Masaryk University

Multiobjective Engineering of Fibrin-Selective Thrombolytic Proteases with Enhanced Biocatalytic Efficiency and Inhibition Resistance

Abstract Thrombolytic enzymes represent an important class of proteolytic biocatalysts for medical applications, yet currently used FDA-approved variants, including alteplase and tenecteplase, remain limited by suboptimal catalytic efficiency, off-target activity, and susceptibil...

Highly inclusive teachers’ practices in responding to all students’ learning characteristics

Background Although inclusive education places strong emphasis on addressing all students’ strengths and needs, the understanding of student diversity in its broadest sense remains limited. Studies exploring how inclusion is implemented tend to focus on specific groups of learner...

Spinal-Multiple-Myeloma-SEG: A Dual-Energy CT Dataset Extended with Trabecular Bone Segmentation of Lumbar Vertebrae

We present an extension of the publicly available Spinal-Multiple-Myeloma-SEG dataset, a dual-energy CT imaging resource for multiple myeloma research. The purpose of this dataset is to enable voxel-wise analysis of vertebral bone microstructure by adding expert-validated segment...

Spite in litigation

Abstract This paper studies how litigation and settlement behaviour is affected by agents motivated by spiteful preferences under the American fee‐shifting rule compared to the English one. We conduct an experiment and find that litigation expenditures are overall higher under th...

Chemical Synthesis of Acybolins Reveals Their Antiproliferative Activity

Abstract An efficient synthetic access to the acybolin class of inducible secondary metabolites is being reported. The approach developed features coupling between the antibiotic (−)-bactobolin A and various acybolin side chains without the need for protecting groups. The biologi...

Analysis of structural errors in the AlphaFold DB v4 and v6

3D protein structures predicted using machine-learning techniques have become routinely used in research. One of the major sources of the predicted structures is the AlphaFold DB, providing predictions for over 240 million proteins. For a proper interpretation of predicted protei...

Current state of simulation-based education and training in anaesthesiology and intensive care specialist residency programmes

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based education and training (SBET) is as an essential component of competency-based education in anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine endorsed by European training standards. Therefore, data on its formal integration into national residency curricul...

Junior performance efficiency in relation to professional ranking entry and career-high ranking in male tennis players

Identifying junior performance characteristics associated with subsequent professional ranking outcomes remains an important challenge in tennis player development. This retrospective observational study examined associations between junior performance indicators and two distinct...

Association between injury and depression in ageing population: longitudinal evidence from the Czech HAPIEE study

Abstract Background Experiencing an injury can have profound and lasting effects on both physical and mental health. This impact is pronounced in ageing population, where an injury can substantially diminish quality of life. Given the vulnerability of this population, it is cruci...

Structurally Constrained Epistemic Ecologies in Disadvantaged Neighbourhoods: Trust, Authority, and Misinformation

This article offers a conceptual account of the epistemic conditions under which misinformation may become credible in structurally disadvantaged neighbourhoods. While dominant approaches often frame misinformation in terms of cognitive bias or media manipulation, the article dra...

Past and present phage therapy research and practice in the Czech Republic – contribution to phage therapy in Europe

Renewed interest in bacteriophage therapy, driven by the global rise of antimicrobial resistance, is accelerating efforts to establish its rational, evidence-based use in clinical practice. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the historical milestones, current status...

Excess mortality related to the COVID-19 pandemic by age, sex, and cause of death in the Czech Republic

Abstract Background The aim of the study was to estimate the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on excess all-cause mortality in the Czech Republic by sex, age group and cause of death. Methods National mortality data for the period 2015–2022 were used. For each...

Musculoskeletal pain in healthcare workers in Slovakia: a nationwide cross-sectional observational study

The main objective of our study is to examine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among healthcare workers in Slovakia. The cross-sectional study analyzed a sample of 801 healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists, nurses, paramedics, and medical doctors. Data collec...

European Association of Palliative Care White Paper on research priorities for family caregiving in palliative care: A systematic review of reviews

BACKGROUND: Family carers are central to providing high quality palliative care. However, gaps remain in our understanding of how best to support carers. In 2010, the European Association for Palliative Care published a White Paper on 'Improving Support for Family Caregivers'. Th...

Double Adaptation: Negotiating Closeness and Managing Boundaries in Journalist–Politician Relations

Closeness with politicians is both a professional resource and a potential risk for journalists, as it enables access to information but may compromise autonomy and integrity, particularly within today’s hybrid media environment. This study proposes the conceptual framework of do...

Hemorrhage Volume and Imaging Recommendations: Factors for Decision Making in the Care of Patients With Perimesencephalic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage (pmSAH) has a markedly better prognosis than aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Despite advances in noninvasive imaging, the role of repeat digital subtraction angiography (DSA) after negative initial high-qual...

Cortical Bipolarity Underlies Microtubule-Dependent Bidirectional Gliding in the Deep-Branching Apicomplexan Polyrhabdina pygospionis (Gregarinassina)

Manuscript in preparation — 30 August 2026 This is a work-in-progress manuscript prepared within Project No. 09I03-03-V04-00162, funded by the EU NextGenerationEU through the Recovery and Resilience Plan for Slovakia. This version is publicly deposited to document the current sta...

Lysine Oxidation by LOXL2 in Single Strands Versus Triple Helices: Implications for Collagen‐Related Diseases

ABSTRACT Collagen cross‐linking is essential for the structural integrity of the extracellular matrix. In several pathological conditions, the triple‐helical core of collagen is disrupted, and proline‐rich single strands occur. Lysyl oxidases (LOXs), enzymes that initiate cross‐l...

Navigating accountability: How Russian English-speaking media framed the 2014 sanctions and the Skripal case

This article explores how Russian English-speaking media, Russia Today and Sputniknews, framed the roles of the West on one side and Russia on the other in the case of the imposition of Western sanctions against Russia in 2014, reacting to the outbreak of conflict in eastern Ukra...

Surface DBD plasma functionalization of the interior of PVC and PTFE tubes: effects on surface properties and environmental safety assessment of leaching

This study investigates the internal surface modification of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) tubes using a liquid-electrode surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) plasma system. The approach addresses the “hollow body problem” by enabling unifor...