Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite infecting 20-60% of humans in various countries, influences the behaviour of infected animal and human hosts. Infected human subjects have changes in several of Cattell's and Cloninger's personality factors. Recently, three independent studies have shown that Rh-positive subjects are protected against the T. gondii-induced changes of reaction times and increased risk of traffic accidents. Here we searched for evidence of similar effects of RhD phenotype on toxoplasmosis- or aging-associated changes in the personality profile of about 302 blood donors. We found that Rh-positive and Rh-negative subjects responded differently to toxoplasmosis. In addition to the already known effects of toxoplasmosis on novelty seeking, self transcendence, superego strength and protension, we also found effects of RhD phenotype on ego strength, protension, and praxernia, as well as opposite effects of toxoplasmosis on ego strength, praxernia, ergic tension and cooperativeness in Rh-positive and Rh-negative subjects. Moreover, our results indicate that RhD phenotype might influence not only the effect of toxoplasmosis but also the effect of aging on specific personality traits.
The use of environmentally-friendly materials in hydraulic engineering (e.g. the stone lining of weirs at levees) calls for the more accurate estimation of the discharge coefficient for broad-crested weirs with a rough crest surface. However, in the available literature sources the discharge coefficient of broad-crested weirs is usually expressed for a smooth crest. The authors of this paper have summarized the theoretical knowledge related to the effect of weir crest surface roughness on the discharge coefficient. The method of determination of the head-discharge relation for broad-crested weirs with a rough crest surface is proposed based on known discharge coefficient values for smooth surfaces and on the roughness parameters of the weir. For selected scenarios the theoretical results were compared with experimental research carried out at the Laboratory of Water Management Research, Faculty of Civil Engineering (FCE), Brno University of Technology (BUT). and Používání přírodě blízkých materiálů ve vodním hospodářství (např. kamenná opevnění povrchu přelivů v ochranných hrázích) vyvolává požadavek přesnějšího stanovení součinitele průtoku pro přelivy se širokou a hydraulicky drsnou korunou. V dostupných literárních pramenech je součinitel průtoku přelivů se širokou korunou obvykle vyjádřen pouze pro hladký povrch koruny přelivu. Autoři článku shrnuli teoretické poznatky týkající se vlivu drsnosti povrchu koruny přelivu na součinitel průtoku a navrhli metodu pro stanovení způsobu hydraulického výpočtu konzumční křivky přepadu přes přeliv se širokou a drsnou korunou. Postup vychází ze znalosti součinitele průtoku přelivu s hladkou korunou a charakteristik drsnosti. Pro vybrané scénáře byly teoreticky vypočítané hodnoty porovnány s výsledky experimentálního výzkumu uskutečněného v Laboratoři vodohospodářského výzkumu Ústavu vodních staveb, Fakulty stavební, Vysokého učení technického v Brně.
The correct determination of material properties of construction materials from experiments is important not only during their development, but also during final verification. Specimens for testing mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced composites with a quasi-brittle matrix are usuall prepared by casting into a sutable mold. But they can be also prepared by cutting to desired shape from large body of material. The method of preparation may affect the measured values of material characteristics. In the case of sawed specimens, the fibers in surface layer are damaged, while in the case of casted specimens, fibers in surface layer tended to align with mold surface. The purpose of this article is to clarify the influence of these phenomena using numerical simulations. and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The influence of hormonal superovulation preparations of FSH (450 IU) or PMSG (1500 IU), on the levels of catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine) was studied in the oestrus period using radioenzymatic methods. The administration of FSH caused a significant increase in the concentrations of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) in eminentia mediana (EM) of sheep (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). The pituitary gland exhibited an increase in the level of norepinephrine after administration PMSG while no marked changes were recorded for epinephrine and dopamine (DA). The administration of FSH affected the increase in pituitary epinephrine (p<0.01). The hormonal stimulation by FSH resulted in a marked decrease of dopamine (p<0.05) as well as in , a significant increase of norepinephrine (p<0.05) and epinephrine (p<0.05) in the epiphysis. The comparison of the effect of hormonal preparations on the changes in catecholamine levels showed that the effect of FSH was observed mostly in eminentia mediana and the pituitary gland while that of PMSG was recorded in the epiphysis.
In order to evaluate the influence of the respiratory cycle on the EEG, we compared the power spectral analysis of the EEG performed by fast Fourier transformation during inspirium and exspirium in 10 healthy subjects. The measurement was performed during spontaneous breathing and then during eupnoe (0.25 Hz), bradypnoe (0.1 Hz) and tachypnoe (0.5 Hz) paced by a metronome. In the course of spontaneous breathing and bradypnoe, there was an increase in the delta power and in the total power in the anterior temporal region during inspirium in comparison with exspirium. The eupnoe was characterized by an inspiratory decrease in the delta power in the parietal region and in the total power in the frontal region. The tachypnoe resulted in a decrease of the beta power in the central region and a decrease of the theta power in the posterior temporal and in the occipital region during inspirium. In comparison of the EEG in eupnoe, bradypnoe and tachypnoe, a decrease of spectral power of all spectral bands was found except for delta during faster breathing frequencies and vice versa with a significant difference which wa
s found mostly between bradypnoe and tachypnoe, less frequently between eupnoe and tachypnoe.
Metabolism of palmitate-14C was studied in the rat liver and muscle incubated with 1 mmol.1-1 tolbutamide in vitro experiments: Tolbutamide reduces the utilization of free fatty acids in the liver by inhibiting their uptake, incorporation into total lipids, and oxidation to 14CC>2. Tolbutamide stimulates the incorporation into the triacylglycerol fraction in individual liver lipid fractions and inhibits the incorporation into the free fatty acid fraction. As in the liver, tolbutamide inhibits the uptake, incorporation into total lipids, and oxidation to 14C02 in the muscle. In individual lipid fractions, tolbutamide only inhibits the incorporation of palmitate into cholesterol esters. It can be concluded that tolbutamide directly interferes with fatty acid metabolism and thus improves glucose utilization and insulin resistance.
In normal practice, during the estimation of reservoir storage uncertainties affecting the values of mean monthly discharge series are not normally considered, and usually no estimates of these are known. Therefore, the question arises as to whether the results of the estimation of the capacity of storage reservoirs may be affected by uncertainties in the discharge series. The aim of this article is the suggestion of a possible approach to estimating the level of uncertainties affecting the elements of mean monthly discharge series. These discharge series are subsequently integrated into water reservoir storage capacity calculations, and the significance of the proposed approach is explored. and Nejistoty členů řad průměrných měsíčních průtoků nejsou v běžné praxi udávány, není ani znám odhad jejích velikostí. Otázkou rovněž je, zda nejistotami zatížené průtokové řady mohou ovlivnit výsledky vodohospodářského řešení zásobní funkce vodní nádrže. Cílem článku je naznačení možného postupu odhadu míry nejistot zatěžujících členy průtokové řady průměrných měsíčních průtoků a následné začlenění uvedené řady do výpočtů zásobního objemu vodní nádrže a posouzení významu uvedeného postupu.
The aim of our study was to determine whether adipocyte-derived hormones leptin, adiponectin and resistin contribute to the improvement of insulin sensitivity after very-low calorie diet (VLCD). Therefore, serum levels of these hormones were measured in fourteen obese females before and after three weeks VLCD and in seventeen age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Body mass index, HOMA index, serum insulin and leptin levels in obese women before VLCD were significantly higher than in control group (BMI 48.01±2.02 vs. 21.38±0.42 kg/m2, HOMA 10.72±2.03 vs. 4.69±0.42, insulin 38.63±5.10 vs. 18.76±1.90 μIU/ml, leptin 77.87±8.98 vs. 8.82±1.52 ng/ml). In contrast, serum adiponectin and soluble leptin receptors levels were significantly lower in obese women before VLCD than in the control group. No differences were found in serum glucose and resistin levels between the obese group before VLCD and the control group. VLCD significantly decreased BMI, HOMA index, serum glucose, insulin and leptin levels and increased soluble leptin receptor levels. The changes in serum adiponectin and resistin levels in obese women after VLCD did not reach statistical significance. We conclude that leptin and soluble leptin receptor levels were affected by VLCD while adiponectin and resistin concentrations were not. Therefore, other mechanisms rather than changes in the endocrine function of the adipose tissue are probably involved in the VLCD-induced improvement of insulin sensitivity.
In Phaseolus and Robinia leaves, direct light reaction (de-epoxidatíon of violaxanthín) was inhibited during 7-9 h as an aftereffect of y-radiation (167 mGy s'*). Complete suppression of the light reaction by the de-epoxidation was reached after 12-14 h. The suppression of xanthophyll de-epoxidation reflects the inhibitíon of photosynthetic electron transport chain and may be ušed for testing deleterious efifects on plants.