Continent-wide loss of traditionally managed humid meadows is raising concern for associated butterfly specialists across Europe. However, not all species associated with this biotope are threatened, and the Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino) has even spread locally. We employed mark-recapture and transect walks to study its population structure and patterns of landscape occupancy in a hilly region of western Bohemia, Central Europe, to determine which life history or demography traits might be responsible for its success. A population studied by mark-recapture harboured more than 1000 individuals and was interconnected with other populations. This was further supported by a fit of the inverse power function to dispersal data. Observations of adult behaviour revealed a broad host plant range: at least three species of plants were used by the single population. On a landscape scale, the butterfly exhibited an aggregated distribution matching its host plants. It was associated with the distribution of characteristic plants and butterflies of semi-natural humid meadows, but its frequency exceeded those of other humid grasslands specialists. The relatively broad host range coupled with varying biotope requirements of individual host plant species results in a wide biotope range for the butterfly, explaining its persistence in fragmented Central European landscapes.
1_The adult demographic parameters, mobility, nectar choice and how the spatial distribution of males and females of Z. polyxena is affected by the distribution and abundance of host-plants, and adults of the opposite sex was studied in a population of this species inhabiting a dense network of permanent habitats (totalling 8.7 ha). The population size was estimated to be ca. 300 individuals. The average adult lifespan was 4.4 days and the maximum 23 (male) and 20 (female) days. The capture probability was higher for males than females due to the more conspicuous behaviour and bounded area of activity of males. A slow increase was followed by a slow decrease in the sex specific parabolic recruitment curve, indicating slight protandry and long emergence period, probably due to habitat heterogeneity. The spatial distribution of host plants (Aristolochia lutea) is the key factor determining the spatial distribution of adults. There was a strong positive correlation between male and female density at each patch, both of which were dependent on the cover of host plants growing in sunny conditions. In searching for A. lutea plants suitable for oviposition, females fly greater distances and move more frequently between patches than males. The size, shape and orientation of the male home range were influenced by the size, shape and orientation of stands of host-plants in sunny positions, but not by patch area. Such adult fidelity to stands of host-plants in sunny positions indicates that the spatial distributions of oviposition sites, mate-locating sites and larval habitats of Z. polyxena overlap. The better statistical fit and much lower probabilities for long-distance movements generated by a negative exponential function than an inverse power function are probably due to the small size and high habitat connectivity of the site studied. Adults were opportunistic in their use of nectar plants., 2_Traditional management is the key factor for maintaining permanent habitats for this species in a grassland biotope., Tatjana Čelik., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The availability and quality of nectar for adults are thought to affect fecundity of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Experiments were conducted to analyze the effect of adult feeding on the fecundity, and oviposition pattern of moths, and larval performance (egg hatch). The moths were fed either on distilled water, honey solution, or one of a range of concentrations of sucrose solution. The results showed that diets with sugars significantly increased fecundity and adult lifespan. Lifespan, total numbers of eggs and egg mass were significantly higher for females that fed on sugar during adult life. Egg hatch (a measure of offspring fitness) decreased over time regardless of sucrose concentration, but had always higher levels in the groups fed sugars. The peak of the ovipositing period was delayed and prolonged, with more eggs deposited, when moths were fed on sugar solution. In conclusion, adult feeding increases the fecundity of female moths and plays an important role in enhancing the fitness of individual cotton bollworm offspring.
The function of adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus is not yet completely understood, though many competing theories have attempted to explain the function of these newly -generated neurons. Most theories give adult neurogenesis a role in aiding known hippocampal/dentate gyrus functions. Other theories offer a novel role for these new cells based on their unique physiological qualities, such as their low excitability threshold. Many behavioral tests have been used to test these theories, but results have been inconsistent and often contradictory. Substantial variability in tests and protocols may be at least partially responsible for the mixed results. On the other hand, conflicting results arising from the same tests can serve as aids in elucidating the function of adult neurogenesis. Here, we offer a hypothesis that considers the cognitive nature of tasks commonly used to assess the function of adult neurogenesis, and introduce a dichotomy between tasks focused on discrimination vs. generalization. We view these two aspects as opposite ends of the continuous spectrum onto which traditional tests can be mapped. We propose that high neurogenesis favors behavioral discrimination while low adult neurogenesis favors behavioral generalization of a knowledge or rule. Since many tasks require both, the effects of neurogenesis could be cancelled out in many cases. Although speculative, we hope that our view presents an interesting and testable hypothesis of the effect of adult neurogenesis in traditional behavioral tasks. We conclude that new, carefully designed behavioral tests may be necessary to reach a final consensus on the role of adult neurogenesis in behavior., A. Pistikova, H. Brozka, A. Stuchlik., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This paper deals with the delicts of adultery and fornication. It presents rules related to this delict by referring to the individual pieces of regulation valid within the geographic area of our country and pointing out similarities with rules applicable for these delicts in the Islamic law, especially focusing
on the possibility to punish – whether it is capital punishment, lashing or exile. While in our geographical region criminal prosecution has been completely abandoned, the traditional Islamic law still contains these punishments.
Pompeho nemoc (glykogenóza typ 2, deficit alfa glukosidázy) je autozomálně recesivní dědičné metabolické onemocnění, jehož podkladem je defekt lysozomální kyselé alfa glukosidázy vedoucí k hromadění-střádání lysozomálního glykogenu v buňkách a tkáních s následnou dysfunkcí především ve svalové tkáni srdce a kosterních svalech. Průběh je velmi variabilní: od těžkého rychle progredujícího postižení novorozenců (klasická infantilní forma) po postupné postižení s manifestací v dětství či pozdní dospělosti. Je-li alfa glukosidáza zcela nebo téměř nefunkční, vzniká tzv. klasická infantilní forma choroby. Potíže se rozvíjí v prvních měsících života a mají charakter neprospívání, svalové slabosti a potíží s dýcháním. Dochází k výraznému zvětšení srdce, většina dětí se před zavedením substituční terapie nedožila prvních narozenin. Je-li enzym štěpící glykogen alespoň částečně funkční, vzniká tzv. pozdní (juvenilní či adultní) forma onemocnění. Tato situace nastává, pokud vznikne závažná mutace jedné alely a lehčí na druhé. To vede k méně progresivnímu fenotypu. Rozpětí manifestace nemoci je u této formy od první do šesté věkové dekády. Hlavním projevem je svalová slabost, která postupuje a významně zasahuje dýchací svalstvo. U těchto nemocných nebývá srdce zvětšeno. Při podezření na PN máme tři diagnostické úrovně. První je skríningové vyšetření pomocí testu suché kapky (DBS, Dried Blood Spot). Potvrzení diagnózy se provádí vyšetřením aktivity GAA v leukocytech. DNA vyšetření je důležité pro stanovení korelace genotyp-fenotyp a detekci přenašečů v rodině., Pompe disease (glycogen storage disease type 2, acid maltase deficiency) is inherited autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by deficiency of acid alpha-glucosidase and resulting in lysosomal glycogen storage in various tissues, mainly heart and skeletal muscle. Continuous spectrum of phenotypes from the rapidly progressive infantile form to the slowly progressive late onset form of the disease can be observed. Classical infantile form of the disease manifests soon after birth due to absent or nearly absent activity of the key enzyme. Typical manifestations include failure to thrive, muscle weakness, cardiomegaly, and respiratory failure. Before the era of substitution therapy, the majority of children died within the first year of life. Partial enzyme deficiency (severe mutation on one allele and milder on the second) leads to the less severe phenotype with manifestation in child- or adulthood. Time span is from the first to the sixth decade of life. Leading symptoms include slowly progressing limb girdle and trunk muscle weakness with significant involvement of respiratory muscles. There is no cardiomegaly. Suspicion of Pompe disease is confirmed in three steps. The first involves screening with the Dried Blood Spot test. Testing of the activity of alfa glucosidase in leukocytes is used to confirm the disease. Mutation analysis is important to assess the correlation between genotype and phenotype and to identify familial carriers. Key words: Pompe disease – alpha glucosidase – lysosomal storage diseases – limb-girdle muscle weakness The author declares he has no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers., Vědomostní test, and S. Voháňka
Purification of quartz using an environment-friendly method is important in the contaminants removal. This paper presents advanced method based on calcination pretreatment combined with ultrasound-assisted leaching, for removing iron impurities from industrial quartz. The solvent used is a mixture comprised by diluted hydrochloric acid and oxalic acid. The effects of experimental parameters were investigated and the purification mechanism was discussed using particle size analyzer, scanning electron microscope and polarized light microscope. SiO2 content of concentrate could be increased from 99.6828% to 99.9047%, which achieved 3N level high purity quartz, and Fe2O3 content reduced from 0.0857% to 0.0223%, under the optimal conditions, i.e., calcination temperature of 900 °C, holding time of 2 h, oxalic acid concentration of 10 g/L, hydrochloric acid concentration of 5%, liquid solid ratio of 5, leaching temperature of 60 °C, ultrasound power of 400 W and treatment time of 30 min. Compared to conventional method, the proposed method significantly accelerates the leaching process and increases the iron removal rate. At the same time, the method also can remove gas-liquid inclusions. and Yang Changqiao, Li Suqin, Bai Jiaxing, Han Shuaishuai.
For a successful effectuation of the supranational rights of EU citizens and third country nationals,it is crucially important that the rules and principles flowing from the European Treaties and the associatedlegislation are ensured in full. The available methods of public enforcement (in particular the monitoringpowers of the European Commission) are however insufficient to achieve that goal: compliance with the relevantEU rules and norms also depends to a considerable extent on the policy dynamics, public infrastructureand (styles of) administrative governance of the country concerned. This paper makes a modest attempt tofill a gap that is believed to lie between, on the one hand, leading political science theories on the receptionof EU law in the Member States, and on the other, the main legal studies on the quality of legislation and the(in)adequacy of the existing procedural frameworks for effectuating citizens’ rights. The main objective is toexplore some possible alternative avenues for facilitating the interplay between the EU and the national legalorders. By providing illustrations of some existing bottlenecks, asymmetric centrifugal/centripetal forces andavoidable feedback-loops, it points out how current practices may be enhanced, and outlines possible newdirections for securing a more structural domestic compliance record.
AMP -activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a role in metabolic regulation under stress conditions, and inadequate AMPK signaling may be also involved in aging process. The aim was to find out whether AMPK α 2-subunit deletion affects heart function and ische mic tolerance of adult and aged mice. AMPK α 2 -/- (KO) and wild type (WT) female mice were compared at the age of 6 and 18 months. KO mice exhibited subtle myocardial AMPK α 2-subunit protein level, but no difference in AMPK α 1-subunit was detected between the strains. Both α 1- and α 2-subunits of AMPK and their phosphorylation decreased with advanced age. Left ventricular fractional shortening was lower in KO than in WT mice of both age groups and this difference was maintained after high-fat feeding. Infarct size induced by global ischemia/reperfusion of isolated hearts was similar in both strains at 6 months of age. Aged WT but not KO mice exhibited improved ischemic tolerance compared with the younger group. High-fat feeding for 6 months during aging abolished the infarct size-reduction in WT without affecting KO animals; nevertheless, the extent of injury remained larger in KO mice. The results demonstrate that adverse effects of AMPK α 2-subunit deletion and high-fat feeding on heart function and myocardia l ischemic tolerance in aged female mice are not additive., K. Slámová, F. Papoušek, P. Janovská, J. Kopecký, F. Kolář., and Obsahuje bibliografii