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The Czech National Repository of Grey Literature (NUŠL) has been bringing GL to science and society over 10 years. It is based on Lisbon definition from 1997, updated in 2004, and on its own document typology that was created in 2008 as one of the outputs of the same name project. Since then there have been several papers and articles calling for new definition and new typology, asking what should be still considered GL and what not anymore. (Savić, 2018; Baxter and Hilbrecht, 2020) Savić (2019) pointed out that if everything can be marked as GL then probably nothing is GL. The NUŠL already had to change its typology few times to provide still good service and to reflect research institutions' needs. However, it is not only the document typology that influences the repository and the service, there are other circumstances which affect further development of the NUŠL such as partner institutions' needs, the National Research, Development and Innovation Policy, European Commission's guidelines on research outputs, current quantity and quality of other repositories and systems for grey literature and research results in the Czech Republic etc. The contribution/paper will bring a brief overview on NUŠL's experience over 10 years of providing the service. Then it will be focused on a current situation in research area of the Czech Republic in detail. Finally, out of these points will conclude to the necessary changes that has to be taken by NUŠL and his provider - National Library of Technology in Prague, in order to keep the service meaningful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this paper is to explain and understand contemporary spatial changes within housing estates in Prague with special attention to the role of public and private institutions. We argue that housing estates are undergoing considerable functional heterogenization and becoming integral parts of the city as a consequence of mix of commercial development, specific public policies and activities of local actors. We focus on two crucial aspects of the contemporary development of housing estates within the capital city of Prague: (i) the new functional differentiation of housing estates as a consequence of private activities and commercialization; (ii) the role of master planning and public policies on the level of both the city and self-governed city districts. Activities of commercial and public institutions are perceived as structuration processes enabled and restricted by the constraints of contemporary post-transformational city. Methodologically the paper is based on analyses of the content of planning documents and policies (Metropolitan Plan, Strategic plan of Prague and selected documents of the city districts) and statistical information sources that relate to three levels of spatial detail. A case study of the largest housing estate and a symbol of socialist housing in Czechia—Jižní Město—illustrates the impact of state and municipal policies and commercialization on the local level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Art Studies Quarterly / Problemi Na Izkustvoto is the property of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Art Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sandy-marly siltstones, sandy-silty marlstones, silicified marlstones and marly silicites are the characteristic cyclically deposited sediments in large areas of the Bohemian–Saxonian and Münsterland Cretaceous Basins. In the German-speaking area, these typical sedimentary rocks are called Pläner. In the Czech Republic they are called opuka, in Poland/Lithuania opoka and in France/Wallonia gaize. They can be easily quarried as managable dimensional stones, which can be formatted with little effort and were therefore the preferred material for use as a masonry stone. In the Middle Ages, Pläner was therefore the dominant stone used for exterior architecture. Harder Pläner was used as floor slabs and for paving. In Prague, a local Pläner is exposed with beds reaching a thickness of 1.3 m. This local variety is called the Golden Pläner/zlatá opuka, where it was also used for high-quality sculptural work. The Golden Pläner is therefore a stone with a wide variety of uses. Prague also owes its title as the "Golden City" to this rock. The Golden Pläner is well studied. Its mineral composition, important petrophysical characteristics and weathering behavior have been published in several geoscientific papers. Publications dealing with the other Pläner stones of the Czech Republic, those in Saxony or exposed in the Münsterland are still lacking. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the similarities and differences of the Pläner stones used as a building material from the Cretaceous basins considered here. Four different types of Pläners can be classified based on their primary facies and early diagenetic characteristics, but also the limestones that are called Pläners, which occur within the Pläner sequences and the residuals of these Pläners are considered. The high proportion of very fine-grained constituents requires the combination of several analytical and observational methods such as optical microscopy, microanalysis, powder X-ray diffraction and textural analysis of pore space by mercury porosimetry. To be able to classify the weathering resistance, and thus the possibility of using Pläners as a natural stone, the structural parameters of compressive strength, porosity, water absorption, freeze–thaw resistance and hygric dilatation were also determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Czech Republic is one of the several countries in the world and the only unitary democratic state allowing regions to initiate legislation without limits. Despite this, a study of Czech regional initiatives has yet to be written. Therefore, this paper delivers a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon. The results show that the activity and success rates of the regions differ substantially. The probability of a regional proposal is positively affected by the region’s legislative strength in the Chamber of Deputies and the opposition status of the region’s governor. In contrast, it is negatively affected by the distance from Prague. The chances of adopting the regional initiative substantially decrease if a proposal suggests a shared rule instrument compared to self-rule ones. Overall, the article argues that while regional legislative activity in (con)federal states is affected mainly by regionalist strategic politics, the process in the unitary state is more result-oriented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suburbanization and suburban sprawl are natural processes in a certain period of development of the city and its hinterland. According to studies devoted to suburban sprawl, this sprawl has many negative impacts on the environment. But if suburban sprawl creates compact and mutually separated suburban settlements based on the original villages, suburban localities with a high population density and suburban localities on poor land, then these impacts are relatively small, acceptable in the period of suburbanization development. This paper focuses on (1) the acceptability of the location of suburban localities in terms of the required compactness of suburban settlements, (2) the acceptability of population density in suburban localities in relation to the population density in city neighbourhoods with detached single-family houses and (3) the acceptability of agricultural land occupations for suburban localities in terms of the lowest land quality in these occupations. The analyzes were carried out in suburban settlements around Prague and the regional city of České Budějovice. Acceptable locations of suburban localities prevail there, but population densities are usually lower in suburban localities than in mentioned city neighbourhoods. Unfortunately, the most valuable agricultural land is located in the immediate vicinity of settlements, where suburban localities are developing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with individual typological parts and units in the Prague Castle area. It also focuses on the urban and historical development, as it is significantly influenced by the situation in the period under study. It focuses more closely on the period of the second half of the 20th century, and especially the period of normalization - the 1970s and 1980s. Prague Castle was and still is the seat of the monarch, or today the President of the Czech Republic. The historical context has had a considerable influence on the shape of the Castle (the succession of ruling personalities from different dynasties, the transformation from the position of the seat of the Habsburg monarchy and therefore the most important center in Central Europe to the position of the summer residence of the ruling family, etc.). Also the concentration of the main buildings of secular and ecclesiastical power in one area is unprecedented. The castle is a huge complex, combining morphological assumptions with the result of the work of a huge number of people. A number of foreign artists worked here, reaching world-class standards and both understanding and supporting the local genius loci. There are also many contrasts - political and constructional. For example, the imprints of monarchy and republic, church and secular power, ancient and modernist architecture, contrasts among the smallest buildings of houses and the largest palaces. On the basis of archival research and the study of expert literature, the reader is introduced to the progressive changes in the layout of the Castle complex and the associated changes in the functional use of the buildings and spaces in the aforementioned complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synanthropic silverfish species have spread over Europe as invaders in recent years. This paper reports the first occurrence of synanthropic silverfish Ctenolepisma calvum in the Czech Republic. Established populations of the species were revealed at two localities in Prague. At both sites, C. calvum occurred inside the buildings with room temperatures of 23.3-28.3 °C and moderate humidity 32.6-55.8%. From this point of view, our observations indicate that the climate restrictions suggested for Lepisma saccharinum and Thermobia domestica may not be effective against C. calvum. Thus, its suitable management is challenging for the future. This study also summarizes the available data on C. calvum distribution from the literature, social platforms and invasive species databases, which pointed out that only little is known about C. calvum and the species seems to be either under-recorded or rapidly spreading throughout Europe. In light of this, further monitoring, as well as risk assessment of this silverfish species, is highly needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic and financial state of an emerging European country is undeniably closely related to the evolution and mechanisms that engage the European Union markets. The objective of this paper is to analyze in parallel the macroeconomic and capital market evolution of the Czech Republic, in the context of integration at European level, in order to highlight these connections and compare the path of these indicators with those of other emerging European countries. This paper studies the contagion of emerging markets to events that create inflections of markets at international level, as well as the correlations between the stock market and macroeconomic indices, in order to highlight those factors that lead to a direct influence of the macroeconomic and stock market environment. Through a descriptive analysis of the most relevant capital market indicators and macroeconomics, the study empirically addresses the evolution of the Prague stock exchange in parallel with the economic condition of the Czech Republic, finding similarities and differences in the behavior of these indices. For this analysis, the following indicators were selected: the total value of the traded shares, the number of domestic companies listed on the stock exchange, GDP per Capita, the annual evolution of GDP, the consumer price index, foreign direct investments, net inflows, as well as the current account balance. The study may represent a starting point in a broader analysis of the correlations of the economic and financial mechanisms that are based on the phenomenon of globalization, leading to the determination of common factors that affect the emerging markets in similar stages of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tunel is the property of Ceska Tunelarska Asociace ITA-AITES, z.s and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Graffiti is an important theme for our understanding of subcultural urban space and the 'shadows' of the city. This paper examines their spatial concentration in Holešovice district of the Czech capital Prague. Four theories have been used to explain the spatiality of graffiti: territorial markers, broken window, spot theory, and political symbolic space. While the first three theories all explain the spatial distribution of graffiti, they are each limited when applied to political graffiti. Conversely, the theory of political symbolic space, based on David Harvey's relative space and Henri Lefebvre's representational space, helps explain the concentration of political graffiti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a world in which Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are increasingly being installed on highways, the proper calibration of ITS algorithms is emerging as an essential component of such systems. The key to calibration is profound and correct understanding of reactions by drivers to ITS interventions. Speed compliance is a special kind of driver behavior, highly related to resultant road safety. This paper, using data gathered from a representative sample of 39 research participants in a dynamic driving simulator experiment in the Czech Republic, presents an approach for modeling driver speed compliance based on socio-demographic characteristics. In this approach, logistic regression model was applied to understand the factors influencing driver speed compliance. The results of this study support the goal of establishing optimal speed limits for drivers on Variable Message Signs on the Prague Ring Road by addressing issues related to driver speed compliance. These findings provide the basis for policy development aimed at ensuring the consistent and practical design of Variable Speed Limit systems on Czech highways and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

D. Davis introduced projective product spaces in 2010 as a generalization of real projective spaces and discussed some of their topological properties. On the other hand, Dold manifolds were introduced by A. Dold in 1956 to study the generators of the non-oriented cobordism ring. Recently, in 2019, A. Nath and P. Sankaran made a modest generalization of Dold manifolds. In this paper we simultaneously generalize both the notions of projective product spaces and Dold manifolds, leading to infinitely many different classes of new smooth manifolds. Our main goal will be to study the integral homology groups, cohomology rings, stable tangent bundles, and vector field problems, on certain generalized projective product spaces and Dold manifolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synanthropic silverfish species have spread over Europe as invaders in recent years. This paper reports the first occurrence of synanthropic silverfish Ctenolepisma calvum in the Czech Republic. Established populations of the species were revealed at two localities in Prague. At both sites, C. calvum occurred inside the buildings with room temperatures of 23.3-28.3°C and moderate humidity 32.6-55.8%. From this point of view, our observations indicate that the climate restrictions suggested for Lepisma saccharinum and Thermobia domestica may not be effective against C. calvum. Thus, its suitable management is challenging for the future. This study also summarizes the available data on C. calvum distribution from the literature, social platforms and invasive species databases, which pointed out that only little is known about C. calvum and the species seems to be either under-recorded or rapidly spreading throughout Europe. In light of this, further monitoring, as well as risk assessment of this silverfish species, is highly needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine red beds are usually interpreted as indicating water column oligotrophy, good bottom‐water oxygenation and redox conditions. Lower Devonian successions of the Prague Basin, Czechia, exhibit a distinct centimetre to metre‐scale alternation of layers of marine red beds, grey carbonates, marls and black shales. In order to understand why the redox potential fluctuated so rapidly, reflectance spectroscopy, microscopy, elemental geochemistry data and stable isotopes of Mo have been analysed in this paper. Whilst the grey and black facies only contain goethite, the marine red beds are enriched with synsedimentary and early diagenetic, submicronic hematite, which is present in micrite, skeletal interiors, microstromatolites and oncoids. It was formed by microbially mediated precipitation, the replacement of detrital Fe phyllosilicates, and/or by the oxidation of microbially precipitated Fe‐bearing aluminosilicate precursors. The marine red beds are frequently enriched in Fe, depleted in U, V, Mo and Cu, and show negative δ98Mo values indicating oxic conditions. Peloidal micrite, microbial coatings and cements with the marine red beds exhibit positive (up to 9) Ce/Ce* anomalies. The non‐red facies show opposite patterns. This geochemical variability is probably related to Mn oxyhydroxide cycling and organic matter remineralization along the sediment subsurface redox gradient, particularly by reactions between pore water and various elemental pools. These patterns, combined with the centimetre‐scale colour alternation of the sediments, may reflect redox zonation that has been preserved beneath the ancient seafloor. Four zones are recognized: (i) the oxic zone of Fe‐oxide precipitation (marine red beds); suboxic zones of (ii) Fe enrichment, and (iii) U‐Mo enrichment; and (iv) suboxic–anoxic zone of Cu, V (± Mo) enrichment. The presented model of a marine red bed origin from redox reactions in the sediment subsurface contradicts models of the formation of marine red beds through iron enrichment from Fe2+ supersaturated ocean waters following periods of ocean anoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main scope of the paper is to review the construction method of (multi-)regional input–output tables (RIOTs) in the Czech Republic at the NUTS 3 regional level. We compare the estimation of regional IO tables based on a modified cross-hauling adjusted regionalisation method (CHARM) applied by the authors with application of the hybrid approach of (Sixta and Vltavská in Stat Stat Econ J 97:4–14, 2017) from the Department of Statistics at the University of Economics in Prague. The aim of the presented paper is to contribute to the discussion about the suitability of alternative methodological approaches from the perspective of quality and time. We assume that despite the lack of official, published RIOTs by state statistical offices, the existing methodology of the relatively simpler non-survey CHARM method represents an adequate option for the generation of regional input–output tables suitable for further analytical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater discharge is one of the sources of environmental pollution. Wastewater pollution originates, inter alia, in industrial wastewater. After treatment, industrial wastewater can be discharged directly into the receiving water body or indirectly into a sewerage network terminated by the concluding stage of wastewater treatment. In the Czech Republic, indirect wastewater discharges are obeyed by the contractual relationship between the wastewater producer and the sewerage network operator. General limits for indirectly discharged wastewater are not set by any national legislation. The aim of this paper is a description of industrial wastewater discharged into the municipal sewerage system in Prague and possibilities of setting limits for installations undertaking the industrial activities listed in Annex I of the Integrated Prevention Act. The study showed that 72% of installations discharge industrial wastewater indirectly. The majority are energy plants that produce boiler blowdown wastewater. More than 80% of wastewater from studied installations is treated by one central wastewater treatment plant. The studied installations are equipped with a wastewater neutralization unit. However, despite the existence of the legislative framework to propose limits for studied installations, only two installations covered by BAT conclusions with relevant BAT-AELs for indirect discharges to the receiving water body were determined. Generally, a small percentage of installations can be limited by an integrated permit due to an inconsistent approach to the issue of indirect discharges from installations under the scope of the Integrated Prevention Act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Space & Society / Tér és Társadalom is the property of Centre for Economic & Regional Studies, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cuticular remains of the phyllocarid crustaceans Caryocaris? and Ceratiocaris? obtained via maceration of macrofossil remains in hydrofluoric acid are compared with dispersed fragments isolated using both the low-manipulation HF extraction and the standard HCl–HF–HCl method. The studied specimens were obtained from Ordovician and Silurian shales of the Šárka and Požáry formations (Prague Basin, Barrandian area, Czech Republic). This methodological approach allows a direct comparison of macrofossil remains with microfossils in residue. The differences in residues obtained through the two bulk-rock extraction methods are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the candidate selection process for realistic list positions with regard to multiple-office holding and personal characteristics in flexible-list proportional representation (PR) systems within the Czech context. More specifically, this issue is explored in the 2006–2017 elections to the Czech Chamber of Deputies. Results of binary logistic regression analysis with observations clustered by party or constituency indicate that incumbents (with or without multiple office holding) stand a significantly higher probability of being selected as a realistic candidate. This probability increases only if the incumbent also has the regional mandate. The results also show that candidates with a PhD degree or higher, with a higher public office position, at the age of forty-one to fifty years, or with residence in a regional capital or in Prague have a significant probability of being selected as a realistic candidate. A specific gender bias was also found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a novel algorithm for merging Bayesian networks generated by different methods, such as expert knowledge and data-driven approaches, while leveraging a symmetry-based approach. The algorithm combines the strengths of each input network to create a more comprehensive and accurate network. Evaluations on traffic accident data from Prague in the Czech Republic and accidents on railway crossings demonstrate superior predictive performance, as measured by prediction error metric. The algorithm identifies and incorporates symmetric nodes into the final network, ensuring consistent representations across different methods. The merged network, incorporating nodes selected from both the expert and algorithm networks, provides a more comprehensive and accurate representation of the relationships among variables in the dataset. Future research could focus on extending the algorithm to deal with cycles and improving the handling of conditional probability tables. Overall, the proposed algorithm demonstrates the effectiveness of combining different sources of knowledge in Bayesian network modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Pregnant women are among the priority groups to receive influenza vaccines in the Czech Republic since 2011, data on vaccination coverage are not yet available. The aim of the study was to determine the influenza vaccination coverage (IVC) and provide source data for further activities. Methods: A prospective observational study was performed in a large maternity hospital in Prague. The self-completed questionnaire was distributed to 5,475 pregnant women between September 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021. Questions included maternal sociodemographic characteristics, influenza vaccination status and sources of maternal vaccination recommendations during pregnancy. Results: A total of 4,617 completed questionnaires have been analysed. The median age of study participants (N = 4,592) was 33 years (range: 18–51 years). The majority (69.7%) of women had completed their university education, most women were childless (58.5%) or had one child (32.5%) before the start of the study. Less than 2% of women reported being vaccinated against influenza during their pregnancy (1.5%; 95% CI, 1.1–1.9%). Only 21% of women knew that it's possible to get vaccinated against influenza during pregnancy. Participants considered influenza vaccination in pregnancy as important (3.3%), useful (41.1%) and useless (44.4%). Out of 959 pregnant women who had information about influenza vaccination during pregnancy, only 6.9% were vaccinated, while among those who did not have this information, 0.1% were vaccinated during pregnancy (p < 0.001). The most frequent source of information was Internet, then media and a general practitioner. Conclusions: The IVC during pregnancy in our study was extremely low. In order to improve IVC among pregnant women, it is necessary to increase awareness of recommendations and vaccination options among the public and professionals and incorporating vaccination recommendation in routine antenatal practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The dropout rate from the treatment of patients with substance use disorders (SUD) negatively affects overall treatment outcomes. Little is known about the specific role of various psychiatric and psychosocial factors in the individual patients. Limited data is available in regards to mindset and addiction treatment, giving the opportunity of testing such interventions in the future. AIM: To identify the key psychological, psychosocial, and other treatment related factors in the patients from the inpatient substance use treatment with addiction who have dropped out of the program based on correlations with the patients' mindset. SETTING: Men's ward for treatment of SUD at the Department of Addictology, General University Hospital in Prague, the Czech Republic. SAMPLE: 120 male patients aged between 18 and 70 years sampled by convenience sampling in the Department of Addictology at the General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic. METHODS: The prospective study with the follow-up will be based on correlation analysis of self-reports questionnaires which are completed on the first week and the last week of the treatment, followed up by a short phone interview 6 months after the beginning of the treatment for the patients that have completed the treatment. The following is a protocol for the study that began in 2020 and will end at the end of 2023. Data will be stored according to the guidelines and treatment confidentially. DISCUSSION: Findings will be disseminated in peer reviewed scientific journals, national and international conferences, and in briefings to inform clinical decision making. It will provide information which will help to personalize treatment to meet unique needs of each patient and serve as dropout prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents and discusses the visible effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cultural tourism in Czechia, Europe. The pandemic has caused or accelerated certain changes. Mainly urban destinations focusing on foreign tourists (e.g., Prague) were affected by the pandemic. However, despite the significant decline in tourism as an industry, the seeds of positive changes can be traced. For example, domestic tourists have discovered the appeal of the rural regions of their homeland. The trend has started to evolve from mass tourism to a more individual one. The decline of the workforce in tourism will likely result in the increase of more self-service forms of activities. Even though e-tourism cannot replace real experiences, it will contribute to a more deliberate selection of tourist destinations and services. Therefore, investing in a higher quality infrastructure should be a priority. The latest observations show that the main obstacle is insufficient cooperation among local stakeholders, such as entrepreneurs, public administration, or individual government departments. Czechia???s fundamental drawback is the lack of clear distinction of whether culture tourism falls into the economic sector or the cultural sphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article compares the effects of crisis on the real estate market in two regions of the Czech Republic that differ from a macroeconomic point of view. The region of Prague represents the rich and developed region while the Karlovy Vary region struggles with many socio-economic and structural problems. An analysis was performed for the time period of 2018 to 2022. It analyzed the development of apartment prices in both regions, the availability of housing, the turnover of the real estate market in terms of the number of apartment sales, the development of liens on real estate, the number of apartment transfers from state property to private ownership, and the development of the number of real estate foreclosures. The basis for creating statistical outputs is the EVAL software, which was developed by one of the co-authors of this article. The EVAL software collects price offers of apartments offered for sale and rent throughout the Czech Republic and collects publicly available data from the cadastral office. The authors found that the real estate market experienced a significant turnaround in the volume of mortgage loans granted in 2022. This decline led to a significant drop in the total volume of real estate transactions. The findings suggest that potential buyers should wait for property prices to drop before buying, while rental property owners and investors can take advantage of the increased demand for properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty six graptolite biozones and seven subzones are recognized in the first compilation of high-resolution Silurian graptolite biostratigraphy in central Bohemia. The durations of these graptolite biozones, deduced from correlation with the Geological Time Scale 2020 age model and the global standard graptolite biozonation, range between ca 0.1 and 1.74 Myr. Each biozone is defined as an interval biozone named after the biozone index species, characterized by a typical biozone assemblage and delineated by bounding horizons with the stratigraphically lowest and/or highest occurrences of the respective index taxa. The Petalolithus folium Biozone is introduced as a replacement of the nearly equivalent Pribylograptus leptotheca Biozone, because the latter is a less common and less easily identified index taxon. Detailed range charts of 385 species of planktic graptolites based on in situ records from 88 localities and section logs in the offshore Silurian succession of the Prague Synform provide a solid data source for the proposed biozonal scheme and subsequent study of regional graptolite faunal dynamics, traced by means of species richness per biozone, mean standing diversity, time-normalized Van Valen's metrics, and FADs/LADs score per biozone. The moderate graptolite diversity of the lower Rhuddanian biozones rose to the mid-Aeronian maximum succeeded by stepwise decline forced by five globally recognized extinction events (mid-Aeronian sedgwickii Event, early Sheinwoodian murchisoni Event, mid-Homerian lundgreni Event, early Ludfordian leintwardinensis Event, and midLudfordian kozlowskii Event). Sixth, early Telychian utilis Event is not observed in the Prague Synform as a results of a graptolite barren interval that separates linnaei and turriculatus biozones. Each mass extinction, although succeeded by recovery and adaptive radiation, resulted in a progressive stepwise reduction of graptolite diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep-water Aulacopleura koninckii Assemblage in the lower Homerian (T. testis Sub-Biozone) "Aulacopleura shales" strata at the classical 'Barrande's pits' locality on the Černidla hillside at Loděnice in the Prague Basin is supplemented by the addition of two new trilobite taxa, viz. Exallaspis? perunicana sp. n. and Kosovoproetus? aff. praecursor (Přibyl & Vaněk 1987). The palaeogeographic distribution of Exallapis Ramsköld & Chatterton, 1991 is extended by the occurrence of Exallaspis? perunicana sp. n. and the younger Exallaspis sp. in the upper Homerian (the P. parvus – G. nassa Biozone) of the Prague Basin, reflecting the faunal migration between the southern shelf of the Baltica palaeocontinent and the Perunica microcontinent accross the Rheic Ocean. The small dimensions of the K.? aff. praecursor exoskeletons compared to those of K.? praecursor in the bordering shallow-water Liolalax–Sphaerexochus– Cheirurus Assemblage represent another example of adaptive nanism in trilobites of the Aulacopleura-Raphiophorus Biofacies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping is a technique in which two or more crops are grown together that is reported to be soil and water friendly. Field trials were conducted at three different localities in the Czech Republic. Spring wheat was grown together with different legumes (Egyptian clover, crimson clover, red clover, white clover, common pea, dun pea, common vetch, bird's-foot-trefoil, common kidney vetch, and fenugreek) in an organic cropping system. Two basic systems were compared mixture and row-by-row cropping. The yield of grain was lower on average in row-by-row cropping than in the mixture. Lower yields were found in Prague (PR) compared to Uhříněves (UH) and Zvíkov (ZV). The mixture system seemed to be more effective in grain production than cultivation in separate rows (PR 2.14 t/ha, UH 4.71 t/ha, ZV 3.00 t/ha) in terms of spring wheat grain yield in comparison with the mixture system (PR 2.45 t/ha, UH 5.44 t/ha, ZV 3.14 t/ha). Quality parameters such as crude protein, wet gluten, gluten index, Zeleny test of wheat grown with legumes were compared to the control. The mean quality parameters of both systems were the following: test weight 75.75%, crude protein 13.9%, wet gluten 31.5%, Zeleny test 56.2 mL, falling number 266.4 s. The combinations of spring wheat with Egyptian clover, white clover, common vetch, common kidney vetch, and bird's-foot-trefoil are recommended as the most promising according to the results obtained across all sites and considering all parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the article is to address the gap in approaches to assessing the quality of urban life (QoUL) in small towns, with a particular focus on the environmental dimension of the QoUL concept. The authors examined a statistical relation between life satisfaction and QoUL in small towns, detected the position of the environment among other dimensions of QoUL, and explored the link between the stated and revealed preferences of residents in a small town on the outer margin of the metropolitan area of Prague, the capital of Czechia. The results revealed a pathway to assess trade-offs in QoUL posed by the varying effects of the proximity of small towns to larger urban centres. The discussion focuses on the limitations of exploring stated and revealed preferences regarding the use of the QoUL concept in urban planning. The authors conclude that the worst QoUL compared with overall life satisfaction resulted from the 'bounding effect' of those who were socially and economically bound to the study location. Additionally, they conclude that the environmental concerns represented an important but not major dimension of QoUL, as was also reflected in election manifestos and results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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With an increasing number of international schools, traditional EFL teaching methods may not satisfy students' needs. This study aims to investigate perceptions of social media technologies (e.g., Web 2.0) and willingness to adopt such technologies to collaborate and communicate in multicultural classrooms among novice EFL schoolteachers in the Czech Republic. The participants were 100 novice EFL schoolteachers in Prague and the South Moravian regions of the Czech Republic. The study used a mixed research method consisting of a survey (stage 1) and a semi-structured interview (stage 2). The survey examined the participants' appraisal and concerns of using social media technologies to collaborate and to communicate as well as the level of willingness to use social media technologies. A hierarchical cluster analysis using participants' responses regarding their attitudes and behavioural tendency towards using Web 2.0 social media technologies in language classrooms identified three clusters of teachers. The teachers who were most likely to adopt social Web 2.0 technologies were those who had the highest ratings on both appraisals and concerns regarding the use of social media in language classrooms. The results from the semi-structured interviews were consistent with those from the survey. Together, the results from the two stages demonstrated that most pre-service teachers favoured using Web 2.0 technology for collaboration and communication among colleagues and stakeholders in a broader community, but they displayed contrasting levels of appraisal of and concerns towards using social media technologies. Participants believed that this might be due to their different levels of ICT proficiency, workload, and working environment. The political and practical implications in K-12 education in the Czech context are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, new exciting, publicly debated, and further thought-provoking events have appeared in the Czech Republic including, the restoration and benediction of the Marian Column on the Old Town Square in Prague, Darina Alster's art performance, the Non-binary Madonna, the opening of the new Jan Palach Memorial in Všetaty and the temporary memorial to the victims of COVID-19. All these events, taking place in public, manifested qualities associated with religious practices and the concept of the sacred. Pointing selectively to trends in religious geography (Kong) and utilising the concepts of liquid religion (de Groot) and iconic religion (Tweed, Knott), this case study describes and analyses those events and shortly discusses their public reconciliatory character. It claims that the religious or sacral character of public objects or acts in a secular setting is permanently subject to questioning, contesting and opposition. Ritually enacted boundaries between non-negotiable values (the sacred) and values permanently negotiated (the profane) are always temporary and elusive in the public domain, as so it is with public acts of reconciliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we present our findings of an early appearance of the Monkeypox virus in Prague, Czech Republic. A retrospective analysis of biological samples, carried out on the 28th of April, revealed a previously unrecognized case of Monkeypox virus (MPxV) infection. Subsequent data analysis confirmed that the virus strain belongs to the ongoing outbreak. Combined with clinical and epidemiological investigations, we extended the roots of the current outbreak at least back to 16th of April, 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersed spores, cryptospores, scolecodonts, acritarchs, prasinophytes and chitinozoans, dated by graptolites as being middle Sheinwoodian (early Wenlock, ca 432 Ma), are described from the Loděnice-Špičatý vrch locality, Prague Basin, Czech Republic. Palynomorphs were macerated from a specimen (stored in the National Museum, Prague), with fragments of Cooksonia sp. and the zonal index graptolite Monograptus belophorus giving precise stratigraphic position within Monograptus belophorus Biozone. Important is the oldest occurrence of monolete spores. The number of spore taxa indicate that minimally six types of early vascular plants and probably two to three types of cryptosporophytes grew on the Svatý Jan Volcanic Island in the Prague Basin. The ecology of the first cryptospore and trilete spore producers within Sheinwoodian-Přídolí interval is discussed with special focus on first two globally important key events (after Homerian glaciation and during Přídolí) for earliest vascular land plants. The combination of palynological and palaeobotanical records confirms important role of volcanic islands of the Prague Basin for the evolution of early land plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the studies that compare potentially real (PR) to hypothetical outcomes with delay discounting (DD) and probability discounting (PD) compare monetary outcomes in American college samples and shows that hypothetical and PR monetary outcomes are discounted at similar rates. Fewer, if any, studies have examined discounting for PR vs hypothetical outcomes in non-American samples with outcomes other than money. Using a choice-questionnaire format and a within-subjects design, the relation between PR and hypothetical outcomes was examined in a Czech Republic sample. Importantly, food-related and monetary outcomes for both delay and probability discounting were examined. Sixty participants were recruited from the greater Prague area and completed four discounting tasks: the Food Choice Questionnaire, Monetary Choice Questionnaire, Probability Monetary Choice Questionnaire, and Probability Food Questionnaire in randomized order for both PR and hypothetical outcomes. Each of these measures has three magnitudes of outcomes embedded in the choices. For food-related outcomes, PR and hypothetical food outcomes were discounted similarly and significantly correlated across two of the three magnitudes of the Food Choice Questionnaire and across all three magnitudes of the Probability Food Choice Questionnaire. For monetary outcomes, PR outcomes and hypothetical outcomes were discounted similarly and were significantly correlated across all magnitudes of the Monetary Choice Questionnaire and Probability Monetary Choice Questionnaire. Magnitude effects were found across all four measures. These findings suggest that hypothetical and PR food and money outcomes are discounted similarly for both DD and PD and extends the discounting literature on similarity between real and hypothetical discounting to food-related outcomes to European community samples and discounting choice questionnaires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current pilot report, we draw on and further develop our previous research examining pre-service teachers' attitudes and beliefs about accents, in which we proposed a pedagogical intervention reflecting certain aspects of our research outcomes, mainly the positive trend of embracing one's non-nativeness. A set of four classroom activities, namely Nativeness perception test, Four corners, Bank of experiences and Sociodynamic teacher, were incorporated into three different online graduate courses in the winter and summer semesters 2020/2021 at the Department of the English Language and Literature, Faculty of Education in Prague. The piloting process was partly replicated in face-to-face classes of the following academic year. The overarching goal was to raise awareness of accent variation, especially in such a linguistically homogenous country as the Czech Republic and cultivate future teachers' ability to address accent-related issues confidently, objectively and sensitively. The subsequent scrutiny of participants' recorded discussions, written and/or oral feedback, submitted tasks as well as teachers' observations indicated increased awareness of accent variability and a raised level of pedagogical confidence in approaching accent in the classroom context. Particularly, the respondents proved to be highly creative when devising adequate and supportive reactions to imagined negative comments related to accents or preventing them by specifically designing their lesson plans. Furthermore, the pedagogical intervention was appraised by the participating graduate students in their reflective assessment one year later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mortar beds of four late 19th‐century mosaics from the Czech Republic and one mosaic from Austria were investigated using scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (SEM‐EDS), differential thermogravimetry (DTG), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) to search for common materials' features supporting the hypothesis of their origin in the Austrian workshop of the Neuhauser company. A significant similarity of mortars from three Czech (Prague) mosaics was found. They contained 12–21 wt% linseed oil. Their technology was based on traditional 17th‐century recipes. Their Austrian origin seems highly probable. Two remaining mortar beds differed not only from the Prague mosaics but also from each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]