Clandestine flash flood in southern Moravia from 9 June 1970 (to commemorate the 40th anniversary of natural disaster which claimed 35 human lives). The article is devoted to a today already forgotten flash flood, which was considered extreme from multiple viewpoints. It happened 40 years ago, on 9 June 1970, in the Kyjov region in southern Moravia on several small watercourses in the basin of rivers Kyjovka and Trkmanka (left-bank tributaries of the Dyje/Thaya R.). The event was exceptional no only by the amount of fallen precipitation and by the discharge responses on the streams but also by the extent of domage caused by storm waters. Nevertheless, the flood had more attributes, which point out its extreme character. By the number of 35 victims it ranks among the most tragic (not only local) floods that occurred in the territory of the Czech Republic in the 20th century. Moreover, this natural catastrophe happened in the period of culminating Communist "normalization", which mirrored in a considerable effort of government authorities to restrict the information about its disastrous impact.
Infertility affects approximately 48 million couples globally. Despite the enormous progress of the methods of reproductive medicine that has been made since the first test-tube baby was born in 1978, the implantation rate of day-3 embryos is only around 15-20 % and 30 % of day-5 embryos. Numerous strategies aim to improve implantation rates and prevent repeated implantation failure. However, there is no specific general recommendation leading to satisfying results. One of the many risk factors relevant in this regard is the uterine immunological make-up, mainly the uterine Natural Killer (uNK) cells. They orchestrate the overall immune response during implantation by influencing trophoblast invasion and vascular remodeling and throughout pregnancy, uNK cells are also the main immune cells at the maternal–fetal interface. Previously, uNK count has been correlated with various fertility issues including idiopathic recurrent miscarriage. The present study used endometrial samples collected from 256 patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF), habitual abortion (HA) and idiopathic sterility. Samples were collected between day 19 and 21 of the menstrual cycle mainly by Pipelle endometrial sampling. The samples were fixed in formalin for 24 hours and further processed for immunohistochemistry using anti-CD56 to visualize this antigen marker of uNK cells. Immunohistochemical counting was performed to assess the low, normal, or elevated count of uNK cells. According to the one-way ANOVA test, the age of our patients did not have any influence on the count of uNK cells. With Spearman correlation analysis, we found statistically significant correlation (p-value 0.05) of -0.133 between prior miscarriage and lower uNK cell count. Using the same analysis we found statistically significant correlation (correlation 0.233 with p-value 0.01) between number of uNK cells and activation status. Patients with higher uNK cells were more frequenty diagnosed with endometriosis (p-value 0.05, correlation 0.130). Patients with an immunological factor of sterility (defined by a clinical immunologist) had a lower chance of gravidity (-0.203 with p-value 0.01). Based on our results, we can confirm that there is a correlation between RIF, HA, idiopathic sterility, endometriosis, and immunological factor of sterility (uNK cell count). The true predictive value with regard to fertility outcomes needs to be addressed in future research.
How can European social housing institutions contribute to combating housing deprivation in the context of the post-2009 crisis? The paper examines the main issues and constraints in the Greek case by first questioning the extent of the immediate relevance of major established social housing models in western Europe vis-a-vis housing assistance for the needy and second by highlighting the exceptional conditions in the European South that make for very limited social housing sectors and a predominant bias in favour of widespread owner-occupation across all social classes. Both features are especially pronounced in Greece, where, in fact, social rented housing has never emerged as a viable model. Nevertheless, social housing assistance for renters based on fair allowances should be the main priority under the present crisis conditions, while ‘bricks-and-mortar’ social rented housing can only have a marginal role.
This paper summarizes work done in this laboratory over the last two years on the cloning of microsporidian rRNA by homology PCR and its subsequent use in diagnostic tests and phylogenetic studies. Using highly conserved primers in the 16S or small subunit rRNA (SSU-rRNA) these genes were cloned from human intestinal biopsies with transmission electron microscopy proven Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Septata intestinalis. The SSU-rRNA genes were then used to design and test several primer pairs for the diagnosis of microsporidian infection. Utilizing the polymerase chain reaction and primers V1 and EB45Ü Ent. bieneusi infected duodenal aspirates or intestinal biopsies could be detected. Using V I and SI500 infection with S. intestinalis could be detected. In addition to diagnostic tests, phylogenetic relationships were examined using sequence data from the fragment amplified by PCR by primer 530f in the SSU-rRNA and primer 580r in the large subunit rRNA. This data supported the placement of S. intestinalis in the family Encephalitozoonidae. In addition, it confirmed that Encephalitozoon cuniculi, E. hellem and S. intestinalis are distinct organisms. These techniques have broad applications to the study of other microsporidia and the development of a molecular phylogeny.
The energy utilization of the alternative fuels is one of the main topics for future developments of recoverable sources in the European Union and in the Czech Republic. The aim of research is combustion tests in the fluidized-bed boiler Foster Wheeler located at Štětí. The experiments are carried out for Czech brown coal, wood, sewage sludge and wastes including analyses and recommendations for optimal thermal utilization and minimizing harmful emissions. The second step is thermal analyses of coal, alternative fuel- wood pellets and sewage sludge from treatment plant. From the results of experiments and thermal modeling it is clear that 15 % of alternative fuels can be used in the large fluidized-bed boilers located in the Czech Republic., Pavel Kolat, Bohumir Čech, Dagmar Juchelková, Helena Raclavská and Juraj Leško., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The use of wooden (modified Stratmann) boxes by bats was studied in three different tree stands (80-year old beech forest, 150-year old oak-beech forest with admixture of pine, 50–70-year old pine forest) of a managed woodland (Darżlubska Forest) in northern Poland. Two species (Pipistrellus nathusii and Plecotus auritus) inhabited these boxes after 2–13 months. The occupation of shelters in pine monoculture was several tens of times higher than in both deciduous forests. The main factors responsible for such differences are: 1) almost complete lack of natural roosts (tree holes) in young pine forest, 2) unfavourable (colder and more humid) microclimate in broadleaf (especially beech) forests, 3) much higher abundance of some invertebrates (mainly gastropods), that make boxes in beech forest unattractive for bats.
Review article presents utilisation of coal in industry, coal in power generation, gas production, Czech energy policy and outlook and application of clean coal technology in the Czech power stations. The further exploitation and utilisation of Czech coal resources requires the implementation of development programme aimed at the application of the new, economically effective technologies, of coal mining, utilisation, gasification. Emissions of GHG in CR., Václav Roubíček, Pavel Kolat and Jaroslav Buchtele., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Cultivated fruits can serve as an important winter food resource for medium-sized carnivores in rural areas that experience heavy snowfall. However, studies on the food analysis of medium-sized carnivores in heavy snowfall areas, particularly on the use of cultivated fruits, are limited. We evaluated the use of cultivated fruits by medium-sized carnivores during winter in a heavy snowfall area by comparing their feeding habits in rural and forest landscapes. We conducted faecal analysis of Japanese martens (Martes melampus) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in rural and forest landscapes in north-eastern Japan during periods of snow cover. Based on a faecal analysis in the rural landscape, both Japanese martens and red foxes consumed mammals, birds, fruits, and other plant material. In the forest landscape, mammals and insects were consumed by Japanese martens and mammals, fruits, and other plant material were consumed by red foxes. Our results showed that cultivated fruits, such as persimmons and apples, were a major food source in snowy environments, suggesting a wider range of available resources and overlapping feeding habits. It has been suggested that red foxes in forest landscapes move long distances (several kilometres) to consume cultivated fruits. This study suggests that cultivated fruits may also indirectly feed wildlife, even in areas with heavy snowfall.
Partitioning of exogenously supplied U-14C-saccharose into primary metabolic pool as sugars, amino acids, and organic acids was analyzed and simultaneous utilization for production of alkaloid by leaf, stem, and root in twigs and rooted plants of Catharanthus roseus grown in hydroponic culture medium was determined. Twigs revealed comparable distribution of total 14C label in leaf and stem. Stems contained significantly higher 14C label in sugar fraction and in alkaloids [47 kBq kg-1(DM)] than leaf. In rooted plants, label in 14C in metabolic fractions in root such as ethanol-soluble, ethanol-insoluble, and chloroform-soluble fractions and in components such as sugars, amino acids, and organic acids were significantly higher than in stems and leaves. This was related with significantly higher content of 14C in alkaloids in stems and leaves. 14C contents in sugars, amino acids, and organic acids increased from leaf to stem and roots. Roots are the major accumulators of metabolites accompanied by higher biosynthetic utilization for alkaloid accumulation. and N. K. Srivastava, A. K. Srivastava.
Heat stress is a major production constraint of sunflower worldwide. Therefore, various populations (parental, F1, F2, F3, and plant progenies) of sunflower were screened for leaf gas-exchange traits with the objectives to formulate selection criteria of heat resistance and development of heat-resistant lines. Initial screening and F2 seeds exposed to heat stress (45°C) resulted in the development of an adapted F2 population that showed leaf gas-exchange and morphological traits better than the unadapted population. Correlation coefficients of traits were partitioned into direct and indirect effects via a path analysis technique to determine the cause of their relationship with a basic parameter such as a reproductive head mass (HM). Path analysis showed a positive direct effect of leaf temperature (Tleaf) (0.32) on HM and also an indirect effect (0.77) of the transpiration rate (E) on HM. Moreover, Tleaf showed high heritability estimates. Tleaf was used to select superior plants within the F2 population. This selection brought about an improvement in the net photosynthetic rate (PN) and E as it was indicated from progeny performance and realized heritability. Progenies selected on the basis of Tleaf also showed an increase in achene yield and heat resistance over unselected F3 progenies and a commercial hybrid. and T. Kalyar ... [et al.].