Solid tumors like colorectal cancer (CRC) are associated with a more aggressive phenotype, characterized by the development of hypoxia and acidosis. Hypoxia-induced carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) significantly contributes to the adaptive mechanism of tumor cells by regulating pH, thereby enhancing their survival, invasiveness, and immune evasion. CRC is one of the most common cancer types associated with chemotherapy resistance. Immunotherapy, based on the inhibition of immune checkpoints, is increasingly emerging as a prominent approach in CRC treatment. The combination of standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy has shown promise in improving the prognosis of CRC patients. In this project, we aim to target CAIX in a 3D co-culture model consisting of colorectal cancer cells HCT116wt or the resistant cell line HCT116 FUR, stromal fibroblasts MRC5, and immune cells PBMC, with the goal of sensitizing colorectal cancer cells to chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Schizophrenia is a highly prevalent psychiatric disorder with severe socio-economic consequences. Using an animal model of acute stress in early postnatal age, with subsequent development of symptoms comparable to those observed in schizophrenia, we will test the hypothesis that neurochemical alterations in the brain structure corpus callosum are associated with changes in animal behaviour and brain lateralization. To fulfill this objective, we will evaluate changes in the gene expression of selected proteins of the corpus callosum, which are important for the function of both the myelin sheath and the blood-brain barrier. The identified changes along with alterations in animal behaviours and brain lateralization will be evaluated with respect to the animal sex. Novel observations in this area may deepen the understanding of the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders.

Glutamate represents the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Extracellular glutamate concentration is strictly regulated by glutamate transporters (EAATs). However, during brain ischemia, the mechanisms ensuring glutamate homeostasis are significantly affected, resulted in glutamate accumulation in the extracellular space, what triggers the process of excitotoxicity. Improvement in the glutamate metabolism represents one of the key protective mechanisms stimulated by remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) what leads to the reduction of ischemic brain injury. RIC provides more effective glutamate uptake by EAATs, however, the specific mechanisms of glutamate transporters modulations are not clear.

Scientific interest in spinal cord injury primarily focuses on developing clinically accepted therapies that could promote locomotor improvement. However, the loss of mobility after trauma is also accompanied by other autonomic system disorders. One of the most dangerous complications that often lead to repeated hospitalizations of patients and have a negative impact on their quality of life is neurogenic bladder dysfunction. A potential target for pharmacological intervention in this field is the renin-angiotensin system. The regulation of angiotensin receptors can significantly contribute to the alleviation of urinary problems. In the presented project, we focus on a comprehensive analysis of mechanisms that improve micturition affected by angiotensin receptor type 1 blockade after spinal cord trauma. We aim to investigate the impact on the afferent innervation of the urinary bladder, as well as on the spinal and supraspinal control of micturition.

Human ATAD3A (the ATPase family AAA domain-containing protein 3) is a mitochondrial transmembrane protein. At the organelle level, it is increasingly found in places of contact with the endoplasmic reticulum. These sites are known as MAMs, mitochondria-associated membranes. These multifunctional platforms in cells ensure homeostasis, from cholesterol synthesis, through Ca2+ ion transfer to autophagy induction and regulation of metastasis formation. Mutations in the ATAD3A gene are associated with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, from perinatal lethal forms to less severe neurodegenerative diseases, depending on the type of mutation. On cells from patients (fibroblasts) with a moderately severe form identified in our laboratory, we will study how the mutations found in them affect the function of the ATAD3A protein. We will aim to find out how mutations in this gene affect the interaction between ATAD3A and its partners. Based on the localization of mutations in ATAD3A, we will focus on partners located in the mitochondrial matrix (TFAM), in the mitochondrial membrane (MFN2, AMBRA1, VDAC1) and in the endoplasmic reticulum (PERK, σ1R). The key role of ATAD3A in the regulation of mitochondria-related mechanisms makes ATAD3A a promising area of research for mitochondrial and severe metabolic diseases. Understanding how the mutated ATAD3A gene affects cell homeostasis through MAMs and other protein partners is a pre-requisite for using these pathways as a therapeutic target in the future.

Considering the highly aggressive nature of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), our project aims to address the therapeutic challenges posed by this distinctive and heterogeneous disease. We propose to implement innovative organ-on-a-chip technology, specifically the MIVO® platform, to develop a complex preclinical model of PDAC that more accurately recreates the pancreas's multicellular architecture and physiological function. The dense extracellular matrix of the PDAC tumor microenvironment, which is considered a major obstacle to the efficacy of systemic therapy, is largely secreted by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). By co-cultivating patient-derived organoids (PDOs) with CAFs in dynamic conditions, we aim to retain the original tumor's histopathological and molecular characteristics, enabling more accurate prediction of human drug responses. Based on the role of epigenetic deregulation in PDAC progression and resistance to therapy, we hypothesize that combining epigenetic drugs with small molecule inhibitors will synergistically target key pathways implicated in PDAC progression. A high-throughput screening platform will enable rapid testing of several classes of inhibitors for their efficiency against PDAC. Our research holds the potential to yield novel insights into PDAC pathogenesis and facilitate the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for PDAC patients. Given the profound societal, economic, and clinical implications of PDAC, our work addresses a critical unmet need in pancreatic cancer treatment.

Cardiovascular diseases have been one of the most common causes of early deaths in both men and women worldwide in recent decades. However, continuous improvements in the treatment and prevention of these diseases cannot progress without a thorough understanding of the causes and mechanisms involved. There is now increasing evidence that oxidative stress is involved in the development of pathological conditions in the organism. Elevated levels of free radicals have been reported in several types of disease, including cardiovascular diseases. These may have been the primary cause of the disease or may have occured as a consequence of the development of the disease in the organism. Damage associated with oxidative stress further contributes to the progression of cardiovascular disease and the deterioration of the general state of the organism. Therefore, several cellular defence mechanisms, in particular redox signalling regulated by the transcription factor Nrf2 and autophagy, play an important role in the cellular response to elevated levels of oxidative stress. A close link between these two systems under conditions of oxidative stress has been described, as well as their role in the progression of oxidative stress-induced diseases. However, not all protein systems and mechanisms involved in the regulation of Nrf2 signaling and autophagy under conditions of oxidative stress have yet been identified. Improved understanding of the mechanisms involved in their influence may help in the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular disease. Targeted activation of redox signaling and autophagy also appears to be important in therapy and prevention. Here, the role of natural substances with antioxidant properties such as flavonoids appears to be important.
Therefore, the aim of this project is to address the role and the cross-talk of Nrf2 signaling and autophagy in pathological conditions induced by different types of damage in the rat cardiac cell line H9c2 and in the human cardiomyocyte cell line AC16. We will also aim to identify the relationship of Nrf2 signaling and autophagy with other regulatory protein systems in the cell, such as protein kinase cascades (PI3K/Akt, MAP kinases), heat shock proteins (Hsp) or antioxidant and detoxification enzymes. Last but not least, the effect of the antioxidant substance curcumin on the modulation of the studied intracellular systems will be investigated.

Maintenance of gene expression depends on the regulation of RNA transcription catalyzed by RNA polymerase II (RNAP II). RNAP II is a complex enzyme composed of several subunits. The largest subunit of RNAP II, Rpb1, features a distinctive C-terminal domain (CTD) consisting of multiple repeats of a consensus heptapeptide YSPTSPS. It is known that RNAP II activity correlates tightly with the phosphorylation pattern of the heptapeptide repeats in the CTD. Currently, several CTD kinases and phosphatases are known to be associated with initiation, productive elongation, and termination of transcription. In this project, I plan to analyze the regulatory role of two poorly characterized factors, SPBP4H10.16c and Whi2, associated with RNAP II CTD S5 small phosphatase Psr1, for their possible role in the regulation of RNAP II processivity in the fission yeast S. pombe. A better understanding of how SPBP4H10.16c and Whi2 factors modulate the activity of phosphatase Psr1 would allow us to reveal how tightly the activities of particular CTD kinases and phosphatases are regulated and how an imbalance in phosphorylation of RNAP II CTD due to dysfunction of SPBP4H10.16c, Whi2, and Psr1 affects gene expression.

More than 40,000 patients are diagnosed with cancer every year in Slovakia. Hematological malignancies (HM) are the fourth most common among oncological diseases. HMs cause malignant tumors of the blood and blood-forming organs such as leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes or immunoproliferative diseases. Patients with HM often suffer from immunodeficiencies that disrupt the function of one or more components of the immune system. Viral infections are a major risk in this regard. In immunodeficient individuals, herpes viruses appear to be ideal candidates from the constellation of viruses for deeper study, as they have a unique ability to modulate the host's immune response unnoticed. A characteristic feature of herpesviruses is a latent infection that persists in the body for life after the primary infection. In most cases, the infection is asymptomatic, but in immunocompromised individuals (oncology patients, HIV-positive patients, organ transplant recipients), herpes viruses can reactivate and cause serious health complications. Herpesviruses are associated with a wide variety of diseases ranging from mild infections of the oral cavity to life-threatening diseases of the nervous system, urogenital tract, neonatal vision and hearing loss, as well as serious skin infections. The presented project focuses on the differential diagnosis of non-specifically identifiable herpesviruses in samples of HM patients in Slovakia. The research in question is unique as it is the first of its kind in our territory. The deepening of knowledge in the given issue has the potential to establish new diagnostic methods in the management of herpes diseases not only in patients with HM, but also in the diagnosis of other diseases associated with herpes viruses, which have not been routinely performed in laboratories in Slovakia. The proposed project is based on the current need in clinical practice and its results will be further used as a pilot study for other projects.

Obesity is a complex health condition characterized by the excessive accumulation of body fat, typically resulting from a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioural factors. It has emerged as a significant public health concern worldwide, with prevalence steadily increasing over the past few decades. An appealing strategy to combat obesity involves enhancing the metabolic activity of adipose tissue. Aligned with this strategy, our project adopts a unique approach that integrates lipidomic and transcriptomic analyses of human adipose tissue with a bioinformatic prediction tool to uncover potential candidates involved in the control of adipocyte metabolic activity. This innovative methodology allows us to identify molecules with potential to modulate brown adipocyte activation and white adipocytes browning. The primary objective of this project is to elucidate the role of identified candidates, Phosphatidylserine synthases, in regulation of brown adipocyte activity, white adipocyte browning and subcellular phospholipid distribution in relation to mitochondrial bioenergetics. To meet these goals, I will utilise gain- and loss-of-function studies on human and murine brown and white adipocytes, measurement of thermogenic gene and protein expression, quantification of adipocyte lipolytic activity, lipid accumulation and thermogenesis, assessment of subcellular phospholipid distribution by lipidomic analysis as well as measurement of mitochondrial bioenergetics. By combining my expertise in lipid metabolism with the expertise of our laboratory in studying mechanisms of brown fat activation, this research endeavour holds promise for uncovering novel concepts for adipose tissue activation.

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) represent one of the most curable malignancies with cisplatin (CDDP)-based chemotherapy. This exceptional curability is thought to be due to a reduced DNA repair capacity in the germ cells and the rarely mutated TP53 gene, which is responsible for adequate apoptotic signal transduction. However, approximately 5% of patients with this disease die due to chemoresistance to conventional therapy, and there is currently no therapeutic alternative for these patients. Since TGCTs are the most common malignancy affecting young men, their chemoresistance is an acute problem.
It is proven that among the primary pharmacological targets of CDDP is DNA, where it induces several different types of damage. There are also suggestions that CDDP can induce DNA damage secondarily, which further expands the range of DNA damage types it can cause. Increased DNA repair capacity is considered to be one of the main tumour cell chemoresistance mechanisms. However, less discussed is the fact that increased tolerance of DNA damage through translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) may also contribute to resistance, while this mechanism has not been studied in TGCTs yet. A recent study revealed that tumours of TGCT patients resistant to CDDP-based chemotherapy often have amplification of the short arm of chromosome three, which includes the RAD18 gene, among others. This gene is a key regulator of the switch from normal to TLS replication. Our preliminary data indicate that CDDP-resistant TGCT cell lines have increased expression of the RAD18 gene as well as genes encoding other TLS factors compared to sensitive cell lines. The aim of the presented project is therefore to check whether TLS inhibition can sensitize resistant TGCT cell lines to CDDP. If this turns to be true, the project would contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of chemoresistance of TGCTs and opens the door to the investigation of new therapeutic strategies for resistant patients.

According to international data from Globocan, lung cancer was the leading cause of death worldwide in 2020 (up to 1.80 million). The incidence of this disease ranks first in men and second in women. Currently, the most common treatment strategies for lung cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and combinations of these treatments. Since 1965, when Rosenberg et al. discovered the first platinum-based complex, platinum derivatives have been successfully used as antitumor agents. The lack of selectivity towards tumor cells, which leads to various side effects and increasing resistance, prompts further research and the search for new drugs. New drugs based on metals such as gold, ruthenium, palladium, or copper have attracted increasing attention in recent years. In this project, we want to focus on the biological and antitumor activity of the selected copper complex.

The human brain integrates vast amounts of information about the world into organised semantic representations, forming a knowledge basis by which we understand and think about objects and events unfolding in our environment. The hallmark of our cognitive system is the ability to flexibly select from this vast pool of knowledge only those bits that suit the current contextual demands, allowing us to adapt our thinking to everchanging conditions. A crucial role in this ability plays the mechanism of inhibitory control, which shapes our thinking to meet the current situational demands by suppressing interfering, contextually irrelevant bits of knowledge. Contemporary findings indicate that the functionality of this mechanism is influenced by catecholamines (dopamine and noradrenaline). These accounts suggest that deviations from optimal catecholaminergic signalling disrupt inhibitory control, hindering the ability to discern relevant from irrelevant bits of knowledge, resulting in aberrant thought patterns and behaviours symptomatic of various neuropsychiatric conditions. In this project, we plan to test these accounts by developing a novel behavioural method capable of indexing the ability to follow contextual demands under different levels of semantic interference. Subsequently, we plan to combine this method with physiological measures of dopaminergic (spontaneous eyeblink rate) and noradrenergic (changes in pupil size) activity to evaluate, in a detailed way, how these systems affect our ability to resolve semantic interference of varying strength. The proposed project may substantially improve our understanding of adaptive cognitive processes with high clinical relevance, particularly for patients with memory and thought control deficits.

Acute damage to the central nervous system, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), poses global medical and socio-economic concerns. Challenges in its treatment arise due to limited neuroregeneration. TBI disrupts neural networks, impacting psychomotor functions. Successful tissue regeneration requires an adequate treatment of all associated pathological conditions. Any potential cure must pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We suggest an application of the brain-derived growth factor (BDNF) to the site of injury, as a candidate treatment, due to its role in promoting neuron survival and growth. To overcame a BBB we suggest use of novel polymeric nanoparticles as a drug carrier. Application of nanomedicine's role in treating neurodegenerative damage represents new promising path with a potential to enhance quality of life of TBI patients.

American foulbrood is a globally widespread infectious disease caused by the gram-positive bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. It has devastating effect on honeybee colonies with subsequent economic impacts. The aim of the project is to analyze the possibilities of bee protection through natural substances. Based on the results of scientific studies, commercially prepared standardized extracts from plants and mushrooms with a natural antimicrobial effect will be purchased and tested for their effectiveness against P. larvae and its spores. Subsequently, the commercially available components of the extracts, which are expected to have an inhibitory or bactericidal effect on P. larvae, will be selected and separately tested. Additionally, the effect of the extracts and active substances on the natural honeybee gut microbial community will be assessed and minimum inhibitory concentration will be determined. The safety of the extracts and selected substances with the best effect will be verified by an acute oral test in model in vivo experiment.

Currently, the main point of interest developing effective anticancer agents is based on natural products. Many active phytochemicals have long been used alone or in combination with commonly used chemotherapy drugs in clinical trials. Several studies have focused on the use of the ability of phytochemicals to suppress the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype of cancer cells, which significantly complicates antineoplastic therapy. The isothiocyanates (ITC) are products of enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosinolates present in plants of the Brassicacceae family. The multitarget anticancer activity is associated with the modulation of the activity of phase I and II enzymes of xenobiotic detoxification, with inhibition of survival, proliferation, modulation of the cell cycle and/or activation of apoptosis, respectively another type of cell death. The majority of the synthetic derivatives of ITC show comparable or more effective pharmacological effects compared to natural forms of ITC, therefore in the presented project I will focus on the ability of synthetic halogen derivatives of ITC to modulate cellular processes in leukemic cells also with regard to their MDR phenotype.

Currently, horses are used in the cultural and sports field, forestry, police, but also in the treatment of people in the field of hippotherapy. Bacterial skin infections are important breeding and economic problems in horses. For this reason, the aim of this project is the isolation and characterization of the skin microbiota in horses with a focus on the genus Staphylococcus. Since staphylococci as opportunistic pathogens are often involved in the development of dermatological diseases, the aim of this project will be to analyse the characteristics of collected staphylococci. Mapping resistance to antibiotics will provide important information in determining priorities in solving the current antibiotic crisis. Testing other properties such as biofilm formation, toxins or other virulence factors will reveal the extent to which staphylococci can participate in pathological processes in the case of skin infections in horses or serve as a reservoir of genes for their transfer. Thorough knowledge of the microbial population is the basis for the development of new therapeutic approaches without the use of antibiotics.

Polymeric hydrogels in different forms and stabilized by different mechanisms is an important class of polymeric biomaterials clinically utilized in various biomedical applications. This project aims at development of multicomponent alginate-based hydrogel microcapsules stabilized by polyelectrolyte complexation for their use in the cell encapsulation. Specifically, the project focuses on microcapsules stabilized by electrostatic interactions between polyanions sodium alginate (SA) and sodium cellulose sulfate (SCS), and various newly synthesized guanidine-based polycations of different chemical structure, charge density, molar mass, level of hydrophobic interactions, and sensitivity to the presence of small ions. The advantage of guanidine-based polymers is in their uniquely strong interactions with polyanions, including the microcapsule-forming polyanions SA and SCS. The project seeks to understand how the characteristics of guanidine-based polycations and preparation conditions affect formation and properties of microcapsules up to in vitro conditions with the vision for in vivo tests. The outcomes of this project will contribute to understanding of the mechanism of microcapsule formation and the design of microcapsules ultimately suitable for encapsulation and immunoprotection of transplanted cells for their long-term survival and function.

The presented project aims to systematically synthesize and structurally analyze compounds within the MF–ScF3 system (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and NH4) with the general composition MxScyFz. The hydrothermal synthesis method in Teflon-lined autoclaves will be employed as the primary approach. The main project objective is to establish a comprehensive framework for synthesizing compounds within this system, with a particular emphasis on monitoring and optimizing factors influencing the synthesis process and final product properties. The project will focus on the preparation of multifunctional products, with specific interest in achieving thermally induced phase transformations in the synthesized materials. The successful completion of the project will provide potential applications in the future including the doping of new materials with specific lanthanide fluorides, allowing for the analysis of their luminescent and optical properties. Additionally, the developed synthetic procedure can be extended for the synthesis of ternary fluorides of other lanthanides. The exploration of hydrothermal synthesis methods and the comparison with traditional solid-state conditions adds a novel dimension to the project, providing an opportunity to discover new compounds with distinct structures and properties.

Ticks are blood feeding arthropods capable of transmitting diverse pathogens. Their life cycle consists of on- and often long off-host periods during which they can survive extreme conditions. Water conservation in between the feedings and excessive excretion while on-host require complex and strict osmoregulation. The main osmoregulatory organs in ticks (salivary glands, hindgut, and Malpighian tubules) are regulated by neuropeptides produced by neurons of central nervous system or endocrine cells. In this work we focus on selected neuropeptide functioning as a major water homeostasis regulator in insects. Our main ambition is to uncover the neuropeptide’s signalling in the hard tick Ixodes ricinus. In this attempt we will focus on localising it’s expression, identifying its receptors and determining their tissue-, stage- and sex-specific expression. The results of this project could lead to identification of a novel osmoregulatory neuropeptide in I. ricinus and serve as a basis for future research of ticks’ water homeostasis.

Xyloglucan endo-transglycosylases (XET) can be considered the most significant enzymes involved in the restructuralisation of the plant cell wall. In the past, it was assumed that XETs had the ability to cleave and transfer xyloglucan fragments only to identical molecules (specific XETs), however, in recent years, forms with the ability to transfer xyloglucan fragments to a wide range of structurally different neutral oligosaccharides as well as pectin fragments have been identified (non-specific XETs). Currently, the only XET with a known tertiary structure is specific PttXET16-34, while theoretical studies have pointed to the need for the crystallization of non-specific XET. The aim of this project is purification and subsequent optimization of crystallization conditions of non-specific HvXET3. Determination of this structure would help clarify the differences between specific and non-specific XETs and contribute to knowledge about the role of cell walls in physiological processes in plants.

Chemotherapy is currently considered the most effective modality for the treatment of various types of cancer. A serious obstacle to successful cancer treatment is the development of multidrug resistance (Multidrug Resistance, MDR) to a wide range of structurally and functionally different xenobiotics. MDR is often associated with increased expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which eliminates chemotherapeutic agents from the intracellular to the extracellular space of the neoplastic cell, which usually leads to treatment failure or disease recurrence. The effort of the scientific community is the development of a safe strategy to overcome, or preventing P-gp-mediated MDR and improving the survival rate of cancer patients. The use of isothiocyanates (ITCs), biologically active products of glucosinolates, originating primarily from plants of the genus Brassicaceae, appears to be a promising option. The lipophilic and electrophilic character of ITCs ensures their rapid absorption and high bioavailability, thanks to which they can apply their pharmacological benefits related to the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, cardio- and neuroprotective, as well as chemopreventive activity of these substances. The cytotoxic effect of higher concentrations of aliphatic ITCs - sulforaphane (SFN) and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) on mouse leukemia cells, which leads to the induction of autophagy, respectively apoptosis, even if the cells showed an MDR phenotype, we also confirmed in our laboratory. Current research shows to the possibility of using ITCs as a combined treatment with clinically used antineoplastic agents, which, in addition to reducing side effects and improving the effectiveness of chemotherapeutics, can lead to overcoming chemoresistance. In the context of this idea, in the presented project I will focus on monitoring the possible use of two ITCs (aliphatic sulforaphane (SFN) and aromatic benzylisothiocyanate (BITC)) as supporting agents in potentiating the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin (CisPt), to which cells with an MDR phenotype based on overexpression of the efflux membrane pump P-gp show a lower sensitivity, although CisPt is not a substrate of this transporter.

The presented project is focused on the preparation of a nanocomposite material based on a clay mineral – saponite and a photosensitizer – xanthene dye. The main objective of the project is development of a material with a thin layer of nanocomposite on the surface of a polymer matrix with antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties. At first, hybrid nanomaterial will be prepared in the form of a colloidal dispersion. Then thin films of hybrid nanomaterial will be applied on a surface of polymer matrix. The prepared colloidal dispersions will be characterized by physico-chemical methods such as absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The hybrid films deposited on the polymer matrix will be characterized using X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Finally, the antimicrobial properties of the prepared nanocomposite materials will be tested.

In today's world, medical diagnostics are becoming increasingly accurate and effective in identifying and monitoring various pathological conditions. Despite the existence of numerous recognized methods for detecting proteins associated with different types of cancer, we are making efforts to find an innovative approach that overcomes current limitations and brings new possibilities into clinical practice.
Our goal is to develop a new method for detecting prostate-specific antigen (PSA), commonly used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. In this project, we plan to combine magnetic separation and fluorescence or Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET detection), which brings new possibilities in cancer diagnosis and has many advantages over traditional methods. Additionally, in this project, we aim to analogously transfer the proposed technology to the detection of exosomes produced by prostate cells. We will be preparing this format in the ELISA format. One of the main advantages of combining methods is high accuracy and sensitivity. Thanks to magnetic separation, we selectively isolate the target protein from the biological matrix, minimizing interference with other components of the sample. This greater specificity leads to more accurate and reliable results, which are crucial for the diagnosis and monitoring of oncological diseases.

Since the 1950s, significant quantities of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as "forever chemicals," have been released into the environment, leading to substantial contamination of soil, surface water, and groundwater sources. Exposure to PFAS occurs regularly for humans, animals, and the environment through various channels, including food, water, consumer products, and waste streams from manufacturing industries. PFAS encompass a broad category of synthetic organic fluorinated compounds with diverse chemical structures. Their persistent nature, toxicity to living organisms, propensity for bioaccumulation, and negative impacts on health and ecosystems have resulted in their classification as a "top priority pollutant" by regulatory authorities. While several physicochemical methods exist for treating PFAS, they encounter significant challenges such as high costs, energy-intensive processes, and incomplete mineralization (failure to break the C\F bond). As a result, there is a growing interest in microbial degradation and enzymatic treatment of PFAS as they present a more comprehensive, cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly alternative. In this project, I would like to evaluate the PFAS degradation exploiting microorganisms and their enzymatic abilities. The microorganisms will be isolated from industrial (characterized by high concentrations of PFAS) and municipal wastewater treatment plants. The main aim of the project is the combination of microbiological (cultivation and selection of microorganisms) and molecular (high-throughput sequencing) methods in order to increase the knowledge on the biodegradation of PFAS and consequently to allow the development of approaches directed to their biodegradation / bioremediation.

Parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in ruminants affect not only many factors related to the efficiency and use of feed but also contribute to the increased intensity of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), especially methane. The project deals with the impact of locally available agro-industrial by-products, such as polyphenol-rich spent coffee grounds used as feed additives in lambs with endoparasitosis. The aim of the project will be to what extent feed supplementation affects rumen microbial fermentation, methanogenesis, and immunological parameters of lambs loaded with GIN. Obtaining new information about the potential use of these non-traditional agro-industrial by-products could serve as an example of a circular economy with lower dependence on chemical inputs and better use of locally available sources of polyphenols in the agroecological context.

This project is focused on the preparation of translucent luminescent ceramic phosphors in the system Mg-Al-O-N including the solid solution MgAlON with a structure of spinel on which TiO2 nanotubes will be prepared with the aim for their application in photocatalytic waste water cleaning. In the frame of the work several compositions of MgAlON spinels will be studied including the influence of type and amount of lanthanide dopant on the luminescence properties of spinel. TiO2 nanotubes will be prepared by the anodic oxidation of Ti layer deposited on the surface of spinel. The absorption spectrum of TiO2 nanotubes will be widened to the visible light region by doping with nitrogen with the aim to increase the photocatalytic activity of nanotubes. Finally, the photocatalytic activity of nanotubes will be determined by the degration of Picloram herbicide pollutant.

Diglycosidases (β-acuminosidases, β-primeverosidases, β-vicianosidases, β-rutinosidases, β-robinobiosidases) belong to the group of glycosylhydrolases, hydrolyzing natural diglycosides in one step to form a free aglycone and an intact disaccharide. They find great application potential in biocatalysis - in the synthesis of structured oligoglycosides and precursors of pharmacologically interesting substances without the risk of forming isomeric mixtures. Their wider use is however hindered by the limited number of available enzymes. The project employs the previous experience with the screening of diglycosidases in plant materials and crude enzyme preparations using synthetic and natural substrates. The main purpose is the isolation and characterization of diglycosidases that have not been studied in detail so far (acuminosidase and primeverosidase from Penicillium multicolor, robinobiosidase from the common buckthorn alder buckthorn, vicianosidase from colewort), comparison of their catalytic and biochemical properties with known diglycosidases, and the use of all obtained enzymes in preparative syntheses. Targeted synthetic models will be diglycosides with potential biological and sensory properties.

The growing number of multidrug-resistant bacteria poses a global threat. As a result, it is important to look for novel antibacterial compounds that are efficient, particularly against resistant pathogens. In recent years, research has been focused on the preparation and study of antimicrobial polysaccharides, which are a viable alternative because of their biodegradability and biocompatibility. Few polysaccharides have an antimicrobial effect in their native state; thus, they need to be modified. The most common modification is the attachment of groups with a permanent positive charge to the polysaccharide chain. The denser the positive charge, the more antimicrobially active the given polysaccharide is, but it is also more toxic to mammalian cells. Therefore, it is necessary to identify an appropriate charge density, molar mass, and structure of the polysaccharide with the best possible antimicrobial properties and, at the same time, the lowest cytotoxicity. In addition, the exact mechanism of the antimicrobial effect of these molecules is not yet known. It is hypothesized that either the integrity of the cell wall is disrupted due to the positive charge or the cell is coated by the polysaccharide. The aim of this project is to determine the optimal combination of charge density, size, and structure of a polysaccharide to achieve the best antimicrobial properties while maintaining low cytotoxicity. Additionally, the project aims to investigate the mechanism of the antimicrobial action of cationic polysaccharides in greater detail.

Plants are exposed to many biotic and abiotic stress factors during their life cycle. Soil salinity is one of the main abiotic stresses that adversely affect crop growth and production. In an effort to reduce the adverse effects of salt stress on plants, many strategies are used such as genetic modifications, application of beneficial elements or inoculation of plant growth promoting bacteria. Endophytic bacteria are a group of microorganisms that live in internal plant tissues. It has been shown, that endophytes help plants cope with stress through several mechanisms. However, it is not known what changes in the composition of the plant microbial community occur due to the increased concentration of salt in the soil. The aim of the project will be to monitor changes in the representation of endophytic bacteria with increasing salt concentration using next-generation sequencing. The object of investigation will be two varieties of amaranth (Amaranthus spp.), which in recent years has been considered a promising pseudocereal for its high nutritional and functional value. The expected benefit of the project will be knowledge about changes in the diversity of bacterial communities in amaranth varieties with different sensitivity to the presence of higher salt concentration and the possibility of using halotolerant species of bacteria for induced resistance and supporting plants in cope with salt stress.

Juniperus communis L. is an evergreen coniferous shrub, which along with other representatives of its genus, has long been utilized in traditional medicine, gastronomy, pharmaceuticals, and alcoholic beverages, due to their content of biologically active compounds. Exosomes are nano-sized vesicular phospholipid particles commonly secreted from eukaryotic cells into the extracellular space, and currently, extensive research is underway for their potential therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Plant-derived exosome-like particles (PDENs) are significant in terms of their cargo, as they contain DNA, RNA, lipids, and proteins, which are subsequently released into the extracellular matrix as a form of cellular communication and have the potential to deliver nano-bioactive compounds into the human body. My project aims to optimize the isolation of PDENs from mature fruits of Juniperus communis L., and to be the first to characterize the proteome of isolated PDENs from Juniperus communis L. The potential application of PDENs is significant and our results will contribute to a better understanding of the functioning of PDENs and exosomes in organisms.
Keywords: Juniperus communis L, exosomes, PDENs, Proteomics, LC-MS/MS

Acclimation as a key mechanism enables trees to adapt to changes of their natural conditions, thus maintaining the population’s viability under adverse environmental circumstances The project is focused on the analysis and evaluation of the variability of photosynthetic and growth characteristics in Fagus sylvatica, planted in 5 locations each with unique climatic and soil conditions. The approach of measuring differences within a species between localities using newly planted trees in the juvenile stage of their development excludes possible differences caused by the adaptation of individuals to the environment at the place of origin. Within the framework of the proposed topic, based on the investigation of the variability of physiological traits it will be possible to assess the degree of acclimation and adaptive potential of European beech to the conditions of specific plots. The project will also try to answer which environmental factor is the predominant cause of the given changes and at what level the given changes have already taken place. The results could help in the development of a prediction tool to assist foresters in building climate-adapted forests.

Varroa destructor is an obligate ectoparasitic mite that feeds on the fat body tissue of honey bees and vectors multiple infectious diseases. It is one of the most damaging pests to honey bee populations globally, with significant infestations leading to the collapse of entire colonies. The aim of the current project is to determine the genetic structure and frequency of mitochondrial haplotypes of V. destructor parasitizing Apis mellifera colonies from different locations in Slovakia for the first time. The data obtained will be compared and evaluated with available information on genetic structure of the Varroa mite populations originating from Europe, Asia, and from North and South America. The results will enhance our understanding of the population-genetic structure of this economically significant mite species. Besides, they can also represent the basis for future developing of new strategies to control the Varroa mites in Slovakia.

The trend of a healthy lifestyle is growing worldwide and is transferring to animal production, as people prefer animal products from animals raised on organic farms. Animal production has to face a number of diseases, including parasitic ones, which are currently eliminated almost exclusively by synthetic anthelmintics. Plants have their irreplaceable place in traditional medicine around the world in the treatment of human and animal diseases, and their therapeutic effects have been known for centuries. The healing properties of plants are mainly ensured by the content of bioactive substances and secondary plant metabolites, which are mainly attributed to positive immunomodulating and antioxidant properties. However, they can also be proven to act directly against various parasitic stages - by damaging their vital structures. The proposed project aims to observe ultrastructural changes in parasites exposed in vivo and in vitro to the effect of plants as alternative anthelmintics. More detailed information on possible morphological and ultrastructural changes caused by plant antiparasitics can help to supplement information on reactions at the physiological level. As a result of the observations, any recorded ultrastructural changes could help clarify the mechanism of the anthelmintic effect of herbal/alternative therapeutics.

Ceramics, as a durable composite material, is one of the most common artefacts found in archaeological research. Finds of ceramics offer wide possibilities of analysis to investigate the socioeconomic aspects of the past society.
The goals of the project can be summarized in 3 main points:
1) Unpublished archaeological material, from the fortified Bronze Age settlement in Nižná Myšľa, will be processed into a relational database and catalogue. Based on the data collected in the database, the ceramic shapes (vessels) will be formally categorized using advanced statistical methods.
2) Critically selected ceramic fragments and types will be subjected to technological and material study. The character of the matter and the provenance of the samples will be comprehensively investigated using natural analytical methods. A methodological basis will be created for connecting the archaeological database of ceramics including typology, macroscopic description and technological characteristics with the results of material (compositional) analyses.
3) Part of the project is an experiment during which a variety of ceramic materials will be produced. Ceramic samples will be fired in a controlled atmosphere in laboratory conditions, but also in an open fire, a pit and a simple kiln. The experiment will provide a basis for studying the practices of past societies and the use of resources in the landscape.
The project will be a starting point and basis for a comprehensive evaluation of the settlement ceramic inventory from the point of view of traditional typology, technology and provenance. It will also contribute to the investigation of broader socioeconomic and production relations in the hinterland of the investigated site and contacts with the surroundings. The project expects results on several levels and the publication of studies in renowned journals.

The project addresses one of the core issues in ritual studies - the perception of ritual power and its practical application. It investigates the role of participation costs in judgments of presumed ritual efficacy amongst Mauritian Hindus, exploring the idea that ritual sacrifice proportionally reflects the expected ritual effects. Specifically, it asks whether people are more prone to engage in costly rituals in critical life situations (e.g., severe disease). I expect that as uncertainty over the outcome increases, people opt for costly ritual solutions to regain a sense of control. The findings will have implications for ritual practitioners like athletes or devotees and pursuits in other domains like stress coping strategies or therapy.

Monoxyl is the oldest and longest used type of vessel in the world. It is a massive long boat made of one piece of wood. Its appearance dates back to the Mesolithic period and continued continuously until the late Postmedieval period. Most of the finds of monoxyls come from the last decades, when artefacts of this type began to be recognized and saved. Many building and mining activities today, as well as the lowering of river levels due to climate change, result in the unintentional uncovering of these vessels. Their state of preservation is very suitable for the study and presentation due to their occurrance in a water or humid environment without air acces. Despite this, only minimal attention from the scientific community has been paid to monoxyls from our territory, limited to only a few specific findings (only a single specimen from the Late Iron Age was studied in more details). In Slovakia, monoxyls are found in depositories and sometimes in museum exhibits, while information about them is lacking. The preserved parts of monoxyls probably from the early history are substantial. However they still have not been evaluated. Organic materials are preserved only very rarely in our conditions. Every organic fragment from the past is highly valued and subjected to natural science analyses. The exception is the massive monoxyls, which are the only objects found in good condition and in relatively large quantities, thanks to the anaerobic environment in which they were found. Nevertheless, this potential remained unnoticed by the academic community, which opens up space for complex scientific research. The research addresses four basic questions. The first is the documentation and typology of monoxyls from our territory. Another is the dating of monoxyls using chronometric analyses. The third is paleobotanical analyzes to determine the type of wood from which monoxyls were made. The last question is the investigation of production traces, which will also use as a basis for the making of a replica of the monoxyl from the Younger Iron Age, discovered in Šamorín. The replica will be tested in a river environment with detailed recording of individual data.

The project is focused on the research of the accusations mentioned in the sources as "turcismus" and on a wide group of persons whom the Hungarian society during the 17th century referred to as pribeks (or pro Turkish). Individuals who performed activities for the benefit of the Ottomans were considered such persons. For this reason, subjects who settled their disputes before the Ottoman authorities, merchants, or even persons who actually joined the Ottomans (renegades, converts) could be accused. From a territorial point of view, the research is focused on the territories along the mining captaincy and on several sanjaks of the Buda and Jáger vilayets in the years 1607-1664. From Hungarian sources, the subject of research is archival material originating from the activities of soldiers and commanders of the mining captaincy and landowners of the affected counties. From the Ottoman side, the research is focused on editions of sources and Turkish archival sources, for example decisions of divan and other documents originating from the activities of Ottoman dignitaries. The aim of the project is the comprehensive elaboration of the mentioned phenomenon and the publication of knowledges from domestic and foreign archival material that has not yet been used in connection with this topic.

The aim of the project is to examine the integration of Holocaust survivors after the war in the former arbitration territory, which was part of Hungary for more than six years and from where more than 30,000 Jewish residents were deported in 1944. The research is focused on the period immediately after the war, while the primary focus is on the research of sources stored in the City Košice Archive, especially the Fund of National Committee of Košice 1945 - 1948. There was a large Jewish community in Košice before the war. Almost 11,000 Jewish lived in the city, but only small part of them returned to their homes. Most of them perished during the Holocaust. Survivors returned to the city during 1945, and Košice became, after Bratislava, the second center of the renewed life of the Jewish community in Slovakia. After returning they faced the postwar antisemitism, and moreover the anti-hungarian politics. The most important issue of their reintegration to the post-war society was the obtaining of Czechoslovak citizenship. Its obtaining was related to the declared ethnicity of inhabitants. In this context, I am particularly interested in questions related to the reception of surviving Jews by the city's political elite represented by the administrative commission, later the national committee. It was their members who decided on the award or failure to grant a certificate of state and people's democratic reliability, movable and immovable property or social support.

Previous research has shown that the majority population tends to differentiate between groups of disadvantaged people based on the deservingness of our help and solidarity. The lack of support and indifference towards disadvantaged groups could be due to distance perceived by drawing psychological boundaries between different groups, and cognitive representations of zero-sum scenario between “us” and “them”, which are connected to feelings of threat. The aim of the present project is to investigate socio-cognitive antecedents of attitudes and intergroup solidarity towards refugees from Ukraine and the Roma. Study 1 will investigate whether inclusive identities are associated with higher moral considerations and solidarity. In Study 2, we will experimentally manipulate cognitive representations of social identities with the aim to decrease psychological distance and increase acceptance and support for disadvantaged groups. Examining conditions of our concern and solidarity, and how it may be increased, is important for promoting the welfare and integration of refugees from Ukraine and of the Roma.

Research on belief in conspiracy theories documents many adverse consequences of this phenomenon, including reduced political participation and interpersonal trust and support for non-normative and even violent forms of social behavior. At the same time, the increased current interest of the media and the public in this issue may have created a false perception that conspiracy beliefs are more widespread in society than what the results of representative population surveys actually demonstrate. Therefore, the project aims to explore the false consensus effect – the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share similar opinions as ourselves – and perceived norms in relation to belief in conspiracy theories. Based on two initial studies, I will attempt to replicate the findings that people generally overestimate how many others believe in conspiracy theories and that belief in conspiracy theories is associated with even higher rate of this overestimation and I will expand these findings by examining possible psychological correlates of the false consensus effect. In a subsequent experimental study, I will examine whether an experimental manipulation of the perceived norm – providing information that a greater or smaller number of people believe in a particular conspiracy theory – influences belief in conspiracy theories. Based on these findings, I will develop and test an intervention aimed at reducing belief in conspiracy theories through correcting the perceived norm in this area. Including various individual variables (e.g., overconfidence, self-esteem, and social media usage) will allow both the examination of correlates of the false consensus effect in the context of belief in conspiracy theories and the testing of the moderating influence of these variables on the effectiveness of experimental manipulations. Consequently, recommendations can be formulated for the most effective targeting of interventions on groups of people with different characteristics. If it proves effective, the tested intervention could provide a basis for a relatively quick, cost-effective, and easily adaptable method for public institutions to communicate in order to reduce belief in selected conspiracy theories in society.

The aim of the proposed project is to contribute to the debate on the use of new machine learning methods in modelling different aspects of the labour market. New machine learning techniques have several advantages: i) they have the ability to deal with large administrative data, ii) they are non-linear, iii) they are flexible and iv) they have good predictive capabilities. The first aim of the project is to build models that evaluate the impacts of Slovak active labour market policy (ALMP) measures using state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms. These measures should increase the likelihood of employment or job retention. Given their costs, it is important to monitor whether public funds are allocated efficiently to these measures and whether they meet the defined objective. The use of new machine learning techniques and the results achieved in this project can contribute to the debate on the effectiveness of ALMP. The proposed models, which will also take into account the heterogeneity of the impacts of ALMP, can be useful for policy makers in decision making and in the design of these measures. The second aim of the proposed project is to explore the possibilities of using online available data as alternative data sources to official labor market statistics. One possibility is to use information on online job advertisements in labor market forecasting or financial cycle modelling.

The project focuses on examining the challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), with a focus on social cohesion, integration, and discrimination. The subject of the research is secondary cities in Central and Eastern Europe - Košice, Brno, Miskolc, Poznań, Krakow, and Uzhhorod, instead of capital cities, which are often the subject of research in social sciences. Secondary cities face unique challenges, having witnessed significant influx of refugees since the beginning of the war in Ukraine (including Uzhhorod in the context of internally displaced persons in the country), sharing historical experiences with migration, and confronting similar challenges of civil society. By utilizing online questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups, along with analysis of official documents related to local migration policies, we will provide insight into the current dynamics of integration of Ukrainians in these cities. The main goal is to contribute to scholarly understanding and discourse on migration, social cohesion, and discrimination, while also serving practical purposes related to the design of migrant/refugee integration policies at the local level, and fostering more inclusive and equitable societies within the CEE region.

The main aim of this project is to examine what drives people to use Complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM) and Complementary and Alternative Psychotherapies (CAP), and whether they use it as a part of their overall health care or because of structural barriers to access standard evidence-based healthcare. Both CAM and CAP refer to questionable and insufficient evidenced-based practices and may pose a serious risk for health and overall quality of life. Despite it, CAM and CAP are increasingly popular. Therefore, it is important to better understand why people are inclined to prefer CAM and CAP. Project aims to examine the role of psychosocial factors such as medical conspiracy beliefs, descriptive and injunctive norms and perceived social support, and structural factors: constraints to access conventional healthcare, shortage of professionals, resulting in long wait times or client refusals and unmet healthcare needs.

This research project delves into the intricate landscape of housing affordability in various regions of Slovakia, employing a multifaceted approach. The primary focus revolves around understanding the dynamics influencing housing costs and accessibility, steering clear of policy recommendations. The project aims to shed light on the nuances of housing affordability through a sound methodology that integrates data procurement, advanced analytics, and geographic data science methods. The output of the project will be a comprehensive picture of housing affordability on the territory of Slovakia from a geographical point of view and for different socio-economic strata of society.

Resonances play an important role in transporting objects from main asteroid belt to NEO (Near-Earth Object) region. The main goal of this project is to examine transportation abilities of the 3:1 mean motion resonance (MMR) with Jupiter, which belongs to the biggest contributors to the NEO population. For this purpose, N-body simulations will be used to simulate the motion in the Solar system. By complex mapping of the resonance with the chaos indicator FLI (Fast Lyapunov Indicator), we will focus primarily on unstable particles that will interact with the resonance with higher probability. Results of our simulations will be used to determine transportation abilities of the 3:1 MMR with Jupiter. These results will be also confronted with the list of meteorites with pedigree and the list of known potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) to estimate the amount of meteorites and PHAs that could originate in this resonance.

Sandy soils are less fertile because they do not have sufficient capacity for water available to plants. Their serious problem is also their tendency to water repellency. It is a common phenomenon that negatively affects the water flow into the soil and, consequently, the entire hydrological process in the soil. The potential of biochar to eliminate water repellency and increase the retention (storage capacity for water) of sandy soils has not been widely studied, therefore we want to focus to achive this goal within the project. We will determine retention characteristics, infiltration characteristics and water-repellent parameters after applying biochar to water-repellent sandy soil in laboratory conditions. We assume that after the application of biochar, the water repellency of the sandy soil will reduce and its retention capacity will increase.

The project focuses on assessing the impact of climate change and land cover changes on the spatial distribution of flood hazard and its intensity at a regional scale during the winter months in two time horizons, 2002 and 2020. By using freely available satellite imagery with a short revisit time, it is possible to identify the absence of snow cover and also changes in land cover classes such as the presence of vegetation on agricultural land. Detailed LiDAR data, orthophotos, and climate data will also be incorporated into the flood hazard assessment.

Abandoned agricultural land (AAL) encompasses an estimated 420-450,000 hectares in Slovakia, carrying significant implications for biodiversity, the global carbon cycle, food security, and rural livelihoods. This issue intersects with social and economic challenges in rural areas and underscores unrealized investment projects in suburban zones. Succession, the natural process of former actively utilized agricultural land overgrowing, signifies a dynamic phenomenon marked by changes in biocenosis communities. This process involves shifts in herbaceous and herbaceous/shrub formations across one or more vegetation periods, resulting in noticeable alterations in the physiognomic characteristics of the landscape. Understanding these specifics is crucial for the project's overarching goal of comprehensively monitoring AAL.
The project strives for a thorough and precise identification and analysis of AAL in Slovakia. Aiming to provide substantial evidence regarding the region's AAL extent and characteristics, the project employs advanced algorithms and innovative datasets. Anticipated outcomes include a more accurate and detailed understanding of the region's status and the distinctive features of AAL. The analysis, enriched by multisource sensing, will yield valuable insights into the dynamics of AAL. This comprehensive understanding empowers informed decision-making for policymakers, land managers, and researchers. Notably, official data from the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) reveals the extraction of 2,326 sq. km of agricultural land between 2004 and 2023, further emphasizing the urgency and significance of monitoring and addressing AAL challenges in Slovakia.

The subject of the research is the Variscan granitoid rocks of the Vepor pluton (the largest granitoid body in the Western Carpathians) in the Fabova hoľa area (W part of the Slovak Ore Mountains) with the aim of reconstruction their geological evolution, also with regard to their metallogenetic potential, especially for the area of critical elements. In general, the geological evolution of the Alpine Veporic Unit, which is part of the Inner Western Carpathians (Hók et al., 2019), is considered to be complicated. The reason is that its Variscan basement, which mainly consists of granitoids, underwent Alpine metamorphic overprinting in the Cretaceous period, while a new mineral paragenesis was formed in the granitoid rocks. The distinction between Variscan and Alpine paragenesis in granitoids is very important from the point of view of evolutionary interpretation. It should be emphasized, that granitoid rocks of the Vepor and Ipeľ type from the area of the Fabova hoľa massif, have not been petrogenetically investigated so far. The new obtained results should help clarify the evolution of not only this granitoid magmatism, but also contribute to solving the petro-tectonic development of the granitoids of the entire Western Carpathians. Therefore, such complex research must rely on a wide range of modern analytical methods that can provide a sufficient amount of information for interpretation.

The magnetic field plays a crucial role in the forming properties of the structures and processes in the Sun’s atmosphere. The significant advancements in observational instruments, such as the GREGOR telescope, have led to substantial progress in the detailed research of solar atmospheric magnetism. However, it exists several unanswered questions, including the height stratification of the magnetic field, the connection between the photosphere and chromosphere and their impact on the dynamics of the surrounding plasma. Within our project, we are specifically focusing on changes in the magnetic field and dynamics of the sunspot during solar flare. To achieve this goal, we will use spectro-polarimetric data observed at the largest European telescope, GREGOR. These measurements provide unique information suitable for analyzing the physical properties and dynamics of the solar atmosphere in the sunspot during solar flare.

GaN-based high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) offer improved efficiency and power-handling capabilities, positioning them firmly in high-frequency and high-power applications. The lattice-matched InAlN/GaN heterostructure is a promising platform for the realization of enhancement (E-mode) and depletion (D-mode) mode devices on a single wafer. Positive bias temperature instabilities (PBTI) are a key reliability issue, especially for E-mode devices, as they operate at a positive gate voltage. E-mode Al2O3/InAlN/(AlN)/GaN metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) HEMTs grown on Si and SiC substrates will be investigated in this project. PBTI will be measured on the samples using the measurement-stress-measurement (MSM) technique, a current-voltage technique, where the threshold voltage shift is measured over time during stress and recovery periods. Substrates are expected to have a significant effect on the properties of the final devices due to different defect densities caused by (i) the lattice mismatch between the substrate and the device epitaxial layers, and (ii) different heat dissipation properties of the substrate. Understanding the PBTI mechanism is a critical step toward its mitigation and ensuring the reliable operation of transistors.

The proposed project focuses on the processing of visual data by Laser Speckle Photometry (LSP), a non-destructive optical method for evaluating the surface of deposited thin films and detecting their defects in the production of advanced electrodes for the battery industry. The aim is to develop a time-efficient reliable, and accurate method of processing data obtained from the LSP device with output information about the quality of the inspected surface. A part of the research in this area includes the specific problems of defect detection, which are addressed in the latest scientific publications. The proposed research topic is a partial task in the development of an inspection system for the battery industry to ensure the economically efficient production of high-quality and reliable batteries, and is implemented in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute in Dresden. In doing so, it takes into full account the RIS3 objectives mainly in the R&D workpackages “Research and development of sustainable energetics and energy” and “Materials research and development and nanotechnology” as well as “Digitalization of Slovakia”.
Keywords: big data, machine learning, supervised learning, visual data, quality inspection

In modern magnetism, topological magnonics is an emerging field. In 2D topological insulators, unidirectional edge states are protected by time-reversal symmetry and robust against imperfections. This makes them promising candidates for future data processing devices, offering potential information storage and manipulation advancements. In this study, our main focus is creating an artificial magnonic crystal that hosts unidirectional topologically protected edge states. Such crystal is based on the array of thin ferromagnetic nanoelements interacting with each other through dipole coupling, forming “artificial spin ice”. By applying an external magnetic field, it's possible to set the magnetic state of these elements into the desired arrangement. The fabrication technology will be based on an electron beam lithography technique. To achieve the precise shape of magnetic nanolements, it will be necessary to optimize all parameters of the lithography process.

Research of thin films of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) has noticed significant progress because they have unique optoelectronic properties that vary due to the thickness of the layer and the crystal structure. Their properties predetermine them as materials of the future in spintronics, efficient memory devices, and thermoelectric devices. Electronic properties vary depending on structures, from semiconducting to metallic, and they are the most interesting, especially with a thickness of several monolayers. MoTe2, WTe2, and PtSe2 also belong to TMD materials with exciting properties. Some of these properties can manifest after cooling to a low temperature. The challenge in thin films is the controlled preparation of the required crystal structure of homogenous large-area layers, which standard spectroscopic techniques can study. This project uses Raman and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to examine the unique optical properties of some selected TMDs (MoTe2, WTe2, and PtSe2). Furthermore, temperature-dependent Raman and FTIR measurements might help to determine the fundamental relationships between optical spectra and electronic properties in these materials.

The continuous improvement of virtual reality (VR) technologies and the affordability of VR products, such as head-mounted display (HMD) VR goggles, have enabled the use of VR concepts in medicine, engineering, aerospace, education, entertainment, and other fields (Bailenson et al.,2008; Bohil et al.,2011; Juliano et al.,2020).
With the wider use of VR, the issue of mental fatigue caused by prolonged use of VR devices is increasingly emerging. Many users of VR devices report suffering from various problems like eye pain, eyestrain, dizziness, and mental fatigue. Therefore, in recent years, researchers have paid considerable attention to the impact of VR technology on human health (Hyeok et al.,2021; Lemmens et al.,2022).
At the Institute of Measurement, SAV, we have designed and developed a system for interfacing VR with a brain-computer interface (BCI), the so-called BCI-HMD concept, where the VR environment is implementing using HMDs (Rosipal et al.,2022). In the present study, Evaluation, and Detection of Mental Fatigue in BCI-HMD, we focus on detecting and evaluating mental fatigue in healthy subjects during prolonged use of a BCI-HMD environment.
The aim is to analyze and determine electroencephalographic (EEG) biomarkers of mental fatigue occurring during the execution of repetitive mental imagery of hand movements in a virtual environment, called motor imagery, MI. We will focus on the quantitative evaluation of EEG data during the resting state with eyes open and eyes closed before and after long-term use of the BCI-VR system. The project includes a rigorous preprocessing and analysis of EEG data in MATLAB and Python programming environments, leading to the development of a software platform for further studies on detecting and monitoring mental fatigue.

J. Bailenson, K. Patel, A. Nielsen, R. Bajscy, S.-H. Jung, G. Kurillo, The Effect of Interactivity on Learning
Physical Actions in Virtual Reality, Media Psychol. 11 (3) (2008) 354–376.
C.J. Bohil, B. Alicea, F.A. Biocca, Virtual reality in neuroscience research and therapy, Nat. Rev.
Neurosci. 12 (12) (2011) 752–762.
J.M. Juliano, R.P. Spicer, A. Vourvopoulos, S. Lefebvre, K. Jann, T. Ard, E. Santarnecchi, D.M. Krum,
S.-L. Liew, Embodiment Is Related to Better Performance on a Brain-Computer Interface in
Immersive Virtual Reality: A Pilot Study, Sens. 20 (4) (2020) 1204, doi.org/10.3390/s20041204.
L. Sang Hyeok, K. Martha, K. Hyosun, et al., Visual Fatigue Induced by Watching Virtual Reality Device
and the Effect of Anisometropia, Ergonomics 64 (2021) 21–23.
J.S. Lemmens, M. Simon, S.R. Sumter, Fear and loathing in VR: the emotional and physiological effects
of immersive games, Virtual Reality 26 (1) (2022) 223–234
Rosipal R, Korecko Š, Rošt’áková Z, Porubcová N,Vanko M, Sobota B. Towards an Ecologically Valid
Symbiosis of BCI and Head-mounted VR Displays. In: Proc. of the 16th International Scientific
Conference on Informatics. Poprad, Slovakia, 2022, 251–256.

Thanks to their electromagnetic properties, superconductors are an important part of science, with applications in medicine, as well as in power engineering in the form of power cables or fusion reactors. Superconductors experience during operation mechanical loading, for example due to electromagnetic forces in magnets. Such mechanical loading can permanently destroy the ability of a superconductor to conduct electric current. The goal of this study is to develop a methodology for studying the influence of mechanical loading on their electrical properties. The study is focused on the superconductor REBCO, the compound of rare-earth elements, barium, copper and oxide. The goal of this research is to investigate the mechanical limits of these superconductors by measurements and numerical and analytical calculations. An experiment is realized by measuring the electrical current carried by the REBCO superconductor under specific mechanical loading in a liquid nitrogen bath. A detailed description of the distribution of strain and stress in the REBCO superconductor is investigated by numerical and analytical calculations.

The main target of the project is a construction of new experimental prototype for continual ultra-rapid annealing (CURA) of the ferromagnetic ribbons to the shape of toroidal cores, unattainable by currently used annealing techniques. This device will help to improve and expand ongoing research of the novel soft magnetic nanocrystalline alloys, especially the AC and core loss characteristics at wide frequency range, which are currently missing. The added benefit will be heat - treating and processing of samples to a form already suitable for applicational purposes. The aim is to build automated setup requiring minimal experimenter intervention in order to achieve the best possible reproducibility of the results.

The project aims to investigate the potential therapeutic efficacy of low-molecular-weight compounds against selected non- and neurodegenerative amyloid-related diseases. The project is grounded in the current understanding of amyloid aggregation, which is a hallmark feature of amyloid-related diseases. Previous research has highlighted the potential of low-molecular-weight compounds, particularly naturally occurring ones, in inhibiting amyloid fibril formation. Additionally, the multitargeted approach, affecting multiple key pathways involved in Alzheimer's disease pathology, has emerged as a promising strategy for its treatment. Overall, the project seeks to contribute to the development of novel therapeutic interventions for amyloid-related diseases by advancing our understanding of amyloid aggregation mechanisms and exploring innovative approaches to its inhibition.