During the last decade many electronic databases of vegetation plots, mainly phytosociological relevés, were established in different European countries. These databases contain information which is extremely valuable for both testing various macroecological hypotheses and for nature conservation surveying or monitoring. The aim of this paper is to provide estimates of the number of vegetation plots there are in Europe, how many are stored in an electronic format and to assess their distribution across European countries and regions.We sent a questionnaire to the managers of national or regional databases of vegetation plots and other prominent vegetation ecologists. Meta-data obtained in this way indicate that there are > 4,300,000 vegetation-plot records in Europe, of which > 1,800,000 are already stored electronically. Of the electronic plots, 60% are stored in TURBOVEG databases. Most plot records probably exist in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Poland, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, UK, Switzerland and Austria. The largest numbers of plots per unit area are in the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and countries of central Europe. The most computerized plots per country exist in the Netherlands (600,000), followed by France, the Czech Republic and the UK. Due to its strong phytosociological tradition, Europe has many more vegetation plots than any other part of the world. This wealth of unique ecological information is a challenge for future biodiversity studies. With the alarming loss in biodiversity and environmental problems like global warming and ongoing changes in land use, there is an urgent need for wide-scale scientific and applied vegetation research. Developments of information systems such as SynBioSys Europe and facilitation of data flow between the national and regional databases should make it easier to use these vegetation-plot data.
The article contains an example detailing the application and analysis of the accuracy of the method called continuous dynamic vehicle weighing during travel, using the telematic system. A model was built using the input data obtained through laboratory experiments on a running vehicle. This model was then applied to study the effects of error probability for the measured input data on the resulting expected accuracy of vehicle weight measuring in a normal running regime. Based on this point, hereby presented is a proposal of selected measured variables of great importance, and a proposal for the computation relationship of the used variables. By statistically processing a set of measured data taken during one vehicle travel, it is possible to attain -10.7% extreme relative error of the given method for the dynamic determination of vehicle weight.
Věkem podmíněná makulární degenerace (VPMD) je v rozvinutých zemích nejčastější příčinou ztráty zraku lidí starších 55 let. Vlhká forma této choroby je příčinou těžké ztráty zraku u 90 % postižených. VPMD vzniká spolupůsobením genetických faktorů a faktorů životního stylu. Klíčovým mechanizmem vzniku vlhké formy VPMD je novotvorba cév, stimulovaná růstovým faktorem VEGF. Léčbou volby VPMD jsou proto preparáty anti-VEGF, podávané formou injekcí do sklivce. V mezinárodních studiích jsou zkoumány nové léky na VPMD. Léčbu je třeba zahájit včas, dokud není vážně postižena zraková ostrost., Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss in developed countries in people older than 55 years. The wet form of this disease is the cause of severe vision impairment in 90 percent of patients. AMD develops as a result of an interaction between genetic and lifestyle factors. The key mechanism in the development of wet AMD is the growth of new vessels, stimulated by the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The treatment of choice is, therefore, the use of anti-VEGF agents administered as intravitreal injections. International clinical studies are evaluating new AMD treatments. It is necessary to start the treatment early, before severe visual impairment occurs., I. Fišer, and Lit.: 20
Hodnocení mezipohlavních rozdílů v utváření dolní čelisti je jednou z mála možností, jak lze u nedospělých skeletů morfo-- logicky odhadovat pohlaví. V této průřezové studii jsme se pokusili morfometricky prostudovat věkové rozdíly a ověřit existenci pohlavního dimorfismu ve velikosti a tvaru zubního oblouku dolní čelisti u nedospělých jedinců recentní české populace. Vzorek tvořilo 163 sádrových modelů dolních čelistí ortodontických pacientů, vybraných z Brněnské sbírky sádrových ortodontických modelů chrupu na základě stupně prořezání a nepřítomnosti zjevných patologií v rozsahu I(i)1–M1. Mladší kategorie od 7,5 let včetně do 9,5 let sestávala ze 77 případů (35 mužů a 42 žen), starší kategorie od 14 let včetně do 20 let z 86 případů (36 mužů a 50 žen). Velikost a tvar zubního oblouku jsme na standar dizovaných fotografiích okluzní roviny hodnotili morfometricky pomocí jedenácti rozměrů, definovaných význačnými body na předních řezácích, špičácích a prvních trvalých stoličkách. Tvar jsme hodnotili pomocí šesti indexů. Ženy měly celkově menší rozměry zubního oblouku než muži stejné věkové kategorie, ve vyšší věkové kategorii byl velikostní dimorfismus mírně vyšší, ve většině rozměrů však nepřesahoval 5%. Rozdíly mezi věkovými kategoriemi nejsou jen odrazem prostého zvětšování čelisti v průběhu postnatálního růstu. Délka distální části zubního oblouku (C(c)–M1) je ve vyšším věku u obou pohlaví menší. To může být způsobeno stěsnáváním mesiálnějších zubů s tím, jak se postupně prořezávají zuby distálnější. Ve většině hodnocených indexů se pohlaví výrazně nelišila, výjimkou byl Index vystupování špičáku v mladší věkové kategorii. Špičák vystupoval z oblouku bukálním směrem výrazněji ženám než mužům. Diskuse je věnována srovnání zjištěného dimorfismu s předchozími studiemi a vlivům, jejichž prostřednictvím mohl klinický charakter sbírky a způsob výběru vzorku ov- livnit zjištěné mezipohlavní rozdíly., The evaluation of sex differences in mandibular development of subadult skeletons is one of the few possible methods of determining sex using morphological characteristics. In this cross-sectional study, we attempted to morphometrically investigate age differences and to confirm the existence of sexual dimorphism using the size and shape of mandibular dental arch in subadults from a recent Czech population. The sample consisted of 163 plaster casts of mandibles from orthodontic patients in the Brno Collection of Orthodontic Den - tal Plaster Casts , selected on the basis of the degree of tooth eruption and the absence of visible pathological conditions in the I(i)1–M1 range. The younger age category ranging from 7,5 years to 9,5 years accounted for 77 cases (35 males and 42 females) and the older age category rang- ing from 14 to 20 years accounted for 86 cases (36 males and 50 females). The size and shape of the dental arch was evaluated using standar- dized photographs of the occlusal plane by employing eleven dimensions, with landmarks on central incisors, canines and first permanent molars. Shape was evaluated using six indices. The mean size of the dental arch was smaller in females than in males in the same age category. In the older age category the sexual dimorphism was slightly greater, but did not exceed 5% in most measurements. Differences between age categories cannot be explained as a simple reflection of increasing size of the mandible with postnatal growth. The length of the distal segment of the dental arch (C(c)–M1 range) is shorter in the older category in both sexes. This could be caused by crowding of mesial teeth, with gradual eruption of distal teeth. Sex differences were not recorded in most shape indices, except for the Canine Protrusion Index in the younger age category. Canine protrusion from the arch in the buccal direction was greater in females than in males. The discussion is focused on comparison of the observed dimorphism with results found in previous studies and also on possible ways in which the clinical character of the collection and method of sample selection could have affected the detected inter-sex differences., Vlasta Dadejová, Miroslav Králík, Petra Urbanová, and Literatura
Příspěvek je věnován opevnění mocenské aglomerace Staré Město – Uherské Hradiště, jednoho z nejvýznamnějších center raně středověkého státního útvaru, Velké Moravy. Ve studii je vyhodnocen jeden ze starších, dosud nepublikovaných terénních výzkumů, které se uskutečnily na východním okraji aglomerace v hradišťské čtvrti Rybárny. V průběhu těchto výzkumů byly objeveny zbytky mohutné fortifikace tvořené čelní kamennou zdí a dřevo-hliněnou konstrukcí táhnoucí se v délce bezmála 400 m. Průběh opevnění byl potom ověřen geofyzikálními i geologickými metodami. Následně došlo v poloze Rybárny k objevu velkomoravského pohřebiště a pravděpodobně i kostela, což kromě jiného vyvolalo nové otázky vztahující se k charakteristice, funkci a dataci nedaleké hradby. and The article is devoted to the fortification of the powerful Staré Město – Uherské Hradiště agglomeration, one of the most important centres of the Early Medieval state formation – Great Moravia. The study evaluates an earlier, hitherto unpublished, excavation that was conducted on the eastern edge of the agglomeration in the quarter Rybárny. During this excavations the remains of massive fortifications were discovered, with a stone facing and an earth and timber structure running a length of no less than 400 m. The course of the fortification was subsequently verified using geophysical and geological methods. Later, a Great Moravian cemetery and probably church were also found at Rybárny, which amongst other things raised news questions relating to the characteristics, function and dating of the nearby rampart.
To investigate the vestibular and somatosensory interaction in human postural control, a galvanic vestibular stimulation of cosine bell shape resulting in a small forward or backward body lean was paired with three vibrations of both soleus muscles. The induced body lean was registered by the position of the center of foot pressure (CoP). During a quiet stance with eyes closed the vibration of both soleus muscles with frequency (of) 40 Hz, 60 Hz and 80 Hz resulted in the body lean backward with velocities related to the vibration frequencies. The vestibular galvanic stimulation with the head turned to the right caused forward or backward modification of CoP backward response to the soleus muscles vibration and peaked at 1.5-2 s following the onset of the vibration. The effect of the paired stimulation was larger than the summation of the vestibular stimulation during the quiet stance and a leg muscle vibration alone. The enhancement of the galvanic stimulation was related to the velocity of body lean induced by the leg muscle vibration. The galvanic vestibular stimulation during a faster body movement had larger effects than during a slow body lean or the quiet stance. The results suggest that velocity of a body postural movement or incoming proprioceptive signal from postural muscles potentiate the effects of simultaneous vestibular stimulations on posture., O. Dzurková, F. Hlavačka., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE ) during childhood is low with two peaks – neonatal and adolescent age. This retrospective study is focused on clinical characteristics of VTE during adolescence. The main goals are to assess the most frequent inherited and acquired risk factors and to evaluate the benefit of D-dimers in diagnostics of venous thromboemblism. The data of 18 adolescents were analysed – 16 girls (88.9%), 2 boys (11.1%). In 9 patients (50%) thrombosis of the lower limb deep veins was diagnosed, six patients (33.3%) suffered from symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE ) and 3 patients (16.7%) from thrombosis at unusual sites. One patient had an idiopathic VTE , the mean number of the inherited and acquired risk factors was 2.6. The most frequent inherited risk factor was Leiden mutation of factor V (27.8%). The most frequent acquired risk factor was oral contraception (OC ) in 12 out of 16 girls (75%). All of our patients on oral contraception had one or more additional risk factors. 10 out of 18 (55.6%) patients with VTE had elevated activity of factor VIII . The sensitivit, Aneta Samková, Kateřina Lejhancová, Jiří Hak, Antonín Lukeš, and Literatura 22
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive and disabling disease that has been associated with aging. Several factors may potentially impair performance during exercise in elderly patients with COPD. This study was conducted to evaluate what characteristics related to lung function, peripheral muscle strength and endurance can predict the performance of elderly patients with COPD during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Forty elderly patients with COPD underwent resting lung function tests, knee isokinetic dynamometry, and CPET. Three models were developed to explain the variability in peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) after controlling for age as an independent confounder. The pulmonary function model showed the highest explained variance (65.6 %); in this model, ventilation distribution (p<0.001) and pulmonary diffusion (0.013) were found to be independent predictors. Finally, the models that included the muscle strength and endurance variables presented explained variances of 51 % and 57.4 %, respectively. In these models that involved muscular dysfunction, however, only the endurance variables were found to be independent predictors (p<0.05). In conclusion, ventilation distribution and pulmonary diffusion, but not the degree of airway obstruction, independently predict CPET performance in elderly patients with COPD. In addition, peripheral muscle endurance, but not strength, also predicts CPET performance in these subjects.