The potential role of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i-IELs) in the generation of host protective immunity after helminth infection was investigated using the Trichinella spiralis (Owen, 1835)/mouse model. In this study we found a significant rise of TCRyô i-IELs (P < 0.001) concurrent with the jejunal goblet cells (GC) hyperplasia in T. spiralis-infected C57BL mice on day 4 p.i. However, no direct relationship between the kinetics of the increase in TCRy5+ i-IELs and T, spiralis expulsion was observed in infected mice. Taken together, these results implicate that γδ i-IELs probably perform a unique functions related to the regulation of the CiC proliferation accompanying T. spiralis gut infection. As is known, these TCRyS* i-IELs may release mediators or growth factors that in turn influence GC differentiation. With the use of dexamethason (DEX), a potent anti-inflammatory agent which also induces apoplotic ceil death in i-IELs, wc have confirmed that the expulsion of T. spiralis from the mouse gut is accompanied by an inflammatory response. Indeed, the GC are clearly involved in these phenomena, apparently under the regulation by TCRy8+ i-lEL-mediated responses, since DEX abrogated GC proliferation in T. spiralis-infected C57BL mice and subsequently augmented adult worm burden. Our data also show that the rejection of adult worms starts concurrently with a significant increase in TCRaß* and CDS* i-IELs (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), namely by day 7 p.i. At the same time, CD4* cells significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the intestinal epithelium of T. spira/ir-infected, ví uninfected mice. These results may indicate that the TCRaß4 and CDS* i-IELs act as effectors of anti-7’, spiralis defence reactions. The implications of these findings for the potential role of intestinal intraepithélial CD8 and TCRaß' cells in the pathogenesis of the intestinal lesions during T. spiralis gut infection are discussed.
The sequences of 10 conservative regions (CR) of minicircles of 6 selected isolates of freshwater fish try-panosomes have typical organization of this region with high degree of sequence conservation. The comparison with CRs of other trypanosomatids showed that freshwater fish trypanosomes represent a compact separate group within the genus Trypanosoma. The alignment of all sequences obtained revealed, however, the existence of 2 types of CRs in sequenced minicirclcs, with the differences concentrated in a short region. Taxonomic consequences of these results arc discussed.
This paper focuses on the implementation of the MLPG formulation for layered plates. For this purpose implementaton of homogenization theory was required and analyses were performed in order to obtain homogenized material properties of composite plates. Software for homogenization of material properties uses direct homogenization method that is based on volume average of stresses in the representative volume element (RVE). Homogenization is performed by linking MATLAB and ANSYS software. Obtained data are used in analyses carried out in own software which is based on the MLPG method. Strain, stress and displacement fields were evaluated. Results obtained by MLPG were compared with those obtained by FEM programs ANSYS and ABAQUS. and Obsahuje seznam literatury
This study examines two long-term time series of nitrate-nitrogen concentrations from the River Ouse and Stour situated in the Eastern England. The time series of monthly averages were decomposed into trend, seasonal and cyclical components and residuals to create a simple additive model. Residuals were then modelled by linear time series models represented by models of the ARMA (autoregressive moving average) class and nonlinear time series models with multiple regimes represented by SETAR (self-exciting threshold autoregressive) and MSW (Markov switching) models. The analysis showed that, based on the minimal value of residual sum of squares (RSS) of one-step ahead forecast in both datasets, SETAR and MSW models described the time series better than models ARMA. However, the relative improvement of SETAR models against ARMA models was low ranging between 1% and 4% with the exception of the three-regime model for the River Stour where the improvement was 48.9%. In comparison, the relative improvement of MSW models was between 44.6% and 52.5 for two-regime and from 60.4% to 75% for three-regime models. However, the visual assessment of models plotted against original datasets showed that despite a high value of RSS, some ARMA models could describe the analyzed time series better than AR (autoregressive), MA (moving average) and SETAR models with lower values of RSS. In both datasets MSW models provided a very good visual fit describing most of the extreme values. The results of this work could be used as a base for construction of other time series models used to describe or predict nitratenitrogen concentrations. and Štúdia sa zaoberá analýzou dlhých časových radov koncentrácií dusičnanového dusíka v rieke Ouse a Stour vo Východnom Anglicku. Časové rady priemerných mesačných koncentrácií dusičnanov boli rozložené na trendovú, sezónnu a cyklickú zložku a reziduá pripočítané k sebe a tvoriace jednoduchý aditívny model. Reziduá boli ďalej modelované zložitejšími lineárnymi modelmi reprezentovanými modelmi triedy ARMA a nelineárnymi viacrežimovými modelmi SETAR a MSW. Výsledky analýzy ukázali, že na základe minimálnej hodnoty sumy štvorcov reziduí (SSR) jednokrokovej predpovede, v oboch prípadoch SETAR aj MSW modely opísali časové rady lepšie ako modely triedy ARMA. Vo väčšine prípadov relatívne zlepšenie modelov SETAR oproti jednoduchým AR(1) modelom bolo malé v rozmedzí od 1 do 4 % s výnimkou trojrežimového modelu pre rieku Stour, kde to bolo až 48,9 %. Naopak, relatívne zlepšenie modelov MSW oproti AR(1) modelom bolo v rozmedzí 44,6 až 52,5 % pre dvojrežimové a 60,4 až 75 % pre trojrežimové modely. Vizuálne posúdenie jednotlivých modelov však ukázalo, že napriek vysokým hodnotám SSR, niektoré ARMA modely dokázali lepšie opísať dané časové rady ako modely AR, MA a SETAR s nižšími hodnotami SSR. V oboch prípadoch MSW modely dokázali dostatočne dobre opísať aj extrémne hodnoty oboch časových radov. Výsledky práce môžu byť použité pri tvorbe iných opisných alebo predpovedných modelov koncentrácie dusičnanového dusíka vo vodách.
Analytical solutions for static an dynamic stability parameters (Pcr and ωn) of an axially loaded nonuniform beam resting on a two parameter foundation are obtained using the recursive differentiation method (RDM) along with automatic differentiation. The analysis includes all cases of beam end conditions and indicates that the foundation stiffness influence is noticeable on both the critical load Per and natural frequency ωn in the case of slender beams. Also, it is found that the effect of the end conditions decreases as the slenderness parameter of the beam increases. In addition, the analysis concludes that neither the critical load nor the natural frequency corresponding to the first mode is always the smallest one in the case of beams of elastic foundations. The obtained solutions are verified and used to investigate the significance of different parameters on the critical loads and natural frequencies., Obsahuje seznam literatury a názvosloví, and V názvu článku je překlep ve slově differentation - správně differentiation (= chybí druhé i)
The photochemical reflectance index (PRI), based on reflectance signatures at 531 and 570 nm, and associated with xanthophyll pigment inter-conversion and related thylakoid energisation, was evaluated as an indicator of photosynthetic function in a Mediterranean holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) coppice. The chlorophyll fluorescence pulse-amplitude-modulation and the eddy correlation techniques were used to estimate the photosystem 2 photochemical efficiency of leaves and the CO2 flux over the canopy, respectively. The reflectance and fluorescence techniques yielded identical estimates of the photosynthetic activity in leaves exposed to dark-light-dark cycles or to a variable irradiance in laboratory. However, there was no such correlation between photosynthetic performance and PRI when applied to a sun-exposed canopy in field conditions. Fluorescence profiles inside the canopy and especially a helpful use of multispectral reflectance imaging highlight the limitations of such method.
Nitrogen (N) starvation resulted in degreening, inhibition of photosynthetic oxygen evolution and dark respiration, reduced survival, and increased age-specific mortality in both Chlorella fusca and Chlorella vulgaris. Analysis of in vivo chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence induction kinetics revealed the presence of N-starvation-induced changes at the level of degreened thylakoids in both species. These changes included decreased yield of the photochemistry of photosystem 2 (PS2), and a declined photosynthetic efficiency. Synthesis of secondary carotenoids represented a biochemical change in carotenogenesis that had a photoprotective effect in degreened C. fusca. This inferred photoprotection was reflected in the delayed inhibition of oxygen evolution and improved survival of C. fusca under N-starvation. The effect was further elucidated by comparison with C. vulgaris which was not able to synthesize secondary carotenoids under the same conditions.
Redox polymer/protein biophotoelectrochemistry was used to analyse forward electron transfer of isolated PSII complexes with natural PsbA-variants. PsbA1- or PsbA3-PSII was embedded in a redox hydrogel that allows diffusion-free electron transfer to the electrode surface and thus measurement of an immediate photocurrent response. The initial photocurrent density of the electrode is up to ~2-fold higher with PsbA1-PSII under all tested light conditions, the most prominent under high-light [2,300 μmol(photon) m-2 s-1] illumination with 5 μA cm-2 for PsbA3-PSII and 9.5 μA cm-2 for PsbA1-PSII. This indicates more efficient electron transfer in low-light-adapted PsbA1-PSII. In contrast, the photocurrent decays faster in PsbA1-PSII under all tested light conditions, which suggests increased stability of high-light-adapted PsbA3-PSII. These results confirm and extend previous observations that PsbA3-PSII has increased P680+/QA- charge recombination and thus less efficient photon-to-charge conversion, whereas PsbA1-PSII is optimised for efficient electron transfer with limited stability., V. Hartmann, A. Ruff, W. Schuhmann, M. Rögner, M. M. Nowaczyk., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
The study concentrates on analysis of heterogeneous rock mass deformations in the final years of underground coal extraction and during the revitalisation period after the end of mining. The research has been carried out in the Walbrzych Coal Basin where underground mining ceased at the end of the 20th Century. In the paper results of initial stages of ground deformation studies on a fragment of the Walbrzych mining grounds concerning analysis of benchmark height changes in a selected levelling line has been described. The results indicate ground subsidence in the period immediately after end of coal extraction and change to a steady uplift of the ground a few years later (2000-2008). Abnormal changes of heights in tectonic fault zones have also been observed. These could be related to heterogeneous rock mass reaction during the revitalisation period., Jan Blachowski, Stefan Cacoń and Wojciech Milczarek., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The study focuses on ceramic production from Žďár nad Sázavou – Staré město, an agglomeration that formed in the third quarter of 13th century and was abandoned after the founding of the ‘new’ town in the early 14th century. The large pottery collection is well dated and captures changes in pottery production during the medieval transformation, tightly connected with the colonisation of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. The pottery assemblage from the 2004 excavation season was processed in this study. Material from the pottery kiln discovered in 2006 and found during the review of the research documentation was supplemented afterwards. The main part of study evaluates ceramic production technology, which was rapidly changing during this period. Pottery fragments were divided into ceramic classes according to the properties of the ceramic mass and firing. The descriptive system of technological marks is a part of the study, but it could be used for other medieval pottery collections. Detailed attention was paid to pottery-forming technique marks: coiling, wheel forming and wheel throwing. The analysis of pottery technology is based on the chaîne opératoire of medieval ceramic production. The macroscopic analysis of pottery-making technology is connected with the conclusions of natural science analyses. Their aim was to validate and specify the macroscopic description of ceramic classes and also detailed information about pottery provenance and technology. The analysis of the pottery provides information for the future productiondistribution model of pottery production in the area.