Augustin z Hipponu

Aither is a double-blind peer review, Open Access online academic journal published by the Philosophical Faculty of the PalackĂ˝ University in Olomouc in cooperation with the Philosophical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

Challenges in temperature measurements in gas-phase photothermal catalysis

Luca Mascaretti completed his PhD in 2018 at Politecnico di Milano, Italy. Afterwards, he has worked as a postdoc researcher at the Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Palacký University in Olomouc (Czech Republic). His research activity is related to titanium oxide/nitride-based nanostructured materials for solar energy conversion processes. Andrea Schirato is currently a physics PhD candidate across Politecnico di Milano and the Italian Institute of Technology (Genoa) under the supervision of Profs. G. Della Valle and R. Proietti Zaccaria. His research activities focus on the theoretical study and numerical modeling of ultrafast nonlinear phenomena driven by hot carriers, including non-equilibrium electronic and phononic energy transfer in nanostructured materials and metasurfaces. Tiziano Montini is associate professor at the University of Trieste in Italy. He received his PhD in chemistry from the University of Trieste in 2006, followed by a postdoc fellowship. His research activity concerns on nanomaterials as catalysts for renewable energy production and environmental protection. Alessandro Alabastri is currently an assistant professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Rice University. He received his PhD in nanosciences in 2014 from the Italian Institute of Technology and the University of Genoa. In 2015, he was visiting researcher in the Molecular Foundry at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He worked on several aspects of light-to-heat conversion, photothermal effects in nanostructures, and heat recovery in light-powered thermofluidic devices. Alberto Naldoni is currently an associate professor at University of Turin, Italy. Since 2017, he is the co-leader of the photoelectrochemistry group at the Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Palacký University Olomouc (Czech Republic). He obtained his PhD in chemical sciences from University of Milan (2010). From 2014 to 2017, he was visiting research faculty at the Birck Nanotechnology Center of Purdue University. His group focuses on nanomaterials for plasmonics, photocatalysis, and photoelectrochemistry. Paolo Fornasiero is a professor at the University of Trieste in Italy. He received his PhD in chemistry from the University of Trieste in 1997, followed by a postdoc fellowship at Reading University (UK). His group currently focuses on research into nanomaterials for environmental and energy-related applications.

Abstract 2797: Proteomic signature in exhaled breath condensates for a non-invasive diagnostics of lung cancer

Abstract Because of the invasiveness of examination methods as bronchoscopy for the diagnosis of lung cancer, there is currently no preventive screening for this disease. Thus, lung cancer is usually diagnosed in stage 3 or 4, when it is too late for successful treatment. However, if diagnosed early, it can be cured entirely. Therefore, it is necessary to find a suitable method to screen the high-risk populations and reveal lung cancer in the early stages. Since the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract are naturally moistened by fluids containing proteins, metabolites, chemoattractants and growth factors released by the highly active epithelium, the collection of the respiratory tract fluids can be used to diagnose malignant and benign respiratory tract diseases. The most commonly used method in this sense is bronchoalveolar lavage. However, the technique itself is not pleasant and can be accompanied by possible complications. Therefore, intensive research work is conducted to develop non-invasive methods for biomarker detection in exhaled breath, sputum, saliva or nasal secretion. We have studied an exhaled breath condensate (EBC) matrix, which is collected non-invasively and the patients are not suffering from its collection. Several studies have reported proteomic analysis of EBC while identifying low hundreds of proteins by mass spectrometry (MS). We have developed a potent gel-free MS-based approach for sample preparation and analysis. Together with a powerful search tool, we were able to identify a ten times higher number of proteins across a comparable group of individuals of about three hundred peoples’ samples. Our approach seems to be highly reproducible and applicable to various respiratory and systemic diseases. In our work focused on non-small lung cancer biomarkers compared to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy controls, we have identified 7694 proteins and of them, 6525 proteins were quantified at least in one replicate across 296 individuals’ samples measured in triplicates. Combining univariate and multivariate statistical approaches and sensitivity analysis, we have suggested biomarkers that could distinguish lung cancer patients from COPD and healthy individuals. This research was supported by grants from the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (EATRIS-CZ - LM2018133), European Regional Development Fund - Project ENOCH (No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000868) and IGA_LF_2021_036 (Palacky University in Olomouc). Citation Format: Jana Vaclavkova, Jana Vrbkova, Pavla Kourilova, Dusan Holub, Juraj Kultan, Petr Jakubec, Ondrej Fischer, Frantisek Kopriva, Vendula Latalova, Tatiana Gvozdiakova, Marian Hajduch, Petr Dzubak. Proteomic signature in exhaled breath condensates for a non-invasive diagnostics of lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 2797.

Užívání majuskulí v Krevní knize městečka Bojkovic (1630-1721)

Bohemica Olomucensia is published by the Department of Czech Studies in the Philosophical Faculty of the PalackĂ˝ University in Olomouc. The subtitle of each number will delimitate its main character (Litteraria, Linguistica, Symposiana, Filologica Juvenilia, Jubilea).

V mezích daností a možností. Rané lingvistické práce Lubomíra Doležela v kontextu

Bohemica Olomucensia is published by the Department of Czech Studies in the Philosophical Faculty of the PalackĂ˝ University in Olomouc. The subtitle of each number will delimitate its main character (Litteraria, Linguistica, Symposiana, Filologica Juvenilia, Jubilea).

Dynamika konjugačního typu "kupuje" v současné češtině (na materiálu publicistických textů z let 1990 až 2019)

Bohemica Olomucensia is published by the Department of Czech Studies in the Philosophical Faculty of the PalackĂ˝ University in Olomouc. The subtitle of each number will delimitate its main character (Litteraria, Linguistica, Symposiana, Filologica Juvenilia, Jubilea).

Vztah gestikulace s kvantifikací jazykových jevů u českých mluvčích s afázií

Bohemica Olomucensia is published by the Department of Czech Studies in the Philosophical Faculty of the PalackĂ˝ University in Olomouc. The subtitle of each number will delimitate its main character (Litteraria, Linguistica, Symposiana, Filologica Juvenilia, Jubilea).

Vladimír Skalička a jazykový kontakt

Bohemica Olomucensia is published by the Department of Czech Studies in the Philosophical Faculty of the PalackĂ˝ University in Olomouc. The subtitle of each number will delimitate its main character (Litteraria, Linguistica, Symposiana, Filologica Juvenilia, Jubilea).

"(Ne)umíš pozdravit?" Zdvořilostní strategie v češtině a angličtině v korpusu Intercorp

Bohemica Olomucensia is published by the Department of Czech Studies in the Philosophical Faculty of the PalackĂ˝ University in Olomouc. The subtitle of each number will delimitate its main character (Litteraria, Linguistica, Symposiana, Filologica Juvenilia, Jubilea).