The cardiovascular system is described by parameters including blood flow, blood distribution, blood pressure, heart rate and pulse wave velocity. Dynamic changes and mutual interactions of these parameters are important for understanding the physiological mechanisms in the cardiovascular system. The main objective of this study is to introduce a new technique based on parallel continuous bioimpedance measurements on different parts of the body along with continuous blood pressure, ECG and heart sound measurement during deep and spontaneous breathing to describe interactions of cardiovascular parameters. Our analysis of 30 healthy young adults shows surprisingly strong deep-breathing linkage of blood distribution in the legs, arms, neck and thorax. We also show that pulse wave velocity is affected by deep breathing differently in the abdominal aorta and extremities. Spontaneous breathing does not induce significant changes in cardiovascular parameters., P. Langer, P. Jurák, V. Vondra, J. Halámek, M. Mešťaník, I. Tonhajzerová, I. Viščor, L. Soukup, M. Matejkova, E. Závodná, P. Leinveber., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Net photosynthetic rate growth and flower and firoit settíng pattems were studied in two cultivars of bell-pepper (Ccpsicum annuum L. cv. Arka Mohini, a detenninate type and Arka Basant, an indetenninate type) grown at two different night temperatures. and growdi were higher at high night temperature (27/22 <*C, day/night) dian at low night temperature (27/17 °C) in bodl cultivars. The flower and fitiit numbers were higher in die plants grown at 27/17 °C than at 27/22 oC.
The effect of defolíation on net photosynthetic rate (Pn), dry matter production and fruit growth was studied in bell-pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Arka Gaurav). Considerable differences in were observed between defoliated and non-defoliated plants. Defolíation influenced the total dry matter production, leaf area and the relative growth rate of the plants. The bell-pepper has the capacity to compensate photosynthetically for a certain degree of defolíation without reducing the biological yield. No significant differences in the dry matter of fruits per plant were foímd between defoliated and non-defoliated plants.
Determination of response of cortisol and its metabolites to different stimuli may be important for adrenal gland disorders. To date, only one metabolite, cortisone, has been followed in stimulation tests of the adrenal gland. We aimed to describe a response of cortisol metabolites to the standard short Synacthen test (HDST), insulin tolerance test (ITT), low dose Synacthen test (LDST) and medium dose Synacthen test (MDST). Sixty healthy subjects were investigated: 30 men and 30 women. Plasma for measurements of cortisol and its metabolites was obtained before and 30th and 60th min after Synacthen and insulin administration. The cut-off 500 nmol/l of cortisol was reached after stimulation in all of tests, the maximal stimulation level was reached in 60th min in all of the tests except for LDST. The response of cortisol and its metabolites at 30th and 60th min strongly correlated in all of the tests except for LDST. Cortisol and its metabolites increased after stimulation; in contrast, cortisone and its metabolites decreased. We showed that the response of the cortisol metabolites during the Synacthen tests and ITT well correlated, and the MDST showed similar response compared to HDST. The decrease in cortisone metabolites may correspond to the regeneration of cortisol from cortisone in response to stimulation test., K. Simunkova, M. Duskova, M. Kosak, M. Krsek, V. Hana, M. Hill, H. Jandikova, H. Pospisilova, M. Sramkova, E. Bifulco, L. Starka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In order to study the responses of dominant species to different land uses in the semiarid temperate grassland of Inner Mongolia, we tested the physiological responses of Stipa grandis, Leymus chinensis, and Artemisia frigida to mowing, grazing exclusion, and grazing land uses at the leaf and ecosystem levels. The grazing-exclusion and mowing sites released CO2, but the grazing site was a net carbon sink. L. chinensis and S. grandis contributed more to the ecosystem CO2 exchange than A. frigida. At the grazing-exclusion and mowing sites, Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis both exhibited a higher light-saturation point and higher maximum photosynthetic rate than that at the grazing site, which increased photosynthesis and growth compared to those at the grazing site. In contrast, A. frigida possessed a higher nitrogen content than the other species, and more of the light energy used for photosynthesis, particularly at the grazing site., M. Liu, J. R. Gong, Y. Pan, Q. P. Luo, Z. W. Zhai, L. L. Yang, S. Xu., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We studied the effects of the overstory canopy cover on ground-dwelling harvestmen communities in European beech forests in the Western Carpathian Mts. We analyzed the differences in species richness, abundance and composition in two tree canopy cover categories (closed and open canopy). Overall, 1765 individuals belonging to 16 species were caught using pitfall traps. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that under both closed and open canopies a similar absolute and rarefied species richness and number of individuals (standardized to 100 pitfall trap days) were caught, and that both species richness and abundance were affected by the season (i.e., time of trap replacement); yet the total number of individuals trapped was more than two times greater under the open canopy than under the closed canopy. Despite the subtle differences in the taxonomic composition of the catches under the open and closed canopies revealed by DCA followed by RDA, the composition of ground-dwelling harvestmen assemblages differed under the two canopy covers. The open canopy was more suitable for heliophilic, xerothermic eurytopic harvestmen species typical for open and ecotonal habitats, such as Egaenus convexus (C.L. Koch) and Oligolophus tridens (C.L. Koch) but still suitable for hemihygrophilic Lophopilio palpinalis (Herbst). The closed canopy stands were preferred by shade-tolerant, hygrophilic eurytopic harvestmen species, such as Trogulus sp. Latreille, Dicranolasma scabrum (Herbst) and Platybunus bucephalus (C.L. Koch). Our results highlight the importance of intra-habitat heterogeneity of a harvestmen community., Ľudmila Černecká, Ivan Mihál, Benjamín Jarčuška., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We investigated the effects of repeated hyperthermic bouts on the heat shock response of heat s hock protein ( HSP ) 72 in skeletal muscle. Rats were assigned to control and hyperthermia groups which were exposed to heated water at 42 °C. The hyperthermia group was further divided into sub -groups: a single bout (H30) or four bouts of hyperthermia for 30 min (H30x4). There was an increase in HSP72 protein content of the H30 groups in both extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscles. Moreover, HSP72 protein expression in H30x4 group was significantly higher than in H30 group in both EDL and soleus muscles. The HSP72 mRNA was markedly increased from control levels in the H30 and H30x4 group in both types of muscles . However, HSP72 mRNA of the H30x4 group was lower than that of the H30 group in soleus muscles. Heat shock response of HSP72 is activate d even after repeated bouts of hyperthermia, with a differential regulation between muscle types., J. Lee, K. Himori, D. Tatebayashi, M. Abe, T. Yamada., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Conventional radiotherapy with X- and γ-rays is one of the common and effective treatments of cancer. High energy hadrons, i.e., charged particles like protons and 12C ions, due to their specific physics and radiobiological advantages are increasingly used. In this study, effectiveness of different radiation types is evaluated on the radio-resistant human HTB140 melanoma cells. The cells were irradiated with γ-rays, the 62 MeV protons at the Bragg peak and in the middle of the spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP), as well as with the 62 MeV/u 12 C ions. The doses ranged from 2 to 24 Gy. Cell survival and proliferation were assessed 7 days after irradiation, whereas apoptosis was evaluated after 48 h. The acquired results confirmed the high radio-resistance of cells, showing better effectiveness of protons than γ-rays. The best efficiency was obtained with 12C ions due to higher linear energy transfer. All analyzed radiation qualities reduced cell proliferation. The highest proliferation was detected for 12C ions because of their large killing capacity followed by small induction of reparable lesions. This enabled unharmed cells to preserve proliferative activity. Irradiations with protons and 12C ions revealed similar moderate pro-apoptotic ability that is in agreement with the level of cellular radio-resistance., A. Ristić-Fira ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The kinetics of Ig-positive cell populations in carp tissues was followed during an infection with the gut dwelling coc-cidian Goussia carpelli Léger et Stankovich, 1921. In cell suspensions of the anterior and posterior sections of the intestine, the proportion of Ig-positive cells increased with the development of the coccidia and peaked during oocyst formation at day 15 post exposure. These results suggest a reaction of the local mucosal immune system. In cell suspensions of pronephros the proportion of Ig-positive cells increased as well, indicating that a systemic immune response was also induced against this intestinal cocci-dian parasite of carp.
a1_Chromolaena odorata is a widespread exotic weed in southern China and other regions of the world. To better understand its invasive strategies, we compared leaf pigment contents and gas-exchange traits of the invader with its two coexisting species (native Urena lobata and invasive Bidens pilosa) under combined conditions of irradiance (full, medium, and low) and nitrogen (full, medium, and low) supplies. The chlorophyll (Chl) a+b content of U. lobata was the highest and the Chl a/b ratio of C. odorata was the lowest among the three weed species. In most treatments, leaf pigment, light-saturated photosynthetic rate (P max), and light saturation point (LSP) of all the species increased, while their Chl a/b ratios decreased with the increasing nitrogen. The P max and LSP of U. lobata were greater than those of the coexisting weeds under full irradiance (FI), but significantly declined with the decreasing irradiance. The invasive weeds, especially C. odorata, showed lower P max and LSP under FI, but they showed slight decrease under low irradiance. Compared to U. lobata, C. odorata exhibited the lower light compensation point (LCP) in most treatments, higher LSP under low and medium irradiance, and lower dark respiration rate under FI. In addition, all the three species showed similar responses to different irradiance and nitrogen conditions, mean phenotypic plasticity index (MPPI) of most photosynthetic variables of the two invasive species was lower than that of U. lobata. These results suggested that C. odorata behaved as a facultative shadetolerant weed, being able to grow in moderately sheltered environments; the lower MPPI might be one of the important competitive strategies during its invasion. However, its invasion should be limited to some very shady habitats., a2_In the field, control should be mainly directed against populations growing in the open or nutrient-rich habitats, where its expansion speed could be much faster. Deep shade by intact canopies or luxuriant forests might be an effective barrier against its invasion., G. M. Quan, D. J. Mao, J. E. Zhang, J. F. Xie, H. Q. Xu, M. An., and Obsahuje seznam literatury