Spatial polarity and spatial polarization in the context of supranational and national scales: regions of Visegrad countries after their accession to the EU

The paper focuses on the evaluation of some aspects of the spatial organization of economic development of regions in the V4 countries after their accession to the EU. It focuses on the confirmation or confutation of the application of two principles of spatial organization based on the context of polarization theories, namely the polarity between western and eastern regions (i.e. the West– East gradient) and the polarity between the capital and other regions of the country (i.e. the national metropolitan gradient) at national and supranational levels. In the evaluation of the spatial polarity, the remoteness of various regions of the V4 countries from the economic core area (the Blue Banana, respectively the capital of the country) acts as the independent variable, whereby two economic indicators, i.e. the average monthly wage and the unemployment rate were chosen as the dependent variables. The analysis showed that on the supranational scale of the research in the monitored period, the increase of spatial polarisation was recorded. The increasing role of the West–East gradient and declining role of the national metropolitan gradient in the dynamics of spatial polarity has also been confirmed. The analysis has not confirmed the scale shift of polarity according to the West–East gradient to the national level, but at the same time it has pointed out the significant influence of the national metropolitan gradient in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary at this assessment level

Norway – Land of the Natural Beauties

Import 11/07/2012V předložené práci je zpracován souhrn informací o přírodních a turistických zajímavostech Norska. První část pojednává o historickém vývoji země a je rozdělena do podkapitol podle jednotlivých historických událostí. Následující část je zaměřena na geologii dané oblasti a zahrnuje i geografické údaje. Další část se věnuje přírodním a turistickým atrakcím země. Je rozdělena na jednotlivé části, které se zaměřují na zajímavosti v jednotlivých oblastech Norska, jako jsou města a jejich kulturní památky a přírodní atrakce.In the present work is processed summary of information about natural and tourist attractions of Norway. The first part discusses the historical development of the country and is divided into parts by historical events. The following section focuses on the geology of the area and includes geographic data. Another part is devoted to natural and tourist attractions of the country. It is divided into parts, which focus on attractions in areas of Norway, such as cities and their cultural sights and natural attractions.Prezenční541 - Institut geologického inženýrstvívýborn

An utilization of the GIS and multidimensional statistical methods on the chosen EU universities: Similarities assessment

The paper deals with the analysis of the similarity's rate of 81 universities and other schools of university's type in EU all of which have in this consideration the same status. From each state of the European Union, three largest universities according to the number of students criterion were chosen (when such an amount of universities was existing in the considered state) and added to our database. We have used hierarchical clustering methods based on the simple join of several clusters as well as methods of explorative analysis presented by some profile diagrams in order to compare these universities. As the space analysis created in the geographical information system environment is joined here with the methods of mathematical statistics, we consider the paper being important both from the interdisciplinary and the statistical-environment analysis point of view. It points out to the fact that multi-dimensional statistical methods can be used also at interdisciplinary level

Predictors of the Czech learners’ acquisition of selected English phonemes

The study investigates predictors of the acquisition of selected English phonemes in a foreign language context. Czech students’ pronunciation was diagnosed by two tests; their ability to produce seven selected phonemes was assessed. Furthermore, data regarding the students’ learning histories was obtained through a questionnaire. Then a multiple regression analysis was conducted in order to identify predictors of the acquisition of the selected phonemes. The analysis uncovered several factors, the most significant being pre - school exposure to English and positive attitudes to English in adolescence, which appeared to influence the subjects’ pronunciation positively. Interestingly, several factors which relate to learning English at school appeared to exert a negative influence on the acquisition of the selected phonemes. Furthermore, besides the importance of long-term exposure to English starting before the age of six, the study also underscored the importance of metacognition in relation to autonomous learning

Prediktory osvojení vybraných anglických fonémů u českých studentů

The study investigates predictors of the acquisition of selected English phonemes in a foreign language context. University students’ pronunciation was diagnosed by two tests; their ability to produce seven selected phonemes was assessed. Furthermore, data regarding the students’ learning histories was obtained through a questionnaire. Then a multiple regression analysis was conducted in order to identify predictors of the acquisition of the selected phonemes. The analysis uncovered several factors, the most significant being pre-school exposure to English and positive attitudes to English in adolescence, which appeared to influence the subjects’ pronunciation positively. Interestingly, several factors which relate to learning English at school appeared to exert a negative influence on the acquisition of the selected phonemes. Furthermore, the study underscored the importance of metacognition in relation to autonomous learning.Studie zkoumá prediktory osvojení vybraných anglických fonémů u českých mluvčích učících se angličtinu jako cizí jazyk. V jejím rámci byla diagnostikována schopnost univerzitních studentů produkovat vybrané fonémy v angličtině. Dále byly prostřednictvím dotazníku zkoumány individuální příběhy učení anglickému jazyku těchto studentů. Vícenásobná regresní analýza identifikovala prediktory osvojení vybraných fonémů, z nichž nejvýznamnější vliv měl kontakt s angličtinou v předškolním věku a pozitivní postoj k tomuto jazyku. Ukázalo se také, že několik faktorů vztahujících se ke školní výuce angličtiny ovlivnilo osvojení vybraných fonémů negativně. Studie také ukázala na důležitost metakognice v souvislosti s autonomním učením

Quality of life of Roma community in the Levoča city

The Slovak republic belongs to the most ethnically diverse countries in the central and eastern Europe. Based on the 2001 census it is evident that there are members of 17 different nationalities living in this country. The Romany community is the second largest national minority (preceded by Hungarians); and if the present natality trend continues they could become the majority population by 2060. There is a presumption that the highest number of Romanies, as high as 2 millions, live in Romania. Another most numerous Roma minorities are in Hungary and Bulgaria (about 800 000, MICHAELI a kol. 2002). The Romanies are a specific group of people when considering various aspects including the European origin and absence of a state domicile. The Romany population is a specific ethnic group presenting a community that is distant from the majority community with a different level of integration of individual groups with the majority community. (MATLOVIČ, 2005)

Quercetin Improves Postischemic Recovery of Heart Function in Doxorubicin-Treated Rats and Prevents Doxorubicin-Induced Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Activation and Apoptosis Induction

Quercetin (QCT) is flavonoid that possesses various biological functions including anti-oxidative and radical-scavenging activities. Moreover, QCT exerts some preventive actions in treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of present study was to explore effects of prolonged administration of QCT on changes induced by repeated application of doxorubicin (DOX) in rat hearts. We focused on the ultrastructure of myocardium, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), biometric parameters, and apoptosis induction. Our aim was also to examine effects of QCT on ischemic tolerance in hearts exposed to chronic effects of DOX, and to determine possible mechanisms underlying effects of QCT. Our results showed that QCT prevented several negative chronic effects of DOX: (I) reversed DOX-induced blood pressure increase; (II) mediated improvement of deleterious effects of DOX on ultrastructure of left ventricle; (III) prevented DOX-induced effects on tissue MMP-2 activation; and (iv) reversed effects of DOX on apoptosis induction and superoxide dismutase inhibition. Moreover, we showed that rat hearts exposed to effects of QCT were more resistant to ischemia/reperfusion injury. Effects of QCT on modulation of ischemic tolerance were linked to Akt kinase activation and connexin-43 up-regulation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that prolonged treatment with QCT prevented negative chronic effects of DOX on blood pressure, cellular damage, MMP-2 activation, and apoptosis induction. Moreover, QCT influenced myocardial responses to acute ischemic stress. These facts bring new insights into mechanisms of QCT action on rat hearts exposed to the chronic effects of DOX