Existují doklady, že při sociální a prostorové izolaci dochází u participantů k významným psychickým změnám. V rámci projektu Mars- 500, což byla pozemská simulace letu k Marsu o délce 520 dní, jsme měli možnost sledovat u šesti účastníků projektu změny ve vnímání prostoru a citlivosti a paměti na lidské tváře a objekty. Experimentální sada byla účastníkům počítačově administrována celkem v deseti měřeních. Sledovali jsme výkon v percepčních a paměťových testech a jeho proměny v průběhu izolace a výsledky jsme dále porovnávali s kontrolní skupinou. Navzdory očekávání nebyly v průběhu izolace žádné podstatné změny shledány. Změny ve 3D vnímání, jež jsou popisovány ve výzkumech probíhajících v prostředí mikrogravitace, jsou pravděpodobně vázány na absenci gravitační vertikály. Případné jemné změny ve vnímání a paměti u účastníků projektu Mars-500 mohly být překryty limity vztaženými k samotné izolační studii (malý počet respondentů, jejich zásadní nepodobnost s kontrolním souborem, různorodé kulturní zázemí)., The subjects of the experimental research were participants of Mars-500 project, who spent nearly a year and a half isolated from the outside world on a simulated mission on Mars. They were presented with a battery of psychophysical tests examining the performance in various visual space perception and face and object recognition tasks. The primary focus was on monitoring changes in the crewmembers’ perceptual performance throughout the confinement and interpreting their performance in relation to the control group. Contrary to the expectations, no serious effect of the confinement on the crewmembers’ perception was observed in any of the experiments. Several interpretations of such findings are discussed, including the possibility that potential changes might have been masked by inappropriate experimental conditions and the specific group sample., Michal Šimeček, Radovan Šikl., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The dental pulp represents an easily acces-sible source of adult dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). The preferred approach to DPSC isolation is enzymatic digestion. However, the duration of the enzymatic activity is crucial. The purpose of this study was to isolate the DPSC populations using this method, characterize their biological properties and proliferation capacity, and to determine their ability to differentiate into mature cells. Before enzymatic
digestion using 0.05% trypsin, we used the homogenization method in order to obtain a fine homogenate from the solid pulp tissue. The stem cells were cultivated in modified cultivation medium for mesenchymal adult progenitor cells containing 2% foetal bovine serum, growth factors and insulin-transferrin-
selenium supplement. We were successfully able to isolate 10 populations of DPSCs. The vitality of DPSCs did not drop below
90 %. However, the DPSCs showed a significant decrease in the relative telomere length number with increasing passaging (P < 0.05). Isolated DPSCs highly expressed the CD markers: CD29, CD44, CD90, CD13, CD73 and CD166. In contrast, CD markers CD31, CD106, CD34 and CD45 were negative or low positive. We confirmed the high osteogenic and chondrogenic potential of the isolated stem cells. Isolated DPSCs did not show signs of cell degeneration or spontaneous differentiation during the entire cultivation. In addition, we were able to shorten the enzyme activity duration, and we were the first to demonstrate trypsin as the enzyme used for the enzymatic digestion method with the viability over 90 % of isolated DPSCs using this method. and Corresponding author: Nela Pilbauerová
The aim of this paper is to examine whether current and/or Pleistocene geography affect the species richness and composition of Tuscan archipelago butterflies. This archipelago is located between Tuscany (Italy) and Corsica (France). Faunistic data was obtained from the literature and surveys. Our data revealed that contemporary geography is the most important factor determining the species richness and faunal composition of Tuscan archipelago butterflies. Indeed, current area and isolation of the islands are the only predictors significantly correlated with species richness. Paleogeographic features of the archipelago are not significantly correlated with species richness. Multidimensional scaling revealed patterns similar to those reported for other living groups. Specifically, Capraia and Montecristo group together with Corsica, while Elba, Giglio, Pianosa, Gorgona, Giannutri and the fossil island of Monte Argentario group with the Tuscan mainland. Recent geography seems to affect the faunal composition. Indeed Mantel test indicates that the similarity in the faunal composition of the Tuscan Archipelago islands is mainly related to present-day island characteristics and their relative distance from Tuscany and Corsica. Our results are similar to those recently obtained for Aegean archipelago butterflies.
Two sedentary gobiids (the cryptic species Pomatoschistus microps and P. marmoratus) have been analysed in several Mediterranean lagoons of southern France and in Corsica. In order to determine the level of population isolation between neighbouring lagoons, mtDNA was screened using RFLP (7 endonucleases) of an amplified 2 kb region (including the D-loop and Cyt b). The mtDNA diversity of the genus is high (42 haplotypes for 125 individuals) so that a detailed haplotype tree has been constructed using two additional outgroup species. The main result is that almost no common haplotypes are shared between populations of the same species inhabiting neighbouring lagoons. A high level of isolation between neighbouring lagoons during several centuries is deduced, at least for P. microps populations.
As urbanisation is set to continue, understanding the impact on wildlife becomes increasingly important if we are to be able to conserve biodiversity. As an excellent group of bioindicators, invertebrates can allow us to understand some of the forces in urban areas which impact upon biodiversity and wildlife populations. This paper discusses some of the trends in the abundance, diversity and richness of invertebrates related to urbanisation and the specific urban environmental and traffic factors which may be at play., Elizabeth L. Jones, Simon R. Leather., and Obsahuje seznam literatury