We report results of a faunal survey of Aradidae flat bugs sampled by sifting litter in 14 wet and discrete Tanzanian primary forests (= Tanzanian Forest Archipelago, TFA) of different geological origins and ages. Images, locality data and, when available, DNA barcoding sequences of 300 Aradidae adults and nymphs forming the core of the herein analyzed data are publicly available online at dx.doi.org/10.5883/DS-ARADTZ. Three Aradidae subfamilies and seven genera were recorded: Aneurinae (Paraneurus), Carventinae (Dundocoris) and Mezirinae (Afropictinus, Embuana, Linnavuoriessa, Neochelonoderus, Usumbaraia); the two latter subfamilies were also represented by specimens not assignable to nominal genera. Barring the six nominal species of Neochelonoderus and Afropictinus described earlier by us from these samples and representing 11 of the herein defined Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU), only one of the remaining 52 OTUs could be assigned to a named species; the remaining 51 OTUs (81%) represent unnamed species. Average diversity of Aradidae is 4.64 species per locality; diversity on the three geologically young volcanoes (Mts Hanang, Meru, Kilimanjaro) is significantly lower (1.33) than on the nine Eastern Arc Mountains (5.67) and in two lowland forests (5). Observed phylogeographic structure of Aradidae in TFA can be attributed to vicariance, while the depauperate fauna of Aradidae on geologically young Tanzanian volcanoes was likely formed anew by colonisation from nearby and geologically older forests., Vasily V. Grebennikov, Ernst Heiss., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Myxozoan parasites of the genus Kudoa Meglitsch, 1947 are associated with post-mortem tissue degradation that causes great financial losses to commercial fisheries. Kudoa thyrsites (Gilchrist, 1924) is a species with a very wide host range including commercial tunas, mackerels, salmonids and flatfishes. A sample of 190 fishes of 18 species from the Madeira Archipelago and 30 Atlantic chub mackerel, Scomber colias Gmelin, and 30 blue whiting, Micromesistius poutassou (Risso), from the Portuguese mainland coast were examined for the presence of species of Kudoa. The prevalence of Kudoa spp. was 80% in M. poutassou and 60% in S. colias. No spore was detected in S. colias from Madeira, which was confirmed by specific PCR screening of the muscle from all individuals of S. colias. SSU rDNA analysis revealed that M. poutassou and S. colias from the Portuguese mainland coast were infected with K. thyrsites, an economically important myxozoan parasite. Both sequences were identical with sequences of the eastern Atlantic K. thyrsites genotype, including that from the type host of this parasite. This is the first report of K. thyrsites from M. poutassou and S. colias. The fact that spores of species of Kudoa were not detected in fishes screened in the Madeira Archipelago may be explained by various ecological factors, such as the absence of a continental shelf, a short insular shelf, and oceanic waters with low productivity, all resulting in reduced abundance of benthic organisms. Consequently, it is possible that as yet unknown annelid definitive hosts of Kudoa spp. are absent or very rare near Madeiran coasts.
Performance of the invasive horse-chestnut leaf miner, Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimic, 1986 (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), was studied on two host plants: the white-flowering horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum L. and the Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra Willd. C. ohridella developed successfully on both host plants; however, mine density and survival were much higher on A. hippocastanum than on A. glabra. The pupal mass and potential fecundity were strongly affected by the host plant on which the larvae fed. On A. hippocastanum pupae were significantly heavier and females more fecund than those on A. glabra. Furthermore, on both host plants there was a significant positive correlation between the number of oocytes in ovaries and pupal body mass, and as a consequence, heavier females produced more eggs. Our study demonstrates that the mine density, survival, pupal mass and potential fecundity were significantly lower on A. glabra than on A. hippocastanum. The observed lower performance of C. ohridella on the exotic host plant was assumed to be due to its poor food quality (nutritional and chemical composition)., Urszula Walczak, Edward Baraniak, Piotr Zduniak., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This paper develops some analytical perspectives for a proper assessment of the dynamics observed on the Hungarian residential property market over the last decade. These dynamics are examined in comparison to official policy objectives. On the one hand, sustainable development and social balance were particularly urgent issues after the last financial crisis. On the other, the residential property market was officially instrumentalised to achieve them. We examined real estate market processes using data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office and found a change in investment motives and in the main groups of actors dominant in the market, and we also examined the role of foreign investment. At the aggregate national level, the past decade looks like a process of recovery. Nonetheless, the factors relevant for the observable dynamics do not seem to correspond to the goals also formulated in the new constitution, but rather document the investment fever of certain groups.
A synopsis of 43 nominal species from five genera of tailed Myxobolidae infecting Indian freshwater and marine fishes is presented. The main characteristic of this group is the presence of at least one tail-like caudal process. For each species, relevant morphological and morphometric data are provided, such as the host(s), site(s) of infection within the host and sampling state. A key for the identification of 13 genera of tailed Myxobolidae is also included.
A synopsis of the species of Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 (Cnidaria, Myxosporea, Myxobolidae) described from 2014 up till now is presented. It includes 122 nominal species described all over the world. For each of the species, the most relevant morphological and morphometric data, as well as data are provided related to the location in the host, type host and type locality. The GenBank accession numbers are provided whenever possible, and the spores were redrawn based on the original descriptions. The bibliography includes all the papers containing the species descriptions.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) belongs to the serious health complications expanding in cardiovascular diseases, obesity, insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia. In this study, hypertriacylglycerolemic rats fed a high-fat-fructose diet (HFFD) were used as an experimental model of MetS to explore the effect of tested compounds. Effects of a new prospective pyridoindole derivative coded SMe1EC2 and the natural polyphenol rutin were tested. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) expression were assessed in the left ventricle immunohistochemically and left ventricle activity was monitored in isolated perfused rat hearts. NOS3 activity in the left ventricle decreased markedly as a result of a HFFD. NOS3 expression was upregulated by both substances. NF-κB expression was increased in the MetS group in comparison to control rats and the expression further increased in the SMe1EC2 treatment. This compound significantly improved the coronary flow in comparison to the control group during reperfusion of the heart followed after ischemia. Further, it tended to increase left ventricular systolic pressure, heart product, rate of maximal contraction and relaxation, and coronary flow during baseline assessment. Moreover, the compound SMe1EC2 decreased the sensitivity of hearts to electrically induced ventricular fibrillation. Contrary to this rutin decreased coronary flow in reperfusion. Present results suggest that despite upregulation of NOS3 by both substances tested, pyridoindole SMe1EC2 rather than rutin could be suitable in treatment strategies of cardiovascular disorders in MetS-like conditions.
Tato výzkumná studie se zabývá kolegiální podporou coby druhem sociální opory u bezpečnostního sboru. Kolegiální podporou se rozumí poskytování psychické podpory policistům a zaměstnancům, kteří jsou v komplikované, psychicky náročné životní situaci. Spočívá v nabídce rozhovoru, sdílení pocitů a problémů, konkrétní pomoci či informacích, eventuálně zprostředkování psychologické pomoci. Jejím cílem je předcházet rozvoji psychických obtíží policistů a zaměstnanců a rozšířit možnost psychické podpory. Výzkumná studie shrnuje základní zdroje stresu, se kterými se policisté potýkají a zároveň i stručně představí specifika policejní kultury, která u kolegiální podpory hraje důležitou roli. Následně je představena i česká praxe. Výzkum byl proveden pomocí polostrukturovaných rozhovorů s devíti poskytovateli kolegiální podpory ve Středočeském kraji, který jako první zavedl kolegiální podporu do systému psychologické péče o policisty. Analýza rozhovorů přinesla odpovědi na výzkumné otázky týkající se motivace policistů zapojit se do systému kolegiální podpory, vnímaní pozice kolegiální podpory v rámci policejní kultury a dovedností získaných v průběhu vstupního školení. Vedle témat výzkumných otázek se objevila i další důležitá témata jako je mlčenlivost, limity kolegiální podpory, její propagace, osobnost poskytovatele apod. Výsledky poukazují na místa v systému kolegiální podpory, jejichž propracování a prohloubení může přispět k úspěšnému vybudování komplexního systému kolegiální podpory u Policie ČR. and Research paper the Peer Support System by the Police of the Czech Republic deals with peer support as a kind of social support for the safety forces. Peer support means providing psychological support to policemen and employees who are in a complicated, psychologically challenging life situation. It consists of offering an interview, sharing feelings and problems, any specific help or information, or possibly providing psychological help. Its goal is to prevent the development of psychological difficulties for police officers and employees and to extend possibilities of psychological support. The research paper summarizes the basic sources of stress the cops face, and at the same time briefly introduces the specifics of the police culture that plays an important role in peer support. Further the Czech practice is described. The research was conducted through semi-structured interviews with nine peer support providers in the Central Bohemian Region, where the system of peer support was first introduced as a new way of psychological care for police officers. The analysis of interviews brought responses to research issues related to motivation of police officers to engage in the Peer Support System, perception of the position of the peer support within the police culture and skills acquired during initial training. Besides the topics of research questions, other important topics appeared such as confidentiality, limits of peer support, promotion, personality of the provider, etc. The results point to areas in the Peer Support System, whose elaboration and deepening can contribute to the successful establishment of a comprehensive system of the Peer Support System by the Police of the Czech Republic.
In our previous work we established a T7 polymerase-driven Tetracycline-inducible protein expression system in Leishmania mexicana (Biagi, 1953). We used this system to analyse gene expression profiles during development of L. mexicana in procyclic and metacyclic promastigotes and amastigotes. The transcription of the gene of interest and the T7 polymerase genes was significantly reduced upon cell differentiation. This regulation is not locus-specific. It depends on untranslated regions flanking open reading frames of the genes analysed. In this paper, we report that the previously established conventional inducible protein expression system may not be suitable for studies on differentiation of species of Leishmania Ross, 1903 and protein expression systems might have certain limitations., Aygul Ishemgulova, Natalya Kraeva, Drahomíra Faktorová, Lucie Podešvová, Julius Lukeš, Vyacheslav Yurchenko., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Understanding the diets of predators, prey selection and their impact on prey populations is pivotal to investigations on the ecology of predator and prey species. In this study, we observed a hand-reared European otter (Lutra lutra) foraging in the wild, in order to identify the type of prey captured by the predator. The study was carried out between March and June 2001 in a diverse range of natural otter habitats in Białowieża Forest (NE Poland). We found that tadpoles represented an important part of the otter's diet in June, when their frequency of occurrence and biomass reached 38% and 11%, respectively. During spring, tadpoles were less common than other types of prey, such as adult amphibians, fish, or aquatic Coleoptera. Otter diet varied among months and there were differences in the main prey type captured among water body types. Our results highlight the need to develop methods that enable the identification of tadpoles and other cryptic seasonal food items in riparian predator diets.