Using synthetic data we study the possibility of determining 1-D velocity models of the upper crust from P- and S-wave arrival times in the case of a narrow depth interval of seismic sources and sparse distribution of stations. The test is tailored to a similar real situation in one subregion of the western part of the Corinth Gulf, Greece. Two kinds of models are studied: (i) models composed of layers with constant velocity gradients, and (ii) models composed of homogeneous layers. To derive the structural models from arrival times, the Neighbourhood Algorithm of Sambridge (1999) is used, combined with the grid search for source locations. Weighted P- and S-wave arrival time residuals are used as the misfit function. Accurate and perturbed synthetic arrival times are used. The velocities at medium depths, with a fast velocity increase, are well determined in both models for the accurate data. However, the determination of velocity is less certain in the uppermost 5 km for the gradient model, and in the deepest layer for the model composed of homogeneous layers for the perturbed data. The presence or absence of hypocentres in the uppermost or in the second layer influences notably the obtained velocity in these layers in both models., Jaromír Janský, Vladimír Plicka and Oldřich Novotný., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Many physiological and pathological processes in the cardiac tissue have been shown to be associated with a release of endothelin (ET) peptides and with induction of specific ET-receptors and G-protein-coupled ion channels. However, the exact mechanism regulating ET-receptors in the myocardium is controversial. The response to ET-1, the most important member of the ET family, is rapidly attenuated by down-regulation of ET-receptors. The internalization of ET-1 bound to two subclasses of specific receptors (ETA and ETB) that are abundant in the myocardium has been hypothesized to activate and/or inhibit a variety of intracellular signal transducing systems. The [125I]ET-1, BQ-3020 and selective ET-antagonists were used to study the subtype-selective component of regulation of ET-1 receptors in myocardial membranes. We determined the characteristics of [125I]ET-1 binding and [3H]thymidine incorporation in whole cell saturation studies and measured Ca 2+ channel induction and the total number of inactive Ca2+ channels in photoaffinity studies with [3H]azidopine. Here we demonstrate four important components of the complex ET-1 response in human, porcine and rat myocardium, leading to aberrant responses of cells. After ET-1 induction, adaptive subtype-ETB selective down-regulation predominated in human embryonic fibroblasts, in porcine membrane vesicles and in microsomal membranes of renal hypertensive rats, with preferential high affinity ET-1 binding to ETA receptors and with the resultant ETA mediated proliferative and mitogenic activation of human fibroblasts. The ET-1 induction was also accompanied by profound inactivation of Ca2+ channels in myocardial membranes., J. Dřímal, M. Mislovičová, A. Ismail, F. Monček., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Development of a new myxozoan parasite Tetracapsula bryozoides gen. n. et sp. n. in the coelomic cavities of Cris-latella mucedo Cuvier is described. Uninucleate proliferative cells are formed within well-defined sacs, the wall of which is one cell thick. The sacs, of different sizes according to age, are free floating and are conspicuously moved about within the coelomic fluid by the ciliary movements of the host. Division of the proliferative cells produces spherical cells of different sizes with nuclei of commensurate size. The largest cells enter sporogony by dividing into ten cells. Four of these become capsulogenic cells arranged as an anterior group, each giving rise to a spherical polar capsule containing a polar filament, possibly without prior formation of an external tube or, at most, very transient formation of these. Four valvogenic cells enclose the two sporoplasms and overlie the capsulogenic cells except at the points of exit of the polar filaments from the polar capsules. The two uninucleate sporoplasms are packed with endoplasmic reticulum, numerous mitochondria with tubular cristae and sporoplasmosomes which are distributed peripherally. Both sporoplasms produce secondary cells. Typical myxosporean features of the wall cells of the sac and all stages within the sac are: nuclei with granular nucleoplasm and prominent nucleolus, gap junctions between cells consisting of thickened membranes with cross connections, and haplosporosomes. A new genus is established for the parasite, defined as having development limited to uninucleate pseudoplasmodia within a sac of parasite origin, each uninucleate sporogonie stage giving rise to one spore with tetraradial symmetry, composed of four shell valves, four anterior polar capsules and two uninucleate sporoplasms with secondary cells. No plasmodia are formed. The genus is placed within the order Multivalvuli-da, in a new family Saccosporidae, defined as having development within a sac of parasite origin and sporogony without external tube or microtubules during polar capsule formation.
Monoclonal antibody specific for an epitope of cretory-secretory antigen protein of Opisthorchis felineus (Rivolta, 1884) (Trematoda: Opisthorchiidae) with a molecular weight of 28 kDa was used in a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immobilisation of liver fluke specific antigen to the solid phase. Examination of human sera by this ELISA compared with commercial assays demonstrated that the monoclonal antibody epitope is located within this significant parasite protein. Anti-idiotypic antibody specific for the paratope of this monoclonal antibody was obtained by a hybridoma technique. Mimicking an epitope of excretory-secretory antigen of O. felineus, it had the capacity to bind specific antibody and elicit an antibody response. The value of anti-idiotypic antibody as a substitute for the liver fluke antigen was tested by ELISA using serum samples of infected dogs. Anti-idiotypic antibody proved to be of value in both an indirect-ELISA and a competitive-ELISA for diagnosis of opisthorchiasis. Mature trematodes were isolated from all infected animals. The faecal egg counts were negative in dogs with a relatively small number of parasites, despite finding antibodies in serum by ELISA. Substitution of parasite antigen with anti-idiotype avoids the use of experimental animals and also reduces time-consuming steps of antigen preparation., Aitbay K. Bulashev, Sergey N. Borovikov, Shynar S. Serikova, Zhanbolat A. Suranshiev, Vladimir S. Kiyan, Saule Z. Eskendirova., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Systolic blood pressure (SBP) changes control the cardiac interbeat intervals (IBI) duration via baroreflex. Conversely, SBP is influenced by IBI via non- baroreflex mechanisms. Both causal pathways (feedback - baroreflex and feedforward - non- baroreflex) form a closed loop of the SBP- IBI interaction. The aim of this study was to assess the age -related changes in the IBI - SBP interaction. We have non -invasively recorded resting beat -to- beat SBP and IBI in 335 healthy subjects of different age, ranging from 11 to 23 years. Using a linear autoregressive bivariate model we obtained gain (Gain SBP,IBI, used traditionally as baroreflex sensitivity) and coherence (CohSBP,IBI) of the SBP-IBI interaction and causal gain and coherence in baroreflex (Gain SBP → IBI , Coh SBP → IBI ) and coherence in non- baroreflex (CohIBI→SBP) directions separately. A non -linear approach was used for causal coupling indices evaluation (C SBP → IBI , C IBI → SBP ) quantifying the amount of information transferred between signals. We performed a correlation to age analysis of a ll measures. CohIBI→SBP and CIBI→SBP were higher than CohSBP→IBI and CSBP→IBI, respectively. Gain SBP,IBI increased and Coh SBP → IBI decreased with age. The coupling indices did not correlate with age. We conclude that the feedforward influence dominated at rest. The increase of Gain SBP,IBI with age was not found in the closed loop model. A decrease of Coh SBP → IBI could be related to a change in the cardiovascular control system complexity during maturation., J. Svačinová, M. Javorka, Z. Nováková, E. Závodná, B. Czippelová, N. Honzíková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The development of Myxobolus dispar Thélohan, 1895, a myxosporean parasite of the gills of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) was studied in experimentally infected oligochaetes Tubifex tubifex Muller. After infection of uninfected tubificids with mature spores of M. dispar, development of actinosporean stages was first observed light microscopically 21 days after initial exposure. In histological sections, early pansporocysts were located in the gut epithelium of experimental oligochaetes, while advanced stages occupied mostly the outer layers of the gut and the coelozoic space. Mature pansporocysts, each containing 8 raabeia spores, appeared 199 days after initial exposure. Following damage of the intestinal wall and rupture of the pansporocysts, free actinosporean stages were found in the gut lumen of the oligochaetes. Actinospores of hi. dispar emerged from the worms after 217 days of intra-oligochaete development. They were floating in the water and showed a unique raabeia form. Each raabeia spore had three pyriform polar capsules and a cylindrical-shaped sporoplasm with approximately 32 secondary cells. The spore body joined the three caudal projections without a style. Caudal projections were bifurcated at the end and the two main branches had further small bifurcations. The total length of the raabeia spore was approximately 158 pm. The prevalence of infection in 240 experimentally infected Tubifex specimens was 99.2%. No infection was found in the control oligochaetes.
The development of the nematode Procamallanus saccobranchi Karve, 1952, a parasite in the stomach of the fish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch), was studied in Mesocyclops crassus (Fischer) and Mesocyclops leuckarti (Claus). After being ingested by the copepods the nematode first-stage larvae penetrated into the haemocoel of the intermediate host; there they moulted twice (on days 3 and 5 p.i. at 28-30°C) attaining the third, infective stage. The definitive host H. fossilis acquired infection by feeding on copepods harbouring infcclivc-stage larvae; in the stomach of this definitive host, the larvae were observed to undergo two more moults. The third moult occurred on day 13 p.i. and the fourth moult on day 38 p.i. and day 66 p.i. in “male” and “female” larvae, respectively. The larval stages, including the moulting forms are described and illustrated.
b1_We newly elaborated and adapte d several radiometric enzyme assays for the determination of activities of the key enzymes engaged in the biosynthesis (thyroid peroxidase, TPO) and metabolic transformations (conjugating enzymes and iodothyronine deiodinases, IDs) of thyroid hormones (THs) in the thyroid gland and in peripheral tissues, especially in white adipose tissue (WAT). We also elaborated novel, reliable radiometric methods for extremel y sensitive determination of enzyme activities of IDs of types 1, 2 and 3 in microsomal fractions of different rat and hum an tissues, as well as in homogenates of cultured mammalia n cells. The use of optimized TLC separation of radioactive products from the unconsumed substrates and film-less autoradiography of radiochromatograms, taking advantage of storage phosphor screens, enabled us to determine IDs enzyme activities as low as 10-18 katals. In studies of the interaction of fluoxetine (Fluox) with the metabolism of THs, we applied adapted radiometric enzyme assays for iodothyronine sulfotransferases (ST) and uridine 5’-diphosphoglucuronyltransferase (UDP-GT). Fluox is the most frequently used representative of a new group of non-tricyclic antidepressant drugs - selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. We used the elaborated assays fo r quantification the effects of Fluox and for the assessment of th e degree of potential induction of rat liver ST and/or UDP-GT enzyme activities by Fluox alone or in combination with T3 . Furthermore, we studied possible changes in IDs activities in murine adipose tissue under the conditions that promoted either tissue hypertrophy (obesogenic treatment) or involution (caloric restriction), and in response to leptin, using our newly developed radiometric enzyme assays for IDs., b2_Our results suggest that deiodinase D1 has a functional role in WAT, with D1 possibly being involved in the control of adipose tissue metabolism and/or accumulation of the tissue. Significant positive correlation between specific enzyme activity of D1 in WAT and plasma leptin levels was found. The newly developed and adapted radiometric enzyme assays proved to be very useful tools for studies of factors modulating THs metabolism, not only in model animals but also in clinical studies of human obesity., S. Pavelka., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
This study presents data about the effect of parent material on the intensity of processes that lead to the formation of a cambic subsurface horizon. The study was performed in the Voděradské bučiny National Nature Reserve with granite bedrock and in Humpolec with paragneiss bedrock. Representative soil profiles in the southeastern part of Bohemia were characterised on a macroscale level based on macromorphological description, particle size distribution, chemical, physical and soil organic matter properties. On the basis of the values of organic carbon and bulk density, the stock of soil organic matter was calculated in the upper 25 cm of soils. A more detailed characteristic of soil cover employed micromorphological and X-ray diffraction analyses. The results revealed differences in the formation of the cambic horizon on different types of parent material. The main soil forming process responsible for the cambic horizon is more intensive at localities with paragneiss bedrock., Anna Žigová, Martin Šťastný and Radka Kodešová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Fifty-day-old fry of tilapia hybrids (Oreochromis aureus x niloticus) were placed in aquaria containing sediment with oocysts of Eimeria (sensu lato) vanasi Landsberg et Paperna. In the first 29 h after exposure sporulated oocysts in the stomach and free sporozoites in the gut could be found in examined fish. By 7 to 56 h after exposure, sporozoites, with their characteristic crystalloid body, were detected in intraepithélial lymphocyte-like and other leucocyte-like cells, but never in the epithelial cells. Infected cells were confined to the epithelial layer and did not enter the lamina propria. Within this time, some of the sporo-zoitcs divided by endodyogeny, once or twice in succession, to form daughter sporozoites. The parent’s sporozoite crystalline body was divided between the offspring of the primary and secondary divisions.