University of Constantine the Philosopher

About: University of Constantine the Philosopher is a education organization based out in Nitra, Slovakia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Foreign language & Population. The organization has 685 authors who have published 1154 publications receiving 12918 citations.

Influence of composition and preparation conditions on some physical properties of TeO2–Sb2O3–PbCl2 Glasses

Abstract: We report the influence of composition on electrical, dielectric and optical properties of x TeO 2 – y Sb 2 O 3 – z PbCl 2 glass system prepared in silica crucibles in air, where x ∈ 〈40, 80〉, y ∈ 〈0, 20〉, z ∈ 〈10, 50〉. The properties of 70TeO 2 –10Sb 2 O 3 –20PbCl 2 composition, prepared in various crucibles, under various atmospheres, melted and annealed under different temperature regimes, are also reported and discussed. The DC conductivity increases with increasing content of PbCl 2 while the conduction activation energy decreases at the same time. On the other hand the DC conductivity slightly decreases with increasing concentration of Sb 2 O 3 . Temperature dependences of the DC conductivity follow Arrhenius law characterized by single activation energy. The static permittivity shows surprisingly large dependence on used crucibles. Yellow glasses prepared in alumina crucibles have the highest both DC conductivity and static permittivity. Dark glasses prepared in glassy carbon crucibles have the lowest values of both these quantities. The color of studied glasses depends on composition, used crucibles and the duration of annealing near T g . IR transmission spectra as a function of used crucibles have also been investigated.

Occupational Hazards and Risks Associated with Phthalates among Slovakian Firefighters.

Abstract: Despite increasing attention to the occupational risk of firefighters, little is known about phthalate exposure. In our study, we detected mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-n-buthyl phthalate (MnBP), mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (5OH-MEHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (5cx-MECPP), and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (5oxo-MEHP) in each urine sample. We detected positive association between MnBP, MiBP, mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), 5OH-MEHP, 5oxo-MEHP, 5cx-MECPP, mono-isononyl phthalate (MiNP), the sum of low (∑LMWP) and high molecular-weight phthalates (∑HMWP). and Tiffeneau–Pinelli index (the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1/ forced vital capacity; FEV1/FVC; p = 0.001−0.04) and the percent predicted value (%PV) of FEV1/FVC (p = 0.005−0.05) and negative association between MiNP and peak expiratory flow (PEF; r = −0.31; p = 0.084). We observed a positive association between phthalate metabolites (MnBP, 5OH-MEHP, 5oxo-MEHP, 5cx-MECPP, 2cx-MMHP, ∑LMWP, and ∑HMWP) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR; p = 0.003−0.09) and body shape index (ABSI; p = 0.039−0.09) and a negative association between MnBP, ∑LMWP, and hip circumference (p = 0.005−0.02). We detected association between concentrations of 5OH-MEHP, 5cx-MECPP, 5oxo-MEHP, and MnBP and consumption of food heating in plastic material in microwave (p = 0.02−0.04) and between probands who ate margarines and vegetable fat packed in plastic containers and concentration of MMP (p = 0.03). Results of multivariate regression indicated that exposure to phthalates could be linked with changing body structure, which subsequently affects values of pulmonary functions in firefighters.

Entropy and mutual information of experiments in the fuzzy case

Abstract: In my previous papers ([18], [19]) the entropy of fuzzy partitions had been defined. The concept of the entropy of a fuzzy partition was used to define the entropy of a fuzzy dynamical system and to propose an ergodic theory for fuzzy dynamical systems ([19], [20]). In this paper, using my previous results related to the entropy of fuzzy partitions, a measure of average mutual information of fuzzy partitions is defined. Some properties concerning this measure are proved. It is shown that the entropy of fuzzy partitions can be considered as a special case of their mutual information. We obtain that subadditivity and additivity of entropy of fuzzy partitions are simple consequences of these properties. The suggested measures can be applied whenever it is need to know the amount of information that we obtain by realization of experiments, the results of which are fuzzy events.

Cigarette Smoking, Friendship Factors, and Social Norm Perceptions among Central and Eastern European High School Students:

Abstract: Studies investigating smoking behavior among adolescents living in post-communistic Central-European countries are sparse. This study focused on the relationship between cigarette smoking, certain friendship factors, and social norm perceptions among 1,886 Central-Eastern European adolescents from high schools in Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Romania. Smoking behavior was related to having friends who smoke, ease or difficulty making new friends, time spent with friends after school and during evenings, and estimations of the prevalence of smoking by schoolmates. Because these youth appear to overestimate the prevalence of smoking by schoolmates, the use of a norms-correction strategy may have potential merit in smoking prevention efforts targeting these adolescents. Smoking prevention and reduction are critical issues for Central-Eastern European youth because they appear to smoke cigarettes at a high rate.