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Shell shape variability in selected members of family Geoemydidae
Protiva, Tomáš ; Rehák, Ivan (advisor) ; Šmíd, Jiří (referee) ; Široký, Pavel (referee)
Turtles always fascinated men primarily by morphology, unique embryogenesis and later also by uncertain phylogenetic position. As this group exists for 200 Mya, with taxon Odontochelys and Proganochelys identified as the first ancestors, recently they are endangered by habitat destruction and hunting for meat. The worst situation is in Asia, with China as the most important consumer of turtle meat and other products. Captive breeding programs may be the only chance for lot of almost extinct species. Proper taxonomic and geographical determination is crucial for correct management of rescue programs. Shell shape variability studied by geometric morphometric method and supported by genetics is the right tool for this task. My thesis is focused on verification of the use of geometric morphometric method for selected species of family Geoemydidae. This family has centre of distribution in Asia and many of its species are endangered by so called Asian Turtle Crisis. We found unusual high occurrence of supernumerary vertebral scute in Morenia petersi. Shape of the carapace and plastron is not affected by presence of this extra scute. There are no significant differences between turtles with additional scute and turtles with normal five vertebral layouts. Scute pattern with supernumerary vertebral scute...
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Nonindigenous amphibian and reptile species of the Near and Middle East
Pazderková, Marie ; Šmíd, Jiří (advisor) ; Brejcha, Jindřich (referee)
This literary review summarizes information about twelve reptile and amphibian species, which are nonindigenous for the Near and Middle East. The studied area comprises the following states: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Palestine. Nonindigenous species are introduced to new localities mainly via human causation. It can be either unintentional, such as transportation of the animal along with agricultural crops or exotic plants, or intentional, such as releasing the animal into the wild by breeder. Introduction of nonindigenous species can have unfortunate consequences for the stability of the indigenous ecosystem. From a human point of view, nonindigenous species can negatively affect local agriculture. Key words: Nonindigenous species, invasive species, Near East, Middle East, ecosystem, introduction, reptile, amphibian
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Biogeography of the herpetofauna of the Aegean Islands
Sýkorová, Marta ; Šmíd, Jiří (advisor) ; Papežík, Petr (referee)
In the last thirty years, the biogeography of the herpetofauna of the Aegean Sea has been the subject of thorough research. In evolutionary biology, islands are considered to be model ecosystems. Morphological, physiological and behavioral changes in some species can be observed on them. These changes are described as so-called "island syndromes". The occurrence of these syndromes depends on the size of the island, its distance from the mainland and the age of the island as well as on population density, availability of resources and presence of predators. The specific manifestations of these syndromes in reptiles of the Aegean islands are: the occurrence of endemism, gigantism and dwarfism, color changes, more frequent tail autotomy, cannibalism and food specialization. Most of these changes are described in lizards of the Podarcis genus, especially on Podarcis erhardii, as it is the most widespread reptile in this area. The second very widespread and therefore often researched reptile is Mediodactylus kotschyi. Changes often take place on small islands, so individuals tend to be compared with members of the same species from a larger island or mainland. The number of endemic species is significantly higher on islands that are longer separated from the mainland. The existence of gigantism and...
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Modelling of Transport Systems
Šmíd, Jiří ; Martinek, David (referee) ; Peringer, Petr (advisor)
The presented work describes both transportation and traffic flow simulation. For that purpose two different libraries were made. The first one is based on an existing library, Simlib/C++. For the traffic flow simulation a brand new library was created, using cellular automaton rules. Above all, it is designed to facilitate analysis of fundamental attributes of traffic network. Vehicles varying in size are able to find their own route plans from point where they were generated. Both libraries offer users a large amount of flexibility in specifying transport and traffic network.
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Identification DNA of Plant and Animal Species in Food by Polymerase Chain Reaction
Šmíd, Jiří ; Hanák,, Petr (referee) ; Timko,, Jozef (referee) ; Kuchta, Tomáš (advisor)
We were developing detection methods for three food allergens of plant origin. We used real-time PCR for soy detection in food oriented on gene lec, that is coding lektine specific for soy. On this target sequence were oriented PCR system with primers Le2F and Le2R and TaqMan probe Le2P. Detection limit (2,75 pg), practical detection limit (0,02 %), inclusivity and exclusivity were determined. Whole system were quantified. Real-time PCR for pistachio detection were based on primers and probe for gene COR. Detection limit (3,5 pg), practical detection limit (0,002 %), inclusivity and exclusivity were determined. For almond detection we were not succeed system, that fulfil all qualitative parametres.
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Possibilities of using modern methods in manufacturing of prototype castings
Šmíd, Jiří ; Horenský, Jiří (referee) ; Horáček, Milan (advisor)
The introduction part of the thesis focuses on the overview of rapid prototyping in foundry industry. Principles of the most important RP methods are described and the FDM method is analyzed in more detail. This method was used in the practical part for the production of wax patterns with silicone moulds. The wax patterns were used for the production of castings using the lost wax method. The result of this work is determination of dimensional changes during the whole process of casting manufacture from the drawing to the final casting.
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Development of transient transfection protocol for HEK293 EBNA1 cells
Šmíd, Jiří ; Španová, Alena (referee) ; Ševčík, Mojmír (advisor)
Recombinant proteins belong to considerable biofarmaceutics products used in biomedical research and in the treatment of human disease. Recombinant protines can be produced by stable transfection in big amount or by faster transient transfection with smaller amounts. To provide regular biological activity, it is necessary for the protein to be properly folded and post-translationally modified. As these modifications can be accurately performed only in mammalian cells, they have become the major host for complex r-protein expression. In this thesis is described transient transfection HEK 293 EBNA1 cells with linear polyethylenimines. These cells has been adapted to suspension cultivation in serum free medium. The cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1, pCI, pEBSV1, pCEP4, pEAK8 a pcDNA5/FRT/TO plasmids, everyone contained repoter gene SEAP. Concentration of SEAP in cell culture supernatants were determined in order to compare efficiencies of individual transfections. DNA:PEI ratio was another factor which was optimised and two different PEIs were compared. Highest achieved expresion was 50 mg per litre with transfection in 24 well plate when DNA:PEI ratio was 1:5. Comparison of six different plasmids give the bigest expresion pCEP4/SEAP, in well plate as well as in scaled up system.
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Diversity of iris coloration during evolution of geckos (Gekkota)
Ozerskyi, Serhii ; Brejcha, Jindřich (advisor) ; Šmíd, Jiří (referee)
Iris is an anatomical structure that performs the function of a diaphragm in the visual system of the eye. It usually occupies most of the visible part of the eye. In addition to the main function - not to let light pass by the pupil, iris can play many different roles due to the great variability of its coloration. Iris can be part of a camouflage or aposematic color, play a different role in intra- or interspecific communication. In some species, its color changes depending on age, season, biological cycles, or even quickly become marked in response to stimuli. Geckos (Gekkota) are distinguished by a particularly large variety of iris color. And in many of them, the iris pattern resembles branching veins. What significance and evolution history this pattern has is of interest. I used various models of evolutionary reconstruction in the R program to study the evolution of veined pattern of coloration of the iris, as well as phylogenetic comparative methods and binary character evolution model to identify its connections with the fusion of life and the contrast in brightness between the eye and the eye ring. It was revealed that the veined pattern is an ancestral condition for geckos and is present in most modern species. Most precisely, the evolution of the vein pattern is described by all rates different...
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