Continent-wide loss of traditionally managed humid meadows is raising concern for associated butterfly specialists across Europe. However, not all species associated with this biotope are threatened, and the Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino) has even spread locally. We employed mark-recapture and transect walks to study its population structure and patterns of landscape occupancy in a hilly region of western Bohemia, Central Europe, to determine which life history or demography traits might be responsible for its success. A population studied by mark-recapture harboured more than 1000 individuals and was interconnected with other populations. This was further supported by a fit of the inverse power function to dispersal data. Observations of adult behaviour revealed a broad host plant range: at least three species of plants were used by the single population. On a landscape scale, the butterfly exhibited an aggregated distribution matching its host plants. It was associated with the distribution of characteristic plants and butterflies of semi-natural humid meadows, but its frequency exceeded those of other humid grasslands specialists. The relatively broad host range coupled with varying biotope requirements of individual host plant species results in a wide biotope range for the butterfly, explaining its persistence in fragmented Central European landscapes.
1_The adult demographic parameters, mobility, nectar choice and how the spatial distribution of males and females of Z. polyxena is affected by the distribution and abundance of host-plants, and adults of the opposite sex was studied in a population of this species inhabiting a dense network of permanent habitats (totalling 8.7 ha). The population size was estimated to be ca. 300 individuals. The average adult lifespan was 4.4 days and the maximum 23 (male) and 20 (female) days. The capture probability was higher for males than females due to the more conspicuous behaviour and bounded area of activity of males. A slow increase was followed by a slow decrease in the sex specific parabolic recruitment curve, indicating slight protandry and long emergence period, probably due to habitat heterogeneity. The spatial distribution of host plants (Aristolochia lutea) is the key factor determining the spatial distribution of adults. There was a strong positive correlation between male and female density at each patch, both of which were dependent on the cover of host plants growing in sunny conditions. In searching for A. lutea plants suitable for oviposition, females fly greater distances and move more frequently between patches than males. The size, shape and orientation of the male home range were influenced by the size, shape and orientation of stands of host-plants in sunny positions, but not by patch area. Such adult fidelity to stands of host-plants in sunny positions indicates that the spatial distributions of oviposition sites, mate-locating sites and larval habitats of Z. polyxena overlap. The better statistical fit and much lower probabilities for long-distance movements generated by a negative exponential function than an inverse power function are probably due to the small size and high habitat connectivity of the site studied. Adults were opportunistic in their use of nectar plants., 2_Traditional management is the key factor for maintaining permanent habitats for this species in a grassland biotope., Tatjana Čelik., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The availability and quality of nectar for adults are thought to affect fecundity of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Experiments were conducted to analyze the effect of adult feeding on the fecundity, and oviposition pattern of moths, and larval performance (egg hatch). The moths were fed either on distilled water, honey solution, or one of a range of concentrations of sucrose solution. The results showed that diets with sugars significantly increased fecundity and adult lifespan. Lifespan, total numbers of eggs and egg mass were significantly higher for females that fed on sugar during adult life. Egg hatch (a measure of offspring fitness) decreased over time regardless of sucrose concentration, but had always higher levels in the groups fed sugars. The peak of the ovipositing period was delayed and prolonged, with more eggs deposited, when moths were fed on sugar solution. In conclusion, adult feeding increases the fecundity of female moths and plays an important role in enhancing the fitness of individual cotton bollworm offspring.
The function of adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus is not yet completely understood, though many competing theories have attempted to explain the function of these newly -generated neurons. Most theories give adult neurogenesis a role in aiding known hippocampal/dentate gyrus functions. Other theories offer a novel role for these new cells based on their unique physiological qualities, such as their low excitability threshold. Many behavioral tests have been used to test these theories, but results have been inconsistent and often contradictory. Substantial variability in tests and protocols may be at least partially responsible for the mixed results. On the other hand, conflicting results arising from the same tests can serve as aids in elucidating the function of adult neurogenesis. Here, we offer a hypothesis that considers the cognitive nature of tasks commonly used to assess the function of adult neurogenesis, and introduce a dichotomy between tasks focused on discrimination vs. generalization. We view these two aspects as opposite ends of the continuous spectrum onto which traditional tests can be mapped. We propose that high neurogenesis favors behavioral discrimination while low adult neurogenesis favors behavioral generalization of a knowledge or rule. Since many tasks require both, the effects of neurogenesis could be cancelled out in many cases. Although speculative, we hope that our view presents an interesting and testable hypothesis of the effect of adult neurogenesis in traditional behavioral tasks. We conclude that new, carefully designed behavioral tests may be necessary to reach a final consensus on the role of adult neurogenesis in behavior., A. Pistikova, H. Brozka, A. Stuchlik., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This paper deals with the delicts of adultery and fornication. It presents rules related to this delict by referring to the individual pieces of regulation valid within the geographic area of our country and pointing out similarities with rules applicable for these delicts in the Islamic law, especially focusing
on the possibility to punish – whether it is capital punishment, lashing or exile. While in our geographical region criminal prosecution has been completely abandoned, the traditional Islamic law still contains these punishments.
Pompeho nemoc (glykogenóza typ 2, deficit alfa glukosidázy) je autozomálně recesivní dědičné metabolické onemocnění, jehož podkladem je defekt lysozomální kyselé alfa glukosidázy vedoucí k hromadění-střádání lysozomálního glykogenu v buňkách a tkáních s následnou dysfunkcí především ve svalové tkáni srdce a kosterních svalech. Průběh je velmi variabilní: od těžkého rychle progredujícího postižení novorozenců (klasická infantilní forma) po postupné postižení s manifestací v dětství či pozdní dospělosti. Je-li alfa glukosidáza zcela nebo téměř nefunkční, vzniká tzv. klasická infantilní forma choroby. Potíže se rozvíjí v prvních měsících života a mají charakter neprospívání, svalové slabosti a potíží s dýcháním. Dochází k výraznému zvětšení srdce, většina dětí se před zavedením substituční terapie nedožila prvních narozenin. Je-li enzym štěpící glykogen alespoň částečně funkční, vzniká tzv. pozdní (juvenilní či adultní) forma onemocnění. Tato situace nastává, pokud vznikne závažná mutace jedné alely a lehčí na druhé. To vede k méně progresivnímu fenotypu. Rozpětí manifestace nemoci je u této formy od první do šesté věkové dekády. Hlavním projevem je svalová slabost, která postupuje a významně zasahuje dýchací svalstvo. U těchto nemocných nebývá srdce zvětšeno. Při podezření na PN máme tři diagnostické úrovně. První je skríningové vyšetření pomocí testu suché kapky (DBS, Dried Blood Spot). Potvrzení diagnózy se provádí vyšetřením aktivity GAA v leukocytech. DNA vyšetření je důležité pro stanovení korelace genotyp-fenotyp a detekci přenašečů v rodině., Pompe disease (glycogen storage disease type 2, acid maltase deficiency) is inherited autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by deficiency of acid alpha-glucosidase and resulting in lysosomal glycogen storage in various tissues, mainly heart and skeletal muscle. Continuous spectrum of phenotypes from the rapidly progressive infantile form to the slowly progressive late onset form of the disease can be observed. Classical infantile form of the disease manifests soon after birth due to absent or nearly absent activity of the key enzyme. Typical manifestations include failure to thrive, muscle weakness, cardiomegaly, and respiratory failure. Before the era of substitution therapy, the majority of children died within the first year of life. Partial enzyme deficiency (severe mutation on one allele and milder on the second) leads to the less severe phenotype with manifestation in child- or adulthood. Time span is from the first to the sixth decade of life. Leading symptoms include slowly progressing limb girdle and trunk muscle weakness with significant involvement of respiratory muscles. There is no cardiomegaly. Suspicion of Pompe disease is confirmed in three steps. The first involves screening with the Dried Blood Spot test. Testing of the activity of alfa glucosidase in leukocytes is used to confirm the disease. Mutation analysis is important to assess the correlation between genotype and phenotype and to identify familial carriers. Key words: Pompe disease – alpha glucosidase – lysosomal storage diseases – limb-girdle muscle weakness The author declares he has no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers., Vědomostní test, and S. Voháňka
The study is analogy of the natural evolution and the technical object design dates back more than 50 years. The genetic algorithm (GA) is considered to be a stochastic heuristic (or meta-heuristic) optimisation method. The best use of GA can be found in solving multidimensional optimisation problems, for which analytical solutions are unknown (or extremely complex) and efficient numerical methods are also not known. GAs are inspired by adaptive and evolutionary mechanisms of live organisms, but they do not copy the natural process precisely. The paper describes the main terms, principles and original implementation details of GA. The main goal of this paper is to help readers to use proper GAs on the field of technical object design. and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) may play an important adverse role in process of atherosclerosis, diabetes, aging and chronic renal failure. Levels of Ne-carboxymethyllysine and fluorescent AGE values were estimated in two nutritional population groups - alternative group (vegetarians - plant food, milk products, eggs) and traditional group (omnivorous subjects). Vegetarians have a significantly higher carboxymethyllysine content in plasma and fluorescent AGE values. Intake of proteins, lysine and monosaccharides as well as culinary treatment, consumption of food AGEs (mainly from technologically processed products) and the routes of Maillard reaction in organism are the substantial sources of plasma AGEs. Vegetarians consume less proteins and saccharides. Lysine intake is significantly reduced (low content in plant proteins). Subjects on alternative nutrition do not use high temperature for culinary treatment and consume low amount of technologically processed food. Fructation induced AGE fluorescence is greater as compared with that induced by glucose. It is due to higher participation of a more reactive acyclic form of fructose. Intake of vegetables and fruit with predominance of fructose is significantly higher in vegetarians. Comparison of nutrition and plasma AGEs in vegetarian and omnivorous groups shows that the higher intake of fructose in alternative nutrition of healthy subjects may cause an increase of AGE levels., M. Krajčovičová-Kudláčková, K. Šebeková, R. Schinzel., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The slowly metabolized proteins of the extracellular matrix, typically collagen and elastin, accumulate reactive metabolites through uncontrolled non-enzymatic reactions such as glycation or the products arising from the reaction of unsaturated long chain fatty acid metabolites (possessing aldehydic groups). A typical example of these non-enzymatic changes is the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), resulting from the reaction of carbohydrates with the free amino group of proteins. The accumulation of AGEs and the resulting structural alterations cause altered tissue properties (increased stiffness, reduced elasticity) that contribute to their reduced catabolism and to their aging. Posttranslational nonenzymatic modifications of the proteins of the extracellular matrix (the formation of a typical AGE product - pentosidine) were studied in three types of tissue of three rat strains subjected to a high-fructose diet. Chronic (three-week) hyperglycemia (resulting from fructose loading) caused a significant increase in pentosidine concentration mainly in the aorta and skin of the three rat strains (Lewis, Wistar and hereditary hypertriglyceridemic rats)., K. Mikulíková, A. Eckhardt, J. Kuneš, J. Zicha, I. Mikšík., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy