mRNA expression patterns of genes for metabolic key enzymes sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), pyruvate kinase, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, glutamine synthetase 1, and glutamine synthetase 2 were investigated in leaves of rice plants grown at two nitrogen (N) supplies (N0.5, N3.0). The relative gene expression patterns were similar in all leaves except for 9th leaf, in which mRNA levels were generally depressed. Though increased N supply prolonged the expression period of each mRNA, it did not affect the relative expression intensity of any mRNA in a given leaf. SPS Vmax, SPS limiting and PEPC activities, and carbon flow were examined. The ratio between PEPC activity and SPS Vmax was higher in leaves developed at the vegetative growth stage (vegetative leaves: 5th and 7th leaves) than in leaves developed after the ear primordia formation stage (reproductive leaves: 9th and flag leaves). PEPC activity and SPS Vmax decreased with declining leaf N content. After using 14CO2 the 14C photosynthate distribution in the amino acid fraction was higher in vegetative than in reproductive leaves when compared for the same leaf N status. Thus, at high PEPC/SPS activities ratio, more 14C photosynthate was distributed to the amino acid pool, whereas at higher SPS activity more 14C was channelled into the saccharide fraction. Thus, leaf ontogeny was an important factor controlling photosynthate distribution to the N- or C-pool, respectively, regardless of the leaf N status. and T. Shinano ... [et al.].
The paper contains short description of a special device developed for study of electrical after-effect in vegetable cellular tissues after short electric pulses applied to the tissue. The device contains generator of the pulses and the microprocessor controlling circuits for time arrangement of the pulse amplification and collection of data for further evaluation. The pulses are based on AC signal with frequency 10-100 kHz with the amplified voltage up to ±240V and duration 1-10 ms. After finishing the individual pulse, the AC source signal continues, but amplitude on the tissue is 21. 5times lower. The data about AC voltage and current intensity are continuously collected with frequency 800 kHz and then fed to PC USB input that was used to calculate time chart of electric properties of the tissue, its complex permittivity and specific complex conductivity. An example of the obtained results on potato tissue is given. and Práce obsahuje krátký popis speciálního zařízení vyvinutého pro studium elektrických jevů v zeleninové buněčné tkáni po krátkých elektrických pulsech. Zařízení se skládá z generátoru nosného signálu, mikroprocesorem řízené jednotky pro amplitudovou modulaci uvedeného nosného signálu, zesilovače pro výkonové zesílení a jednotky pro sběr dat pro další vyhodnocení. Užívá se nosný signál frekvence 10-100 kHz, modulovaný do pulsů strváním 1-10 ms a amplitudě do ±240 V. Po skončení individuálního pulsu střídavý signál pokračuje, ale jeho amplituda se snižuje 21,5krát; měření na tkáni pokračuje jako nedestruktivní. Data okamžitých hodnot napětí a proudu na zkoumané tkáni jsou snímána sfrekvencí 800 kHz. Tato data jsou přivedena na USB vstup PC a zde použita k výpočtu časového průběhu elektrických vlastností tkáně, její komplexní permitivity a měrné komplexní vodivosti. Analýza je demonstrována na příkladu (pletivo bramboru).
The theory of elasticity is a very important discipline which has a lot of applications in science and engineering. In this paper we are interested in elastic materials with different properties between interfaces implicated the discontinuous coefficients in the governing elasticity equations. The main aim is to develop a practical numerical scheme for modeling the behaviour of a simplified piecewise homogeneous medium subjected to an external action in 2D domains. Therefore, the discontinuous Galerkin method is used for the simulation of elastic waves in such elastic materials. The special attention is also paid to treatment of boundary and interface conditions. For the treatment of the time dependency the implicit Euler method is employed. Moreover, the limiting procedure is incorporated in the resulting numerical scheme in order to overcome nonphysical spurious overshoots and undershoots in the vicinity of discontinuities in discrete solutions. Finally, we present computational results for two-component material, representing a planar elastic body subjected to a mechanical hit or mechanical loading.
The fads2 gene encoding Δ6-desaturase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the LCPUFA biosynthesis is expressed in astrocytes. Dietary fatty acids, which cross the blood-brain barrier, may regulate the transcription of lipogenic enzymes through activation of transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). The PPARs form the transcription complex with retinoid X receptors (RXRs) that are activated by 9-cis retinoic acid, a metabolite of vitamin A (VA). The study examines whether challenge of astrocytes with VA, prior 24-h treatment with palmitic acid (PA), α-linolenic acid (ALA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has the effect on the FADS2 expression. RT-qPCR showed that in astrocytes not challenged with VA, PA increased fads2 gene expression and DHA decreased it. However, in VA-primed astrocytes, PA doubled the FADS2 mRNA levels, while DHA increased fads2 gene expression, oppositely to non-primed cells. Furthermore, similar changes were seen in VA-primed astrocytes with regard to Δ6-desaturase protein levels following PA and DHA treatment. ALA did not have any effect on the FADS2 mRNA and protein levels in either VA-primed or non-primed astrocytes. These findings indicate that in the presence of vitamin A, DHA upregulates fads2 gene expression in astrocytes., B. Dziedzic, D. Bewicz-Binkowska, E. Zgorzynska, D. Stulczewski, L. Wieteska, B. Kaza, A.Walczewska., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of our work was to provide data from women of fertile age with type 1 diabetes mellitus about the endogenous androgens and on their relations to the parameters of diabetes control. Forty-two women were examined, they did not use contraceptives for at least three months prior to the examination. A multivariate regression analysis showed that the daily insulin dose, the fasting glycemia and the HbA1c values and patient´s age correlated negatively with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone and prolactin levels. The testosterone/ dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate ratio correlated positively with daily insulin dose and patient´s age. In contrast to adrenal androgens the values of other hormones, including total and free testosterone, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, LH, FSH, 17-OH-P, progesterone and cortisol revealed no significant correlation. To conclude, significant relations between the glucose control parameters and the adrenal androgens and prolactin were demonstrated. These relationships should be considered as an important factor influencing diabetes control so the additional cardiovascular risk in women with DM1., H. Kvasnickova, R. Hampl, K. Vondra., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a major factor contributing to visual disabilities in diabetic patients, and the number of patients is increasing. Animal models play a key role in the development of novel therapies. In this study, pathophysiological analyses of ocular lesions in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats were performed. First, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations in vitreous humor, retinal vascular permeability and retinal thickness were measured in SDT fatty rats (Experiment 1). Furthermore, the pharmacological effects of two anti-diabetic drugs, phlorizin and pioglitazone, on retinal lesions were evaluated (Experiment 2). As results, the SDT fatty rats exhibited VEGF increase in vitreous humor at 8 and 16 weeks of age, and both retinal vascular hyperpermeability and retinal thickening at 16 weeks of age. In particular, the layers between the retinal internal limiting membrane and the outer nuclear layer were thickened. Phlorizin treatment from 4 to 16 weeks of age improved hyperglycemia and normalized retinal thickness; however, the effect of pioglitazone on retinal thickness was not strong despite the normalization of hyperglycemia. These data demonstrate that the male SDT fatty rat is a useful model for developing new therapeutic approaches in DME., Y. Motohashi, Y. Kemmochi, T. Maekawa, H. Tadaki, T. Sasase, Y. Tanaka, A. Kakehashi, T. Yamada, T. Ohta., and Obsahuje bibliografii