The study aimed to evaluate if the monitoring of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), lipoperoxides (LPO) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in plasma could help to predict development of diabetic complications (DC). Clinical and biochemical parameters including AGEs, AOPP, LPO and IL-6 were investigated in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) with (+DC) and without (-DC) complications. AGEs were significantly higher in both diabetic groups compared to controls. AGEs were also significantly higher in group +DC compared to -DC. AGEs significantly correlated with HbA1c. We observed significantly higher AOPP in both diabetic groups in comparison with controls, but the difference between -DC and +DC was not significant. LPO significantly correlated with BMI. IL-6 were significantly increased in both diabetic groups compared to controls, but the difference between -DC and +DC was not significant. There was no significant correlation between IL-6 and clinical and biochemical parameters. These results do not exclude the association between IL-6 and onset of DC. We suggest that the measurement of not only HbA1c, but also AGEs may be useful to predict the risk of DC development in clinical practice. Furthermore, the measurement of IL-6 should be studied as adjunct to HbA1c monitoring., V. Jakuš, E. Šándorová, J. Kalninová, B. Krahulec., and Obsahuje bibliografii
1_The maritime pine bast scale, Matsucoccus feytaudi Ducasse (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae), occurs in the western part of the Mediterranean basin and is a sap sucking insect that feeds only on maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton). It causes damage in SE France and Italy, where it was accidentally introduced. In Spain information is scarce and, moreover, almost nothing is known about the predators of this species. This study was designed to determine the seasonal trends in abundance of M. feytaudi and its major predators, which might help to improve the biological control of this pest in other areas. Natural P. pinaster stands in the Valencian Community (Spain) were surveyed in 2004. In addition, the seasonal trends in abundance of M. feytaudi and its natural enemies were monitored in three stands over a period of three years (2002, 2005 and 2006). The monitoring was carried by wrapping sticky tapes around tree trunks and using delta traps baited with sexual pheromone. The maritime pine bast scale was detected in all the stands surveyed. At almost all the sites surveyed, three species of predators were captured: Elatophilus nigricornis Zetterstedt (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), Hemerobius stigma Stephens (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae) and Malachiomimus pectinatus (Kiesenwetter) (Coleoptera: Malachiidae). The presence of M. pectinatus is noteworthy as this is the first record of this species as a possible predator of M. feytaudi. The results show that M. feytaudi, although differing in its phenology depending on the location, is univoltine in the study area. The prepupae, pupae and adults of M. feytaudi appeared between December and March in colder areas and between October and February in warmer areas. E. nigricornis nymphs are important predators of M. feytaudi, and were abundant when the scale insect (crawlers, prepupae, pupae, male and female adults) was present., 2_The flight period of E. nigricornis and the hemerobiid H. stigma ranged from May to October. However, these flight patterns did not correlate with the presence of the different stages of the bast scale (crawlers, prepupae, pupae, male and female adults) on the surface of tree trunks. The presence of M. pectinatus in large numbers in some stands suggests it might be an important natural regulator, which helps to keep M. feytaudi populations at low densities in the areas of Spain studied. This malachiid shows a strong kairomonal attraction to the sexual pheromone of M. feytaudi and its flight activity is significantly correlated with the presence of crawlers of bast scale., Eugenia Rodrigo ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The paper presents a computer module for GPS slant delay determination using data from COAMPS (Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System) mesoscale non-hydrostatic model of the atmosphere which is run on IA64 Feniks computer cluster in the Department of Civil Engineering and Geodesy of the Military University of Technology. The slant delay is the result of integrating the ray (eikonal) equation for the spatial function of tropospheric refraction along the GPS wave propagation path. The work is a phase of research concerning operational methods of GPS slant delay determination using data from mesoscale non-hydrostatic models of the atmosphere, like COAMPS of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)., Mariusz Figurski, Marcin Gałuszkiewicz, Paweł Kamiński and Krzysztof Kroszczński., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Assuring the stability of underground headings in order to fulfill their technical functions without any disturbance and provide a safe workplace for mining staff seems to be a fundamental issue in mining activity. In recent years, rockbolts: bar or cable have been most frequently applied as a means of reinforcement. Such a construction is often referred to as a stand-and-roofbolting support. The paper presents sample results of monitoring stand-and-roof-bolting support systems selected from numerous research projects carried out by the authors. The results discussed below are based on the measurements of the strength parameters of rocks in the laboratory and in-situ research, convergence of underground excavations, forces in rockbolts, separation of roof rock strata tested with extensometric probes, telltales and endoscopes, as well as steel yielding support frames load tested with dynamometers. The complex measurements of stand-and-roof-bolting supports along with specifications of geological, mining and geomechanical conditions allowed to formulate a proper evaluation of support behavior and its effectiveness for particular conditions., Zbigniew Niedbalski, Piotr Małkowski and Tadeusz Majcherczyk., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Sodium borocaptate (BSH, Na2Bi2HnSH), a slow neutron-capture compound, was injected into the left forebrain ventricle of 1-week-old rats (150 fig BSH/3 p\ phosphate buffered saline). After 90 min, the animals were irradiated by epithermal neutrons (LVR-15 nuclear reactor in Řež near Prague, flux density 8.8 x 107 neutrons cm-2 s'1, 8 MW reactor power, 8.2 cGy/min) for 5,10 or 20 min. The brains were examined histologically 8 h after irradiation. In animals irradiated for 5 to 10 min (41 and 82 cGy-Eq, respectively) lethal damage of cells was found in the external granular layer of the cerebellum and the subependymal layer of the forebrain. Irradiation for 20 min (164 cGy-Eq) caused more extensive destruction of cell populations in these regions and, in addition, dead cells appeared also in the more differentiated postmitotic compartments, namely the deeper layers of the cerebellum, layers II/III of the cerebral cortex and corpus callosum. In the forebrain periventricular layer, the extent of cell damage was declining towards the olfactory bulbs. In intact animals, as well as in those injected only with the 150 p\ phosphate buffered saline, the radiation damage was low and limited only to the most sensitive dividing populations of the cerebellum and the forebrain. The study demonstrates a differentiation-dependent damage of the rat brain cells by alpha particles and presents a simple model for evaluation of the biological effectiveness of slow neutron beams constructed for neutron-capture therapy of tumors.
Our study explored the role of extrapituitary prolactin (PRL) and toll-like receptors (TLR)2 and TLR4 in defense reaction of immune system to bacterial infection. Forty-two patients diagnosed with sepsis were recruited and blood samples were withdrawn after patients’ admission to hospital, after the end of acute phase of sepsis and after the sepsis has been resolved, respectively. Seventeen patients died of sepsis; thus, only one sample collected just before death could be processed. PRL and TLR2/4 mRNA levels were measured in CD14+ blood monocytes by QPCR and PRL -1149 G/T SNP genotyped. The TLRs mRNA expression was markedly elevated in all patients groups in comparison to healthy controls mRNA levels; the highest upregulation of monocytic TLR2 in sepsis (16.4 times, P<0.0001) was detected in patients who did not survive septic complications. PRL mRNA expression in monocytes from nonsurvivors tended to be lower (4.5 fold decrease, P=NS) compared to control levels and it was 6.2 times reduced compared to PRL mRNA expression in second blood sample from survivors (P<0.05). The PRL -1149 G/T SNP had no effect on PRL mRNA response during sepsis. Our data suggest that increased prolactin mRNA expression in monocytes is associated with better outcome and improved survival rate in sepsis with no apparent effect of PRL -1149 G/T SNP on monocytic prolactin response., P. Čejková ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Ground deformations (e.g., landslide and subsidence) have substantially risen recently around Penang Island, Malaysia. The development of hillslopes for rapid urbanisation and heavy rainfall has detrimental impacts on Penang Island soil layers. Modelling, simulation, and the development of susceptibility maps were past methods used to predict potential ground deformations of Penang Island. There is no published work on the Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technique, where ground deformation of the region has been holistically studied. This work integrates the Persistent Scatterer InSAR (PS-InSAR) technique with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to monitor the deformation on the island and identify possible subsurface causes for the disturbance. Twenty-four descending Sentinel-1A datasets acquired between 14th July 2017 and 13th October 2018 were processed to monitor and map ground deformation areas with a focus on three selected regions- Batu Feringghi (BF), Paya Terubong (PT), and Tanjung Bungah (TB), where multiple landslides occurred between 2017 and 2018. InSAR results were later analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) tool and validated by the available Global Positioning System (GPS) analysis. InSAR analyses reveal the mean deformation values of -3.13 mm/yr, -2.76 mm/yr and -4.77 mm/yr for the BF, PT, and TB areas. GPR surveys were conducted with a 300/800 MHz dual-frequency antenna at the three selected study areas. Anomalies (wall cracks, road fissures, cavities, drains, and pipes) detected using GPR profiles correlated well with the permanent scatterer points calculated using the InSAR technique., Kazeem Olukunle Rauff and Ismail Ahmad Abir., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The Rana Gruber iron oxide mining company in Norway has started to develop a new underground production level in order to continue operation in the Kvannevann mine. The planned change of mining system to sub-level caving (SLC) involves the removal of protective pillars below the former Kvannevann open-pit. Surface deformation on the hanging-wall and footwall sides of the deposit and caving of rock into the old pit is expected. When uncontrolled, this represents a threat to the underground mining operation below the open-pit. Trial removal of the protective pillar in the western part of the deposit has already caused fracturing of the rock mass on the hanging-wall side. Therefore, with the aim to monitor and control the rock mass deformation process in this area and ensure safe operation of the mine, a monitoring system based on periodic total station and GPS measurements in a three-tier control-measurement network has been developed and tested. In this paper the concept of this system, results of field work and recommendations for the system implementation is presented. The proposed concept has been used to implement a real system in the mine., Jan Blachowski, Steinar Ellefmo and Erik Ludvigsen., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Advances in soil water content (SWC) monitoring technology continue to provide new and significant benefits to agriculture. An innovative approach for observing SWC is introduced using a portable rover platform traveling through in-ground horizontal access tubes and monitors the SWC in real time. A series of tests for evaluating the prototype portable rover were designed and conducted. It demonstrated very good mobility and produced records of the SWC in different horizons. The recorded values were then plotted as three dimensional (3D) patterns with high accuracy. The results show potential applications for this sensing approach, yielding horizontal monitoring of soil water in the root zone or deeper subsurface. and Pokročilé metody monitorování obsahu vody v půdě (SWC - soil water content) přinášejí nové a významné informace pro zemědělství. Inovativní zařízení k pozorování SWC bylo vyvinuto s použitím robota se snímačem půdní vlhkosti, který prochází zemními horizontálními přístupovými trubkami a monitoruje SWC v reálném čase. Byla provedena řada zkoušek pro otestování prototypu přenosného zařízení, které prokázalo velmi dobrou mobilitu a vytvořilo záznamy SWC v různých horizontech. Zaznamenané hodnoty byly potom vykresleny jako trojrozměrné (3D) grafy s vysokou přesností. Výsledky ověřily široké možnosti použití tohoto měřicího zařízení, které umožňuje horizontální i vertikální monitorování půdní vody v kořenové zóně rostlin nebo i v hlubším podloží.