Mechanisms underlying atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia, particularly in aged population, are not fully elucidated. We have previously shown an increased propensity of old guinea pigs (GPs) heart to inducible AF when comparing to young animals. This study aimed to verify our hypothesis that susceptibility of aged heart to AF may be attributed to abnormalities in myocardial connexin-43 (Cx43) and extracellular matrix that affect cardiac electrical properties. Experiments were conducted on male and female 4-week-old and 24-week-old GPs. Atrial tissue was processed for analysis of Cx43 topology using immunohistochemistry, expression of Cx43 protein using immunobloting, and expression of mRNA of Cx43 and extracellular matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) using real time PCR. Immunohistochemistry revealed uniform Cx43 distribution predominantly on lateral sides of the cardiomyocytes of young male and female GP atria. In contrast, non-uniform distribution, mislocalization and reduced immunolabeling of Cx43 were detected in atria of old GPs. In parallel, the atrial tissue levels of Cx43 mRNA were significantly decreased, while mRNA expression of MMP-2 was significantly increased in old versus young GPs. The changes were more pronounced in old GPs males comparing to females. Findings indicate that age-related down-regulation of atrial Cx43 and up-regulation of MMP-2 as well as disordered Cx43 distribution can facilitate development of AF in old guinea pig hearts., V. Nagibin, T. Egan Benova, C. Viczenczova, B. Szeiffova Bacova, I. Dovinova, M. Barancik, N. Tribulova., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The modern generation of electronic detectors, such as the CCD, have made improved photometry possible, especially at magnitudes near photographic plate limits and at wavelengths extending to the near infrared. Vigorous efforts should now be made to extend measurements to longer wavelengths since VandenBerg and Bell (1985) have recently calculated BVRI synthetic isochrones. Consequently, we have embarked on a program of CCD BVRI photometry for determining the ages of globular clusters.
From BVRI CCD frames obtained with the 1.54 Danish telescope at ESO-La Silla we have at this moment completed the reductions of the following 5 globular clusters: NGC 104 (47 Tuc), NGC 2298, NGC 5139 ( 0) Cen), NGC 6121 (M4), and NGC 6362. For these clusters, we have derived ages all close to 17x10^0y. Providing strong evidence that the globular cluster system is coeval, and that the epoch of the galactic contraction was short.
This paper deals with the satisfaction of the well-known Non-Contradiction (NC) and Excluded-Middle (EM) principles within the framework of aggregation operators. Both principles are interpreted in a non-standard way, based on self-contradiction (as in Ancient Logic) instead of falsity (as in Modern Logic). The logical negation is represented by means of strong negation functions, and conditions are given both for those aggregation operators that satisfy NC/EM with respect to (w.r.t.) some given strong negation, as well as for those satisfying the laws w.r.t. any strong negation. The results obtained are applied to some of the most important known classes of aggregation operators.
In spite of increasing studies and investigations in the field of aggregation operators, there are two fundamental problems remaining unsolved: aggregation of L-fuzzy set-theoretic notions and their justification. In order to solve these problems, we will formulate aggregation operators and their special types on partially ordered sets with universal bounds, and introduce their categories. Furthermore, we will show that there exists a strong connection between the category of aggregation operators on partially ordered sets with universal bounds (\textbf{Agop}) and the category of partially ordered groupoids with universal bounds (\textbf{Pogpu}). Moreover, the subcategories of \textbf{Agop} consisting of associative aggregation operators, symmetric and associative aggregation operators and associative aggregation operators with neutral elements are, respectively, isomorphic to the subcategories of \textbf{Pogpu} formed by partially ordered semigroups, commutative partially ordered semigroups and partially ordered monoids in the sense of Birkhoff. As a justification of the present notions and results, some relevant examples for aggregations operators on partially ordered sets are given. Particularly, aggregation process in probabilistic metric spaces is also considered.
Ailinella gen. n. (Pseudophyllidea: Triaenophoridae) is proposed to accommodate Ailinella mirabilis sp. n. from Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns, 1842), a freshwater fish inhabiting the Andean lakes in Argentinean Patagonia. Ailinella belongs to the Triaenophoridae because it has a marginal genital pore, a follicular vitelline gland, and a ventral uterine pore. The new genus can be distinguished from other triaenophorids by the following combination of characters: a small body size, a low number of proglottides, which are longer than wide, a truncated pyramidal to globular scolex, a rectangular apical disc, presence of the neck, lack of internal longitudinal musculature separating the cortex from the medulla, testes distributed in one central field surrounding the ovary laterally and posteriorly, the vagina predominantly anterior to the cirrus sac, vitelline follicles circum-medullary, the genital pores post-equatorial, a saccate uterus, and operculate eggs. Blade-like spiniform microtriches were present on all tegument surfaces, and tumuli on all surfaces of the scolex and the anterior surface of the neck. Microtriches were characterized according to their size and density, and tumuli according to their size, inter-tumulus distance and density. Ailinella mirabilis is the first cestode described from G. maculatus and the second triaenophorid species recorded from a South American freshwater fish.
The article deals with axial-symmetric subsonic air-to air ejector with a diffuser adapted for boundary layer suction. The diffuser, which is placed after the mixing chamber of the ejector, has a high divergence angle and is therefore inefficient. To increase efficiency, the diffuser is equipped with a slot enabling boundary layer suction. The effect of boundary layer suction on the airflow in the ejector was measured, as were the static pressure distribution on the mixing chamber wall and ejector characteristics. Both diffuser and ejector efficiency were calculated. Although the efficiency of the diffuser was increased, the efficiency of the ejector itself remained low. and Obsahuje seznam literatury