Acanthocephalans are a small group of obligate endoparasites. They and rotifers are recently placed in a group called Syndermata. However, phylogenetic relationships within classes of acanthocephalans, and between them and rotifers, have not been well resolved, possibly due to the lack of molecular data suitable for such analysis. In this study, the mitochondrial (mt) genome was sequenced from Pallisentis celatus (Van Cleave, 1928), an acanthocephalan in the class Eoacanthocephala, an intestinal parasite of rice-field eel, Monopterus albus (Zuiew, 1793), in China. The complete mt genome sequence of P. celatus is 13855 bp long, containing 36 genes including 12 protein‑coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) as reported for other acanthocephalan species. All genes are encoded on the same strand and in the same direction. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that acanthocephalans are closely related with a clade containing bdelloids, which then correlates with the clade containing monogononts. The class Eoacanthocephala, containing P. celatus and Paratenuisentis ambiguus (Van Cleave, 1921) was closely related to the Palaeacanthocephala. It is thus indicated that acanthocephalans may be just clustered among groups of rotifers. However, the resolving of phylogenetic relationship among all classes of acanthocephalans and between them and rotifers may require further sampling and more molecular data.
The aim of this work was to verify the possibility of interactions between the human TRH receptor (an integral membrane protein which belongs to family 1 of G-protein coupled receptors) and TRH-like peptides presented in the prostate gland. These peptides are char
acterized by substitution of basic amino acid histidine (related to authentic TRH) for neutral or acidic amino acid, such as glutamic acid, phenylalanine, glutamine or tyrosine. The physiological function of TRH-like peptides in peripheral tissues is not precisely known. However, according to our recent experiments, we assume the existence of a local hormona
l network formed by TRH-like peptides and TSH in the prostate gland. The network can be associated with circulating thyroid and steroid hormones, and may represent a new regulatory mechanism influencing the proliferative ability of prostatic tissue. A similar network of authentic TRH and TSH was already found in the gastrointestinal tract. The experimentally determined 3D-structures of human TRH receptor
(hTRHr) and TRH-like peptides are not available. From this point of view we used de novo modeling procedures of G-protein coupled receptors on an automated protein modeling server used at the Glaxo Wellcome Experimental Research (Geneva, Switzerland). 3D-s
tructures of TRH-like peptides were determined with a computer program
CORINA (written by the team of J. Gasteiger, Computer-Chemie-Centrum and Institute for Organic Chemistry, University of Erlangen-Nurenberg, Germany). The generated PDB files with 3D-coordinates were visualized with Swiss-Pdb Viewer Release 3.51 (Glaxo Wellcome). From recent results it is evident that polar amino acids belonging to the extracellular terminus of hTRHr transmembrane regions can participate in interactions between TRH and hTRHr. There is no direct evidence that TRH-like peptides interact with the presented hTRHr model. On the contrary, with respect to the similar 3D-shape and the identity of terminal amino acids, it appears that these interactions are highly
probable as well as the nearly 100 % cross-reactions between TRH or TRH-like peptides and antibody specific against authentic TRH. Closed terminal amino acids (pyroglutamic acid and proline-amide) of TRH or TRH-like peptides are important for these interactions. Desamido-TRH or glutamyl metabolites will be repelled by the negative potential of
ASP195 (E: D93) and GLU298 (G: E137).
An overview of the concept of cellular immobilization and perfusion as a small laboratory bioreactor model is presented. The cellular systems currently used may be described as static. This is due to conditions of hypoxia and waste product build-up that affect cell physiology. Cellular immobilization and perfusion is, therefore, expected to maintain the cells for very long periods of time under approximately physiological conditions. A number of applications of immobilized perfused hepatocytes and other cellular systems such as adipocytes and Sertoli cells are described in addition to various other cell lines. Moreover, it is suggested that the bioreactor may have potential use as a bioartificial organ.
In this paper, firstly basic concepts of the structural reliability will be summarized in terms of two basic variables, i.e. structural response (R) and load efect (S). The uncertainty in structural response could be statistically characterized by mean and coefficient of variation (ΩR). Based on these formulations, there must be an upper limit of ΩR for the pre-specified acceptable level of reliability (pf). The increment of coefficient of variation of load effect (Ωs) shows minor influence on the central factor of safety (FS) and its effect diminishes rapidly where ΩR approaches the upper limit. Below this limit, the structural system could be used safely for a pre-specified target reliability. For lower value of ΩR, the target FS could be determined from the quadratic relationship between ΩR and ΩS., The structural response for foundations is typically a function of soil properties, sections and dimensions. It is not uncommon that uncertainties in soil properties could be normal or non-normal probability distribution and the relationship among basic variables in forming the structural response could be either non-linear or so complicated that results could be obtained from finite element analyses only. Fortunately, the randomness of structural response could be obtained by Monte Carlo simulation technique. Then the fitted distribution of outcome experiments could be specified by Goodness-of-Fit tests. The applicability of proposed concepts could be demonstrated in numerical examples, e.g. driven pile, spread footing and bored pile. For the conventional design approach, soil parameters ae considered to be constant. The solution is simplified thorough the use of deterministic safety factor. In reality, soil is neither isotropic nor homogeneous such that their uncertainties could not be ignored. References to the calculated failure probability evidence that deterministic safety factor could not guarantee enough safety. In some cases, an FS of 3 or more is not considered too conservative to apply for the structural response., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
GNSS meteorology is the remote sensing of the atmosphere (particularly troposphere) using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to deliver information about its state. The two currently available navigation satellite systems are the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the GLObal'naya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS) maintained by the United States and Russia, respectively. The Galileo navigation satellite system, which is under supervision of the European Space Agency (ESA), is expected to be completed within the time frame of a few years. Continuous observations from GNSS receivers provide an excellent tool for studying the earth’s atmosphere. The GNSS meteorology has reached a point, where there is a need to improve methods not only to compute Integrated Water Vapor over the GNSS receiver, but also to investigate the water vapor distribution in space and time (4DWVD). Since 2008, the new national permanent GNSS network ASG-EUPOS (98 stations) has been established in Poland. 17 Polish stations equipped with GNSS receivers and uniform meteorological sensors work currently in the frame of the European Permanent Network. This paper presents the concept of the integrated investigations for NRT atmosphere model construction based on the GNSS and meteorological observations from ASG-EUPOS stations., Jarosław Bosy, Witold Rohm and Jan Sierny., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The gene for connexin 37 (Cx37) is considered to be one of the candidate genes for cardiovascul ar disease. We evaluated the association between Cx37 (1019C>T) gene polymorphism (Pro319Ser) and ankle brachial blood pressure index (ABI) in women with type 1 (n=178) and ty pe 2 (n=111) diabetes, and in women from general population (n=862). All women were genotyped for Cx37 polymorphism. In addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors, ABI was analyzed. In women with type 1 diabetes, ABI significantly decreased from TT to CC carriers (p for trend= 0.008). A similar trend was seen in women with type 2 diabetes (p=0.050) and in women with waist circumference above 75 th percentile (94 cm; n=208) of the general population (p=0.049). The gene for Cx37 was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in women with type 1 and 2 diabetes and in women with advanced central obesity. The presence of C allele indicated increased risk., J. Piťha, J. A. Hubáček, P. Piťhová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Seismic and rock burst hazards still currently appear to be important in most hard coal mines in Poland. Recently, there has been a significant increase in seismic activity in the Silesian rock mass, in comparison to previous years. In the period 2001-2010, hard coal mines experienced 33 rock bursts. The causes of rock burst occurrences are here presented, based on an analysis of the rock bursts that occurred in Polish hard coal mines. The scale of the rock burst hazard has been characterized with respect to the mining and geological conditions of the existing exploitation. The most essential of the factors influencing the status of rock burst hazard is considered to be the depth of the interval, ranging from 550 m to 1150 m. The basic factors that cause rock burst to occur are as follows: seismogenic strata, edges and remnants, goafs, faults, pillars and excessive panelling. The consequences of rock bursts are damaged and/or destroyed roadways. On this basis, the areas (ranges) of safe zones were selected as being those safe from rock burst hazard in roadways, according to the assessment conducted to establish different degrees of the risk., Renata Patyńska., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This contribution presents and interprets the results of the analysis of fauna relics from the Pustý hrad Castle in Zvolen in Central Slovakia. The analysed series comes from the Upper castle, from the half of the 13th to the 14th centuries. A total of 6082 bone fragments weighing about 28 kg were processed. In addition to standard quantification methods (MNI, NISP and weight), the age of the animals and the relative quality of the meat from the body parts represented were also analysed. At the same time, the analysis also considered individual buildings, their location and function, and thus the differences in the representation of species in individual units. Comparisons of results with analogous collections from the late medieval castles of the Hungarian and Czech Kingdoms were not left out either. and Cieľom je predstaviť a interpretovať výsledky analýzy faunálnych pozostatkov z vrcholnostredovekého hradu Pustý hrad vo Zvolene na strednom Slovensku. Analyzovaný súbor pochádza z výskumu Horného hradu Pustého hradu, od polovice 13. až do 14. storočia. Celkovo bolo spracovaných 6082 fragmentov kostí o hmotnosti ca 28 kg. Popri štandardných kvantifikačných metódach (MNI, NISP a hmotnosť) bol sledovaný aj vek zvierat a relatívna kvalita mäsa zo zastúpených častí tiel. Zároveň sa v analýze prihliadalo aj na samostatné objekty, ich polohu a funkciu, a tým aj rozdielnosť v zastúpení druhov u jednotlivých súborov. Opomenuté neboli ani porovnania výsledkov s analogickými súbormi z vrcholnostredovekých hradov Uhorského i Českého kráľovstva.
In order to assess whether intratesticular hormone content may be helpful for prediction of successful conception in men with fertility problems, five sex steroids, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, estradiol and, for the first time epitestosterone, were measured in testicular tissue obtained by surgical retrieval from total 84 men. The group consisted of non-obstructive azoospermic men, aged 21-67 years who attended the centre for in vitro fertilization. Steroids after ether extraction and solvent partition were separated by high performance liquid chromatography and then measured by specific radioimmunoassays. The values varied considerably with means ± S.D. 2.43±2.47, 0.27±0.24, 0.080±0.13, 0.071± 0.089 and 0.31±0.27 for testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, estradiol and epitestosterone, respectively., L. Zamrazilová ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Genetic analysis of the content of light-harvesting complexes of thylakoid membranes was accomplished for the first time during the study of intraspecific variation in photosynthetic characteristics. The existence of genetically determined differences between genotypes together with positive heterosis in F1 generation was demonstrated.