To assess BAT activity in humans at a population level, infrared thermography (IRT) represents a safe, readily repeatable and affordable alternative to 18F-FDG-PET. Building upon a previously proposed method by our laboratory, we further refined the image computational algorithm to quantify BAT activation in the cervical-supraclavicular (C-SCV) region of healthy young men under thermo-neutral and cold exposure conditions. Additionally, we validated the whole-body calorimeter (WBC) in reliably measuring cold-induced thermogenesis. The temperature gradient between C-SCV-deltoid regions, and the corresponding difference in heat power output, increased upon cold air exposure relative to thermo-neutral conditions (by 74.88 %, p<0.0001; and by 71.34 %, p<0.0001 respectively). Resting and cumulative energy expenditure (EE) rose significantly (by 13.14 % and 9.12 % respectively, p=0.0001) while positive correlations between IRT measures and EE were found with cold air exposure (percentage change in heat power gradient between ROI and deltoid, cold air: r2 =0.29, p=0.026, Pearson's correlation). IRT and WBC can be used to study BAT activation. The refined algorithm allows for more automation and objectivity in IRT data analysis, especially under cold air exposures.
In this paper, we describe an alternative methodology for the assessment of global Terrestrial Reference Frames (TRFs), called the Velocity Decomposition Analysis (VEDA). Although it is related to the well-known Helmert transformation, a new conceptual manner is presented and discussed. All the necessary mathematical formulas for the adjustment and the quality assessment are provided, as well as a discussion of the similarities and differences to the existing approaches. The core of the VEDA concept lays on the separation of the velocities in two parts: the transformation related one and the optimal velocities, respectively. Using the suggested strategy, we test the global TRFs, the ITRF2008 and the DTRF2008. Their comparison in terms of Helmert transformation parameters reveals discrepancies reaching 0.83 mm/yr for the orientation rates, 0.97 mm/yr for the translation rates and 0.32 mm/yr for the scale rate. The comparison between the new approach and the classical Helmert transformation shows a consistency at the level of 0.66 mm/yr in a mean sense. In addition, we find a relative bias between the two frames reaching 0.44 mm/yr. The new approach also allows quantifying the geometric effect which corresponds to the impact of the systematic inconsistencies and the effect of the set of stations global distribution.
This paper presents a detailed analysis of the development of the postal network in the territory of Moravia during the period of its most significant expansion, based on hitherto largely unused archival material, chiefly from the Postal Museum in Prague and the Moravian Archive in Brno. Using these key sources, chronological lists were reconstructed of postmasters in each post office, allowing us to determine the exact period in which each official served. This data on periods of service made it possible to compile a list of the postal routes set up by individual offices in the period under consideration and trace changes that occurred due to military conflict or for logistical reasons. Attention was also given to the hitherto neglected network of letter collection points in Moravia, which grew rapidly towards the end of the 18th century. The study represents a paradigm shift in research into the Moravian postal network. Besides already known postal routes, we also reconstructed routes whose existence had only been deduced from the records of one or two stations, and others that had escaped the attention of researchers altogether. With regard to letter collection points, the study considers the issue of which "mother" stations they were attached to. More generally, the study deepens our knowledge of the structure of the communications network in Moravia in the second half of the 18th century and provides a more precise picture of how it was connected with centres beyond the country’s borders. These results will provide potential future researchers into the Moravian postal service with a solid factual platform in which to anchor and contextualize their findings on specific post offices, stations or entire routes. The study can thus be seen as a contribution to economic and social history, as well as to that of communications., Vojtěch Klíma., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
The aim of this review is to summarize main aspects of the book Eutanázie: definice, historie, legislativa, etika. and Tento příspěvek je recenzí publikace Eutanázie: definice, historie, legislativa, etika, která vyšla v roce 2019.