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The paper focuses on the message of the Byzantine Cyrillo-Methodian mission in Great Moravia, which lasted only a short time but became an important part of our common European heritage. The message of the mission of brothers from Thessalonica, whom Pope John Paul II had declared Co-Patrons of Europe, influenced the religious and cultural development of Slavic peoples. The spread of its cultural heritage through generations had a significant impact on political events in Central Europe as well. The purpose of the paper is not to provide an analysis of the influence of Cyrillo-Methodian mission among Slavs, but rather to pay attention to how the Cyrillo-Methodian heritage and tradition was used as cultural, national, social and political capital in the history of the Slovak nation. The paper briefly deals with political factors and ideological interests that significantly determined the possibilities and limits of the spiritual and social message of these Christian theologians, teachers and missionaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perception of innovation and innovation management in a selected area of tourism, which is hotels in historic buildings, represents a key aspect in the current environment where dynamism and rapid change require constant adaptation and progress. Tourism, as an industry, is immensely influenced by social, technological, and environmental factors, which raises the need for a systematic approach to innovation and its management. The aim of the present paper is to elaborate and evaluate the impact of innovative approaches on competitiveness and sustainable development in this sector through the method of scientific abstraction. The results of the paper emphasize the need for education and education to improve the awareness and importance of innovation and its benefits for sustainable tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the application of selected system and operational analysis methods in fire modelling. In the first part, the paper deals with the analysis of multi-criteria decision making using the AHP and TOPSIS methods, in which each method is described. The multicriteria decision making is based on the selection of one most suitable program for modelling confined space fires from three alternatives. These options are CFAST, PyroSim and FDS. The main objective of the paper is to select one most suitable program for modelling confined space fires from three alternatives using two multi-criteria decision making methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation is a key driver of success in the business environment, so it is important to understand how different factors can influence the decisions and behaviour of entrepreneurs. This paper examines the significant differences in motivational factors for entering entrepreneurship between men and women. Based on a review analysis of existing research and studies, the paper identifies and explains the differences in motivational factors between the two genders. The results show that men and women have different motivations in deciding to become entrepreneurs. Men are often more driven by financial benefits and the competitive environment, while women are more motivated by the opportunity for personal development, work-family balance, and potential contribution to society. The aim of this paper is to provide a deeper insight into the relationship between gender and entrepreneurial motivation, which could be beneficial not only for policy and business communities aiming to promote gender equality and inclusiveness in the world of entrepreneurship, but also as a starting point for exploring the motives for entrepreneurship of men and women in Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper describes the possibilities of using assistive software to efficiently create image datasets from digital library documents. The software described, in addition to the usual ways of working with data, uses machine learning features that have the potential to both make the work of annotators easier and to change annotation practices. At the same time, the emphasis is on simplicity and openness of the whole process. The aim is to highlight these elements through practical examples. Design / methodology / approach - After an introductory section, the possibilities for selecting and separating data from digital library documents are presented. At the same time, the limitations of these approaches are pointed out. Based on these insights, possible approaches and the use of assistive software are then explored in order to overcome these limits. The methods are described based on the practical use of the software in the annotation process. The validation of the machine learning features is performed using, among others, the visualization technique Class Activation Mapping and the F-score metric. Results - The described approaches and the use of assistive software with machine learning features proved to be very beneficial. The software not only makes the work of the annotators easier but also considerably faster and more accurate. The versatility of the tested machine learning model also proved to be a great positive, allowing to extend the annotation processes beyond the initially assumed use and thus giving room for further research in this area. Originality / value - The technical paper highlights possible approaches to use assistive software to facilitate the creation of datasets for documents with a limited number of identifiers, such as a digital library, without the need for commercial tools. It also shows practical examples of how machine learning can be used to make these processes more efficient. Examples of how these processes can be used universally are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the issue of purposeful influencing of public opinion through the so-called "troll farms" -- organized groups of individuals carrying out a disinformation agenda on social media. The article highlights the role of these organized entities in spreading disinformation and propaganda and their effects on the social and political landscape. It analyzes their role in manipulating public opinion and influencing political processes around the world, specifically in Ukraine, the USA, France, the United Kingdom, India, Brazil, and Slovakia. The article also examines the consequences of this issue for democracy, political discourse, and society as a whole, including societal polarization, disruption of political processes, erosion of trust in institutions, and the creation of conflicts. It also addresses possible countermeasures and strategies for the future at various levels -- from individuals and communities to technological companies, governments, and international organizations. The aim of this paper is to explore the mechanisms of organized dissemination of disinformation, to analyze the impact of this phenomenon on global politics and society through specific case studies, and to introduce basic concepts and strategies related to countering disinformation campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of the article is the place of history in the development of cultural relations between Czechoslovakia and Italy between 1948 and 1989. Cultural relations are an inseparable part of bilateral relations between countries, and this is true in the case of the complicated relations between Czechoslovakia and Italy in the period from the rise of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia in 1948 to its demise in 1989. History, in its various forms, also had an indispensable place in these relations. This was due to the general fact that the regime in Czechoslovakia used historical themes and adapted their content as part of its promotional action not only for its own population but also in international relations. It was also due to the specific features of the historical development of the two countries and a number of common features. This paper deals with the wide range of traces that the question of history has left in Czechoslovak-Italian relations. First, it concerns the question of historical scientific research carried out by Slovak and Czech scholars (historians or archivists) in Italy based on a cultural interstate agreement, an agreement between academies of sciences or outside the framework of agreements, and the formal and informal relations between professional historians of both countries. Another aspect examined is the place of historical themes in cultural, popularization and propaganda activities in the form of films, lectures, exhibitions, museums, celebrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents reflexively the previous interpretations of the dual forms visnije Moravě and the ethnonyms Marhari and Merehani, evidenced in the 9th century manuscript of the Bavarian Geographer. The author recalls the ever-inspiring interpretations of Pavel Jozef Šafárik from his Slavonic Antiquities. He divided Upper Moravia (in later literature - from the time of Constantine Porphyrogenitus - traditionally referred to as Great Moravia) into the Danube and the Pannonian parts. Opinions according to which these are the territories of Pomoravie and Slovak Ponitrie are not correct or acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linguistic-cultural identity of Greek Catholic Slovaks in the first half of the 20th century was accompanied by efforts to use written Slovak in liturgical celebrations and spiritual songs. The paper analyses the origins and processes of this linguistic-cultural identification. Texts in Slovak were educational and culturally formative for the broadest layers of the Slovak Greek Catholic community and cultivated the linguistic culture and its Cyril and Methodius legacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ankle blood pressure (BP) is used in situations where the measurement of brachial BP is impossible. However, the methodology is not sufficiently standardized. According to comparative studies, ankle systolic BP is significantly higher than brachial systolic BP (by 12-20 mmHg). Diastolic BP and mean BP do not differ significantly. So far, only one professional society has published a position statement regarding ankle BP (British and Irish Hypertension Society). If the standard diagnosis of arterial hypertension using brachial BP is not possible, ankle BP with a threshold of = 155/90 mmHg can be used as an alternative. Ankle BP can be measured only in patients without peripheral arterial diseases. When measuring ankle BP, it is essential to follow the defined recommendations. The review paper presents current evidence based medicine and practical instructions for measuring and evaluating ankle BP. Fig. 1, Tab. 1, Ref. 9, on-line full text (Free, PDF) www.cardiologyletters.sk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Europe's competitiveness in global markets significantly affects the speed and degree of digitization. The success of the digital transformation depends on introducing reforms, improving the business environment, creating incentives, and increasing investments in digital technologies, digital skills, and digital infrastructure. The paper is focused on the analysis and mutual comparison of the overall DESI score and its dimensions of Slovakia with the EU-27 countries in 2022 and revealing the key determinants affecting Slovakia's digital performance within the European digital transformation. We used secondary data from the annual report of the European Commission, which has been published annually since 2014 to monitor the progress of member states in the field of digital technologies. Finland is the leader in the digital performance of the EU-27 countries in 2022, the worst score was achieved by Romania and Slovakia ranked 23rd in the DESI ranking with a score of 43.45. The lowest European average was achieved by dimension 3 - Integration of digital technologies (36.07%) and the highest average European rating was recorded for dimension 4 - Digital public services (67.35%). Slovakia achieved the worst results (24th position) for dimension 4 - Digital public services (52%). In conclusion, we can conclude that among the key determinants of Slovakia's digital performance are the following indicators from dimension 4 of the DESI index - Open data, Digital services for businesses and Digital services for citizens, which had a negative impact on Slovakia's digital performance in 2022. We recommend focusing on improving key indicators, which would help Slovakia improve its digital transformation within the European space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the text, the author examines the definition of the term homelessness and finds out how the authors explain this phenomenon, its causes and typology. The paper is interested in the impact of homelessness on society. It provides a detailed overview of individual homelessness typologies, explains the difference between apparent, hidden and potential homelessness. The article identifies the most fundamental causes of this phenomenon and clarifies the differences between the subjective and objective causes of homelessness. The author also points out the importance of the time period during which homelessness persists for individuals. It explains the link between the length of life on the street and social re-inclusion. In the context of his contribution, she emphasizes the importance of preventive measures with an emphasis on primary prevention, the application of which can significantly help to eliminate the deepening of homelessness. At the end of the article, the author emphasizes the key activities, the implementation of which is necessary to solve the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, we try to clarify the essence of the right to information, especially in the context of free access to information in the conditions of the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic. In connection with free access to information, part of the text also includes a comparison of the request for disclosure of information in the countries we examined, in terms of request as well as handling of the request by public authorities. In the paper, we also point out problematic areas in the investigated issue and think about solutions to these problematic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to theoretical knowledge, civic engagement is (among other things) determined by individual predictors - knowledge of foreign languages, interest in public affairs, monitoring of various information sources, higher education, belonging to a higher social class, older age, etc. The aim of the submitted paper is to find out the individual civic involvement in community or self-help activities (involvement in charity collections, self-help activities, ...) among students of the Faculty of Public Administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to analyse the marriage behaviour in Slovakia. We have chosen the crude marriage rate and the religiosity rate as the indicators to be studied. In the analysis we took into account both temporal and spatial aspects. We tracked changes in the time horizon from 1993 to the present at the level of districts in order to capture regional differences. Based on the collected data, we created map outputs in the QGIS that allowed us to identify important temporal landmarks and regional disparities. We also looked at the correlation between marriage rates and religiosity rates. In the final stage, we formulated conclusions based on the analysis of the data and maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article deals with the possibility and legality of the use of private social media during working hours by employees. The main objective of the present paper is first of all to find an answer whether realistically an employee can use his/her social media for private purposes during working hours in a way that does not put him/her in conflict with the law or with the employer's internal regulations. In the article, the author identifies the legal regulation that points to the possibility or impossibility of the employee performing this activity and analyses it in the light of the related context. The article also identifies the effects on the employer of the employee's use of social networks during working hours, which can be positive on the one hand and negative on the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human capital represents one of the most important values of a dynamically developing society. One of the way to achieve the development of human resources is to maximize human potential. The aim of the paper is to highlight coaching as a tool for human capital development and its contribution to human resource management. In the article, we focus on the theoretical starting points and specific opinions of many authors on the field of coaching. We point to the development of a new field of managerial coaching in management as well as to the application of the new role of the manager as a coach. At the same time, we describe the effectiveness and benefit of coaching for the development of human capital. The paper thus offers a closer look at the field of coaching and its use in management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the formation of ethnolinguistic and axiological research, the direction of which was set by Ján Doruľa. By systematically investigating the relationship between language and culture, the Jan Stanislav Institute of Slavic Studies confirms that language is an integral part of everyday culture, and at the same time, it is a tool for learning about individual and collective mentality, because its usage is deeply rooted in the consciousness of a particular community. Using culturally characteristic linguistic expressions, diverse interpretations of the image of the world are created, which are synergistically and syncretically combined in the Slavic and wider European context. The paper highlights important ethnolinguistic research programs that intersect with the domains of folkloric, spiritual, textual, and axiological themes within this Slavic academic institution. At the same time, we point to the value-based ethnolinguistic specificity of the research orientation of Slovak culture in the international context. This paper discusses the development of ethnolinguistic and axiological research, influenced by Ján Doruľa. It focuses on timeless topics within Slavic and non-Slavic linguistic-historical or linguistic-cultural relations. The Jan Stanislav Institute of Slavistics, to the founding of which Ján Doruľa contributed significantly, explores the connection between language and culture, affirming language's role in daily life and its reflection of individual and collective mentality within a particular community. Culturally distinctive linguistic expressions shape various interpretations of the world, which can be similar or divergent in the Slavic and wider European contexts. The paper highlights key ethnolinguistic research programs at the Jan Stanislav Institute of Slavistics, encompassing folklore, spirituality, values, and textual analysis. Finally, it illustrates the contribution of the ethnolinguistic focus of the Slovak research approach in an international context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on a selected group of biblical phrasemes [(po)zdvihnúť pätu (päty) proti niekomu; krívať (kuľhať) na obe (dve) nohy vs. krívať (kuľhať) na obe (dve) strany; kameň úrazu vs. kameň urážky]. In addition to the formal-semantic and communication analysis, their connection with the biblical source is given particular attention (based on Slovak translations of the Bible, comparing the contemporary translations with historical ones). The life path of biblical idioms in a diachronic-synchronic perspective is created, on the one hand, on the material base of the Historical Dictionary of the Slovak Language and selected historical written sources bearing witness to the past of the language; on the other, drawing on the material of the Slovak National Corpus (the corpus of Slovak texts available on the web), which provides testimony on the language of the present. The paper analyzes selected biblical phrasemes with a focus on their origin (source connection with the biblical text), formal-semantic interpretation (including registering and explanation of possible changes that phrasemes have undergone in the process of secularization), and communicative application (past and present). The analysis shows that the phraseme (po)zdvihnúť pätu (päty) proti niekomu (biblical source Ps 41,10; Jn 13,18), both in a diachronic and synchronic view, remains connected with the sphere of religious communication (it has not significantly penetrated the general communication). In the Slovak context, the form krívať (kuľhať) na obe (dve) strany and krívať (kuľhať) na obe (dve) nohy is connected with verse 18,21 1Kng. While the meaning of phraseme krívať na obe strany draws from the semantic qualities of the biblical text (doubleness, fickleness, playing both sides against the middle) and the unit remains bound to the religious communication sphere, in the case of krívať na obe nohy, a significant secularization process took place (meaning: not fulfilling certain requirements, not acquiring certain level, something unsatisfactory). What is more, the unit entered the general communication (phraseme of the general phraseological fund). Phraseme kameň úrazu (biblical source Is 8,14; 1Pt 2,7-8; Rom 9,32-33) is an example of how the qualitative change that occurs in the semantic structure of the word (urážka) over time affects phraseme with the relevant lexical component in its composition (existence of lexical variant of the phrase kameň úrazu/urážky in the past; invariance of kameň úrazu in the present). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Andrej Cvinček was a politically active priest. His involvement in politics was also noticed by the episcopate, especially by his superiors, the bishops of Nitra, who were authorised to control and approve his political activity in the light of canon law and the doctrine of the Church. In the present paper we want to analyse both Cvinček’s relations with the bishops and the influence of the episcopate on his views and actions in politics. For the sake of comparison, we have chosen three periods of Cvinček’s life that had different parameters in his political and ecclesiastical position. Before 1918, Cvincek was a young enthusiast of popular politics, but also a poor chaplain interspersed among Slovak village parishes. In the interwar period he became a canon, but found himself in the minority in Slovak political Catholicism. After the Second World War, Cvinček experienced a remarkable return to politics, in which he achieved a much more important position than in previous periods, and so his political importance also increased in the eyes of Slovak bishops. The aim of this paper is thus to examine Cvinček’s political career in the light of the fact that he was a Catholic clergyman. The priestly component of Andrej Cvinček’s personality is as essential to our research as the political one. Against this background, we can also observe the development of the ideas that were promoted in the ecclesiastical milieu. Therefore, our study intends to be a contribution not only to the knowledge of Cvincek in the light of political changes, but also to place his personality in the context of ecclesiastical development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the problem of teaching foreign language grammar using literature in secondary schools. Our aim is to propose and provide teachers of French as a foreign language with effective and practical didactic recommendations for teaching the past tense in French through a literary text. In selecting a particular text and in conceiving didactic recommendations, we take into account the potential of working with a literary text to contribute to the self-development of the learner, to the development of his/her reading and language skills, to the development of his/her critical thinking and other important aspects of his/her personality. The chosen text is an authentic literary text -- the Quebec short story Le petit bonhomme de graisse, which in terms of content and scope meets the criteria for selecting a text for the chosen didactic purposes. The proposed activities for working with the text are designed for learners with reference language level B1 according to the CEFR, where the learners encounter the chosen grammatical phenomenon and the problem of its application in communicative practice. From a linguodidactic point of view, the chosen text corresponds to this language level and does not need to be didacticised. The partial aim of this paper is to offer FLE teachers a tool for the development of grammatical competence and its application to learners' communicative practice. In proposing activities related to authentic literary text, we take into account Slovak learners in Slovak schools, but nevertheless these proposals are applicable in the educational system of other countries where French is taught as a foreign language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is drafted as an analysis and interpretation of a specific French travelogue of the 19th century. The main aim is to analyse work in the first part at the level of genre poetics and clarify its expressive qualities and their origin, in the second part the interpretation will focus on specific content in the form of representation of the Danube landscape and of sailing on the Danube. In the study, we focus on images of topographic objects, such as the town of Komárno, the town of Pressbourg and the Danube and the landscape in its catchment area between the towns of Pest and Pressbourg. In conclusion, we summarize the author's poetics at the divide of the Enlightenment and Romanticism and the most important topographic images involved in the creation of stereotypes. The findings presented in the paper form part of the dissertation research in the field of comparative literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex correlations between literature and science are currently being explored in a number of disciplines and from a variety of perspectives. In German-speaking countries, systematic research in this direction has intensified since the mid-1990s. Based on the certain opacity of existing models and approaches in this complex, we find it meaningful to show how the different research directions have been differentiated so far and how they are interconnected, furthermore which categories and concepts make up competing tensions and what these tensions mean, to what extent we can really speak of competing approaches or only of possible inconsistencies in the use of terminology. However, the main intention of this paper is to correlate the basic theoretical approaches within which the interdependencies between literature and science can be modelled and to attempt a kind of syntopia, albeit in a necessarily selective form. However, the aim of this paper is not to evaluate the approaches discussed or to offer explicit recommendations. Nor will the subject of any evaluation be the already existing more or less elaborated and generalized typologizations or systematizations, to which we will refer, however, for logical reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The article is a research study that deals with the results of research on the use of blended learning in the Czech university education environment, not only with regard to teaching itself, but also with support services and applications in relation to blended learning, including in faculty and university libraries. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions associated with it have proven that blended learning may be used within the university education system. Design / methodology / approach - In order to map the use and support of blended learning at Czech universities and in relevant libraries, a quantitative online questionnaire survey (CAWI) was conducted in the second half of 2022, in which students (N = 4715), academics (N = 1424) and libraries from twenty Czech universities and research units (N = 56). Results - More than half of Czech university students still prefer full-time study, while another third prefer combined study (combination of full-time study and study in another form). Most academics are convinced that online teaching cannot completely replace traditional face-to-face teaching, however, after the experience of the coronavirus pandemic, they enrich it with other additional forms. Students and academics also largely prefer electronic information sources for study and research. As for the participating libraries, they offer both support for blended learning and courses directly based on its use. The limitation for further development is primarily the lack of spaces that could be used for blended learning. According to the majority of respondents, individual study rooms or rooms suitable for watching online classes, as well as relaxation zones for students and spaces for teamwork, would make the use of blended learning at Czech universities significantly easier and more pleasant. Originality / value - The paper summarizes the way blended learning is used in the Czech higher education environment, while confirming the importance of teaching in the form of blended learning. It also draws attention to possible obstacles and limits preventing the achievement of the full potential of this form of education at Czech universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heart transplantation (HTx) is an established therapeutic method for a highly selected group of patients with terminal heart disease, unfavourable prognosis, and exploited options of pharmacological, device or surgical treatment. Morbidity and mortality of HTx recipients is determined by a variety of factors ranging from donor and recipient characteristics, peri-operative circumstances to risks of long-term immunosupressive treatment. There is a lack of data on survival and causes of death of HTx patients in the Slovak Republic. The aim of this paper was to analyse the survival and causes of death in patients who underwent HTx in the Slovak Republic. Patients and methods: The cohort consisted of 363 patients who underwent HTx at the National Cardiovascular Institute in Bratislava from March 21, 1998, to August 31, 2021. The patients are under a regular follow-up by the Centre, which keeps a registry of basic data. Recorded causes of death and selected indicators that are likely to influence the survival after HTx were analysed. Data that were not recorded in the registry were extracted from the available patient health records. Results: As of September 30, 2021, 144 (40%) of 363 patients died. Median survival of all HTx recipients was 14.8 (0 - 23) years. 30-day and one-year mortality rates were 9.6% and 17.1%, resp. The most common cause of death was non-specific graft failure (20%), followed by infection (15%) and sudden death (14%). Other causes included cardiac allograft vasculopathy (11%), malignancy (10%), and acute rejection (6%). In 24% of cases, the cause of death was represented by various and less common conditions (renal failure, bleeding, ileus, ischemic stroke, trauma, and other). In the early period (<30 days post-op, n = 35), graft failure, infection, and bleeding represented the main causes of death (57%, 14%, and 12%, resp.). From 30 days to 1 year (n = 27), infection and sudden death prevailed (44% and 19%, resp.). Sudden death, rejection, and malignancies were the dominant causes of death from 1 year to 5 years (n = 22; 50%, 23%, and 18%, resp.). After 5 years (n = 60), cardiac allograft vasculopathy, malignancies, and graft failure were responsible for most of the deaths (25%, 17%, and 11%, resp.). Recipients with a heart from donors = 40 years of age were statistically significantly less likely to survive than recipients with the graft from a younger donor (median 13.4 years vs. 14.5 years; p <0.05). No statistically significant differences in posttransplant survival depending on recipient's age, gender, primary diagnosis, pre-transplant left ventricular assist device implantation, and donor age and cause of death were found. Conclusion: Survival of the Slovak patients after HTx is comparable to international registries. The structure of causes of death is evolving with the time from surgery and reflects the dynamics of risk in particular periods after HTx. Our results document the high standard of long-term care of patients after HTx in the Slovak Republic. The main areas of potential improvement are immediate peri-operative graft and recipient care, prevention of sudden death, as well as prevention and early diagnosis of malignancies after HTx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of digital technologies and their popularity in e-commerce is undeniable. However, consumers need a certain level of digital skills. The main aim of the paper was to evaluate and compare the development of online shopping and the development of digital skills of consumers in the countries of the European Union from 2017 to 2021, and to point out changes and differences. All countries of the European Union, except for Germany and Luxembourg, recorded a growing trend of online consumers in the monitored period, while Ireland recorded the most significant year-on-year increase. The development of consumers with digital skills has been volatile, and in some countries, it has been declining. When comparing the share of online consumers and the share of consumers with digital skills, the results could not be generalized, since in some countries the values were at a comparable level, but in selected countries, the share of consumers with digital skills was higher than the share of online consumers and in other countries the opposite. The obtained results can be a basis for online sellers in the supporting the improvement of consumers' digital skills and, consequently, electronic commerce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presumption of innocence plays an important role in criminal proceedings as, in addition to being one of the fundamental principles, it contributes to a fair criminal trial. The author draws attention mainly to its regulation at the level of the European Union and also points out the efforts to harmonize this principle in all member states through several initiatives accomplished at the EU level, such as the adoption of the so-called of the Green Papers on the presumption of innocence or Directive EU 2016/343 of the European Parliament and of the Council from March 9th, 2016 on strengthening certain aspects of the presumption of innocence and the right to be present at proceedings before a court in criminal proceedings. The European Court of Human Rights mainly contributes to this harmonization with its jurisprudence, which fundamentally shapes its understanding. By analyzing several decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, it can be concluded that violations of the principle of the presumption of innocence occur quite often, therefore it is necessary to establish common rules for its observance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, digital transformation has also had a significant impact on the tourism industry. Individual services are digitized more effectively and thus bring with them a number of advantages for participants in the tourism sphere. One of the examples is a financial digital innovation in the form of new cryptocurrencies, which serve to carry out financial transactions in digital form. The paper discusses cryptocurrencies and their application in the tourism industry. The goal, through the method of scientific abstraction, is to develop a concept of theoretical starting points for the use of cryptocurrencies in the aforementioned industry. In conclusion, the results point to the fact that the advancement of the digital direction in tourism services as well as in its financial field will be a new trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the phenomenon of national cuisine and traditional food in the perception of Slovaks living abroad. Through a key study in selected localities in Canada, it follows the dishes referred to as „typical Slovak,“ their preferences, methods of preparation and presentation. As it turns out, the processes of perception of national cuisine or dishes labeled as typically Slovak in the environment of Slovaks abroad often have an emotional charge rather than rational justifications. In general, it could be said that the perception of the so-called national cuisine is a metaphor conditioned by individual experiences, patterns or family and historical experiences rather than a precisely identifiable reality, and they are closely correlated with the formation or maintenance of the national consciousness of individuals abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The culture and way of life of Slovaks and their descendants living in Canada (in the more than one hundred and fifty years of its existence on the American continent) has undergone several changes due to cultural changes (acculturation and assimilation) and the influence of globalization (and the presence of multiculturalism). These reasons are manifested by unique cultural elements and manifestations of the culture of Slovaks living outside the territory of the mother state. The paper maps and analyses the cultural potential of the Roman Catholic parish of St. Cyril and Methodius in Mississauga in the context of preserving and maintaining the culture and identity of Slovaks in this parish. It deals tangible and intangible cultural heritage, cultural organizations, institutions – associations, events and human resources. There are a number of Slovak institutions in Canada, which play a key role in maintaining the culture and identity of Slovaks. The results of the research can be the basis for further research and represent the status of activity and functioning of the Slovak community in Mississauga – a Roman Catholic Parish as an institution based on ethnic principle. The research material was obtained through short-term field research in April 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the last quarter of the 19th century until the period before the Second World War, the societies that inhabited the territories that today correspond mainly to Slovakia and the Czech Republic were one of the main senders of overseas migrants. In correlation with this, Argentina was one of the largest recipients of such migratory waves. Therefore, the permanent and systematic presence of Slovaks and Czechs and their descendants in Argentina can be understood primarily as a migratory phenomenon. Individuals who identify themselves as Slovaks, Czechs or Czechoslovaks, or their descendants, form collectives with certain specific characteristics, which, however, correspond to the general characteristics that can be attributed to the so-called ‘great immigration’. One step towards understanding the profile and dynamics of the presence of Slovaks and Czechs in Argentina and the collectives that followed them is to understand the dimensions of such a massive immigration process and its social, historical, and ideological framework. This paper aims to provide basic data that will contribute to this understanding. For this purpose, the general Argentine census, and statistical data on transoceanic immigration to that country and the regulatory, political, and ideological frameworks are presented, always considering the communities of interest and their sending and receiving states. In a parallel and complementary way, we present the questions that emerge from these data and that are related to the guiding questions of the research project that convenes us and that are proposed for future research work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural activities of the original Czecho-slovak colonists and their descendants in the Chaco province of Argentina are carried out on the family farm, the chacra. The aim of this paper is to reconstruct the development of the chacra as an independent productive and economic unit in the rural zone and to sketch selected specificities of farming on the area of the family farm. In terms of time, I focus on the period from the early 1920s (when the migration of Czecho-slovaks, or Moravians, Czechs, and Slovaks to Argentina became more massive) to the present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the years 1945 – 1948. The Slovak historiography calls this era the “people’s democracy”. A people´s government and democracy itself were supposed to be the cornerstones of post-war Czechoslovakia. The word “democracy” had not only been used very often in public by the organiser of the Slovak people’s uprising (Slovenské národné povstanie), but it was a keyword in all important political documents. Those intellectuals who were part of the revolution were fighting for a functioning democratic system, plurality, free elections, a pluralistic party system and a government that was approved by parliament. These ideals first materialized in the foundation of the Slovenská národna rada (National Councilof the Slovak Republic) and the founding of the Demokratická strana (Democratic Party in Czechoslovakia) in Banská Bystrica. Andrej Cvinček, a canon from Nitra (Slovakia), was an active player in this process. Cvinček was not only a politician with a Christian background, he was a politician who stood up against secular tendencies within the state and was a proponent of conservative political opinions. Cvinček was a forceful advocate of the Christian weltanschauung and the axioms, principles, and interests of his church and religious bodies and organizations. This paper wants to analyze his view on and perception of democracy in post-war Czechoslovakia. Cvinček was hinting at the extreme divergence of what communists described to be a people’s democracy and the very communist reality: this was a warning of what to expect from the immanent rise of totality. Simultaneously, we need to raise the question of whether changes in the political system and society had an impact on the convictions and the career of a politician that was fighting for church interests and Christian principles. This paper is based on materials kept in archives, press articles of his time, and memoirs of his contemporaries. The aim of this paper is, to a lesser extent, to portray his political career, but the focus is being laid on the creation of a typology of how he perceived and understood democracy and how democratic ideas were implemented in the given years 1944 – 1948. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing evidence of capturing human experience in daily life using intensive longitudinal data obtained via daily diaries or experience sampling. These data offer a wide range of information regarding the dynamics of mental processes and behavior and how they unfold within individuals over time and within specific situations. The aim of this paper is to present the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) in the context of mental health research and through selective examples explain the possibilities of how to use data for nomothetic and idiographic inferences and conclusions. This paper is not an exhaustive description of the ESM topic, but rather a brief overview of the emerging methods for capturing daily experience regarding psychopathology, its limitations and future perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current increase in prices (2022) in the European energy markets and its supply concerns hinder access to affordable energy. This paper aims to find out what everyday challenges households of pensioners face while considered the most energy vulnerable group in Slovakia. The theoretical framework is based on “energy culture” according to Stephenson et al. (2015). The paper uses a “bottom-up” approach by conducting 10 semi-structured interviews with energy vulnerable households of pensioners in Slovakia to capture their lived experiences. Analysis of the data points to systematic forces that drive energy poverty in Slovakia and shows that households of energy vulnerable pensioners have resigned towards solving their situation and therefore are not visible to policymakers. Moreover, the ambition of the paper is to contribute to the development of more effective policies and measures in Slovakia that are in accordance with the current EU objectives to protect vulnerable consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arrival of German guests in the territory of nowadays Slovakia has significantly formed the Slovak cultural environment in the Kingdom of Hungary since the 13th Century. However, the formation took place in both directions, so the Slovak (as the local) element naturally influenced the present German ethnic group. In this paper, we focus on mapping research focused on the Slovak-German relations. We present selected important scientific works from Slovak scientists as we try to declare on them the wide spectrum, that research in this field of Slavic studies offers. The study of Slovak-German linguistic and non-linguistic relations is a full-featured part of Slavistic research. It has a legitimate, well-founded place in the area of Slavic and non-Slavic contacts. This study is based on a mutual coexistence of these two different ethnic groups (Germans and Slovaks) in the territory of the former Kingdom of Hungary. In the paper, we were able to give some indication of a broad scope what this area offers. The broad scope for linguistic, historiographical or musicological research. However, they all have a common denominator, which is the importance of systematic archival research of written sources and, inter alia, presentation of its results. Thanks to complementary interdisciplinary research, we can have a better understanding of the past and the linguistic-cultural environment of Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we characterize unofficial anthroponyms in the class of single persons in one village in the Upper Myjava region (anthroponymic microsystem). The area of the Myjava Uplands represents the territory of the oldest and at the same time the most intensive Kopaničiar settlement in Slovakia. We present naming models, which are formed by functional members first name, surname, family name, individual characteristics, name of the house and appellative element. A functional member is a member defined by basic semantic features as an element with a special designation. In this paper, we try to approach the knowledge of Slovak unofficial anthroponymy, specifically unofficial anthroponymy in western Slovakia in the solitary-cottages area, Kopaničiar region. Based on field research, the paper presents the characteristics of living personal names in the class of single (unmarried) persons from one West Slovak microsystem, from one municipality in the upper Myjava region. The frequency of naming models (content and motivational) points to the center and periphery of productivity of individual types of living names. In the researched village in the given class, the most common model of living personal names is the first name in the official form and the surname according to the father, which has an anthropobase of the family name and the name of the house. In the living names, the most functional member is the first name with 28.25%, then the appellative element with 24.72% and the surname with 24.40%. The family name represents 19.42% and the individual characteristics 3.05%. The name of the house is the least with 0.16%. The high proportion of appellative elements in living personal names is mainly due to the descriptive naming and the considerable frequency of descriptive living names. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study deals with the activities of Slavia Catholica, a platform that operated within the international Catholic student organization Pax Romana between 1929 and 1938. It focuses on the preparation and conduct of the Slavia Catholica congress in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, in 1931. This international event of Slavic Catholic students dealt with the question of the Cyril and Methodius idea, its importance of dissemination in society. At the same time, the Slovak organizers from the Central Office of Slovak Catholic Students used it to promote Slovak Catholicism. It was the best organised congress among the seven Slavia Catholica congresses. The development of cooperation on the basis of Slavia Catholica was disabled by the political situation in Europe in 1938. The issue of the Slavic-oriented student societies is still a little explored area. The students were involved in several societies. One of the principles of their organisation was confessional affiliation. In 1921, the Catholic students in Slovakia created their own organisation, the Central Office of Slovak Catholic Students, which in 1924 became part of the international Catholic organisation of the student societies, Pax Romana. The aim of this organization was to spread Catholic solidarity and peace efforts after the end of the First World War. Within Pax Romana, an initiative was taken to create a special platform that would bring together the Slavic members of this organization with the aim of closer cooperation between Slavic Catholic students and to promote union with the Slavic Orthodox Churches. An important impetus for the rapprochement of Slavic Catholic students was the Congress of Catholic Students and Intellectuals held in Prague in 1926. Here the idea was presented that the Czechs and Slovaks were destined to play a mediating role between East and West because of their friendly attitude towards all Slavic peoples. The first activity of the Slavic platform within the Pax Romana was the First Congress of Catholic Slavic Academics, held in 1929 in Kraków. The platform was later given the name Slavia Catholica. Its congresses were successively held in Ljubljana, Bratislava, Zagreb, Poznan, Velehrad and Ljubljana. Further activities of Slavia Catholica were stifled by the hectic political events of 1938 and finally by the Second World War. The study discusses in detail the congress of Slavia Catholica in the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, in 1931. It was the best prepared Slavia Catholica congress due to its excellent organization and the papers presented. The papers of the congress focused on the need to cultivate the Cyril and Methodius idea, on its pedagogical significance, but also on the Pope's social encyclicals and their importance in the life of the Slavic people. The congress was used to familiarize the participants with the history of the Catholic Church in Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author of the study points out the state of research of genres in mythological prose in Slavic scientific discourse, mainly in the field of theoretical issues, the publication of source material, and in the field of classification and ethnolinguistical aspects. She confronts outcomes of non-Slovak research with the situation in Slovak folkloristics. Attention is given especially to the issue of terminology of folk text genre classification. These folk texts shed light on the subject of human contact with the surreal world. Author points to the ambiguity of the genre classification of this type of folklore text, which causes researchers considerable problems beyond the boundaries of folklore research. Author of the paper focuses on the ambiguity of terminology v Slovak folkloristics in relation with genre classification of folk texts, which shed light on the subject of human contact with the surreal world. She points out the state of research of genre classification of mythological prose in Slavic scientific discourse and confronts the conclusions of other, non-Slovak research with outcomes of Slovak folkloristic research. Attention is given especially to the debatable issue of terminology of folk text genre classification. Historical overview of genre classification terminology given by the author in this paper alludes to multiple scientific approaches to classification of genres and themes in folk text. The study doesn't provide a definite solution to this problem, but points out ways towards finding the optimal solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented study deals with an application of the names of the days of the week in Slovak oikonyms, which were motivated by the names of the days of the week in which the markets took place - e.g. Monday (Monday), Wednesday (Dunajská Streda), Thursday (Spišský Štvrtok), Saturday (Rimavská Sobota). This paper deals with an application of the names of the days of the week in Slovak oikonyms. Some of the names of Slovak municipalities were motivated by the names of the days of the week, e. g. Monday (Pondelok), Wednesday (Dunajská Streda), Thursday (Spišský Štvrtok), Saturday (Rimavská Sobota). The settlement names and their history indicate the efforts of secular and religious powers to eliminate markets on Sunday, mainly regular weekly markets, which is related to the consolidation of the position of Christianity in society. The situation was different in the case of annual markets, which increased the prosperity of cities and the state. The paper also stresses the use of the names of the week as oikonyms within the unofficial language of residents, which have transformed into the official toponymy, as well as the government's attempts to create an artificial name, however, not accepted by the language practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we bring information about the state of research on Slovak dialects in Serbia. In the introductory part we deal with the beginnings of research on these dialects. We pay special attention to the dialectological research of Jozef Štolc in the former Yugoslavia, as well as to the research on Slovak dialects in Serbia after Štolc. We also offer a look at current research on Slovak dialects in Serbia, in which an interdisciplinary approach played a crucial role. In the final part of the paper, we try to outline the perspectives of further research on the studied Slovak dialects. The research on Slovak dialects in Serbia intensified after the end of the Second World War, when systematic research on Slovak dialects outside Slovakia began under the leadership of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The dialectological research of Jozef Štolc, whose research activity was considered pioneering at that time, played a key role in this environment. His monograph Speech of Slovaks in Yugoslavia is still considered a milestone in dialectological research in the environment of Yugoslav Slovaks. Overall, it can be stated that it was J. Štolc who laid the foundations of Slovak dialectology in Serbia. In the years after the publication of Štolc's monograph, Slovak dialects in Serbia became the subject of systematic research by only a few linguists, mostly from Serbia, who followed the work of Jozef Štolc and the conclusions drawn by him. At present, attention needs to be paid to repeated, extended research, in which several experts with an interdisciplinary approach would participate. There is no doubt that these dialects which provide an opportunity for a deeper insight into the history of Slovak and the convergent development of the language in a foreign environment deserve comprehensive research from various aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to examine the differences and contexts in shopping in the perception of brands in terms of personality characteristics of customers. The analysis is to find out how much the respondents care about the brand or branded product. On the other hand, how the respondents can decide to buy the product and what their shopping behavior is. Within the core of the paper, it was necessary to conduct a questionnaire survey focused on the perception of brands by customers and their socio-demographic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tourism industry is a major driver of the world economy and influences many economies that are currently undergoing radical change. Sustainable tourism has the potential to contribute to regional development while protecting the natural environment and preserving cultural and historical heritage. The implementation of its principles requires human resources that can manage the necessary processes. The aim of the present paper is to investigate to what extent the issue of sustainable tourism development is implemented in tourism study programmes at Slovak universities. Higher education in tourism is currently possible in study programmes offered by seven universities in Slovakia. Most of the evaluated study programmes offer subjects that are prerequisites for the performance of managerial functions, promoting logical thinking and the ability for strategic management and decision-making. Theoretical subjects are in most cases complemented by compulsory work experience in the field. The issue of sustainable tourism development is in most cases embedded in the content of several courses, and three of the universities evaluated also offer separate courses focusing on this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the analysis and identification of opportunities for optimising electricity consumption in the context of temporary buildings. The study is based on real data obtained from electricity consumption measurements in a construction site. The main findings of the study include that temporary objects - mobile construction containers - have a significant share in the total electricity consumption during the construction period. The data analysis will focus on identifying the factors that influence electricity consumption and energy losses associated with these temporary objects. In particular, the proposed measures include upgrading electrical appliances to energy efficient systems and setting a fixed heating mode during the night in the cold months. The results of this study have the potential to contribute to improving the energy performance of construction projects and promote sustainability in the construction industry. Optimising electricity consumption in the context of temporary buildings can have a positive impact on the environment and reduce site operating costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tourism sphere is taking significant steps towards the digital future. Many digital tools have been applied at the market of its services, which allow participants of the tourism sphere to perceive the experience more intensively, travel more comfortably, protect their health to a greater extent and many others. The paper deals with a specific new digital tool in the form of virtual reality. The goal was to find out the registration of the existence of virtual reality as an innovation at the tourism market by its participants and to specify the attitude of the domestic public towards this digital tool. Through the method of questionnaire research, primary data were accumulated and subsequently evaluated using several methods. The results showed that the respondents are familiar with virtual reality and that they generally perceive it as an interesting tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]