A field study was conducted with the aim to elucidate photosynthetic responses of five emmer hulled wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccum) accessions to 30 (N-limited) and 100 kg(N) ha-1
(N-sufficient) conditions at control and drought stress (irrigation after 30-40% and 60-70% depletion of available soil water, respectively). Chlorophyll (Chl) a and Chl b concentrations of the emmer wheats remained unchanged but net photosynthetic rate and dry mass increased and decreased, respectively, when received a sufficient amount of N. Smaller drought-induced decreases in Chl concentration, membrane stability index, and dry mass were concomitant to a greater decrease in intercellular CO2 concentration of emmer compared to the durum (Triticum turgidum) and bread wheats (Triticum aestivum). The lack of negative effect of insufficient N on Chl concentration and dry mass of emmer wheat suggests that this type of wheat possesses an obvious potential for organic farming., M. Vaghar, P. Ehsanzadeh., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The endothelium of different organs displays a remarkable heterogeneity, although it presents many common functional and morphological features. However, despite our knowledge of heterogeneity among endothelial cells from different sites, the differences between brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) and coronary microvascular endothelial cells (CMEC) are poorly defined. The aim of this study was to investigate whether BMEC are distinct from CMEC at the protein level. Using the proteomic approach, we comparatively analyzed the proteome of cultured BMEC and CMEC. We reproducibly separated over 2000 polypeptides by using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) at pH range of 3-10. Using PDQuest software to process the 2-DE gel images, forty-seven protein spots were differentially expressed in the two-endothelial cells. Of these, thirty-five proteins are highly expressed in BMEC, whereas twelve proteins are highly expressed in CMEC. Fifteen proteins in BMEC and seven proteins in CMEC were identified with high confidence by matrix-associated laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-MS). Our data suggested that BMEC and CMEC were different in several aspects including cytokine and growth-related molecules, stress-related proteins, metabolic enzymes, signal transduction proteins and others. The identification of a set of proteins preferentially expressed in BMEC and CMEC provided new data on the heterogeneity of the endothelium., L. Lu, P.-Y. Yang, Y.-Ch. Rui, H. Kang, J. Zhang, J.-P. Zhang, W.-H. Feng., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The aim of study was to gain a deeper knowledge about local and systemic changes in photosynthetic processes and sugar production of pepper infected by Obuda pepper virus (ObPV) and Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV). PSII efficiency, reflectance, and gas exchange were measured 48 and/or 72 h after inoculation (hpi). Sugar accumulation was checked 72 hpi and 20 d after inoculation (as a systemic response). Inoculation of leaves with ObPV led to appearance of hypersensitive necrotic lesions (incompatible interaction), while PMMoV caused no visible symptoms (compatible interaction). ObPV (but not PMMoV) lowered Fv/Fm (from 0.827 to 0.148 at 72 hpi). Net photosynthesis decreased in ObPV-infected leaves. In ObPV-inoculated leaves, the accumulation of glucose, fructose, and glucose-6-phosphate was accompanied with lowered sucrose, maltoheptose, nystose, and trehalose contents. PMMoV inoculation increased the contents of glucose, maltose, and raffinose in the inoculated leaves, while glucose-6-phosphate accummulated in upper leaves., A. Janeczko, M. Dziurka, G. Gullner, M. Kocurek, M. Rys, D. Saja,
A. Skoczowski, I. Tóbiás, A. Kornas, B. Barna., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Long-term water uptake of Douglas-fir and Norway spruce trees, growing in condition of Moravian upland, was studied with aim of comparing sap flow in small roots with flow in stems. Sap flow was measured by the heat field deformation method using multi-point sensors for stems and single-point sensors for roots. Differences between species were found in relationships between sap flow in tree stems and water uptake by roots, suggesting that Douglas-fir is able to take water from deeper soil more efficiently than spruce. This allows Douglas-fir to transpire more water especially during drought and grow faster than spruce. These biological features should be taken into account for future forest species compositions because they may have impact on both, forestry and hydrology.
Previously, the changes in phagocyte functions such as adherence, chemotaxis or TNFa production were found to be associated with oxidative stress in endotoxin-induced septic shock. However, in this type of oxidative stress the lymphocyte involvement has rarely been studied. In the present report, we analyzed the above functions in peritoneal lymphocytes from male and female BALB/c mice with a lethal endotoxic shock caused by intraperitoneal injection of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (100 mg/kg), male and female Swiss mice with lethal endotoxic shock caused by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (150 and 250 mg/kg, respectively) or non-lethal endotoxic shock (100 mg/kg). In peritoneal lymphocytes obtained at 0, 2, 4, 12 or 24 h after LPS injection, the first two functions of these cells in the immune response, i.e. adherence to tissues and directed migration (chemotaxis), were studied. At 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 12 and 24 h after LPS injection, TNFa released by lymphocytes was also analyzed. The results show that endotoxic shock increases the adherence and TNFa release, and decreases the chemotaxis of peritoneal lymphocytes. These changes were more significant in mice with lethal than with non-lethal endotoxic shock, a fact that confirms the important role of lymphocytes during endotoxic shock., V. M. Víctor, D. Rubio, M. De la Fuente., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Increase of harmful radiation to the Earth’s surface due to ozone depletion results in higher exposure to harmful ultraviolet- B radiation (UV), while fluctuations in seawater salinity may alter water density, ionic concentration, nutrient uptake, and osmotic pressure. This study evaluated the effects of salinity and UV on metabolism and morphology of Acanthophora spicifera (M.Vahl) Børgesen. Water with 30 and 37 psu [g(salt) kg-1(sea water)] was used for experiments during 7 d of exposure to UV (3 h per day). We demonstrated that UV treatment predisposed, irrespective of salinity, A. spicifera to a decrease in its growth rate and cell viability, as well as affected its morphological parameters. After exposure to PAR + UVA + UVB (PAB), samples showed structural changes and damage, such as increasing cell wall thickness and chloroplast disruption. Our results indicate that UV led to dramatic metabolic changes and cellular imbalances, but more remarkable changes were seen in samples exposed to high salinity., D. T. Pereira, C. Simioni, L. C. Ouriques, F. Ramlov, M. Maraschin, N. Steiner, F. Chow, Z. L. Bouzon, É. C. Schmidt., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Groundwater and surface water interaction play an important role for groundwater recharge, drought management and water quality issues. Based on a case study in Lower Austria different techniques for estimation of riverbed infiltration were applied. The aim was to assess the impact of upstream release flow directions for the downstream sections. Due to the fact of large streambed conductivities, infiltration losses considerably contribute to the water balance of the system. The applied methods dealt with empirical infiltration formulas based on sediment particle size distribution, soil physical analysis, difference discharge measurements along river branches and point measurements of infiltration by means of double ring infiltrometer and riverbed lysimeter. Awaring the fact that the infiltration processes vary in space and time the gained results formed a basis for definition of potential values of infiltration. It could be concluded, that for the investigated environment the different methods exhibited comparable results with the exception of the empirical formulas, which tend to significantly overestimate the average values. and Vzájemná interakce povrchové a podzemní vody je velmi důležitá pro hodnocení zdrojů podzemních vod, hospodaření s vodou a její kvalitu. Na základě zkušeností s řešením projektu v Dolním Rakousku byly použity pro odhad infiltrace říčním korytem dále uvedené metody. Cílem řešení bylo mimo jiné stanovit vliv průtoku a směru pohybu vody v horní části toku na profily v spodní části toku. Vzhledem k vysoké hydraulické vodivosti dna toku se ztráty infiltrací výrazně podílejí na vodní bilanci systému. Pro odhad infiltrace byly použity jednak empirické rovnice (na základě granulometrického složení), fyzikální rozbory půdních vzorků, terénní lysimetrická měření ve dně toku a ''bodová'' měření dvouválcovou metodou. Uvážíme-li, že infiltrace je časově a prostorově proměnná, dosažené výsledky jsou základem pro určení potenciální hodnoty infiltrace. Závěrem je možno konstatovat, že v daných podmínkách použité metody poskytly srovnatelné výsledky, s výjimkou empirických rovnic, jejichž výsledky byly systematicky řádově vyšší.
In this study Active Learning Method (ALM) as a novel fuzzy modeling approach is compared with optimized Support Vector Machine (SVM) using simple Genetic Algorithm (GA), as a well known datadriven model for long term simulation of daily streamflow in Karoon River. The daily discharge data from 1991 to 1996 and from 1996 to 1999 were utilized for training and testing of the models, respectively. Values of the Nash-Sutcliffe, Bias, R2 , MPAE and PTVE of ALM model with 16 fuzzy rules were 0.81, 5.5 m3 s -1, 0.81, 12.9%, and 1.9%, respectively. Following the same order of parameters, these criteria for optimized SVM model were 0.8, -10.7 m3 s-1, 0.81, 7.3%, and -3.6%, respectively. The results show appropriate and acceptable simulation by ALM and optimized SVM. Optimized SVM is a well-known method for runoff simulation and its capabilities have been demonstrated. Therefore, the similarity between ALM and optimized SVM results imply the ability of ALM for runoff modeling. In addition, ALM training is easier and more straightforward than the training of many other data driven models such as optimized SVM and it is able to identify and rank the effective input variables for the runoff modeling. According to the results of ALM simulation and its abilities and properties, it has merit to be introduced as a new modeling method for the runoff modeling. and Cieľom štúdie bolo porovnať možnosti dlhodobej simulácie denných prietokov v rieke Karoon pomocou novovyvinutej fuzzy metódy aktívneho učenia (Active Learning Method - ALM) a známej metódy vektormi podporených strojov (Support Vector Machine - SVM), optimalizovanej genetickým algoritmom (GA). Na tréning a testovanie modelov boli použité časové rady denných prietokov za obdobie rokov 1991 až 1996 a 1996 až 1999. Hodnoty parametrov Nash-Sutcliffe, Bias, R2 , MPAE a PTVE pre model ALM boli 0,81; 5,5 m3 s-1; 0,81; 12,9% a 1,9%. Parametre v tom istom poradí pre model SVM boli 0,8 -10,7 m3 s-1, 0,81; 7,3%; a -3,6%. Z výsledkov simulácií vyplýva, že aplikáciou metód ALM a SVM možno získať porovnateľné a akceptovateľné výsledky. Podobnosť výsledkov medzi ALM a SVM implikuje vhodnosť novovyvinutej metódy ALM pre simuláciu odtoku. Tréning ALM je ľahší a jednoduchší ako je tréning ďalších dátami riadených modelov podobného typu. Navyše algoritmus ALM je schopný identifikovať a zoradiť efektívne vstupné premenné pre modelovanie odtoku. Na základe dosiahnutých výsledkov možno metódu ALM zaradiť medzi nové, alternatívne metódy modelovania odtoku.
Both amphibious species, Myosotis scorpioides and Ranunculus trichophyllus, thrive in a stressful environment (alternated flooding and drying), which is variable regarding water and radiation regimes. Plants from the field and plants grown under controlled water table maintained at 40 cm were analysed for content of chlorophyll (Chl) and UV-B screening compounds, and the efficiencies of PS2 and electron transport systems. We detected no significant differences in contents of Chl and UV-B screening compounds between submerged and aerial leaves. The measurements of respiratory potential and photochemical efficiency revealed the presence of permanent stress in M. sporpioides in the natural environment. Differences in physiological responses of submerged and aerial leaves indicated that the terrestrial environment was more favourable for M. scorpioides than for R. trichophyllus. Characteristics of both species suggested that R. trichophyllus might be a phylogenetically older aquatic plant than M. scorpioides. and M. Germ, A. Gaberščik.
Estimation of discharge from ungauged catchments based on rainfall-runoff analysis is a very frequent task in engineering hydrology. Very often, design discharges are needed for streams or small rivers where no streamflow data is available (river training works, culverts, small hydropower plants, etc). This study uses a well established lumped hydrologic rainfall-runoff model to compare two different approaches in data preparation. The traditional method of manual obtainment of catchment parameters was compared to a more contemporary methodology using automation with geographic information systems, digital terrain models and available datasets, with an emphasis on open-source tools and freely available datasets. Both techniques were implemented on more than 100 catchments in Serbia to calculate storm runoff response. The results show minor differences that are insignificant compared to the time and resources saved with the automated techniques. The use of such automated methods enables the hydrologist to direct more attention to other factors that influence discharge even more than catchment parameters, such as rainfall, soil and land use data.