This paper combines morphostructural analysis and geophysical methods in order to link the faults monitored inside Strašín Cave with faults and lineaments in the vicinity of the cave. The studied site is situated in SW Bohemia, at the foothills of the Bohemian Forest Mts. Main goal is to combine the morphostructural, morphometrical and geophysical methods in order to identify the fault system, monitored inside the cave. This will allow relevant interpretation of the observed movements in the frame of the local tectonic environment. The results show that the monitored faults are observable in the geophysical profiles and, using our knowledge of the structural setting, we have been able to link them with mapped tectonic structures in the vicinity of the cave. Thus, it has been demonstrated that even where outcrops are absent, the faults can be traced and that the monitored faults are significant enough to yield relevant data on tectonic movements. In addition, the combined resistivity and gravimetry profiles reveal a possible new, presently unknown, cave located 20 m below the surface about 200 m northnortheast of Strašín Cave., Filip Hartvich and Jan Valenta., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Atmospheric CO2 concentration continues to rise and is predicted to reach approximately 700 ppm by 2100. Some predictions suggest that the dry season in West Africa could be extended with climate change. This study examined the effects of elevated CO2 concentration and water deficit on growth and photosynthesis of juvenile cacao. Light-saturated photosynthesis (Pmax), quantum efficiency, and intrinsic water-use efficiency increased significantly in response to elevated CO2, as did a range of growth and development responses (e.g. leaf area and leaf number), but the magnitude of the increase was dependent on the water treatment. Stomatal index was significantly greater in the elevated CO2 treatment; an atypical response which may be a reflection of the environment in which cacao evolved. This study shows a positive effect of elevated CO2 on juvenile cacao which may help to alleviate some of the negative impacts of water deficit stress., F. Lahive, P. Hadley, A. J. Daymond., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of this paper is to explore the impact of the structure of the Czech education system on the development of the relationship between a student's achievement and his/her family background. It compares the strength of the relationship between student achievement and a student's family background in various stages of his/her education career (grades 4, 8 and 10) in the Czech Republic and in systems without early tracking that also exhibit high student performance (Canada, Nordic countries). In addition, the paper tests a hypothesis that systems with different levels of tracking differ not only in their structure but also in teaching methods and teachers' attitudes. The analysis was conducted on data sets from the IEA PIRLS 2001, the IEA TIMSS 1999, and the OECD PISA 2003.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of arterial inflammation while lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is related to plaque instability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the risk of unstable plaque presenting as acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and Lp-PLA2, and to assess the influence of statins on interpretation of Lp-PLA2. A total of 362 consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute chest pain suggestive of ACS were evaluated by cardiologists as STEMI, NSTEMI, or unstable angina, and non- ACS. Serum biomarkers measured on admission: troponin I, Creactive protein (Abbott), and Lp-PLA2 (DiaDexus). Four groups were defined according to the final diagnos-; non- ACS/statin+. Lp-PLA2 was highest in ACS/statin- group; statins decreased Lp-PLA2 both in ACS and non-ACS of about 20 %. Lp- PLA2 was higher in ACS patients in comparison with non-ACS patients group without respect to statin therapy (p<0.001). Lp- PLA2 predicted worse outcome (in terms of acute coronary syndrome) effectively in patients up to 62 years; limited prediction was found in older patients. C-reactive protein (CRP) failed to discriminate four groups of patients. Statin therapy and age should be taken into consideration while interpreting Lp-PLA2 concentrations and lower cut-off values should be used for statintreated persons., J. Franeková, J. Kettner, Z. Kubíček, A. Jabor., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The objective of this study was to evaluate the significance of blue light (B) in the growth and photosynthetic capacity of cucumber. Gas exchange, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence kinetics, chloroplast ultrastructure, and leaf growth were investigated to explore the influence of three different light qualities of light emitting diodes (LEDs) on plant morphogenesis and the development of photosynthetic apparatus in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) leaves from emergence to full expansion under weak light [50 μmol(photon) m-2 s-1]. We found that B could significantly increase the leaf area (LA), shoot elongation, Chl a/b, net photosynthetic rate, and stomatal conductance (g s). In addition, the comparisons of maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry and the photosynthetic performance index between B-, W (white light)-, and R (red light)-grown leaves suggested that B was essential for the development of photosynthetic apparatus under weak light. B-grown leaves had the lowest Chl content under weak light, however, they had well-developed chloroplasts with the highest degree of stacked lamellae and the lowest starch accumulation. This could explain to a considerable extent the highest net photosynthetic rate per Chl unit. The results demonstrated that B optimized photosynthetic performance by improving the photosynthetic rate, increasing LA, and prolonging active photosynthesis duration under low irradiance. Therefore B is necessary to ensure healthy development of chloroplasts and highly efficient photosynthetic functions in cucumbers under a weak light environment. More importantly, our study also provided theoretical and technical support for the development of light environmental control technology., X. Y. Wang, X. M. Xu, J. Cui., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The purpose of the current investigation was to evaluate the influence of antimycin A (AA) as an activator of the alternative respiratory pathway (AP) on photosynthetic pigment composition and functional activity of the photosynthetic apparatus of wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.) under exposure to high temperature as well as their acclimation. Our results indicated that a significant decrease (44-74%) of photosynthetic pigment contents was caused by a long-term exposure to high temperature (42°C), while the short-term exposure resulted in 20-46% decline. However, a combined effect of AA and long-term high temperature reduced the total pigment contents by 28-41%. Our results demonstrated that the reduction of the chlorophyll a/b ratio was less significant under the combined effect of AA and high temperature than that under the stressful condition without AA. We observed that short-term and long-term high temperature modified PSII functionality of the first leaves in wheat seedlings, which was manifested by the low maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, maximum fluorescence yield in the dark-adapted state, and by high minimum fluorescence yield in the dark-adapted state. The quantum yield of PSII photochemistry decreased rapidly by 16-24% under the combination of AA and high temperature. Overall, these results suggest that the activation of the alternative pathway, induced by AA, contributed to the stabilization of the photosynthetic apparatus in wheat seedlings under high temperature., A. Batjuka, N. Škute, A. Petjukevičs., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In order to utilize the absolute gravity ( AG) measurements in terms of tectonic study it is necessary to reduce all disturbing environmental and instrumental effects. Many of those can be easily modelled and this step is done routinely during measurements (i.e. tide, polar motion, ocean tidal loading). Other remains in data and there is a lack of conventional models for them. Significant gravity variation is associated with changes of soil water at global scale. We study this effect for the Lower Silesia (South-western Poland) territory. Computed gravity changes can reach up to 2 μgal peak-to-peak amplitude with seasonal time scale. This effect is beyond of accuracy of modern ballistic gravimeter. Using real data collected with FG5 gravimeter we show here that neglecting of this phenomenon can lead to serious misinterpretation in term of secular gravity changes. This is emphasized especially when only sparse data of a few year time span is at our disposal. No attempt of modelling of local hydrology impact on effect was made, while in this study we concentrate on large scale water storage influence on measured gravity., Marcin Rajner, Tomasz Olszak, Jerzy Rogowski and Janusz Walo., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to decrease reactive oxygen species (ROS) production an d retard aging in a variety of species. It has been proposed that alterations in membrane saturation are central to these ac tions of CR. As a step towards testing this theory, mice were assigned to 4 dietary groups (control and 3 CR groups) and fed AIN-93G diets at 95 % (control) or 60 % (CR) of ad libitum for 8 months. To manipulate membrane composition, the primary dietary fats for the CR groups were soybean oil (also used in the control diet), fish oil or lard. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial lipid composition, proton leak, and H 2 O 2 production were measured. Phospholipid fatty acid composition in CR mice was altered in a manner that reflected the n-3 and n-6 fatty acid profiles of their respective dietary lipid sources. Dietary lipid composition did not alter proton leak kinetics between the CR groups . However, the capacity of mitochondrial complex III to produce ROS was decreased in the CR lard compared to the other CR groups. The results of this study indicate that dietary lipid composition can influence ROS production in muscle mitochondria of CR mice. It remains to be determined if lard or other dietary oils can maximize the CR- induced decreases in ROS production., Y. Chen ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy