NOVEL TRENDS IN CHEMISTRY, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION at the Faculty of Science of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice 2024

E-book

Adela Kravčáková - Stanislav Vokál - Janka Vrláková 

The presented “General Physics IV, Part 1: Atomic Physics” is intended as a basic study material for lectures from General Physics IV in the second year of bachelor-level study of physics and interdisciplinary study in combination with physics at the Faculty of Science, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice. The content covers the first part of the given course of physics, devoted to atomic physics.

The aim of the course is to obtain basic information about the structure of the atom and the electron shell of the atom.

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E-book

Milan Žukovič

The textbook Computational Physics I covers the topics taught in the course of the same name at the bachelor's level of the Physics study program, as well as in the course Application of Numerical Methods at the bachelor's level of the Applied Informatics study program.

The text builds upon the basic course in numerical methods, focusing on explaining the fundamental principles of computer-based solutions to some typical physics problems. It includes both the area of deterministic methods for solving problems modeled by ordinary and partial differential equations, as well as the area of stochastic Monte Carlo simulations. The course Computational Physics I lays the foundation for further study of more advanced computational methods taught at the master's level in the subject Computational Physics II. Nowadays, the use of computers as a tool for solving real physics problems, and for students as a tool for preparing their final bachelor's or master's theses, is almost indispensable.

This has led to the creation of numerous user-oriented software packages in various environments for solving a wide range of problems. However, without a thorough understanding of how individual computational techniques work, these programs become black boxes with many pitfalls and risks in their use. Therefore, this text emphasizes understanding both the strengths and weaknesses of individual methods and the assumptions for their successful application.

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E-book

Gabriela Andrejková - Ľubomír Antoni

Machine learning addresses the issues of how computer programs recognize complex patterns and make decisions based on data. In these university textbooks, we focus on theoretical knowledge in the field of machine learning in which we present the creation of concepts for objects, the preparation of concepts, hypotheses and the process of learning from examples. We describe Boolean formulas and their representations, probabilistic learning, linear and logistic regression, linear modeling and classification. Clustering and the Bayesian approach to machine learning conclude this publication.

University textbooks are intended for students of master's degree programs in computer science.

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E-publication

Michal Goga-Marko S. Sabovljević-Martin Bačkor-Dajana Kecsey-Deepti Routray

A comprehensive guide that introduces you to the fascinating diversity and systematics of lower plants. These practical lessons are designed to provide hands-on training, allowing students to engage directly with the interesting study of Cryptogams by observation, analysis, and identification and experimentation. Beginning with the overall idea of cryptogam in a field trip near by the vicinity of Botanical garden then followed by the basics of microscopy in, will help to gain essential skills in understanding the components and proper usage of a microscope, a fundamental tool in botanical studies.

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E-book

Miroslav Almáši(ed.)

The proceedings of the conference 60 YEARS OF SCIENCE AND EDUCATION IN THE FIELD OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY IN EASTERN SLOVAKIA comprise a collection of scholarly and scientific contributions presented on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry at the Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. The conference focused on reviewing the scientific, research, and educational activities in the field of inorganic chemistry in eastern Slovakia and highlighting significant achievements accomplished over the sixty-year history of the department. The abstracts included in the proceedings cover a broad range of topics that reflect current trends and directions in inorganic chemistry. The proceedings are thematically divided into four main areas, encompassing contributions dedicated to inorganic, coordination, bioinorganic, and materials chemistry. This collection offers a valuable overview of the current state of research in inorganic chemistry, as well as its teaching and historical development in eastern Slovakia..

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E-book

Zuzana Kudličková(ed.)

Proceedings of Abstracts from the Scientific Conference with International Participation Organized on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, held on June 8–10, 2016 in Košice.

The Department of Organic Chemistry was established on February 1, 1966. From its inception, the department’s development prospects have been linked to high-quality scientific research focused on the synthesis of isothiocyanates and the products of their nucleophilic additions. In addition, studies were conducted on the use of cycloaddition, cyclocondensation, and photocyclization reactions of heterocumulenes in the synthesis of heterocycles.

Currently, research at the Department of Organic Chemistry is concentrated on stereoselective syntheses of iminosugars and γ-lactam-β-lactone antibiotics, total synthesis of natural compounds and their analogues possessing a sphingoid structure, research into the synthesis of indole alkaloids from the phytoalexin group, and the synthesis of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors based on acridine and coumarin derivatives.

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E-book

Ondrej Krídlo - Gabriel Semanišin

For computer scientists, the constant challenge is to seek efficient algorithms and various technical and implementation possibilities to improve the computational complexity of currently known algorithms. Partial solutions are offered by approaches such as grid-based methods and parallelization of computation. Quantum computers represent a significant but still unfulfilled promise. From a theoretical perspective, probabilistic and approximation approaches provide very effective solutions, and these are the methods we aim to explore in detail.

These electronic university textbooks serve as supplementary materials for the course Approximation and Probabilistic Algorithms. They were developed from the authors' materials and contributions by Prof. RNDr. Viliam Geffert, DrSc., whom the authors thank for providing the manuscript. Acknowledgments also extend to RNDr. Ján Katrenič, PhD., who prepared the first set of exercises for the course, and Žaneta Semanišinová, who reviewed large portions of the text and contributed suggestions for its improvement.

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Marcel Uhrin - David Jandzik - Andrej Čerňanský - Michal Rindoš - Blanka Lehotská - Stanislav Danko - Ján Kautman - Peter Mikulíček - Peter Urban - Daniel Jablonski

Bibliographies provide basic scientific information, illustrate quality and intensity of research in a particular topic, area, or time, and thus help build a cultural-historical perspective of society’s appreciation of knowledge and education. Here we provide a bibliography of herpetological research in the region of Slovakia between the years 1791 and 2017. We collected 2,183 references authored by 1,453 different authors and covering all species of amphibians (18) and reptiles (13) occurring in Slovakia and, in addition, amphibian and reptile taxa occurring in 94 other countries.

Most of the contributions were published in popular magazines and non-indexed journals, while only about 12% of all references represent scientific articles from journals indexed in relevant scientific databases. The extensiveness of study on amphibians and reptiles has varied among different periods within the selected time frame. However, an obvious intensification in the field of herpetology can be observed, especially during the second half of the 20th century. While there have only been few professionals specialized in herpetology, an important role in promoting the research and conservation of amphibians and reptiles in Slovakia has been played by non-governmental organizations and hobbyists. The most frequent type of herpetological data in the referenced literature comes from faunistic research, followed by conservation and general information on herpetofauna, with the majority of published articles in indexed journals coming from the fields of palaeontology, phylogeography, and population genetics.

The presented bibliography is the first step towards building a solid base for future systematic herpetological research in the country and Central Europe.

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E-book

Juraj Ševc - Anna Alexovič Matiašová

Among students of single-discipline and interdisciplinary biology studies at faculties with a natural science focus, there often arises a problem in defining the scope of the curriculum when studying the subject of Human Anatomy. The presented study material aims to help students of non-medical scientific fields navigate the extensive anatomical terminology and to limit the amount of required anatomical terms to an optimum, so that alongside mastering Latin nomenclature, students still have sufficient capacity to memorize additional knowledge in the areas of systemic, comparative, developmental, and functional anatomy.

Emphasis on organizing individual anatomical terms into logical units simultaneously supports a hierarchical view of the architecture of the human body. Despite its seemingly self-serving nature, anatomical terminology thus becomes the framework upon which students build knowledge from more or less related scientific disciplines studying the human body and the processes occurring within it throughout their further studies. At the same time, alongside this ambition that goes beyond the scope of the anatomy discipline, the Anatomical Terms follow a long tradition of anatomical handbooks while respecting the valid Latin and Slovak anatomical nomenclature.

This script represents a practical supplement to university textbooks of Anatomy or Neuroanatomy and especially to anatomical atlases, but it certainly does not aim to replace them. Here you will find all the necessary terms gathered in one place, which you can always have at hand on your phone, e-reader, or laptop. The emphasis on organizing individual anatomical terms into logical units supports a hierarchical view of the architecture of the human body, and the inclusion of a brief introduction to each system is intended to encourage you to seek further, more detailed information about the structure and function of the given organ system.

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E-book

Jozef Bednarčík (ed.)

The European Magnetic Sensors and Actuators Conference (EMSA) is a consolidated European forum that serves to assess the status, recent progress, and development in the field of magnetic sensor technology and magnetic actuators. It was first held in 1996 in Iasi (Romania) and since then has continued every two-three years in different European cities. The aim of the conference is to generate an overview of research in magnetic sensors and actuators, to recognize their relevance in modern industry and to identify potential future collaborations. EMSA 2024 will provide an excellent opportunity to bring together scientists and engineers from universities, research institutes and industry to present and discuss their most recent results covering both fundamental and applied aspects of magnetic sensors and actuators.

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E-book

Vasyl Cherlinka - Michal Gallay - Yuryi Dmytruk

The textbook is a practical guide to predictive mapping of soil types and properties in R. It bridges digital soil mapping theory with hands-on practice, covering the full workflow from data acquisition and preprocessing to validation and uncertainty quantification. Early chapters introduce the tidyverse ecosystem and the sf and terra packages for spatial data handling. Subsequent parts address modelling of categorical variables (soil types/WRB) and continuous variables (soil organic carbon) using Random Forest, Cubist, and Quantile Regression Forests. Step-by-step code examples show training/testing, feature selection, accuracy metrics, and model interpretation. Reproducibility and cartographic best practice are emphasised. A Slovakia case study demonstrates real-world application while outlining limits and generalisability. The book targets bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD students in geography, geoinformatics, environmental and agricultural sciences, as well as practitioners. Written in English, it fits international courses and mobility programmes.

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E-publication

Beáta Valkayed.
Ivana Slepáková-Lenka Maliničová a kol.

The EFFUSE Teacher's Guide is a practical educational material for primary and secondary school teachers who want to develop environmental awareness with their pupils through field-based learning. It is based on the concept of the EFFUSE project (‘Environment for the future by science education’), which aims to link science, research and education with environmental protection. The manual provides teachers with methodological support for planning and implementing outdoor activities aimed at observing and documenting organisms around the Laborec River and the Uh River. It contains instructions for working with real samples, basic biomonitoring procedures and offers the opportunity to participate in the creation of a virtual laboratory that mirrors the state of the local aquatic ecosystem. Through these activities, pupils will learn to understand the links between human activity and the state of the environment, while learning the basics of how scientists work in the fields of biology and ecology. The guide also motivates teachers to become agents of positive change, inspire the younger generation to be active and engage the community in conservation. It is a challenge and an opportunity to create a space for meaningful learning in line with current trends in environmental and digital education.

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E-book

Natália Raschmanová - Ľubomír Kováč

The text summarizes the basic knowledge about the functioning of the soil ecosystem with a focus on soil protists and dominant groups of soil animals. Characteristics of each soil animal group include basic morphology, ecology, distribution, population dynamics and their importance in the soil ecosystem. The aim of the text is to gain a basic understanding of the diversity and interactions of soil fauna with the soil environment. It deals with the ecological classification of soil fauna on the basis of body size, presence in the soil during the life cycle, food preference and by locomotion. It highlights important morphological and ecophysiological adaptations of soil fauna to physical and chemical environmental factors. The text also gives an overview of the basic methods in the field collection of soil fauna and their extraction from soil samples under laboratory conditions. It further informs on the method of taxonomic identification and ecological evaluation of soil fauna communities. Discusses the soil fauna of different types of ecosystems. It highlights the differences in soil fauna communities that inhabit grassland and forest habitats, and agricultural soils. This teaching material is intended for students in biology degree programmes.

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E-book

Jozef Bednarčík (ed.)

Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice under the auspices of Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic and European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Facility GmbH in Hamburg organizes School of XFEL and Synchrotron Radiation Users 2024 (SFEL 2024). The school is continuation of the Winter Schools of Synchrotron radiation held in 2011, 2013, 2014 and SFEL 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. The aim of the SFEL2024 school is to facilitate the growth of new Slovak research community of high expertise in high-efficiency RTG laser and synchrotron and neutron sources. The SFEL school is designed for efficient transfer of the rapidly developing know-how in these areas to young generation – researchers and university students. The next aim of the SFEL2024 is strengthening of personal connections between the local Slovak research community and forming scientific teams of XFEL users. Slovak research community thus can take advantage of the fact that Slovakia is a shareholder of European XFEL GmbH Company in Hamburg, but also makes more efficient use of other closely related scientific facilities, including ILL and ESRF in Grenoble and DESY in Hamburg.

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E-book

Vladimír Sedlák

The university textbooks entitled Global Navigation Satellite Systems: GPS, GLONAS, Galileo, Compass present four navigation systems of the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems): American NAVSTAR GPS, Russian GLONASS, European Galileo and Chinese Compass. The Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) are also briefly explained. They provide regional service in augmenting the reach and support of signals from satellites of the GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Compass). Each satellite navigation system in the frame of GNSS is elucidated in terms of its principles of operation, structure, specificities, applications, and future perspectives.

The university textbook aims to improve the reader’s understanding of the principles and activities of the presented GNSS. The book emphasizes the possibilities of GNSS applications in geodesy and geography. The university textbook constitutes the basic study literature for the class Global Navigation Satellite Systems within the study program Geography and Geoinformatics at the Faculty of Science of the Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. For a deeper study of the GNSS issue, it is necessary to extend the study materials to include other educational scientific literature dealing with navigation satellite systems and their applications.

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E-book

Renáta Oriňaková

We have prepared a publication that focuses on the personalities of professors. These personalities represent entire scientific teams, participated in the creation of new study programs, and had a significant impact on the formation of the faculty. Factually, we tried to capture the basic data in a uniform structure. We are building on a similar publication from ten years ago, which greatly helped us, especially with professors who worked at the faculty many years ago and whose memories are gradually fading. The ambition of the publication is to contribute to the preservation of basic information that is closely related to the history of the faculty.

doc. RNDr. Roman Soták, PhD. Dean of the Faculty of Science, UPJŠ in Košice

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