Considerable amount of waste in the form of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles could be utilized in the form of dispersed microreinforcement in concrete. PET fibres, however, have poor wettability and adhesion to cement paste, which can be modified by alkaline hydrolysis with sodium hydroxide at elevated temperature. The alkaline treatment was used to increase fibre surface, which was followed by changes in the structure of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and interfacial bond between fibre and cementitious matrix. Raman microspectroscopy mapping was employed to study microstructural changes of ITZ within the distance 0 - 250 μm from a PET fibre. The band at 357 cm-1 corresponding to the Ca-O bond vibration in portlandite was used to determine its distribution. For determination of the relative abundance of ettringite, the SO42- stretching vibration at 987 cm-1 was used. The most intensive bands of portlandite and ettringite were found within the distance 0 - 50 μm from an unmodified PET fibre. Besides the elevated concentration of these minerals, abundant pores occur in this region. In the case of alkaline modified PET fibres the ITZ zone was not found., Vladimír Machovič, Ladislav Lapčák, Lenka Borecká, Miloslav Lhotka, Jana Andertová, Lubomír Kopecký and Linda Mišková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Microscopic techniques, such as polarising microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM/EDS), were used in combination with petrographic image analysis with the aim of a quantitative determination of the mineral composition, rock microstructure, and degree of metamorphism of selected quartz-rich metamorphic rock types. Sampled orthogneiss rock types are mainly composed of feldspar, quartz, biotite, and amphibole. The grains are less isometric, elongated, having smooth boundaries, and showing a weak preferential orientation. The deformation and recrystallization characteristics of quartz indicate high-temperature recrystallization (the grain boundary migration recrystallization mechanism). Schist and phyllite rock types are preferentially very-fine to fine-grained, showing a strong shape preferred orientation. Their sedimentary origin was indicated by the presence of graphite. The deformation and recrystallization characteristics of the quartz indicate low temperature conditions of their metamorphism., Šárka Šachlová, Vladimír Schenk and Zdeňka Schenková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In most macrovascular endothelial cell (EC) preparations, resting membrane potential is determined by the inwardly rectifying K+ current (IK1), whereas in microvascular EC the presence of IK1 varies markedly. Cultured microvascular EC from small vessels of human omentum were examined by means of the voltage-clamp technique to elucidate the putative role of IK1 in maintaining resting membrane potential. Macrovascular EC from human iliac artery and bovine aorta served as reference. Human omentum EC showed an outwardly rectifying current-voltage relation. Inward current was hardly sensitive to variations of extracellular [K+] and Ba2+ block suggesting lack of IK1. However, substitution of extracellular [Na+] and/or [Cl-] affected the current-voltage relation indicating that Na+ and Cl- contribute to basal current. Furthermore, outward current was reduced by tetraethylammonium (10 mM), and cell-attached recordings suggested the presence of a Ca2+-activated K+ current. In contrast to human omentum EC, EC from human iliac artery and bovine aorta possessed inwardly rectifying currents which were sensitive to variations of extracellular [K+] and blocked by Ba2+. Thus, the lack of IK1 in human omentum EC suggests that resting membrane potential is determined by Na+ and Cl- currents in addition to K+ outward currents., H. M. Himmel, U. Rauen, U. Ravens., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Impaired NO-dependent vasodilation of resistance vessels is an early marker of an increased risk of atherosclerosis; utility of the examination of microcirculation, however, is far less established. We have therefore tested the hypothesis that hypercholesterolemia is associated with an impaired microvascular reactivity and that this defect is at least partially reversible by lipid-lowering treatment. Twenty-seven otherwise healthy patients with severe hypercholesterolemia (HLP) were examined at rest and then after 10 weeks of atorvastatin treatment (20 mg/day). Skin microvascular reactivity (MVR) was examined by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Baseline MVR values of the studied group were compared to healthy control subjects, HLP patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetic patients with and without diabetic retinopathy. MVR was normal in HLP subjects without CAD. On the contrary, MVR was impaired in HLP patients with CAD. There was no effect of atorvastatin on MVR, despite the profound reduction of serum lipids. MVR values did not correlate with cholesterol levels. In diabetic subjects, the MVR was substantially impaired only in patients with retinopathy. In the subjects without retinopathy, MVR was either normal (type I diabetes) or moderately impaired (type II diabetes). MVR was thus normal in HLP patients without manifest vascular disease and was not influenced by lipid lowering therapy. Impairment in the MVR was only evident in subjects with HLP and severe CAD. These results suggest that microcirculation is not involved in the early vascular dysfunction induced by HLP and that MVR rather reflects changes which appear later in the course of the atherosclerotic disease., T. Štulc, Z. Kasalová, M. Prázný, M. Vrablík, J. Škrha, R. Češka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We have used force-free extrapolations of photospheric magnetic field observations from Marshall Space Fllght Center to compute the total intensity and circular polarisation of sunspot associated emission from active region 2502 in the period June 13 to 15, 1980. The computed maps were compared to high resolution observations of tne same active region obtained witn tne Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope, Tne most interesting aspect of tne active region was tne developement of a new spot between the proceeding and the following spots on June 14, wnich subsequently merged witn the preceeding spot. The new spot
was associated witn enhanced microwave emission with a peak brigtness temperature in excess of 4 10^6 K. Our model computations are In satisfactory agreement witn tne sunspot observations for June 13, nowever tbey falled to reproduce tne
enhanced emission associated witn tne new spot on June 14 and 15. We snow tnat unrealistic values of tne conductive flux are required for the interpretation of tne emission of the new sunspot in terms of thermal processes. We suggest tnat tnis source Is due to gyrosynchrotron radiation from mildly relativistic electrons accelerated by reslstive instabiltles in tne evolvlng magnetic field.
Midazolam is a short acting sedative with small number of adverse effects. Administered orally, it is currently the most common form of conscious sedation in children. The objective of this paper is to describe effect of midazolam administered to children during dental treatment on their vital signs, and to monitor changes in children’s behavior. We described values of vital signs and behavior in 418 sedations conducted in 272 children between 1-12 years of age. To achieve the following results, we used data from 272 all first-time sedations. After administration of midazolam arterial blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation decreased by values which were not clinically significant. The heart rate increased, with values staying within the limits of physiological range. The speed of onset of midazolam’s clinical effects depends on age and dose. The lower age and dose correlated with the higher behavior score. The effectiveness of midazolam treatment is 97.8 %. Unwillingness of child to receive midazolam is predictor for disruptive behavior during sedation. 1.8 % of all sedation cases showed paradoxical reactions. The administration of midazolam in dose of 0.5 mg per 1 kg of child’s body weight is safe and could be recommended for dental treatment in pediatric dentistry., Jana Vasakova, Jana Duskova, Jitka Lunackova, Klara Drapalova, Lucie Zuzankova, Luboslav Starka, Michaela Duskova, Zdenek Broukal., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We measured the diurnal changes in net photosynthetic rate (PN) and stomatal conductance (gs) of the leaves of a liana, Enkleia malaccensis Griff. (Thymelaeaceae), at the canopy level in the lowland tropical rainforest at Pasoh, Peninsular Malaysia. The measurements were made from a canopy walkway system, 30 m from the ground for 3 d in March 2003. PN increased with increasing photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) before noon, though PN was not enhanced by the strong radiation hit in the afternoon. Plotting g s at saturating PAR (>0.5 mmol m-2 s-1) against the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) failed to reveal a significant correlation between VPD and gs, and gs became very low at VPD >2.5 kPa. The relationship between PN and gs was fitted on the same regression line irrespective of measuring day, indicating that this relationship was not influenced by either VPD or leaf temperature (T L). Therefore, in the liana E. malaccensis, an increase in VPD leads to partial stomatal closure and, subsequently, reductions in PN and the midday depression of PN of this plant. and A. C. Tay ... [et al.].
Super-rice hybrids are two-line hybrid rice cultivars with 15 to 20 % higher yields than the raditional three-line hybrid rice cultivars. Response of photosynthetic functions to midday photoinhibition was compared between seedlings of the traditional hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.) Shanyou63 and two super-rice hybrids, Hua-an3 and Liangyoupeijiu. Under strong midday sunlight, in comparison with Shanyou63, the two super-rice hybrids were less photoinhibited, as indicated by the lower loss of the net photosynthetic rate (PN), the quantum yield of photosystem 2 (ΦPS2), and the maximum and effective quantum yield of PS2 photochemistry (Fv/Fm and Fv'/Fm'). They also had a much higher transpiration rate. Hence the super-rice hybrids could protect themselves against midday photoinhibition at the cost of water. The photoprotective de-epoxidized xanthophyll cycle components, antheraxanthin (A) and zeaxanthin (Z), were accumulated more in Hua-an3 and Liangyoupeijiu than in Shanyou63, but the size of xanthophyll cycle pool of the seedlings was not affected by midday photoinhibition. Compared to Shanyou63, the super-rice hybrids were better photoprotected under natural high irradiance stress and the accumulation of Z and A, not the size of the xanthophyll pool protected the rice hybrids against photoinhibition. and Q. A. Wang, C. M. Lu, Q. D. Zhang.
Lectin activities were studied in five different species of tsetse flies. Different native or enzymatically treated human or animal red blood cells were used to detect hemagglutination activity in midgut extracts. Two inducible lectin systems in the midgut of C. tachinoides were distinguished.