The paper describes the instrument´s design, technique and some results of measurements of the main solar wind kinetic parameters, made aboard the Prognoz 8 satellite by a Soviet-Czechoslovak energy spectrometer. The aim of this experiment was to test the technique of shock wave detection through readings of the plasma instrument and to measure plasma parameters with high time resolution (up to 1.3 s).
We present a custom-made multielectrode array for the recording of evoked potentials during acute experiments in rats, which offers a quick and reliable estimation of the cortical tonotopy. The array consists of electrodes represented by insulated copper wires of 0.09 mm diameter fixed in epoxy resin in a 3 x 5 arrangement, with final impedances of 410-800 kOhm. The array was placed on the brain surface of anesthetized rats approximately at the location of the auditory cortex (AC) and the cortical evoked potentials (middle-latency responses, MLR) were elicited by a series of tone pips of different frequencies at 50 dB of sound pressure level (SPL) intensity. The frequency that evoked the highest MLR amplitude (best frequency, BF) was identified for each electrode. The obtained distribution of the BFs characterized the cortical tonotopy, and it correlated with the frequency selectivity of neurons recorded at the same positions by an extracellular microelectrode. Although the space resolution of the array did not allow for the identification of AC sub regions, the array proved to be a reliable tool for a quick estimation and prediction of areas of interest for the subsequent measurements of neurons by more precise techniques.
Quasi-periodic oscillations /QPO/, with frequencies in the range between about 1 Hz and 10^2 Hz have been detected in the X-ray flux of 10 low-mass X-ray binaries. A brief overview will be given of the main characteristics of these QPO, and the associated red noise, with emphasis on the following topics:
- The relation between QPO and the spectraL properties of the LMXB;
- The time shift between QPO as observed in different X-ray photon energy bands, and the possible role of comptonization in the formation of X-ray spectra of low-mass X-ray binaries.
Moderately elevated plasma/serum triglycerides (2 -10 m mol/l) signalize increased risk for cardiovascular disease or presence of non- alcoholic steatohepatitis. Extremely elevated triglycerides (more than 10 mmol/l) signalize increased risk for pancreatitis and lipemia retinalis. The concentration of triglycerides is regulated by many genetic and nongenetic factors. Extremely elevated triglycerides not provoked by nutritional factors, especially inappropriate alcohol intake are more likely to have a monogenic cause. On the contrary, mildly to moderately elevated triglycerides are often caused by polygenic disorders; these could be also associated with central obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes mellitus. Concentration of triglycerides is also closely interconnected with presence of atherogenic remnant lipop roteins, impaired reverse cholesterol transport and more atherogenic small LDL particles. In general, there is tight association between triglycerides and many other metabolic factors including intermediate products of lipoprotein metabolism which are freq uently atherogenic. Therefore, reliable evaluation of the independent role of triglycerides especially in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease is difficult. In individual cases values of HDL cholesterol, non -HDL cholesterol (total minus HDL cholester ol), non -HDL/nonLDL cholesterol (total minus HDL minus LDL cholesterol, especially in nonfasting status), atherogenic index of plasma and/or apolipoprotein B could help in decisions regarding a ggressiv eness of treatment., J. Piťha, J. Kovář, T. Blahová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of our study was to evaluate rapid insulin pulses and insulin secretion regularity in fasting state in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in comparison to lean healthy women. PCOS (n=8) and controls (n=7) underwent every minute blood sampling for 60 min. Insulin pulsatility was assessed by deconvolution and insulin secretion regularity by approximate entropy methodology. PCOS had higher testosterone (p<0.02), prolactin (p<0.05) and lower sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) (p<0.0006) levels than controls. Approximate entropy, insulin pulse frequency, mass, amplitude and interpulse interval did not differ between PCOS and controls. PCOS had broader insulin peaks determined by a common half-duration (p<0.07). Burst mass correlated positively with testosterone (p<0.05) and negatively with SHBG (p<0.0004) and common half-duration correlated positively with prolactin (p<0.008) and cortisol levels (p<0.03). Approximate entropy positively correlated with BMI (p<0.04) and prolactin (p<0.03). Lean PCOS patients tended to have broader insulin peaks in comparison to healthy controls. Prolactin, androgens and cortisol might participate in alteration of insulin secretion in PCOS-affected women. Body weight and prolactin levels could influence insulin secretion regularity., T. Grimmichová, J. Vrbíková, P. Matucha, K. Vondra, P. P. Veldhuis, M. L. Johnson., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
First intron variability of the fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) has strong impact on adiposity. We focused on lean women carrying the most “obesity-risk” haplotype to study their anthropometric parameters and hormonal and metabolic profile. Genotype-phenotype correlation was performed in a group of 172 lean women (body mass index (BMI) ≥18.5 and <25 kg/m2; age 26.8±7.26 years), 77 of them used hormonal contraceptives. Even in lean women the association of the risk haplotype CAGA with BMI was confirmed but it did not influence the anthropometric indices of body composition. CAGA carriers compared to non-carriers had significantly higher both fasting (p=0.016) and post glucose load (p<0.001) levels of growth hormone (GH), significantly higher glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels in the late phase of oGTT and lower fasting concentration of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Administration of hormonal contraceptives further increased observed hormonal and metabolic effects in CAGA carriers. We conclude that higher levels of GH in lean women carrying the FTO “obesity risk” haplotype could protect them from the development of obesity. The relation between the FTO gene variability and GH secretion has to be elucidated. This is the first study demonstrating the interaction of FTO genotype with hormonal contraception., P. Lukášová, M. Vaňková, J. Včelák, D. Vejražková, O. Bradnová, S. Stanická, V. Hainer, B. Bendlová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Most of natural materials contain traces of chlorine and it enters also to the combustion process. Chlorine products of combustions are usually inorganic hydrogen chloride vapors and chloride salts, nevertheless smaller amount of organic chlorine compounds are formed. Simpler of these organic compounds can act as greenhouse and ozone depleting gases; more complex compounds are directly dangerous for their mutagenity or extreme toxity like so called dioxines. Non-fossil natural materials and fuels derived of them can contain more chlorine than common coal. From the published research studies is evident that the formation of organochlorine compounds is limited to the temperature range 300-800 °C. At the higher temperatures, these compounds are destroyed. In the stage of flue gas cooling some chlorine may be by a "de novo" synthesis introduced to the organic form. Well-controlled combustion of alternative fuels need not contribute to the increase of amount of emissions of dangerous chlorine compounds. In our research were moreover studied the fuels with lower chlorine content. The experimental tests of the emissions from large-scale industrial fluid bed boiler indicated that substitution of large percentage of coal by alternative fuels had no significant effect., Kamil Wichterle, Jan Cieslar, Antonín Klečka, Zdeněk Klika and Václav Roubíček., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Dietary composition and metabolism of fatty acids (FA) influence insulin resistance, atherogenic dyslipidemia and other components of the metabolic syndrome (MS). It is known that patients with MS exhibit a heterogeneous phenotype; however, the relationships of individual FA to MS components have not yet been consistently studied. We examined the plasma phosphatidylcholine FA composition of 166 individuals (68F/98M) with MS and of 188 (87F/101M) controls. Cluster analysis of FA divided the groups into two clusters. In cluster 1, there were 65.7 % of MS patients and 37.8 % of controls, cluster 2 contained 34.3 % of patients and 62.2 % of controls (P<0.001). Those with MS within cluster 1 (MS1) differed from individuals with MS in cluster 2 (MS2) by concentrations of glucose (P<0.05), NEFA (P<0.001), HOMA-IR (P<0.05), and levels of conjugated dienes in LDL (P<0.05). The FA composition in MS1 group differed from MS2 by higher contents of palmitoleic (+30 %), γ-linolenic (+22 %), dihomo-γ-linolenic (+9 %) acids and by a lower content of linoleic acid (–25 %) (all P<0.01). These FA patterns are supposed to be connected with the progression and/or impaired biochemical measures of MS (lipolysis, oxidative stress, dysglycidemia, and insulin resistance)., A. Žák, M. burda, M. Vecka, M. Zeman, E. Tvrzická, B. Staňková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Bariatric surgery is the most effective method in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different types of bariatric procedures on remission of T2DM and on the fatty acid composition in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Patients included obese diabetic women who underwent bariatric surgery: biliopancreatic diversion (BPD), n=8, laparoscopic gastric banding (LAGB), n=9 or laparoscopic greater curvature plication (LGCP), n=12. Anthropometric characteristics and fatty acid composition of adipose tissue (FA AT) were analyzed before surgery, then 6 months and 2 years after surgery. FA AT was analyzed by gas chromatography. Diabetes remission was estimated. BPD was most efficient in inducing a remission of diabetes (p=0.004). Significantly higher increases in lauric (12:0), myristoleic (14:1n-5) and palmitoleic (16:1n-7) acids and delta-9 desaturase were found two years after BPD, suggesting higher lipogenesis in adipose tissue. Docosatetraenoic acid (22:4n-6) increased significantly after BPD, while docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3) decreased 6 months after BPD and increased after 2 years. No changes were found after LAGB and LGCP after 2 years. Bariatric surgery led to significant changes in the fatty acid composition of subcutaneous adipose tissue in severely obese diabetic women after six months and two years, and was partly influenced by the type of surgery used., M. Kunešová, B. Sedláčková, O. Bradnová, E. Tvrzická, B. Staňková, P. Šrámková, K. Dolešalová, P. Kalousková, P. Hlavatý, M. Hill, B. Bendlová, M. Fried, V. Hainer, J. Vrbíková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This paper is concerned with the design problem of finite-horizon H∞ fault estimator for a class of nonlinear time-varying systems with Round-Robin protocol scheduling. The faults are assumed to occur in a random way governed by a Bernoulli distributed white sequence. The communication between the sensor nodes and fault estimators is implemented via a shared network. In order to prevent the data from collisions, a Round-Robin protocol is utilized to orchestrate the transmission of sensor nodes. By means of the stochastic analysis technique and the completing squares method, a necessary and sufficient condition is established for the existence of fault estimator ensuring that the estimation error dynamics satisfies the prescribed H∞ constraint. The time-varying parameters of fault estimator are obtained by recursively solving a set of coupled backward Riccati difference equations. A simulation example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design scheme of the fault estimator.