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31172. The common hamster (Cricetus cricetus) in Ukraine: evidence for population decline
- Creator:
- Rusin, Mikhail Yu., Banaszek, Agata, and Mishta, Alina V.
- Type:
- article, model:article, and TEXT
- Subject:
- endangered species, Eastern Europe, density, and distribution range
- Language:
- English
- Description:
- The common hamster (Cricetus cricetus L.) is supposed to be an abundant species in Eastern Europe including Ukraine. However, the current data on hamster’s occurrence in Ukraine from 1990 till nowadays show that the species became rare. The common hamster can be found in the West, North-East Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula. The species have declined in the forest-steppe zone and became extinct in most part of the steppe zone. Its actual distribution range has thus been strongly reduced. One of the possible causes of this decline is the habitat loss due to changes in agricultural management.
- Rights:
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ and policy:public
31173. The comparison of antioxidant and hematological properties of N-acetylcysteine and α-lipoic acid in physically active males
- Creator:
- Zembron-Lacny, A., Slowinska-Lisowska, M., Szygula, Z., Witkowski, K., and Szyszka, K.
- Type:
- article, články, model:article, and TEXT
- Subject:
- Fyziologie člověka a srovnávací fyziologie, fyziologie, thioly, antioxidanty, physiology, thiols, antioxidants, oxidační poškození, erythropoietin, oxidative damage, 14, and 612
- Language:
- English
- Description:
- The aim of this study was to follow up whether the modification of pro-antioxidant status by oral thiol administration such as N- acetylcysteine and α-lipoic acid affects the hematological response. Twenty-eight healthy men participated in two independent experiments. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups: controls (CNAC and CALA ), N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and α-lipoic acid (ALA). 1200 mg of N-acetylcysteine, 600 mg of α-lipoic acid or placebo were administered for 8 days in two doses. NAC or ALA administration significantly elevated plasma total antioxidant stat us (TAS) and reduced protein carbonylation (PC) and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) by more than 30 %. The reduced glutathione (GSH) and hematological parameters changed only in response to NAC administration. NAC significantly elevated the level of GSH (+33 %), EPO (+26 %), Hb (+9 %) and Hct (+9 %) compared with CNAC. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) also increased by more than 12 % after NAC. The numerous negative or positive correlations between the measures of TAS, PC, TBARS and hematological parameters were found, which suggest the NAC-induced interaction between pro-antioxidant and hematological values. Our study has shown that both N-acetylcysteine and α-lipoic acid intake reveal an antioxidant action, but only N-acetylcysteine improves the haematological response., A. Zembron-Lacny ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
- Rights:
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ and policy:public
31174. The Comparison of Ca2+/CaM-Independent and Ca2+/CaM-Dependent Phosphorylation of Myosin Light Chains by MLCK
- Creator:
- Tang, Z., Chen, H., Yang, J., Dai, S., and Lin, Y.
- Type:
- article, model:article, and TEXT
- Subject:
- Ca2+/CaM-independent phosphorylation, Ca2+/CaM-dependent phosphorylation, Myosin, and MLCK
- Language:
- English
- Description:
- The main regulatory mechanism of smooth muscle contraction involves Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent phosphorylation of myosin (CDPM), by myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). It is also known that the increase in intracellular Ca2+ and phosphorylation of myosin occurs within a short time under physiological conditions, but the muscle tension may persist for a longer period of time. However, the mechanism of this phenomenon is still not clear. We hypothesize that MLCK also phosphorylates myosin in a Ca2+/CaM-independent manner (CIPM). The difference between CIPM and CDPM are as follows. Firstly, the extent of CIPM by MLCK was temperature-independent, whereas CDPM by MLCK was apparently decreasing with increasing temperature. Secondly, in contrast to the decreased extent of CDPM, the prolongation of incubation time did not decrease the extent of CIPM. Thirdly, a high concentration of K＋ influences CIPM less than CDPM. Furthermore, the MLCK inhibitor ML-9 significantly inhibited CDPM by MLCK but not CIPM by MLCK. Lastly, arachidonic acid selectively increased CIPM by MLCK but not CDPM by MLCK. Finally, the activity of Mg2+-ATPase of myosin followed the sequence as this: CDPM > CIPM > unphosphorylated myosin. Our results revealed some primary features of CIPM by MLCK.
- Rights:
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ and policy:public
31175. The complete mitochondrial genome of Pallisentis celatus (Acanthocephala) with phylogenetic analysis of acanthocephalans and rotifers
- Creator:
- Pan, Ting Shuang and Nie, Pin
- Format:
- bez média and svazek
- Type:
- model:article and TEXT
- Subject:
- Eoacanthocephala, mitochondrion, mt genome, rice-field eel, China, phylogeny, and Syndermata
- Language:
- English
- Description:
- 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.
- Rights:
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ and policy:public
31176. The computer modelling of human TRH receptor, TRH and TRH-like peptides
- Creator:
- Bílek, R. and Stárka, L.
- Type:
- article, model:article, and TEXT
- Subject:
- Throtropin-releasing hormone receptor, TRH, TRH-like peptides, and Computer modeling
- Language:
- English
- Description:
- 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).
- Rights:
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ and policy:public
31177. The concept of application of immobilized and perfused mammalian cells (a bioreactor model) in biomedical research
- Creator:
- Farghali, H., Kameníková, L., and Hynie, S.
- Type:
- article, model:article, and TEXT
- Subject:
- cell immobilization, cell perfusion, and bioreactor model
- Language:
- English
- Description:
- 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.
- Rights:
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ and policy:public
31178. The concept of asymptotic coefficients of variation of structural response applied for foundation design
- Creator:
- Ngamcharoen, Phadet and Ouypornprasert, Winai
- Format:
- bez média and svazek
- Type:
- model:article and TEXT
- Subject:
- reliability, structural response, central factor of safety, and Monte Carlo simulation
- Language:
- English
- Description:
- 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
- Rights:
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ and policy:public
31179. The concept of the near real time atmosphere model based on the GNSS and the meteorological data from the ASG-EUPOS reference stations
- Creator:
- Bosy, Jarosław, Rohm, Witold, and Sierny, Jan
- Format:
- print, bez média, and svazek
- Type:
- article, články, model:article, and TEXT
- Subject:
- Geologie. Meteorologie. Klimatologie, meteorologická měření, meteorologie, meteorological measurements, meteorology, GNSS meteorology, tomography, troposphere model, GNSS permanent stations network, ASG-EUPOS, 7, and 551
- Language:
- English
- Description:
- 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
- Rights:
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ and policy:public
31180. The connexin 37 (1019C>T) gene polymorphism is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in women with type 1 and 2 diabetes and in women with central obesity
- Creator:
- Jan Piťha, Jaroslav Hubáček, and Pavlína Piťhová
- Format:
- print, bez média, and svazek
- Type:
- article, články, model:article, and TEXT
- Subject:
- Fyziologie člověka a srovnávací fyziologie, ateroskleróza, obezita, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, obesity, connexin 37 gene, ankle brachial index-women, central obesity, 14, and 612
- Language:
- English
- Description:
- 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
- Rights:
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ and policy:public