Herbivory on liverworts is rarely reported. We studied the effects of feeding by larvae of the sciarid fly Scatopsciara cunicularius on the growth of the thalloid liverwort Marchantia polymorpha at two different constant temperatures, 12°C and 22°C. Larvae reared at the lower temperature fed slower and over a longer period of time, which resulted in more damage and a greater reduction in the growth of the liverwort than that caused by those reared at the higher temperature. The reduction in growth of the liverwort was positively density-dependent in terms of number of larvae at both temperatures. These results indicate that the larvae of S. cunicularius are likely to be an effective means of controlling M. polymorpha, which is a common weed in plant nurseries and greenhouse cultures., Weerachon Sawangproh, Johan Ekroos, Nils Cronberg., and Obsahuje bibliografii
With the gradual increase of coal mining intensity, many coal pillars need to be left near the stope. The stability of the composite structure of coal pillars and their overlying strata determines the safety of the whole stope and the surface. This paper conducts uniaxial compression tests on coal-rock composite structures with the same lithology and the same coal-rock height ratio and finds the coal-rock composite structure’s mechanical properties and failure characteristics have greater discreteness. Combining the CT images of rock and coal, it is concluded that the main reason for the discreteness of the composite structure test results is the different crack characteristics in the rock specimen and the coal specimen. Therefore, this paper uses the PFC numerical simulation software to analyzes the influence of the crack characteristics on the mechanical properties, failure characteristics, and impact energy index of the coal-rock composite structure. The sensitivity factors are used to analyze the influence of crack angle, crack length, crack number and crack position on the peak stress, total crack number, and impact energy index of the coal-rock composite structure. The research results can provide a theoretical basis and guidance for preventing the instability and failure of the coal pillar-roof composite structure.
The average soil temperature was significantly lower in plots covered with hay. Hay mulching, however, did not increase significantly the total number of soil micro-arthropods collected using a soil pin trap and a soil sampler. Significant increases in the number of individuals was recorded only for certain groups. 64% of all the arthropods collected using soil pin traps were collected in hay-covered plots and 36% in control plots. This increase was statistically significant for the orders Entomobryomorpha and Poduromorpha of the subclass Collembola and surface-dwelling (epigeic) Coleoptera. For the samples collected using the soil sampler, 57% of the specimens were collected from hay-covered plots and 43% from control plots. As for the pin traps this was reflected in differences in the numbers of the orders Entomobrhyomorpha and Poduromorpha of the subclass Collembola and Pauropoda, collected in the treated and control plots. We conclude that mulching affected the different arthropod groups differently., Péter Dudás, László Menyhárt, Csongor Gedeon, Gergely Aambrus, Ferenc Tóth., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia associated with a two-fold increase in mortality caused by a higher risk of stroke and heart failure. Currently, AF is present in ~ 2 % of the general population, and its incidence and prevalence are increasing. Obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and alcohol consumption increase the risk of AF. Each unit of increase in BMI increases the risk of AF by 3 %, and intensive weight loss is also associated with reduced AF recurrence. Hypertension increases the risk of AF by 50 % in men and by 40 % in women, and explains ≈ 20 % of new AF cases. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are at four times higher risk of developing AF than subjects without sleep apnea. Higher concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, higher amounts of epicardial adipose tissue, and a higher degree of ventricular diffuse myocardial fibrosis are present in AF patients and patients with the aforementioned metabolic disorders. Several prospective cohort studies and randomized trials have been initiated to show whether weight loss and treatment of other risk factors will be associated with a reduction in AF recurrences.
Perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult (HII) is one of the main devastating causes of morbidity and mortality in newborns. HII induces brain injury which evolves to neurological sequelae later in life. Hypothermia is the only therapeutic approach available capable of diminishing brain impairment after HII. Finding a novel therapeutic method to reduce the severity of brain injury and its consequences is critical in neonatology. The present paper aimed to evaluate the effect of sulforaphane (SFN) pre-treatment on glucose metabolism, neurodegeneration, and functional outcome at the acute, sub-acute, and sub-chronic time intervals in the experimental model of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult in rats. To estimate the effect of SFN on brain glucose uptake we have performed 18F-deoxyglucose (FDG) μCT/PET. The activity of FDG was determined in the hippocampus and sensorimotor cortex. Neurodegeneration was assessed by histological analysis of Nissl-stained brain sections. To investigate functional outcomes a battery of behavioral tests was employed. We have shown that although SFN possesses a protective effect on glucose uptake in the ischemic hippocampus 24 h and 1 week after HII, no effect has been observed in the motor cortex. We have further shown that the ischemic hippocampal formation tends to be thinner in HIE and SFN treatment tends to reverse this pattern. We have observed subtle chronic movement deficit after HII detected by ladder rung walking test with no protective effect of SFN. SFN should be thus considered as a potent neuroprotective drug with the capability to interfere with pathophysiological processes triggered by perinatal hypoxicischemic insult.
Irisin is a myokine secreted during exercise. It has drawn the attention of researchers as it regulates several effects of exercise that are considered beneficial. It has also been proposed as a therapeutic tool to treat metabolic disorders. In recent years, the effect of different types of training on circulating irisin has been studied in large populations. An overall beneficial result has been shown, however, the outcome of the investigations has raised some controversy. Herein we evaluated the existing literature on the effects of different types of training on the circulating irisin levels in healthy subjects and in those displaying different metabolic condition. We conducted queries in the PubMed and Web of Science databases for literature published between January 2010 and January 2021. Thirty-seven original articles were retrieved and they were included in this review. Any letter to the editor, meta-analyses, reviews, and systematic review articles were excluded. From these 37 articles, 19 of them reported increased levels of circulating irisin. The interventions encompassed aerobic, resistance, combined, circuit, and interval training types. Such increase of circulating irisin was reported for healthy subjects and for those displaying different metabolic condition. A training that is steadily kept with a moderate to high intensity, including that characterized by brief highly intense intervals, were distinguishable from the rest. Nevertheless, the training effectiveness as evaluated by the increased circulating irisin levels depends on the subject’s metabolic condition and age.
In a previous study, the topsoil and root zone ASCAT satellite soil moisture data were implemented into three multi-objective calibration approaches of the TUW hydrological model in 209 Austrian catchments. This paper examines the model parametrization in those catchments, which in the validation of the dual-layer conceptual semi-distributed model showed improvement in the runoff simulation efficiency compared to the single objective runoff calibration. The runoff simulation efficiency of the three multi-objective approaches was separately considered. Inferences about the specific location and the physiographic properties of the catchments where the inclusion of ASCAT data proved beneficial were made. Improvements were primarily observed in the watersheds with lower slopes (median of the catchment slope less than 15 per cent) and a higher proportion of farming land use (median of the proportion of agricultural land above 20 per cent), as well as in catchments where the runoff is not significantly influenced by snowmelt and glacier runoff. Changes in the mean and variability of the field capacity parameter FC of the soil moisture regime were analysed. The values of FC decreased by 20 per cent on average. Consequently, the catchments’ water balance closure generally improved by the increase in catchment evapotranspiration during the validation period. Improvements in model efficiency could be attributed to better runoff simulation in the spring and autumn month. The findings refine recommendations regarding when hydrological modelling could consider satellite soil moisture data added to runoff signatures in calibration useful.
The fatty acid composition is associated with obesity. Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) could have a beneficial role in the prevention and treatment of many disorders, including cardiometabolic diseases. A cohort of 84 men and 131 women were examined in adolescence and after 8 years. Body weight (BW) and fat mass (FM) were measured. The composition of fatty acids (FAs) of serum phospholipids was assessed using gas chromatography. Statistics: PLS method. Aim: to determine the relationships between FAs in adolescence and FM (explanatory variable 1, EV1) and BW (explanatory variable 2, EV2) in adulthood. In the predictive models, a cluster of FAs in boys explained 47.2 % of EV1 and a cluster of 6 FAs in girls explained 32.3 % of EV1 measured in adulthood. FAs measured in adolescents explained 23.7 % of EV2 in early adults regardless of gender. A significant negative association was found between 18:1n-9c and EV1 in males and EV2 in both genders. We found a significant negative association between 18:2n-6 and 20:0 and both EV1 and EV2. In all analyses, we found a significant negative association of 20:1n-9 and 18:3n-3 with EV1-2 in both genders. A significant positive association was found in 20:3n-6 with EV1 and EV2 in males. 20:4n-6 was positively associated with EV1 in females and EV2 in both genders. A positive association between FM and very long chain n- 6 PUFAs was also observed. It is concluded that serum MUFAs and essential PUFAs in adolescence are associated with lower BW and FM in adulthood.
Dalibor Dobiáš., Přeloženo z češtiny?, Pod názvem: Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Czech Literature of the CAS, Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy, and born digital
The level of satisfaction that households have with their housing is important for people to function properly, as it largely determines their life satisfaction. Housing satisfaction is a multidimensional concept that can be defined, measured, and analysed in various ways. The aim of the article is to identify the housing satisfaction of Polish households in terms of living space, housing standard, and housing expenses, and to identify the main determinants of housing satisfaction. Factors that have a major impact on housing satisfaction are classified based on a literature review. The sources of Poles’ housing satisfaction are identified using ordered logistic regression. This article is one of the first attempts to analyse housing satisfaction in a post-socialist Central and Eastern European economy.