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Blanka Klímová is an Assoc. Prof. at the Department of Applied Linguistics and also head of this department. Her expertise includes English language teaching (ELT) and teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP), ELT and ESP pedagogy, using ICT in ELT and ESP, and psycholinguistics. Furthermore, she has had rich experience with research projects, such as GACR or Excellence projects run at UHK. She has published 10 papers in journals with IF and 14 papers in journals indexed in Scopus related to the research topic. Overall, she has 515 citations without self-citations in WoS (h-index 14).
At present, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias cannot be cured. Therefore, scientists all over the world are trying to find a new approach to prolong an active life of patients with initial dementia. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological pathways are investigated to improve the key symptom of the disease, memory loss. In this respect, influencing the neuromodulator acetylcholine via muscarinic receptors, such as cevimeline, might be one of the therapeutic alternatives. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential of cevimeline on the cognitive functions of AD patients. The methodology is based on a systematic literature review of available studies found in Web of Science, PubMed, Springer, and Scopus on the research topic. The findings indicate that cevimeline has shown an improvement in experimentally induced cognitive deficits in animal models. Furthermore, it has demonstrated to positively influence tau pathology and reduce the levels of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in the cerebral spinal fluid of Alzheimer’s patients. Although this drug has not been approved by the FDA for its use among AD patients and there is a lack of clinical studies confirming and extending this finding, cevimeline might represent a breakthrough in the treatment of AD.
Patrik Oleksak; Michal Novotny; Jiri Patocka; Eugenie Nepovimova; Jakub Hort; Jan Pavlik; Blanka Klimova; Martin Valis; Kamil Kuca. Neuropharmacology of Cevimeline and Muscarinic Drugs—Focus on Cognition and Neurodegeneration. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021, 22, 8908 .
AMA StylePatrik Oleksak, Michal Novotny, Jiri Patocka, Eugenie Nepovimova, Jakub Hort, Jan Pavlik, Blanka Klimova, Martin Valis, Kamil Kuca. Neuropharmacology of Cevimeline and Muscarinic Drugs—Focus on Cognition and Neurodegeneration. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22 (16):8908.
Chicago/Turabian StylePatrik Oleksak; Michal Novotny; Jiri Patocka; Eugenie Nepovimova; Jakub Hort; Jan Pavlik; Blanka Klimova; Martin Valis; Kamil Kuca. 2021. "Neuropharmacology of Cevimeline and Muscarinic Drugs—Focus on Cognition and Neurodegeneration." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 16: 8908.
Teaching and learning have radically changed in the COVID-19 era and highlighted many novel aspects of online teaching and learning. Based on a qualitative content analysis of central European university students’ responses, the aim of this study is to discuss their reflections on the use of digital media in foreign language classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The key method of this qualitative study includes focus group interviews. The results reveal both advantages and disadvantages of online foreign language teaching and their impact on students’ second language (L2) acquisition. The positive aspects involve satisfaction with being able to study a foreign language from the comfort from their homes, avoidance of commuting to school, ample opportunities to review the learning material, or improvement of listening skills. On the contrary, the negative aspects included a striking lack of social contact in the form of face-to-face classes, absence of collaboration between the teacher and students and between the students themselves in order to share and build on their knowledge and experience, health issues associated with a frequent exposure to technologies, or a lack of possibility to develop speaking skills. In conclusion, the authors of this study provide several implications for teaching practice, technology experts, and other stakeholders, which must be considered very seriously, as they represent the opinion of the users of online learning.
Blanka Klimova; Marcel Pikhart; Anna Cierniak-Emerych; Szymon Dziuba. A Qualitative Analysis of Students’ Reflections on the Current Use of Digital Media in Foreign Language Classes. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9082 .
AMA StyleBlanka Klimova, Marcel Pikhart, Anna Cierniak-Emerych, Szymon Dziuba. A Qualitative Analysis of Students’ Reflections on the Current Use of Digital Media in Foreign Language Classes. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (16):9082.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBlanka Klimova; Marcel Pikhart; Anna Cierniak-Emerych; Szymon Dziuba. 2021. "A Qualitative Analysis of Students’ Reflections on the Current Use of Digital Media in Foreign Language Classes." Sustainability 13, no. 16: 9082.
The paper deals with a possibility of foreign language learning (FLL) intervention in older adults as a psychosocial rehabilitation method to improve the quality of life (QoL) in this age segment, i.e. the people who are over 55 years. FLL has been researched as a successful tool to maintain or even enhance cognitive functions in older age along with other intentional activities, such as engagement in any physical activity. FLL cannot dramatically improve memory and cognitive deterioration of older adults, however, it can improve QoL by increasing subjective happiness that is connected to improved wellbeing. The research was conducted in two groups of seniors who are engaged in FLL, specifically in the Czech Republic and Poland. The major premise of the research was based on the positive psychology concept, i.e., the subjective happiness leads to improved levels of QoL. Both groups consisted of about a hundred respondents whose opinions were researched by an online questionnaire. The major focus of this questionnaire was to evaluate the level of subjective happiness and then compare the results obtained from the respondents from these two geographically different regions. The findings clearly showed that those who had engaged in FLL had reached high levels of subjective happiness, therefore, their subjective wellbeing could be improved. These results might be important for psychosocial rehabilitation practices because they can create a framework for further non-pharmacological intervention to maintain healthy aging. FLL can thus be a very efficient tool for any psychosocial rehabilitation in older healthy adults who do not suffer from any cognitive pathological development but who are just experiencing negative side effects of natural aging process. The research into this topic is very scarce, and therefore, this paper could be an inspiration for further and larger-scale research.
Marcel Pikhart; Blanka Klimova; Anna Cierniak-Emerych; Szymon Dziuba. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Through Intervention by Second Language Acquisition in Older Adults. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research 2021, 50, 1181 -1196.
AMA StyleMarcel Pikhart, Blanka Klimova, Anna Cierniak-Emerych, Szymon Dziuba. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Through Intervention by Second Language Acquisition in Older Adults. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research. 2021; 50 (5):1181-1196.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarcel Pikhart; Blanka Klimova; Anna Cierniak-Emerych; Szymon Dziuba. 2021. "Psychosocial Rehabilitation Through Intervention by Second Language Acquisition in Older Adults." Journal of Psycholinguistic Research 50, no. 5: 1181-1196.
The older population groups are on their rise nowadays. In particular, the population aged 65 and over is growing faster than all other age groups. The purpose of this review is to investigate if there are any cognitive, mental and social benefits of online non-native language programs for healthy older people, which they may exploit in this COVID-19 pandemic. The methodology of this review was based on a literature search of peer-reviewed English written research articles found in Pub Med, Web of Science and Scopus. The findings of this review reveal that the research on the cognitive, mental and social benefits of online non-native language programs for healthy older individuals are rare. The results of this review indicate that the online non-native language programs may bring a lot of benefits for healthy elderly, especially as far as the enhancement of their cognitive (i.e. working memory) and mental (i.e. reduced depression) functions, are concerned. In fact, the stimulation of social and psychological wellbeing benefits of non-native language learning may consequently also generate multilingual cognitive gains in healthy older generation.
Blanka Klimova. Cognitive, Mental and Social Benefits of Online Non-native Language Programs for Healthy Older People. Algorithms and Data Structures 2021, 251 -259.
AMA StyleBlanka Klimova. Cognitive, Mental and Social Benefits of Online Non-native Language Programs for Healthy Older People. Algorithms and Data Structures. 2021; ():251-259.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBlanka Klimova. 2021. "Cognitive, Mental and Social Benefits of Online Non-native Language Programs for Healthy Older People." Algorithms and Data Structures , no. : 251-259.
Foreign language learning in the third age is one of the popular activities among the elderly. The question remains as to how to teach a foreign language to older adults properly. The first objective of this review was to identify suitable pedagogical approaches, teaching methods, or strategies for teaching foreign languages to third-age learners. The second objective was to determine whether foreign language learning later in life is beneficial. The authors used a method of literature review to achieve these goals. The former objective was not fully achieved as there is no clear outcome, although some generalizations based on other review studies can be made. Namely, foreign language teaching among the older generation should be student-centred and a communicative method should be implemented with a special focus on talking about familiar topics and listening comprehension to facilitate a senior’s foreign language learning. In addition, the teaching methods ought to incorporate real life experiences and provide relevant content. Respect should also be paid to the fact that older adults have intrinsic rather than extrinsic motivation to learn a foreign language. The latter objective was attained since older people can benefit from learning a foreign language at a later age in many ways, including areas like travelling, social inclusiveness, improvement of cognitive skills, and overall well-being.
Jaroslav Kacetl; Blanka Klímová. Third-Age Learners and Approaches to Language Teaching. Education Sciences 2021, 11, 310 .
AMA StyleJaroslav Kacetl, Blanka Klímová. Third-Age Learners and Approaches to Language Teaching. Education Sciences. 2021; 11 (7):310.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJaroslav Kacetl; Blanka Klímová. 2021. "Third-Age Learners and Approaches to Language Teaching." Education Sciences 11, no. 7: 310.
Modern technologies surround people every day, including seniors. The aim of this pilot study was to create a maximally user-friendly mobile application in order to meet older users’ individual needs. The research sample consisted of 13 older individuals at the age of 55+ years with a mean age of 67 years, living in the Czech Republic. The key assessment tools of this pilot study were the developed application and usability testing. The findings confirmed that the newly developed mobile application for teaching English met the needs of cognitively healthy seniors, and was acceptable and feasible. In addition, it indicated what technical (e.g., visual interface or easy navigation) and pedagogical (e.g., an instructional manual or adjusting to seniors’ learning pace or clear instructions) aspects should be strictly followed when designing such an educational smartphone application. In addition, the authors of this pilot study provide several implications for pedagogical practice. Further research should include more empirical studies aimed at the exploration of educational mobile applications for older generation groups with respect to meeting their individual needs in order to enhance their overall well-being. However, such studies are, nowadays, very rare.
Blanka Klimova; Lukas Sanda. A Novel Educational Smartphone Application for Cognitively Healthy Seniors: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 6601 .
AMA StyleBlanka Klimova, Lukas Sanda. A Novel Educational Smartphone Application for Cognitively Healthy Seniors: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (12):6601.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBlanka Klimova; Lukas Sanda. 2021. "A Novel Educational Smartphone Application for Cognitively Healthy Seniors: A Pilot Study." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 12: 6601.
At present, due to the demographic changes and the rise of senior population worldwide, there is effort to prolong an active life of these people by both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies. The purpose of this article is, on the basis of the literature review of recent clinical studies, to discuss one of such strategy, i.e., the effect of Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) on the cognitive functions among both the cognitively unimpaired and impaired elderly people. The methodology includes a literature review of full-text, peer-reviewed journal studies written in English and published in Web of Science and PubMed between 1 January 2016 and 28 February 2021. The findings indicate that the adherence to MedDiet has a positive effect on both cognitively impaired and unimpaired older population, especially on their memory, both in the short and long run. The results show that the higher adherence to MedDiet proves to have a better effect on global cognitive performance of older people. In addition, the adherence to MedDiet offers other benefits to older people, such as reduction of depressive symptoms, lowered frailty, as well as reduced length of hospital stays.
Blanka Klimova; Michal Novotny; Petr Schlegel; Martin Valis. The Effect of Mediterranean Diet on Cognitive Functions in the Elderly Population. Nutrients 2021, 13, 2067 .
AMA StyleBlanka Klimova, Michal Novotny, Petr Schlegel, Martin Valis. The Effect of Mediterranean Diet on Cognitive Functions in the Elderly Population. Nutrients. 2021; 13 (6):2067.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBlanka Klimova; Michal Novotny; Petr Schlegel; Martin Valis. 2021. "The Effect of Mediterranean Diet on Cognitive Functions in the Elderly Population." Nutrients 13, no. 6: 2067.
The use of mobile devices for English language teaching (ELT) is increasing rapidly all over the world. This review study surveys the empirical research on using mobile phones in ELT published in Scopus and Web of Science indexing journals from 2010 to 2020 in Bangladesh. Out of 103 studies, 11 studies met the criteria of this study to analyze the effects of mobile phones on ELT. The findings show that the major research trends of these studies aim at teachers’ professional development using mobile phones for teaching language. The findings also reveal that the use of mobile phones is effective in ELT through facilitating feasible, ubiquitous, and effective learning environments with some limitations, i.e., an issue with charging, a small screen, affection, and a lack of teacher confidence. Of the studies conducted, 83% have employed a qualitative research design for investigating learners’ readiness and concepts on the use of this device. In addition, there is a lack of empirical studies with the intention to observe and justify the effect of mobile phones on developing learners’ language skills. There is also a lack of evidence describing which mobile applications are effective for developing relevant language skills. Overall, the results of this systematic review might be applicable in the context of similarly developing countries, as well as triggering empirical research in the field of technology-enhanced ELT in these countries.
Prodhan Seraj; Blanka Klimova; Hadina Habil. Use of Mobile Phones in Teaching English in Bangladesh: A Systematic Review (2010–2020). Sustainability 2021, 13, 5674 .
AMA StyleProdhan Seraj, Blanka Klimova, Hadina Habil. Use of Mobile Phones in Teaching English in Bangladesh: A Systematic Review (2010–2020). Sustainability. 2021; 13 (10):5674.
Chicago/Turabian StyleProdhan Seraj; Blanka Klimova; Hadina Habil. 2021. "Use of Mobile Phones in Teaching English in Bangladesh: A Systematic Review (2010–2020)." Sustainability 13, no. 10: 5674.
New language technologies are coming, thanks to the huge and competing private investment fuelling rapid progress; we can either understand and foresee their effects, or be taken by surprise and spend our time trying to catch up. This report scketches out some transformative new technologies that are likely to fundamentally change our use of language. Some of these may feel unrealistically futuristic or far-fetched, but a central purpose of this report - and the wider LITHME network - is to illustrate that these are mostly just the logical development and maturation of technologies currently in prototype. But will everyone benefit from all these shiny new gadgets? Throughout this report we emphasise a range of groups who will be disadvantaged and issues of inequality. Important issues of security and privacy will accompany new language technologies. A further caution is to re-emphasise the current limitations of AI. Looking ahead, we see many intriguing opportunities and new capabilities, but a range of other uncertainties and inequalities. New devices will enable new ways to talk, to translate, to remember, and to learn. But advances in technology will reproduce existing inequalities among those who cannot afford these devices, among the world’s smaller languages, and especially for sign language. Debates over privacy and security will flare and crackle with every new immersive gadget. We will move together into this curious new world with a mix of excitement and apprehension - reacting, debating, sharing and disagreeing as we always do. Plug in, as the human-machine era dawns.
Dave Sayers; Rui Sousa-Silva; Sviatlana Höhn; Lule Ahmedi; Kais Allkivi-Metsoja; Dimitra Anastasiou; Štefan Beňuš; Lynne Bowker; Eliot Bytyçi; Alejandro Catala; Anila Çepani; Rubén Chacón-Beltrán; Sami Dadi; Fisnik Dalipi; Vladimir Despotovic; Agnieszka Doczekalska; Sebastian Drude; Karën Fort; Robert Fuchs; Christian Galinski; Federico Gobbo; Tunga Gungor; Siwen Guo; Klaus Höckner; Petra Lea Láncos; Tomer Libal; Tommi Jantunen; Dewi Jones; Blanka Klimova; Emin Erkan Korkmaz; Mirjam Sepesy Maučec; Miguel Melo; Fanny Meunier; Bettina Migge; Verginica Barbu Mititelu; Aurélie Névéol; Arianna Rossi; Antonio Pareja-Lora; C. Sanchez-Stockhammer; Aysel Şahin; Angela Soltan; Claudia Soria; Sarang Shaikh; Marco Turchi; Sule Yildirim Yayilgan. The Dawn of the Human-Machine Era: A forecast of new and emerging language technologies. The Dawn of the Human-Machine Era: A forecast of new and emerging language technologies 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleDave Sayers, Rui Sousa-Silva, Sviatlana Höhn, Lule Ahmedi, Kais Allkivi-Metsoja, Dimitra Anastasiou, Štefan Beňuš, Lynne Bowker, Eliot Bytyçi, Alejandro Catala, Anila Çepani, Rubén Chacón-Beltrán, Sami Dadi, Fisnik Dalipi, Vladimir Despotovic, Agnieszka Doczekalska, Sebastian Drude, Karën Fort, Robert Fuchs, Christian Galinski, Federico Gobbo, Tunga Gungor, Siwen Guo, Klaus Höckner, Petra Lea Láncos, Tomer Libal, Tommi Jantunen, Dewi Jones, Blanka Klimova, Emin Erkan Korkmaz, Mirjam Sepesy Maučec, Miguel Melo, Fanny Meunier, Bettina Migge, Verginica Barbu Mititelu, Aurélie Névéol, Arianna Rossi, Antonio Pareja-Lora, C. Sanchez-Stockhammer, Aysel Şahin, Angela Soltan, Claudia Soria, Sarang Shaikh, Marco Turchi, Sule Yildirim Yayilgan. The Dawn of the Human-Machine Era: A forecast of new and emerging language technologies. The Dawn of the Human-Machine Era: A forecast of new and emerging language technologies. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDave Sayers; Rui Sousa-Silva; Sviatlana Höhn; Lule Ahmedi; Kais Allkivi-Metsoja; Dimitra Anastasiou; Štefan Beňuš; Lynne Bowker; Eliot Bytyçi; Alejandro Catala; Anila Çepani; Rubén Chacón-Beltrán; Sami Dadi; Fisnik Dalipi; Vladimir Despotovic; Agnieszka Doczekalska; Sebastian Drude; Karën Fort; Robert Fuchs; Christian Galinski; Federico Gobbo; Tunga Gungor; Siwen Guo; Klaus Höckner; Petra Lea Láncos; Tomer Libal; Tommi Jantunen; Dewi Jones; Blanka Klimova; Emin Erkan Korkmaz; Mirjam Sepesy Maučec; Miguel Melo; Fanny Meunier; Bettina Migge; Verginica Barbu Mititelu; Aurélie Névéol; Arianna Rossi; Antonio Pareja-Lora; C. Sanchez-Stockhammer; Aysel Şahin; Angela Soltan; Claudia Soria; Sarang Shaikh; Marco Turchi; Sule Yildirim Yayilgan. 2021. "The Dawn of the Human-Machine Era: A forecast of new and emerging language technologies." The Dawn of the Human-Machine Era: A forecast of new and emerging language technologies , no. : 1.
Mobile applications thanks to their unique features (e.g. portability, multimodality, interactivity, or ubiquity) are nowadays widely used in higher education, including learning English as a foreign language. In comparison with traditional learning in classroom settings, the approach to learning via smartphones/mobile apps is, on the one hand, very learner-centered in the sense of autonomous and personalized learning. On the other hand, it requires responsible and initiative students who want to improve their academic achievements. The purpose of this review article is to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile applications on EFL university learners’ vocabulary learning in order to discover whether ELF mobile apps have a significant, moderate, or no effect on the enhancement of learners’ vocabulary. The methodology of this paper is based on a literature search of available studies on the research topic, i.e. on the effectiveness of mobile applications on EFL university learners’ vocabulary learning, in the world’s databases Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The search covered the period from 1 January 2017 till 31 July 2020. After a thorough review, eventually five research studies were selected on the set inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings of this review indicate that mobile apps are effective, useful and suitable learning tools for the retention and practicing of new vocabulary. In fact, they enable repetition of the traditional class instruction based on the following presentation mode: input-interaction-feedback. However, the mobile apps were used as an additional support to the traditional instruction and only in two studies, they were used independently. The findings also reveal that only guided and controlled implementation of these apps can lead to an effective learning process. Future research should employ rigorously designed empirical studies, especially as far as their methodology is concerned.
Blanka Klimova. Evaluating Impact of Mobile Applications on EFL University Learners’ Vocabulary Learning – A Review Study. Procedia Computer Science 2021, 184, 859 -864.
AMA StyleBlanka Klimova. Evaluating Impact of Mobile Applications on EFL University Learners’ Vocabulary Learning – A Review Study. Procedia Computer Science. 2021; 184 ():859-864.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBlanka Klimova. 2021. "Evaluating Impact of Mobile Applications on EFL University Learners’ Vocabulary Learning – A Review Study." Procedia Computer Science 184, no. : 859-864.
This article summarizes new advances, as described by current research, in the methodology of teaching Business English as a lingua franca (BELF) in the era of mobile learning and provides the reader with hands-on strategies that are useful for BELF classes and applicable in distance learning. The primary objectives of this literature review are to explore the fundamental approaches which should help practitioners in their course preparation, development, and teaching. The paper provides the reader with the most up-to-date strategies for teaching BELF and brings ideas on how to utilize these principles in a mobile learning (m-learning) environment. The methods include a literature review of available articles exploring the research topic, i.e., BELF and its pedagogy, which was performed by finding relevant studies in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The results indicate that there are three fundamental approaches recommended by the current research on the teaching of BELF, namely task-based activities/case studies, exploitation of authentic materials, and blended learning implementation. In summary, the paper provides the readers with an update on current approaches for teaching BELF in higher education when utilizing modern tools for foreign language learning, such as m-learning, blended learning, and hybrid learning.
Blanka Klimova; Marcel Pikhart. New Advances in Second Language Acquisition Methodology in Higher Education. Education Sciences 2021, 11, 128 .
AMA StyleBlanka Klimova, Marcel Pikhart. New Advances in Second Language Acquisition Methodology in Higher Education. Education Sciences. 2021; 11 (3):128.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBlanka Klimova; Marcel Pikhart. 2021. "New Advances in Second Language Acquisition Methodology in Higher Education." Education Sciences 11, no. 3: 128.
Since December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has been a worldwide pandemic with enormous consequences for human health and the world economy. Remdesivir is the only drug in the world that has been approved for the treating of COVID-19. This drug, as well as vaccination, still has uncertain effectiveness. Drug repurposing could be a promising strategy how to find an appropriate molecule: rapamycin could be one of them. The authors performed a systematic literature review of available studies on the research describing rapamycin in association with COVID-19 infection. Only peer-reviewed English-written articles from the world’s acknowledged databases Web of Science, PubMed, Springer and Scopus were involved. Five articles were eventually included in the final analysis. The findings indicate that rapamycin seems to be a suitable candidate for drug repurposing. In addition, it may represent a better candidate for COVID-19 therapy than commonly tested antivirals. It is also likely that its efficiency will not be reduced by the high rate of viral RNA mutation.
Jiri Patocka; Kamil Kuca; Patrik Oleksak; Eugenie Nepovimova; Martin Valis; Michal Novotny; Blanka Klimova. Rapamycin: Drug Repurposing in SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Pharmaceuticals 2021, 14, 217 .
AMA StyleJiri Patocka, Kamil Kuca, Patrik Oleksak, Eugenie Nepovimova, Martin Valis, Michal Novotny, Blanka Klimova. Rapamycin: Drug Repurposing in SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Pharmaceuticals. 2021; 14 (3):217.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJiri Patocka; Kamil Kuca; Patrik Oleksak; Eugenie Nepovimova; Martin Valis; Michal Novotny; Blanka Klimova. 2021. "Rapamycin: Drug Repurposing in SARS-CoV-2 Infection." Pharmaceuticals 14, no. 3: 217.
The aim of this mini-review is to discuss the main antiplatelet agents that have been successfully used in the secondary prevention of non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA). The methodology is based on a literature review of available peer-reviewed English studies listed in PubMed. The findings reveal that aspirin remains a reliable antiplatelet agent in the secondary prevention of acute non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke and TIA. Nevertheless, currently, there are also other agents, i.e., ticagrelor, clopidogrel, and cilostazol, that can be applied. In addition, the results indicate that time is significant not only in severe stroke but also in non-severe stroke and TIA, which suggests that antiplatelet therapy should be applied within 24 h after the first symptoms because early treatment can lead to an improvement in neurological outcomes and reduce the chance of an early subsequent stroke.
Martin Vališ; Blanka Klímová; Michal Novotný; Roman Herzig. Antiplatelet Therapy in the Secondary Prevention of Non-cardioembolic Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack: A Mini-Review. Frontiers in Neurology 2021, 12, 1 .
AMA StyleMartin Vališ, Blanka Klímová, Michal Novotný, Roman Herzig. Antiplatelet Therapy in the Secondary Prevention of Non-cardioembolic Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack: A Mini-Review. Frontiers in Neurology. 2021; 12 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMartin Vališ; Blanka Klímová; Michal Novotný; Roman Herzig. 2021. "Antiplatelet Therapy in the Secondary Prevention of Non-cardioembolic Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack: A Mini-Review." Frontiers in Neurology 12, no. : 1.
Background: The popularity trend of mixed martial arts (MMA) is steeply increasing, especially in the very young population. Unfortunately, MMA carries an enormous risk of head trauma. Purpose: The aim of this article is to provide review of studies on the association between head injuries and cognitive functions in MMA fighters. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed. Web of Science, PubMed, Springer, and Scopus databases were used. A total of 30 studies were identified. The inclusion criteria were as follows: studies with MMA fighters and head injuries and/or TKO/KO and/or reduction of cognitive functions in these fighters. Results: The results indicate that the incidence of head traumas ranges between 58% and 78% of all injuries. The King-Devick test seems to be a suitable rapid tool used in the studies to assess the extent of cognitive impairment. Among the detected studies, the post-fighting scores were significantly worse for fighters with head trauma during the match. We also found anomalies in MMA fighters in different brain structures, but it seems that the thalamus and caudate are the most affected. The impaired performance in processing speed, verbal memory and psychomotor speed is regularly confirmed in studies with MMA fighters. In addition, head traumatization seems to be a risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative disorders and it may be one of the possible causes of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Several global medical societies have identified MMA as a violent and dangerous sport and have called for its ban – but unsuccessfully. Conclusion: Therefore, possible recommendations should include increased medical supervision of the fighter (during his career, but also after it) and the introduction of practical safety instructions for fighters to reduce the risk of developing CTE. With the increasing popularity of MMA, the risk of CTE should not be underestimated.
Petr Schlegel; Michal Novotny; Martin Valis; Blanka Klimova. Head injury in mixed martial arts: a review of epidemiology, affected brain structures and risks of cognitive decline. The Physician and Sportsmedicine 2021, 1 -10.
AMA StylePetr Schlegel, Michal Novotny, Martin Valis, Blanka Klimova. Head injury in mixed martial arts: a review of epidemiology, affected brain structures and risks of cognitive decline. The Physician and Sportsmedicine. 2021; ():1-10.
Chicago/Turabian StylePetr Schlegel; Michal Novotny; Martin Valis; Blanka Klimova. 2021. "Head injury in mixed martial arts: a review of epidemiology, affected brain structures and risks of cognitive decline." The Physician and Sportsmedicine , no. : 1-10.
Teaching and learning at educational institutions in Slovakia has been based on traditional education, consisting of face-to-face classes until it was disrupted by the spread of the Coronavirus disease. A sudden lockdown caused massive changes, which presented challenges not only for teachers, but also for students who were forced to adapt their learning in a very short time, without any previous preparation. Since various educational institutions were forced to remain closed, they had no option but to shift from a traditional educational approach to distance learning. This form of education requires a form of online learning. The main purpose of this study was to explore what technical equipment students had at their disposal, to understand the students’ perception of distance learning, and to ensure better learning conditions in case of future lockdowns. In order to investigate student readiness for distance learning, a questionnaire survey was conducted at the Secondary Vocational School of Tourism and Gastronomy in Nitra, Slovakia. The findings of this study revealed that the majority of students from the Secondary Vocational School of Gastronomy and Tourism are ready for distance online learning. The results also indicate that a great percentage of students have Internet access and are the owners of technological devices that can be used for educational purposes. Furthermore, students are able to work individually on their own and do not require any help from other people while working on assignments. Although they prefer different teaching methods, the synchronous online courses are their priority because it enables them to have direct contact with their teachers and peers. Overall, this research shows that distance online learning is possible provided that both teachers and students are familiarised with this new learning environment and are ready to cooperate.
Petra Poláková; Blanka Klímová. The Perception of Slovak Students on Distance Online Learning in the Time of Coronavirus—A Preliminary Study. Education Sciences 2021, 11, 81 .
AMA StylePetra Poláková, Blanka Klímová. The Perception of Slovak Students on Distance Online Learning in the Time of Coronavirus—A Preliminary Study. Education Sciences. 2021; 11 (2):81.
Chicago/Turabian StylePetra Poláková; Blanka Klímová. 2021. "The Perception of Slovak Students on Distance Online Learning in the Time of Coronavirus—A Preliminary Study." Education Sciences 11, no. 2: 81.
Positive psychology has recently seen unprecedented rise and has reached vast achievements in the area of quality of life (QoL) improvement. The purpose of this study is to show that there are different aspects of well-being that make healthy older people motivated to learn a foreign language at a later age. The research was conducted in the Czech Republic and Poland in two groups of learners aged 55 years and more. The experimental group consisted of 105 Czech respondents who were targeted with an online questionnaire with the aim to determine the level of FLL outcomes connected to QoL in healthy older adults in their L2 acquisition. The second experimental group (n = 100) was established of Polish seniors who attended similar language courses. The findings of the research clearly show that FLL has an irreplaceable role as one of several non-pharmacological strategies utilized to improve the aging process and reduce drawbacks of aging. The results indicate that seniors' overall satisfaction and subjective feelings of well-being are enormously high when attending foreign language classes at older age. FLL, therefore, creates an environment that can enhance QoL of older adults that can be supplemented by other means such as well-balanced diet, other social activities, sport and physical activity, music, or computer games. All these intervention methods can significantly improve QoL of older adults and the parties engaged and/or responsible for taking care of older generation should take it into serious consideration.
Blanka Klimova; Marcel Pikhart; Anna Cierniak-Emerych; Szymon Dziuba; Krzysztof Firlej. A Comparative Psycholinguistic Study on the Subjective Feelings of Well-Being Outcomes of Foreign Language Learning in Older Adults From the Czech Republic and Poland. Frontiers in Psychology 2021, 12, 1 .
AMA StyleBlanka Klimova, Marcel Pikhart, Anna Cierniak-Emerych, Szymon Dziuba, Krzysztof Firlej. A Comparative Psycholinguistic Study on the Subjective Feelings of Well-Being Outcomes of Foreign Language Learning in Older Adults From the Czech Republic and Poland. Frontiers in Psychology. 2021; 12 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBlanka Klimova; Marcel Pikhart; Anna Cierniak-Emerych; Szymon Dziuba; Krzysztof Firlej. 2021. "A Comparative Psycholinguistic Study on the Subjective Feelings of Well-Being Outcomes of Foreign Language Learning in Older Adults From the Czech Republic and Poland." Frontiers in Psychology 12, no. : 1.
The aim of this article is to provide unique and detailed data on how patients rate the RebiSmart 2.0 in the specific User Study Questionnaire (USQ) domains, and the relationship between their rating and individual level of disability, baseline demographic/socioeconomic factors, and adherence. Twelve-month, phase IV, observational, multicenter study (no placebo or comparator) to evaluate the ease of use of the RebiSmart autoinjector for self-injection during treatment of CIS/RRMS subjects with Rebif 44 mcg sc three times a week by USQ. A total of 290 subjects participated in the study, with 249 (85.86%) completing the entire study period. The endpoint results demonstrated a very high proportion (>95%) of patients with a positive evaluation of the overall convenience of RebiSmart at each study visit. At the end of the study, all patients would recommend the device to others who need Rebif therapy. The proportion of patients rating the RebiSmart ease of use by individual domains (self-injection steps, changing the cartridge, using the device away from home) as “very easy to use” or “easy to use” and the proportion of patients rating the RebiSmart functions as “helpful” or “very helpful” were more than 80% for each domain at each study visit. These findings are in line with the potential benefits of RebiSmart to treatment adherence. They demonstrate an overall, very good perception of the device by patients and its individual functions.
Zbyšek Pavelek; Michal Novotný; Blanka Klímová; Marek Peterka; Pavel Potužník; Martina Kövári; Martin Vališ. DORADA adherence study: full view into RebiSmart subdomains parameters in multiple sclerosis treatment. Current Medical Research and Opinion 2021, 37, 589 -596.
AMA StyleZbyšek Pavelek, Michal Novotný, Blanka Klímová, Marek Peterka, Pavel Potužník, Martina Kövári, Martin Vališ. DORADA adherence study: full view into RebiSmart subdomains parameters in multiple sclerosis treatment. Current Medical Research and Opinion. 2021; 37 (4):589-596.
Chicago/Turabian StyleZbyšek Pavelek; Michal Novotný; Blanka Klímová; Marek Peterka; Pavel Potužník; Martina Kövári; Martin Vališ. 2021. "DORADA adherence study: full view into RebiSmart subdomains parameters in multiple sclerosis treatment." Current Medical Research and Opinion 37, no. 4: 589-596.
Background and objectives: For the treatment of chronic unilateral radicular syndrome, there are various methods including three minimally invasive computed tomography (CT)-guided methods, namely, pulsed radiofrequency (PRF), transforaminal oxygen ozone therapy (TFOOT), and transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI). Despite this, it is still unclear which of these methods is the best in terms of pain reduction and disability improvement. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the short and long-term effectiveness of these methods by measuring pain relief using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and improvement in disability (per the Oswestry disability index (ODI)) in patients with chronic unilateral radicular syndrome at L5 or S1 that do not respond to conservative treatment. Materials and Methods: After screening 692 patients, we enrolled 178 subjects, each of whom underwent one of the above CT-guided procedures. The PRF settings were as follows: pulse width = 20 ms, f = 2 Hz, U = 45 V, Z ˂ 500 Ω, and interval = 2 × 120 s. For TFOOT, an injection of 4–5 mL of an O2-O3 mixture (24 μg/mL) was administered. For the TFESI, 1 mL of a corticosteroid (betamethasone dipropionate), 3 mL of an anaesthetic (bupivacaine hydrochloride), and a 0.5 mL mixture of a non-ionic contrast agent (Iomeron 300) were administered. Pain intensity was assessed with a questionnaire. Results: The data from 178 patients (PRF, n = 57; TFOOT, n = 69; TFESI, n = 52) who submitted correctly completed questionnaires in the third month of the follow-up period were used for statistical analysis. The median pre-treatment visual analogue scale (VAS) score in all groups was six points. Immediately after treatment, the largest decrease in the median VAS score was observed in the TFESI group, with a score of 3.5 points (a decrease of 41.7%). In the PRF and TFOOT groups, the median VAS score decreased to 4 and 5 points (decreases of 33% and 16.7%, respectively). The difference in the early (immediately after) post-treatment VAS score between the TFESI and TFOOT groups was statistically significant (p = 0.0152). At the third and sixth months after treatment, the median VAS score was five points in all groups, without a statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). Additionally, there were no significant differences in the Oswestry disability index (ODI) values among the groups at any of the follow-up visits. Finally, there were no significant effects of age or body mass index (BMI) on both treatment outcomes (maximum absolute value of Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient = 0.193). Conclusions: Although the three methods are equally efficient in reducing pain over the entire follow-up, we observed that TFESI (a corticosteroid with a local anaesthetic) proved to be the most effective method for early post-treatment pain relief.
Pavel Ryska; Jiri Jandura; Petr Hoffmann; Petr Dvorak; Blanka Klimova; Martin Valis; Milan Vajda. Comparison of Pulsed Radiofrequency, Oxygen-Ozone Therapy and Epidural Steroid Injections for the Treatment of Chronic Unilateral Radicular Syndrome. Medicina 2021, 57, 136 .
AMA StylePavel Ryska, Jiri Jandura, Petr Hoffmann, Petr Dvorak, Blanka Klimova, Martin Valis, Milan Vajda. Comparison of Pulsed Radiofrequency, Oxygen-Ozone Therapy and Epidural Steroid Injections for the Treatment of Chronic Unilateral Radicular Syndrome. Medicina. 2021; 57 (2):136.
Chicago/Turabian StylePavel Ryska; Jiri Jandura; Petr Hoffmann; Petr Dvorak; Blanka Klimova; Martin Valis; Milan Vajda. 2021. "Comparison of Pulsed Radiofrequency, Oxygen-Ozone Therapy and Epidural Steroid Injections for the Treatment of Chronic Unilateral Radicular Syndrome." Medicina 57, no. 2: 136.
Healthy aging is one of the most important aspects of human life as it can significantly improve its quality. Therefore, it is necessary to promote successful aging as a significant and important part of maintaining physical and mental well-being in the elderly. One of the strategies to enhance the elderly’s well-being may be also foreign language learning. The purpose of this study is to compare and discuss what effect foreign language learning (FLL) might have on subjective well-being among healthy older individuals in the Czech Republic and Poland, using factor analysis as the primary statistical method. The research sample consisted of two experimental groups of seniors; one from the Czech Republic (n = 92) and another from Poland (n = 100). The main research methods included a questionnaire survey and factor analysis. The factor analysis revealed the four significant factors and their correlations with demographic variables, whose results showed the effect of FLL on seniors’ subjective well-being. In conclusion, learning a foreign language at an older age seems to be one of the key strategies to maintain a subjective feeling of happiness at a relatively high level in elderly people without necessary pharmacological intervention.
Blanka Klimova; Marcel Pikhart; Szymon Dziuba; Anna Cierniak-Emerych. Factor Analysis of Subjective Well-Being Sustainability through Foreign Language Learning in Healthy Older Individuals. Sustainability 2021, 13, 1590 .
AMA StyleBlanka Klimova, Marcel Pikhart, Szymon Dziuba, Anna Cierniak-Emerych. Factor Analysis of Subjective Well-Being Sustainability through Foreign Language Learning in Healthy Older Individuals. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (3):1590.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBlanka Klimova; Marcel Pikhart; Szymon Dziuba; Anna Cierniak-Emerych. 2021. "Factor Analysis of Subjective Well-Being Sustainability through Foreign Language Learning in Healthy Older Individuals." Sustainability 13, no. 3: 1590.
The purpose of this mini-review is to investigate if there are any cognitive benefits of computer-based foreign language training for healthy older individuals aged 55+ years. The author conducted a literature search of peer-reviewed English written research articles found in Pub Med, Web of Science and Scopus. The findings of this mini-review reveal that the research on the cognitive benefits of computer-based foreign language training for healthy older individuals is small-scale. The limited research findings of only three relevant studies indicate that these computer-based foreign language training programs may bring cognitive benefits for healthy elderly people, especially as far as the enhancement of their cognitive functions such as working memory are concerned. In addition, the authors of these studies suggest that foreign language learning is a useful activity for healthy older adults since it has the benefits of being meaningful (an advantage over other cognitive training approaches) and provides the chance for acquiring important skills that can benefit other aspects of life, such as travel or communication. In conclusion, the author of this mini-review also provides several implications for practice and future research.
Blanka Klimova. Are There Any Cognitive Benefits of Computer-Based Foreign Language Training for Healthy Elderly People? – A Mini-Review. Frontiers in Psychology 2021, 11, 1 .
AMA StyleBlanka Klimova. Are There Any Cognitive Benefits of Computer-Based Foreign Language Training for Healthy Elderly People? – A Mini-Review. Frontiers in Psychology. 2021; 11 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBlanka Klimova. 2021. "Are There Any Cognitive Benefits of Computer-Based Foreign Language Training for Healthy Elderly People? – A Mini-Review." Frontiers in Psychology 11, no. : 1.