The mood and behavior of individuals result from an orchestra of many factors. Among them steroids play an important role; however, only several common hormones have been investigated in this respect. It has been demonstrated that some steroid metabolites long considered merely the products of steroid hormone metabolism in fact possess considerable activity in the CNS. For this reason we studied the steroid metabolome including 50 analytes in 20 men with depression, 20 men with anxiety and 30 healthy controls. Significant differences were found not only between controls and men with either depression or anxiety, but also between men with depression and anxiety. Particularly striking were those steroids until now not generally associated with depression or anxiety, namely conjugated steroid forms, especially sulfates., M. Dušková, M. hill, M. Bičíková, M. Šrámková, D. Řípová, P. Mohr, L. Stárka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Addiction to tobacco results in an imbalance of endocrine homeostasis in both sexes. This can also have impacts on fertility problems. The male reproductive system is less susceptible than that of females, with a worsening spermiogram in smokers, the most cited effect in the literature. However, the literature is inconsistent as to the effects of smoking on steroid hormone levels in men, and there is very little data on the effects of quitting smoking in men. In this study we followed 76 men before quitting smoking, and then after 6, 12, and 24 weeks and 1 year of abstinence. We measured basic anthropomorphic data and steroid hormone levels along with steroid neuroactive metabolites using GC-MS. We demonstrate lower androgen levels in men who smoke, and these changes worsened after quitting smoking. There was a drop in SHBG already in the first week of non-smoking, and levels continued to remain low. Male smokers have lower androgen levels compared to non-smokers. The lower the initial level of androgen, the lower the likelihood of success in quitting smoking. Changes in steroid hormones proved to be a promising marker for the prediction of success in quitting smoking., H. Jandikova, M. Duskova, K. Simunkova, B. Racz, M. Hill, E. Kralikova, K. Vondra, L. Starka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
To verify possibilities of the thermic sinking technology the experiments with magmatic rocks (muscovite-biotite granite, amphibole-pyroxene andesite, pyroxene basalt) were made in the preliminary research phase. The contribution presents the microscopic study results of petrographic and structural observations of the rocks after their thermic reworking. Mainly distribution of melted rocks in the form of glass, forming of brittle deformations (fractures) on the level of mineral and rock, and penetration of melt into fissures were observed., Roman Farkašovský and Michal Zacharov., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This paper presents the relation between main crack systems and physical properties of carbonate rocks. The existence of cracks in a rock mass causes the reduction of seismic wave velocity, which is smaller in direction perpendicular to a crack plane than in direction parallel to it. This affects the occurrence of the anisotropy of seismic wave velocity, which is characteristic for rocks with preferred orientation of cracks. The existence of relationship between crack and seismic anisotropy allowed to use geophysical methods for determination of fracture density and orientation of crack systems. The research area is located in the south-east part of the Upper Silesian Trough. Tectonic observation and geophysical measurements was carried on the carbonate sequence on the both fold limbs building the Chrzanow-Wilkoszyn Syncline, originated during the Early Cimmerian movements, in the Upper Triassic - Middle Jurassic period. It was measured seismic waves velocity in the surface layers of rock mass and the strike azimuth and dip angle of cracks.The seismic anisotropy of the rock mass was done along radial profiles having common central point using P.A.S.I. Seis mograph (Mod.16S24-N). Results of field measurements were interpreted to estimate components of crack and velocity tensors. Obtained outcomes allowed to compare the existing main crack systems on the both fold limbs with seismic measurements. Eventually we have shown that seismic measurements are useful tool to study the cracks anisotropy in rocks inaccessible for direct observations., Iwona Stan-Kleczek, Katarzyna Sutkowska, Dominika Stan and Mikołaj Zolich., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
The transformed C6 glial cells in cultures were treated with sodium mercaptoborate (Na2B12H11SH, BSH), a carrier of atomic targets (10B) of thermal neutrons for the neutron capture therapy of brain tumors. As shown by light microscopy, the therapeutic dose of BSH (100 µg/ml) did not alter the gross morphology and growth of the population of cells within a 72 h treatment interval. Electron microscopic analysis of these cells revealed activation of nucleoli and, occasionally, enlarged and bifurcated mitochondria. After 200 µg BSH/ml and 72 h treatment, growth of the cell population was inhibited and ultrastructural changes became more profound. They included condensation of chromatin and its allocation to the nuclear envelope which formed deeper invaginations. Mitochondria further increased in size and were characterized by slim or angular cristae. Moreover, in circumscribed segments of some of the slightly swollen mitochondria their cristae disappeared or were reduced to fine pouch-like structures localized near the continuous outer membrane, suggestive for a non-destructive restructuring of the inner mitochondrial membrane. The smooth pinocytotic vesicles near the plasma membrane, lysosomes and heterogeneous dense bodies were more frequent. The revealed subcellular targets of BSH may initiate the development of pharmacological protocols aimed to further improve the tolerance to BSH by the healthy tissues of patients undergoing BNCT of brain tumors, e.g. by intervention into the oxidative stress triggered likely by the altered mitochondria., V. Mareš, D. Krajčí, V. Lisá., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We analysed a nearly 133-km-long portion of the Sudetic Marginal Fault (SMF) in Poland (99.7 km) and the Czech Republic (33.8 km), comprised between Złotoryja in the NW and Jesenik in the SE. The fault trace has been subdivided into fifteen segments showing different orientation (N29°W to N56°W, and even N111°W SE of Złoty Stok), geological setting, length (8.8-22.9 km in Poland and 1.4-7.5 km in the Czech Republic), and height of the fault- and fault-line scarps (5-75 m to 200-360 m). Orientation of the entire fault trace approaches N41° W, and the mountain front sinuosity amounts to 1.051. Individual fault segments bear a flight of two to five tiers of triangular facets, showing differentiated state of preservation and degree of erosional remodelling. The highest triangular facets are confined to Rychlebské (Złote) and Sowie Mts. This tiering points to at least five episodes of uplift of the SMF footwall, starting shortly after 31 Ma, i.e. after basalts of the Sichów Hills area were displaced by the fault, and most probably postdating 7-5 Ma time interval, during which rapid cooling and exhumation of the Sowie Góry Mts. massif took place. Morphometric parameters of 244 small catchment areas of streams that dissect the fault scarp include, i.a. elongation, relief, and average slope of individual catchment areas, together with values of the valley flo or width to valley height ratios. These figures point to moderate tectonic activity of the SMF and allow us to conclude about Quaternary uplift, particularly important in the Sowie and Rychlebské (Złote) segments., Janusz Badura, Witold Zuchiewicz, Petra Štěpančiková, Bogusław Przybylski, Bernard Kontny and Stefan Cacoń., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.), ninc-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius (L.)) and flounder 0Platichthys flesus (L.)) are widespread teleosts, which all have behaviours involving migration between freshwater and brackish/sea water environments. Their importance in dispersal of the freshwater monogenean Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957, which causes heavy losses of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) parr in infected Norwegian rivers, was tested indirectly by their susceptibility and resistance to the parasite in laboratory experiments. Gyrodactylus salaris attached to the three fish species, but no parasite reproduction was observed. The infections were eliminated alter a maximum of 3 days on flounder, 6 days on nine-spined stickleback, and 8 days on three-spined stickleback. Thus these fishes are innately resistant to G. salaris, and are therefore of no importance concerning the population dynamics of G. salaris in freshwater systems. However, attachment of parasites indicates that these fish species may function as transport hosts, and theoretically play a part in the dispersal of G. salaris in nature.
The article presents a separator whose magnetic circuit is comprised of large blocks from permanent NdFeB magnets and the knowledge gained from its assembly. In the separation zone of this separator, significantly higher values of magnetic induction were reached in comparison with a similar circuit with ferrite magnets. The results of the long-term comparative technological tests are provided of this separator when used in an industrial plant for the separation of undesirable ferromagnetic admixtures and objects (tramp iron) from raw materials for tile production. Throughout these tests, the fundamental influence of the value of magnetic induction in the separation zone on the amount of the captured magnetic fraction was confirmed and high efficiency of the new separator proven., Václav Žežulka and Pavel Straka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
For companies doing business in mining mineral deposits, ensuring safe work is one of the key tasks (Safety First!). One of the important trends in this area is prevention and endeavour to forestall risk situations. Risks need to be searched, technically described, spatially defined, evaluated and categorized by degree of risk. Complex geological and stability conditions can be one of the sources of persistent and significant risks, which are mainly landslides and rockslides threatening both mining equipment and employees. The problem described in this article and its solution concerns the Most Basin (formerly the North Bohemian Lignite Basin). This is a tertiary basin that was founded in the Oligocene. The main mineral is lignite and mining takes place on the surface. The main excavating machinery in the surface lignite quarries in Europe (Czech Republic, Germany, Poland) is the bucket wheel excavator., Roman Kapica, Dana Vrublová and Martin Vrubel., and Obsahuje bibliografii