Active control of photosynthetic activities is important in plant physiological study. Although models of plant photosynthesis have been built at different scales, they have not been fully examined for their application in plant growth control. However, we do not have an infrastructure to support such experiments since current plant growth chambers usually use fixed control protocols. In our current paper, an open IoT-based framework is proposed. This framework allows a plant scientist or agricultural engineer, through an application programming interface (API), in a desirable programming language, (1) to gather environmental data and plant physiological responses; (2) to program and execute control algorithms based on their models, and then (3) to implement real-time commands to control environmental factors. A plant growth chamber was developed to demonstrate the concept of the proposed open framework.
Data mining animal of genomes has been used before to identify endoparasites, and may be a particularly useful tool to surpass some difficulties faced by studies in the marine environment. We detected a species of Sarcocystis Lankester, 1882, contamination in the sperm whale (Physeter catodon Linnaeus) reference genome available in the GenBank database. We identified and extracted multiple gene fragments and placed the sequences in a phylogenetic framework. Our results indicate that the sequences of Sarcocystis sp. found in the genome do not correspond to any currently described species, despite a few other similar sequences having been identified in fur seals (Pinnipedia) and another sperm whale. Including data from previous studies, we suggest there is enough evidence to support the occurrence of at least four species of Sarcocystis in marine mammals. We also demonstrate that the term "S. canis-like" has been used for samples not closely related to Sarcocystis canis Dubey et Speer, 1991.
The physical properties of tidal gravimetric instruments allow recording, not only tidal effects, but also waves generated by earthquakes. Three gravimetric stations with determined transfer functions and co-located seismic stations from the observatories in Western and Central Europe were selected for analysis. The observatories are equipped with almost all types of sensors available on the market, which allow for thorough analysis of earthquake recordings in the period range of 10–1000 s. In total, over 10,000 traces of worldwide earthquakes were investigated. The saturation levels of gravimeters as well as a correlation between the gravimetric and seismometric signals of an earthquake were carefully analysed. A simple processing scheme of gravimetric signal of earthquakes was adopted thanks to the probabilistic power spectral density analysis of continuous recordings. The detail analysis of transfer function of gravimeters allowed to define a period range when a sensitivity coefficient (calibration factor) and a time lag value only can be used to properly describe the properties of instruments. What’s more, it has been shown based on the calculated group-velocity dispersion curves of fundamental mode of Rayleigh waves, that the Earth’s mantle structure can be determined for greater depths from the recording of tidal gravimeters than from typical broad-band seismometers.
Study about the mechanical energy balance and the energy loss of 3-D turbulent flows in open-channels has its own complexities. The governing equation of the mechanical energy in turbulent flows has been previously known and includes turbulence parameters that their calculations or measurements are not easy. In this study, a form of the total mechanical energy equation that leads to a number of significant physical insights is analytically investigated, from which analytical relationships for the energy loss estimation in 3-D turbulent flows are defined. The effect of different turbulence parameters is reflected on the new relationships and analyzed by equalizations replacing unknown correlations with closure approximations using the numerical turbulence simulation. In order to investigate the application of the analytical relationships, numerical simulations are performed by using OpenFOAM software to solve the Navier-Stokes equations with the RSM turbulence model in open-channels with different geometries. Then, the contribution of the turbulence parameters to the total mechanical energy balance is evaluated in uniform and nonuniform turbulent flows and their difference is analyzed, that leads to identify the parameters affecting the friction and local losses. The results demonstrate that the magnitudes of the turbulent diffusion, the work done by the viscous stresses pertaining to the mean motion and the viscous diffusion of the turbulence energy are substantially smaller than the other terms of the total energy equation for turbulent flows in open-channels with different geometries, while the effect of the variations of the turbulence kinetic energy and the work done by the turbulence stresses, that has not been considered in the previous mechanical energy equations, is more important in complex flows. From a practical viewpoint, in order to study the details of the total mechanical energy balance and the energy loss in 3-D turbulent flows with the presence of the secondary currents, the proposed method can be useful.
Hlavným cieľom výskumnej štúdie bolo preskúmanie vzťahov medzi nerozhodnosťou, akademickou prokrastináciou a úzkosťou. Výskumu sa zúčastnilo 296 vysokoškolských študentov (M=21,06; SD=1,52). Údaje boli získané pomocou slovenskej verzie Škály nerozhodnosti, Layovej škály prokrastinácie pre študentov a Beckovho dotazníka úzkosti. Bol potvrdený stredne silný signifikantný vzťah medzi nerozhodnosťou a úzkosťou a silný signifikantný vzťah medzi nerozhodnosťou a akademickou prokrastináciou. Medzi akademickou prokrastináciou a úzkosťou bol zistený signifikantný, ale veľmi slabý vzťah. Na varianciu prokrastinácie pôsobí najmä nerozhodnosť, relatívny vplyv úzkosti je slabší. Nerozhodnosť je predikovaná v porovnateľnej miere prokrastináciou, ako i úzkosťou. Neboli preukázané štatisticky významné rodové rozdiely v miere nerozhodnosti a akademickej prokrastinácie. and The main aim of the research study was to explore the relationships between indecisiveness, academic procrastination and anxiety. The research sample consisted of 296 university students (mean age=21,06; SD=1,52), who completed the Slovak adaptations of the Indecisiveness Scale, the Lay's Procrastination Scale for Students and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. A significant moderate correlation was found between indecisiveness and anxiety, as well as a significant strong correlation between indecisiveness and academic procrastination. A significant but very weak relationship was found between academic procrastination and anxiety. Indecisiveness explained more variance in academic procrastination than anxiety. Indecisiveness was predicted by procrastination and anxiety to a similar degree. No gender differences were detected in the levels of indecisiveness or academic procrastination.
Recent molecular biology findings have shown that for the penetration of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus into host cells, a key role is played by protease serine 2, the activity of which is dependent on androgens. The important role of androgens is also evidenced by clinical observations that men in some age categories are infected by this novel coronavirus up to two times more frequently than women. In addition, men with androgenic alopecia tend to have more serious clinical courses, while men with androgen deprivation as a result of prostate cancer treatments tend to have milder courses. This is in line with the fact that preadolescent children are only rarely sickened with serious forms of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Even though these observations may be explained by other factors, many authors have hypothesized that lowered androgen levels and blocking their activity using anti-androgen medication may moderate the course of the viral infection in intermediately- to critically-affected cases. Clearly, it would be important for androgen deprivation to block not just gonadal androgens, but also adrenal androgens. On the other hand, low androgen levels are considered to be a risk factor for the course of SARS-CoV-2 infections, either because low androgen levels have a general effect on anaboliccatabolic equilibrium and energy metabolism, or because of the ability of testosterone to modify the immune system. It is not yet clear if infection with this novel coronavirus might induce hypogonadism, leading to undesirable side effects on male fertility.
Based on the World Health Organization statistics, cardiovascular diseases represent the major cause of death worldwide. Although a wide range of treatment approaches and pharmaceuticals is available, the therapy is often not effective enough and therefore health risks for the patient persist. Thus, it is still essential to test new drug candidates for the treatment of various pathophysiological conditions related to cardiovascular system. In vivo models represent indispensable part of preclinical testing of such substances. Anesthetized guinea pig as a whole-body model allows to evaluate complex reactions of cardiovascular system to tested substance. Moreover, action potential of guinea pig cardiomyocyte is quite comparable to that of human. Hence, the results from this model are then quite well translatable to clinical medicine. Aim of this paper was to summarize the methodology of this model, including its advantages and/or limitations and risks, based on the effects of two substances with adrenergic activity on the ECG parameters. The model of anesthetized guinea pig proved to be valuable and suitable for testing of drugs with cardiovascular effects.
Antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) is a major obstacle to the long-term success in kidney transplantation. Diagnosis of ABMR is determined according to the internationally recognized Banff criteria. However, a significant proportion of patients does not meet all the defined criteria, and the outcome of such cases remains poorly understood. The histology of ABMR frequently lacks sensitivity and specificity. More importantly, mixed forms of ABMR and T cell-mediated rejection as well as findings of nonspecific injury are common in clinical settings. Donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) are detectable only in half of the ABMR cases by histology. Prognostic role of non-HLA antibodies against various endothelial proteins has been discussed. Antibody independent NK cell activation reflecting killer-cells’ inhibitory receptor incompatibility is suggested in microvascular inflammation in DSA negative patients. Molecular assessment of ABMR has been prioritized to overcome high interobserver variability and improve diagnostics in mixed forms of rejections and in DSA negative cases. Finally, donor-derived cell-free DNA detected in a recipient’s peripheral blood sample has been proposed as a noninvasive marker for diagnosis of graft rejection, and thus might serve as a liquid biopsy in the near future. Despite all achievements, diagnosing ABMR in kidney allografts remains to be a challenge in a significant number of cases.
This study aimed to examine the effect of dietary flavonoid isoquercitrin on ovarian granulosa cells using the immortalized human cell line HGL5. Cell viability, survival, apoptosis, release of steroid hormones 17β-estradiol and progesterone, and human transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) and TGF-β2 receptor as well as intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were investigated after isoquercitrin treatment at the concentration range of 5-100 μg.ml-1 . It did not cause any significant change (p>0.05) in cell viability as studied by AlamarBlue assay in comparison to control. No significant change was observed (p>0.05) in the proportion of live, dead and apoptotic cells as revealed by apoptotic assay using flow cytometry. Similarly, the release of 17β-estradiol, progesterone, TGF-β2 and its receptor were not affected significantly (p>0.05) by isoquercitrin as detected by ELISA, in comparison to control. Except for the highest concentration of 100 μg.ml-1 , which led to oxidative stress, isoquercitrin exhibited antioxidative activity at lower concentration used in the study (5, 10, 25, and 50 μg.ml-1 ) by hampering the production of intracellular ROS, in comparison to control, as detected by chemiluminescence assay (p<0.05). Findings of the present study indicate an existence of the antioxidative pathway that involves inhibition of intracellular ROS generation by isoquercitrin in human ovarian granulosa cells., Adriana Kolesárová, Katarína Michalcová, Shubhadeep Roychoudhury, Simona Baldovská, Eva Tvrdá, Jaromír Vašíček, Peter Chrenek, Ľuboslav Sanisló, Vladimír Křen., and Obsahuje bibliografii
About 30 percent of patients diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The senescence of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) seems to be one of the determining factors in inducing this drift. Research is continuously looking for new methodologies and technologies that can use bioelectric signals to act on senescence and cell differentiation towards the phenotype of interest. The Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyer (REAC) technology, aimed at reorganizing the endogenous bioelectric activity, has already shown to be able to determine direct cell reprogramming effects and counteract the senescence mechanisms in stem cells. Aim of the present study was to prove if the anti-senescence results previously obtained in different kind of stem cells with the REAC Tissue optimization – regenerative (TO-RGN) treatment, could also be observed in BMSCs, evaluating cell viability, telomerase activity, p19ARF, P21, P53, and hTERT gene expression. The results show that the REAC TORGN treatment may be a useful tool to counteract the BMSCs senescence which can be the basis of AML drift. Nevertheless, further clinical studies on humans are needed to confirm this hypothesis.