3596 research outputs found
Sort by
Mass absorption cross-section and absorption enhancement from long term black and elemental carbon measurements: A rural background station in Central Europe
Get PDFBlack carbon (BC) is a dominant aerosol light absorber, and its brown carbon (BrC) coating can enhance absorption and lead to uncertainties concerning the radiative forcing estimation. This study investigates the mass absorption cross-section of equivalent BC (MAC(eBC)) during a long-term field measurement (2013-2017) at a rural Central European site. The MAC enhancement factor (E-abs) and the contribution of BrC coatings to the absorption coefficient (B-abs) were estimated by combining different approaches. The annual mean B-abs and MAC(eBC) values decreased slightly over the measurement period associated with change in the submicron aerosol size distribution. Regardless of the wavelength, B-abs exhibited clear seasonal and diurnal variations, with higher values in winter when a higher absorption Angstromexponent (1.4) was observed due to the local biomass burning (BB). In contrast, MACeBC did not have a distinct temporal trend at 600 nm (7.84 +/- 2.79 m(2) g(-1)), while it showed a seasonal trend at 370 nm with higher values in winter (15.64 +/- 4.77 m(2) g(-1)). During this season, E-abs_(660) was 1.18 +/- 0.27 and did not exhibit any clear wavelength dependence, despite the influence of BB. During the study period, BrC-attributed absorption was observed in 31% of the samples, with a contribution of up to 40% of total Babs. In summer, the E-abs_(660) increased to 1.59 +/- 0.60, when a larger BC coating could be formed by secondary aerosol fractions. During this season, MAC(eBC)_ (660) and E-abs_(660) showed comparable source profiles that were mainly associated with aged air masses over central Europe, thereby supporting the fact that characteristics of coating materials formed during atmospheric aging are a major factor driving the MAC(eBC)_(660) measured at the regional background site. Further field investigations of the composition of BC coatings would help to better understand and estimate uncertainties related to the radiative effect of aerosols
Leading the Way, but Also Following the Trend : The Slovak National Party
Get PDFDespite spells outside parliament, with its blend of nationalist and populist appeals the Slovak National Party (SNS) has been a prominent fixture on Slovakia’s political scene for three decades. Unlike some of the newer parties in Slovakia and across the region, partly as a product of the point of its (re-)creation, SNS has a comparable organizational density to most established parties in the country and has invested in party branches and recruiting members. Although ordinary members exercised some power and influence during the fissiparous era of the early 2000s, SNS has been notable for the role played by its leader in decision-making and steering the party. Each leader placed their stamp on the projection, pitch and functioning of the party, both as a decision-making organization and an electoral vehicle. Ordinary members have been largely—but not exclusively—relegated to the role of cheerleaders and campaigners for the party’s tribunes; a situation which has not changed significantly in the era of social media. The pre-eminent position of the leader and the limited options for “voice” has led unsuccessful contenders for top posts and their supporters to opt instead for “exit.” Despite having some of the traits of the mass party and having engaged in some of the activities common for mass parties, especially in the earlier years of its existence, in more recent times in particular, SNS falls short of the mass party model both in aspiration and reality
Social networks and cognitive function in older adults: findings from the HAPIEE study
No full textBackground Social networks are associated with better cognitive health in older people, but the role of specific aspects of the social network remains unclear. This is especially the case in Central and Eastern Europe. This study examined associations between three aspects of the social network (network size of friends and relatives, contact frequency with friends and relatives, and social activity participation) with cognitive functions (verbal memory, learning ability, verbal fluency, processing speed, and global cognitive function) in older Czech, Polish, and Russian adults. Methods Linear regression estimated associations between baseline social networks and cognitive domains measured at both baseline and follow-up (mean duration of follow-up, 3.5 +/- 0.7 years) in 6691 participants (mean age, 62.2 +/- 6.0 years; 53.7% women) from the Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors In Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) study. Results Cross-sectional analyses, adjusted for country, age, and sex, showed positive associations of global cognitive function with social activity participation and network size of friends and relatives, but not with contact frequency in either network. Further adjustment for sociodemographic, behavioural, and health characteristics attenuated the associations with network size of relatives (P-trend = 0.074) but not with network size of friends (P-trend = 0.036) or social activities (P-trend< 0.001). In prospective analyses, network size and social activity participation were also linked with better cognition in simple models, but the associations were much stronger for social activities (P-trend< 0.001) than for network size of friends (P-trend = 0.095) and relatives (P-trend = 0.425). Adjustment for baseline cognition largely explained the prospective associations with network size of friends (P-trend = 0.787) and relatives (P-trend = 0.815), but it only slightly attenuated the association with social activities (P-trend< 0.001). The prospective effect of social activities was largely explained by sociodemographic, health behavioural, and health covariates (P-trend = 0.233). Analyses of specific cognitive domains generally replicated the cross-sectional and prospective findings for global cognitive function. Conclusions Older Central and Eastern European adults with larger social networks and greater social activities participation had better cognitive function, but these associations were stronger at baseline than over the short-term follow-up
Determination of Butyrate Synthesis Capacity in Gut Microbiota: Quantification of but Gene Abundance by qPCR in Fecal Samples
Get PDFButyrate is formed in the gut during bacterial fermentation of dietary fiber and is attributed numerous beneficial effects on the host metabolism. We aimed to develop a method for the assessment of functional capacity of gut microbiota butyrate synthesis based on the qPCR quantification of bacterial gene coding butyryl-CoA:acetate CoA-transferase, the key enzyme of butyrate synthesis. In silico, we identified bacteria possessing but gene among human gut microbiota by searching but coding sequences in available databases. We designed and validated six sets of degenerate primers covering all selected bacteria, based on their phylogenetic nearness and sequence similarity, and developed a method for gene abundance normalization in human fecal DNA. We determined but gene abundance in fecal DNA of subjects with opposing dietary patterns and metabolic phenotypes-lean vegans (VG) and healthy obese omnivores (OB) with known fecal microbiota and metabolome composition. We found higher but gene copy number in VG compared with OB, in line with higher fecal butyrate content in VG group. We further found a positive correlation between the relative abundance of target bacterial genera identified by next-generation sequencing and groups of but gene-containing bacteria determined by specific primers. In conclusion, this approach represents a simple and feasible tool for estimation of microbial functional capacity
ÉTRANGETÉ DANS LA QUÉBÉCOITE DE RÉGINE ROBIN ET DANS LA CÉLÉBRATION DE NAÏM KATTAN
Get PDFCet article traite le thème de l'étrangeté dans deux romans montréalais : La Québécoite de Régine Robin et La célébration de Naïm Kattan. Les personnages principaux traversent des moments difficiles dans leurs efforts pour parvenir à l'intégration dans la société. Dans notre analyse, nous observons les sentiments d'étrangeté, de solitude, d'incompréhension et de désillusion qui sont vécus au sein de la famille et même au sein du couple. L'un des enjeux est l'affiliation au judaïsme et à la communauté juive.This article concerns the topic of strangeness in two Montreal novels: La Québécoite by Régine Robin and La célébration de Naïm Kattan. The main characters are going through difficult times in their efforts to achieve the integration into society. In our analysis, we observe the feelings of strangeness, loneliness, missunderstanding and disillusion that are experienced within the family and even within the couple. One of the issues is the affiliation to judaisme and the Jewish community
Municipalities without elected councils : Causes of insufficient fulfilment of candidate lists in some municipalities in local elections in 2018
Get PDFBy means of a qualitative analysis of the sixteen municipalities in the Czech Republic in which additional elections were held in 2019, five variables were identified which may explain why additional elections occurred. For analysis, we used data from the Czech Statistical Office (municipal elections 1994 to 2019), the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic and information on individual municipalities from media analysis. We have identified the following possible variables which may affect whether additional elections are held: end of elites, non -stand as a candidate again, the end of municipal representatives, incumbent decides not to defend mandate (variable Non -defend man-date) and personal disputes within the municipality. Conversely, the financial situation of the municipality, the age of the representatives, the voter turnout in the municipal-ity, the number of voters, the number of candidate lists or associations and candidates proved inconclusive in most municipalities. A significant increase in new candidates is a consequence rather than an explanation of the holding of additional elections.Pomocí kvalitativní analýzy šestnácti obcí v České republice, ve kterých se v roce 2019 konaly dodatečné volby, bylo identifikováno pět proměnných, které mohou vysvětlovat, proč k dodatečným volbám došlo
Ensino da língua portuguesa na República Tcheca (a língua portuguesa como fonte de inspiração e de conhecimento)
Get PDFO artigo aborda variados aspetos associados ao ensino da língua portuguesa na República Tcheca, particularmente, à comparação tipológica das línguas checa e portuguesa.Článek pojednává o výuce portugalského jazyka v ČR a zároveň nabízí typologické porovnání portugalského a českého jazyka.The article deals with the teaching of the Portuguese language in the Czech Republic and aspects related to the typological comparison of the Portuguese and Czech languages
Citační analýza judikatury
No full textMonografie věnovaná citační analýze rozhodovací praxe českých vrcholných soudů (Ústavní soud, Nejvyšší soud, Nejvyšší správní soud). Kniha je rozdělena do tří částí. První část je věnována teoretickému zakotvení konceptu důležitosti soudních rozhodnutí a principům síťové analýzy. Druhá část je věnována sběru dat, ke kterému autoři využili metody strojového učení a zpracování přirozeného jazyka. Představuje vytvořené datasety, na kterých je postavena empirická část monografie. Třetí část pak představuje explorační analýzu a vyhodnocení sebraných dat s důrazem na jejich síťové metriky. Studie má kvantitativní charakter.The book focuses on citation analysis of the case law by the Czech apex courts (Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Supreme Administrative Court). The book consists of three parts. The first part focuses on theoretical framework and explains the concept of 'importance' of the court decisions as well as principles of the network analysis. The second part focuses on data collection process using machine learning and natural language processing methods. This part presents datasets that are later analysed in the empirical part. Finally, the third part consists of exploratory analysis and network metrics of the collected data. The study is quantitative in its nature
Mapping past human land use using archaeological data : A new classification for global land use synthesis and data harmonization
Get PDFIn the 12,000 years preceding the Industrial Revolution, human activities led to significant changes in land cover, plant and animal distributions, surface hydrology, and biochemical cycles. Earth system models suggest that this anthropogenic land cover change influenced regional and global climate. However, the representation of past land use in earth system models is currently oversimplified. As a result, there are large uncertainties in the current understanding of the past and current state of the earth system. In order to improve representation of the variety and scale of impacts that past land use had on the earth system, a global effort is underway to aggregate and synthesize archaeological and historical evidence of land use systems. Here we present a simple, hierarchical classification of land use systems designed to be used with archaeological and historical data at a global scale and a schema of codes that identify land use practices common to a range of systems, both implemented in a geospatial database. The classification scheme and database resulted from an extensive process of consultation with researchers worldwide. Our scheme is designed to deliver consistent, empirically robust data for the improvement of land use models, while simultaneously allowing for a comparative, detailed mapping of land use relevant to the needs of historical scholars. To illustrate the benefits of the classification scheme and methods for mapping historical land use, we apply it to Mesopotamia and Arabia at 6 kya (c. 4000 BCE). The scheme will be used to describe land use by the Past Global Changes (PAGES) LandCover6k working group, an international project comprised of archaeologists, historians, geographers, paleoecologists, and modelers. Beyond this, the scheme has a wide utility for creating a common language between research and policy communities, linking archaeologists with climate modelers, biodiversity conservation workers and initiatives
Postkomunìstyčna molodìst’ v ukrajins’kìj lìteraturì ostannìch rokìv
No full textMynulo vže bìl’še desjaty rokìv vìdtodì, jak «Depeš Mod» (2004) Serhìja Žadana poznajomyv nas ìz molodym pokolìnnjam zbenteženych charkìv’jan, duševno travmovanych ì nevpevnenych u svojemu ìsnuvannì, a tomu nedyvno, ščo lìteratura peršoho desjatylìttja CHCHÌ stolìttja vìdìjšla vìd toji hrajlyvostì j eksperymental’nostì, molod’ projšla pevnymy deformacìjamy, vìdmovyvšys’ vìd postìjnych vteč ì podorožej ta usvìdomyvšy važlyvìst’ prohovorennja travm. A vìdtak zmìnylysja holovnì heroji romanìv s’ohodennja, vony vse bìl’še zvertajut’sja do mynuloho, ščob pereosmyslyty ta zrozumìty cej svìt, ale, možlyvo, vony šče ne prypynyly svoji pošuky, jim šče potrìbno projty nastupnyj šljach samopìznannja, ščob zupynytysja ta povnìstju vyznačyty svoju ìdentyčnìst’. A vìdtak podìji na perelomì CHCH ì CHCHÌ stolìt’ vìdobražajut’sja v ukrajins’kìj lìteraturì ì s’ohodnì. Na prykladì kìl’koch romanìv my rozhljanemo svìt molodoho ukrajincja u postkomunìstyčnìj nezaležnìj Ukrajinì.It has been more than ten years since Serhiy Zhadan's Depeche Mode (2004) introduced us to a young generation of embarrassed Kharkivites, mentally traumatized and insecure, and it is not surprising that the literature of the first decade of the 21st century has departed from that playfulness and experimental, young people went through certain deformations, giving up constant escapes and travel and realizing the importance of speaking injuries. And so the main characters of today's novels have changed, they are increasingly turning to the past to rethink and understand this world, but perhaps they have not stopped their search, they still need to go the next way of self-knowledge to stop and fully define their identity. And so the events at the turn of the XX and XXI centuries are reflected in Ukrainian literature today. On the example of several novels, we will consider the world of a young Ukrainian in post-communist independent Ukraine