A hemodynamic feature of chronic sinoaortic
-denervated (SAD)
rats is the increase in blood pressure variability (BPV) without
significant change
s in the average level of blood pressure (BP).
The current study
was designed to
investigate the changes in BP
V- shaped waves (V waves) in SAD rats. Sprague
-Dawley (SD)
rats were divided into
2 groups: SAD rats and sham
-operated
rats (n=13
). Hemodynamics measurements were obtained in
conscious, freely moving rats, four weeks after sinoaortic
denervation or sham operation. V wave indices were evaluated in
rats in both conscious and quiet states.
Additionally, n
ormal and
high BPV was simulate
d by the production of V waves with
different amplitudes. The results showed that the V wave
amplitude was dramatically increased, with a significantly
prolonged duration and reduced frequency in SAD rats
. V wave
BPV in SAD
rats
was significantly increased
, though BP remained
unchanged. The twenty
-four hour BPV in all rats was positively
correlated with amplitude, duration time and V wave BPV and
negatively correlated with frequency. The systolic
BP spectral
powers in the low frequency range (0.38
-0.45
Hz)
were
significantly reduced in the V waves of SAD rats. Moreover, there
was a remarkable increase in mean BPV and a normal mean BP
after simulating high BPV in SAD rats
. The
se results
suggest that
enhancement of V waves might be a waveform character of BP in
SAD rats in both the conscious and quiet states. These types of
V waves appear to be related to a depression of sympathetic
regulation of BP induced by sinoaortic
denervation.
The Cobitis hankugensis-Iksookimia longicorpa (formerly C. sinensis-C. longicorpus) complex in South Korea includes diploid and triploid forms of hybrid origin that are most often females. However, there are a few males that show no differences from the hybrid females in their general morphology except the presence of a lamina circularis on the pectoral fin. An examination of 354 adult hybrid specimens revealed that 3 % of the complex are male specimens. The testes of the rare males are normal in shape and external morphology. The gonadosomatic index of hybrid males is similar to that observed in males of the parental species and changes during the year in a similar pattern. However, the testicular cells differ from those of the parental species in their morphology. Especially sperm cells are very rare and show abnormalities in their morphology, therefore we conclude that the rare males are sterile. This result suggests that although males are present with a low frequency in the complex, this complex functionally is unisexual and depends on the males of the parental species for perpetuation.
Growth of the remnant embryonic kidney (the mesonephros), as expressed by wet weight, was more rapid in the chick embryos with experimentally induced unilateral renal agenes is compared to controls. The difference was significant between embryonic days 8-12, when the doubled weights of remnant kidneys were increased compared with the weights of paired control kidneys. The excessive growth of the mesonephros ceased on day 14, when the normal physiological regression of the embryonic kidney begins. In the definitive kidney, the metanephros, no significant differences in weights of the control vs. remnant metanephros were found on days 10-14. The characteristics of increased mesonephric growth were evaluated by determination of DNA/protein ratios in homogenates of the kidneys. Significant cellular hypertrophy was found in both the mesonephros and metanephros of the embryos with URA on day 10. Additionally, a non-significant cellular hyperplasia was also revealed in the remnant mesonephros on day 8. This gives evidence that the growth stimuli to the mesonephroi were probably strongest between days 8-10 and that they manifested in the remnant mesonephros only. and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The main target of the present study is to investigate the foundation layers and the subsurface structures in an Egyptian solar plant site using geophysical techniques including the seismic refraction and Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW). The studied solar park is situated at about 40 km to the north of Aswan city on the Aswan-Cairo highway road and is classified as the largest solar plant in Africa and worldwide. Due to its location in the vicinity of the most prone earthquake area in Egypt (Aswan seismic zone); it is imperative to mitigate the earthquake hazard in this region. The geophysical results show that the subsurface foundation in this site is primarily composed of two layers. The upper one is loose and incompetent soil sediments that extend down to about 10 m depth with P-wave velocity ranging from 400 to 1000 m/s and shear-wave velocity ranging from 260 to 550 m/s. The deeper section is considered the main foundation layer with velocities ranging between 650 and 1900 m/s and from 350 to 950 m/s for P-wave and shear-wave, respectively. The average shear-wave velocities calculated for the topmost 30 m (Vs30) vary almost between 319 and 834 m/s; thereby the studied site is primarily ranked into classes C&D (180-360 m/s & 360-760 m/s, respectively) according to the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) soil classification. Additionally, the southwestern and southeastern zones of the site area are characterized by maximum velocity values, relative high values of rock densities, rigidity or shear modulus “μ”, Standard Penetration Test (N-Value), ultimate bearing capacity and allowable bearing capacity, while the low values are observed through the northern and middle sectors across the area. This study an integral part of many works being carried out delineating the subsurface foundation structures around the solar plant and allows the most appropriate sites for constructing the renewable energy plants to be sited away from the highly hazards prone areas.
The population and genetic profiles of a remnant Vimba vimba population in the upper course of the River Dyje (N=48°53 ́18 ́ ́/ E=15°39 ́29 ́ ́) was carried out to provide a basis for conservation measures. This population is an isolated fragment of a more widespread population in this river system and is now declining. It came into being 60 years ago as a consequence of the construction of the Vranov dam in the middle section of the River Dyje. Over those 60 years V. vimba disappeared from the other localities of the River Dyje basin. In the population under study, vimba is a single-batch spawner involving two age groups of fishes (4 to 5 years of the age). Individuals over six years of age are rare and sporadically occurring fishes of 8 to 10 years are exclusively females. The size of the adult part of population is less than one thousand individuals. The length growth rate is relatively high as compared with other studied populations in the Czech Republic, fishes of five years attain 200 mm of Sl. A very low genetic variability was evidenced in the population (mean number of alleles per locus = 1.30 ± 0.1; percentage of polymorphic loci = 16.7 %; mean observed heterozygosity = 0.022 ± 0.011).
The parameters determine waves energy in shallow water zone that pronounces the crucial influence on abrasion of both natural and artificially paved banks. The effort to re-development of the relations was found as absolutely necessary for waves energy calculations. Substantial benefit of the work is found not only in enabling the use of computers while avoiding time-consuming and difficult application of diagrams, but namely in recent recognition that the calculation results showed a risk of underestimate the real impact of wind-induced waves. In some cases, the calculations respecting the above standard produce lower values of waves height and time-period and thus also lower values of wave energy., Tamara Spanilá and Karel Jahoda., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
This paper reports the possibilities of using FTIR spectroscopy and simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis for examination of the structural order of four Czech kaolinite samples (Jimlikov, Sedlec, Olomucany and Unanov deposits) and one kaolinite standard KGa-1b from Georgia deposit obtained from the Source Clays Repository of The Clay Minerals Society (USA). FTIR spectroscopy was used for the classification of the degree of structural order of kaolinite samples by empirical (IR-E) and numerical (IR-N) classification. Differential thermal analysis was used for the determination of the kaolinite disorder degree according to decomposition peak temperature obtained from DTA curves. The resulting trend of decrease in orderliness is: KGA-1b (with the best orderliness) > Jimlikov > Sedlec > Olomucany > Unanov (with the worst orderliness)., Lenka Vaculíková, Eva Plevová, Silvie Vallová and Ivan Koutník., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, is a key economic insect pest reducing fruit yield and generating constraints in the international market. The application of the sterile insect technique (SIT) continues to reveal areas where new technologies can improve the effectiveness of fruit fly control. One such advancement concerns insect strains. In the present study, a mass-reared strain of the fly with a translocation-based genetic sexing character (Salaya1) based on a brown-white pupal colour dimorphism was genetically characterized using 11 microsatellite DNA markers. Subsequently, these markers were used to evaluate the maintenance of genetic variability in the strain under mass-rearing conditions. Mating competitiveness of this strain was also tested in field cages. Two of the newly characterized Y-pseudo-linked microsatellite markers were used for strain identification in field monitoring traps. The strain was also validated in a pilot integrated pest management (IPM) programme using male-only SIT in a fruit orchard. The programme resulted in the suppression of the fruit fly population., Siriwan Isasawin, Nidchaya Aketarawong, Sujinda Thanaphum., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The characterization of ultra-soft soil behavior is one of the most difficult challenges since the water content in such soils is very high. Hence, nondestructive or special measurement is required. Therefore, the behavior of untreated and treated ultra-soft soil was characterized using both miniature penetrometer and electrical methods. The ultra-soft soil was prepared with 2% to 10% bentonite. The soil with 10% bentonite was treated with 2% to 10% lime and with 1% to 10% polymer separately. The pH, CIGMAT miniature penetrometer, and electrical resistivity combined with the measured shear strength from the modified vane shear device were used to characterize the ultra-soft soils. The CIGMAT miniature penetrometer penetration varied linearly with the shear strength of the untreated and treated soft soils with 10% bentonite. Relative electrical resistivity decreased by 246% when the bentonite content was increased from 2% to 10% in the ultra-soft soil. The addition of 10% of the lime to the ultra-soft soil with 10% of bentonite content decreased the relative electrical resistivity by 171%. The addition of 10% of the polymer to the ultra-soft soil with 10% of bentonite content reduced the relative electrical resistivity by 545%. Power law, linear and hyperbolic models were used to predict the shear strength- electrical resistivity relationship for the untreated, lime-treated and polymer-treated ultra-soft soils respectively. The CIGMAT miniature penetrometer was modeled using 3-D axisymmetric finite element method, which predicted the penetration of CIGMAT penetrometer that agreed well with the experimental results of the ultra-soft soils.
Microsporidia are eukaryotic, obligate intracellular organisms defined by their small spores containing a single polar tube that coils around the interior of the spore. After appropriate stimuli the germination of spores occurs. Conditions that promote germination vary widely among species, presumably reflecting the organism’s adaptation to their host and external environment as well as preventing accidental discharge in the environment. It appears that calcium may be a key ion in this process. Regardless of the stimuli required for activation, all microsporidia exhibit the same response to the stimuli, that is, increasing the intrasporal osmotic pressure. This results in an influx of water into the spore accompanied by swelling of the polaroplasts and posterior vacuole. The polar tube then discharges from the anterior pole of the spore in an explosive reaction and is thought to form a hollow tube by a process of eversion. If the polar tube is discharged next to a cell, it can pierce the cell and transfer the sporoplasm into this cell. Polar tubes resist dissociation in detergents and acids but dissociate in dithiothreitol. We have developed a method for the purification of polar tube proteins (PTPs) using differential extraction followed by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This method was used to purify for subsequent characterization PTPs from Glugea americanus, Encephalitozoon cuniculit E. hellem and E. intestinalis. These proteins appear to be members of a protein family that demonstrate conserved characteristics in solubility, hydrophobicity, mass, proline content and immunologic epitopes. These characteristics are probably important in the function of this protein in its self assembly during the eversion of the polar tube and in providing elasticity and resiliency for sporoplasm passage.