The periodicity in the consumption of oxygen in Asellus aquaticus [Translation from: Vestnik ceskoslovenske zoologicke Spolecnosti, 15, 1, 89-97, 1951]

The consumption of oxygen in Asellus aquaticus was measured to find if there existed a periodicity in the consumption of oxygen and how this showed itself during the course of the day, year and in various experimental conditions. From the figures obtained comparative values were calculated and from these curves were plotted of the changes in the consumption of oxygen during the day and year

THE DEVELOPMENT OF MENTAL MODEL OF PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

The Development of mental model of people with visual impairment in spatially-orientational and cultural-historical context, is longer Title of the Post. The ability to create mental models is, for people with visual impairment, one of the basic preconditions for the use of available information from the environment and in all areas of everyday life. Tactile graphics can provide one of the means for the development of imagination; they are particularly suitable for the creation of a complex picture of a given situation and its processing into supporting information. Their facilitating function in the development, refinement and consolidation of the imagination is indisputable and proven by empirical studies. The purpose of this paper is to present the application possibilities of three-dimensional displays of haptic information for the purposes of spatial orientation, as well as access to cultural and historical objects with emphasis on the formation of mutual relations and connections within the knowledge base of each individual with visual impairment

Experience in foreign language teaching with ICT support

AbstractThe foreign language teaching using e-learning usually catches on more slowly than the teaching of sciences or technological subjects. We therefore consider the most suitable method of language teaching the blended learning; i.e. the combination of the traditional, face-to-face and on-line teaching.For the foreign language teaching we have prepared both the courses using the blended learning and the courses for a distance education. We also have some experience in the teaching of interuniversity studies, but only distance on-line teaching. At our faculty we have now prepared some on-line German and English courses for beginners and for advanced students. We also offer the courses of general, business and banking English and German. The foreign language on-line courses enable to practise individually, for example, some grammar phenomena with the use of a key as a feedback. Moreover, they help to enlarge the vocabulary, give the possibility of using the listening texts and working with a foreign language text. We consider the use of modern technologies very useful. The on-line courses are also useful in the foreign language teaching

Early Phase Changes During the Setting of High Copper Amalgams

X-ray diffraction analysis has been used to evaluate the phase composition of two (spherical and lathe cut) HCSC amalgam alloys and early phase changes in these amalgam in the time interval 2.5 min to 7 days after trituration. A method appropriate for the evaluation of these changes was developed. Only two phases were found in alloys Valiant and Ana 2000: gamma(Ag3Sn) and epsilon(Cu3Sn). In amalgams, no diffraction peaks were observed corresponding to gamma 2 phase in the time interval form 2.5 min to 7 days after trituration. The relative concentration changes of the reaction products of an amalgamation (gamma 1 and eta) were observed already at 2.5 min after trituration. Twenty minutes after trituration there were some differences in the setting rate between spherical and lathe cut amalgams: the spherical amalgam rate was higher. The formation of the reaction phases was fastest during the first 60 min after trituration and continued for at least the next 7 days

AUDIOTACTILE MAPS AS A FACILITATING ELEMENT IN SPATIAL ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY

Tactile graphics represent an important means to overcome or alleviate the information deficit resulting from the loss of visual perception. The research framework of the paper is focused on a primary probe into the field of application of tactile graphics in the spatial orientation of people with visual impairment in the sense of development of spatial imagination and improvement of independent movement through the use of audiotactile maps. The chosen topic is viewed from the perspective of professionals working with people with visual impairment as well as the clients with visual impairment themselves. Partial results of the study are presented, focusing on the overall attitude of people with visual impairment to tactile graphics and their application potential, which adds to the overall picture of contemporary reality in the field of tactile graphics, with an emphasis on usability in spatial orientation and independent movement. The research has shown the considerable potential of tactile graphics in the development of spatial imagination. In connection with these conclusions, modern 3D maps with auditory elements were designed and will be also presented in the paper.

The IYPT and the 'Ring Oiler' problem

The International Young Physicists' Tournament (IYPT) continued in 2018 in Beijing, China and 2019 in Warsaw, Poland with its 31st and 32nd editions. The IYPT is a modern scientific competition for teams of high school students, also known as the Physics World Cup. It involves long-term theoretical and experimental work focused on solving 17 publicly announced open-ended problems in teams of five. On top of that, teams have to present their solutions in front of other teams and a scientific jury, and get opposed and reviewed by their peers. Here we present a brief information about the competition with a specific focus on one of the IYPT 2018 tasks, the 'Ring Oiler'. This seemingly simple mechanical problem appeared to be of such a complexity that even the dozens of participating teams and jurying scientists were not able to solve all of its subtleties

Automated video-based assessment of facial bradykinesia in de-novo Parkinson's disease.

Even though hypomimia is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), objective and easily interpretable tools to capture the disruption of spontaneous and deliberate facial movements are lacking. This study aimed to develop a fully automatic video-based hypomimia assessment tool and estimate the prevalence and characteristics of hypomimia in de-novo PD patients with relation to clinical and dopamine transporter imaging markers. For this cross-sectional study, video samples of spontaneous speech were collected from 91 de-novo, drug-naïve PD participants and 75 age and sex-matched healthy controls. Twelve facial markers covering areas of forehead, nose root, eyebrows, eyes, lateral canthal areas, cheeks, mouth, and jaw were used to quantitatively describe facial dynamics. All patients were evaluated using Movement Disorder Society-Unified PD Rating Scale and Dopamine Transporter Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography. Newly developed automated facial analysis tool enabled high-accuracy discrimination between PD and controls with area under the curve of 0.87. The prevalence of hypomimia in de-novo PD cohort was 57%, mainly associated with dysfunction of mouth and jaw movements, and decreased variability in forehead and nose root wrinkles (p < 0.001). Strongest correlation was found between reduction of lower lip movements and nigro-putaminal dopaminergic loss (r = 0.32, p = 0.002) as well as limb bradykinesia/rigidity scores (r = -0.37 p < 0.001). Hypomimia represents a frequent, early marker of motor impairment in PD that can be robustly assessed via automatic video-based analysis. Our results support an association between striatal dopaminergic deficit and hypomimia in PD