|
|
Toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics
Nechvátal, Marek ; Klouda, Karel
The article summarizes the knowledge about the influence of micro and nanoplastics on environmental components. Attention is paid to a complex set of the main toxic effects of plastic particles on selected groups of environmental organisms, especially new information and interactions with living organisms that have the potential to cause ecotoxicological damage.
Fulltext:  PDF
|
|
|
Contaminant mobility and toxicity in soil profiles in the Mufulira smelting area (Copperbelt, Zambia)
Konečný, Ladislav ; Ettler, Vojtěch (advisor) ; Frouz, Jan (referee)
ii SUMMARY The smelter in Mufulira is one of the several active copper smelters in Copperbelt area in Zambia. It had operated for almost 70 years and during that period all offgas and dust were released into the atmosphere. Six profiles, three of them beneath trees, were sampled in the distances of 3.6, 8 and 24 km from the smelter. Each profile consisted of 9-10 layers collected continuously from the topsoil till depth of 60-70 cm. Following parameters were measured for each layer: pH, TC, TS a CEC, then total concentration of Ag, As, Al, Fe, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, V a Zn and extractability by EDTA. The total concentrations of metals/metalloids were measured by ICP-OES and quadrupole- based ICP-MS. TC and TS were determined by thermal analysis and mobility of metals was assessed according to their extractability by EDTA. The aim of this work was to compare vertical distribution and mobility especially of these metals Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, V and Zn among profiles. Finally a standardized toxicity test was performed with ten selected layers (include all top soils) from all profiles. This reproductive test with Enchytraeus crypticus reflected how tested soil samples were suitable for living and reproducing this specimen of invertebrates. Generally the total concentrations of metals decreased in...
|
|
|
Distribution of predators, predation risk and antipredation strategies in waterfowl
Kreisinger, Jakub ; Albrecht, Tomáš (advisor) ; Bureš, Stanislav (referee) ; Tkadlec, Emil (referee)
Jakub Kreisinger - summary of the Ph.D. thesis: Predation is an important selective force affecting many evolutionary and ecological process. Anthropogenic landscape changes often alter these processes due to qualitative and quantitative changes in the predator comunity. This thesis contains four papers that are focused on various aspects of the nest predation, antipredation strategies and distribution of predators in the landscape modified by human activities. The first contribution "Nest protection in mallards (Anas plathyrhynchos): Untangling the role of crypsis and parental behaviour" (Kreisinger & Albrecht 2008) focus on the effect of antipredation strategies on the reproductive success in a ground nesting bird, mallard. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that multiple antipredation strategies including nest site selection parental antipredation behavior and crypsis due to clutch concealment by the nest material during incubation recesses reduce sumultaniousely the risk of the clutch predation in birds. Contrary to some previous studies, the relative effects of crypsis and parental anti-predation behaviour on nest survival did not differ with respect to antipredation effect of the nest concealment by surrounding vegetation. The hypothesis that linear strips of shrubby vegetation and high grass...
|
|
|
Physiology and ecology of saprotrophic basidiomycetes degrading dead plant biomass
Valášková, Vendula ; Baldrian, Petr (advisor) ; Tomšovský, Michal (referee) ; Koukol, Ondřej (referee)
(in English) My theis is focused on soil saprotrophic basiďomycetes, their role in the decomposition of dead plarrt biomass and intera.tioÍts with other members of microbiď community since these fungi play a particularly important role in biotransformation of soil organic matter arrd thereíorealso in the cycling of carbon and mineral nutrients. Three litter.decomposing basiďomycete isolratď from Quelvts petrueo Íorat: Eypholotna tascicularc, Rhodocolly bi,a butgrnrca ard Ggrnnopn sp., efficiently degrarled oak litter unrler both sterile and nonsterile conditions, but the rate of degradation and lignocellulolytic enzyme produc- tion considerably diftbred among isolates. Geuerally, the degrarlation camed by these iso- lates resembled decay caused by whiterot fungi. The fungi produced a broad range of lignocellulose-degrading enzyme: laccase, Mn- peroxidase, endo-I,4-p glucanase, endo-l,4 d >rylanase,p-glucosidase and iJ-xylosidase. Saprotrophic basidiomycetes thus probably contribute to the observed spatial variability in extrarellular enzyme activities in the up per srril horizon in oak forest. Spatial differences in eDzymeactivities were accompanied by diffe.rencesin the microbial commutrity composition, the relative amount of fungal biomass decreased with soil depth. The vertical gradients in soil...
|
|
|
Vliv stavu a funkce imunitního systému na pohlavní výběr u ptáků
Vinkler, Michal ; Albrecht, Tomáš (advisor) ; Kleven, Oddmund (referee) ; Grim, Tomáš (referee)
Evolution is a most fascinating feature of all living things in our world. The means of organismal evolution are diverse, comprising mainly of natural and sexual selection. Both of these phenomena may contribute to evolutionary adaptations in health and disease. The questions of immunity impact on the process of sexual selection and sexual selection for increased anti-parasite resistance are wide issues of the present research in natural sciences. Their clarification requires multidisciplinarily-based investigation combining a variety of partial results into a single united paradigm. My co-workers and I have chosen several specific issues to study, in order to fill some of the important gaps of the current knowledge. We proposed the Carotenoid maintenance handicap hypothesis to point out that optimisation instead of maximisation of the carotenoid intake and ornamental display may be physiologically convenient for the individual. In Scarlet rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) we confirmed the role of the carotenoid-based ornamental colouration in the process of sexual selection and investigated several partial aspects of the association between immunogenetics, immune function, health and the ornament expression and mate choice. In Zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) we have shown that the present way of...
|
|
|
Theoretical study of spin-orbit coupling on spectra and photophysics of rhenium complexes
Heydová, Radka ; Záliš, Stanislav (advisor) ; Slavíček, Petr (referee) ; Srnec, Martin (referee)
Title: Theoretical study of spin-orbit coupling on spectra and photophysics of rhenium complexes Author: RNDr. Radka Heydová Department: Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry Supervisor: Ing. Stanislav Záliš, CSc., JHI AS CR, v.v.i. Supervisor's e-mail address: stanislav.zalis@jh.inst-cas.cz Abstract: Relativistic effects, especially spin-orbit coupling (SOC), play an essential role in transition metal chemistry and SOC treatment is indispensable for a correct theoretical description. To demonstrate the importance of SOC, the energies and oscillator strengths of vertical transitions for a series of [ReX(CO)3(2,2'-bipyridine)] (X = Cl, Br, I) and [Re(imidazole)(CO)3(1,10-phenanthroline)]+ complexes were calculated in the spin-free (SF) and spin-orbit (SO) conceptual frameworks. Two different computational approaches were adopted: SO-MS-CASPT2 where SOC was added a posteriori using a configuration interaction model (SO-RASSI), and the approximate perturbative SO-TD-DFT method. Relativistic effects were included via the two-component Douglas-Kroll-Hess transformation and the zeroth-order regular approximation in the former and the latter technique, respectively. The SF (i.e. accounting only for the scalar relativistic effects) and SO results from both methods were compared with each other and to available...
|
|
|
Influence of structural aspects on photophysical properties atphthalocyanines
Cidlina, Antonín ; Zimčík, Petr (advisor) ; Musílek, Kamil (referee) ; Lang, Kamil (referee)
Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Control Candidate: Mgr. Antonín Cidlina Supervisor: doc. PharmDr. Petr Zimčík, Ph.D. Consultant: doc. PharmDr. Veronika Nováková, Ph.D. Title of the Thesis: Influence of structural aspects on photophysical properties at phthalocyanines Phthalocynines (Pc) and their aza-analoues tetrapyrazinoporphyrazines (TPyzPz) are macrocyclic compounds with 18 delocalized π-electrons. The large conjugated system of double bonds imparts them unique spectral, photophysical and electronic properties which can be tuned by peripheral substitution or/and central metal cation. They found their use in several areas such as photodynamic therapy, catalyst, liquid crystals and solar cells. The first part of this doctoral thesis describes the influence of structural aspects on effectiveness of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) at TPyzPz. ICT is responsible for considerable decrease of photophysical parameters of TPyzPz - quantum yields of singlet oxygen () and fluorescence (F). At first, we focused on the effect of the electronic properties of peripheral substituents attached on macrocycle core on ICT efficiency in TPyzPz. The series of TPyzPz with various peripheral substituents was designed and...
|
|
|
CAT Tools in German - Czech Translation
Handšuhová, Jana ; Svoboda, Tomáš (advisor) ; Špirk, Jaroslav (referee)
Abstract This thesis handles special translation software, the mastery of which is becoming one of the basic requirements of successful translation work. The theoretical part describes the historical development, classification and main functions of translation memory systems. The thesis will further attempt to determine the criteria for the effective use of CAT tools and explore the text types and sorts for which the translation memory systems are most commonly used in the translation process. The functional view of the language-based text typology and the principles on which the translation memory systems work will also be handled. The practical part compares the result of a translation process (translation as a product) with and without CAT tools. The corpus of parallel texts (original translation) will be subjected to a translation analysis. This analysis concludes the levels which are affected by differences between translations made with and without CAT tools. The differences in the actual translation process with and without CAT tools which are not empirically verifiable will be analysed based on a survey conducted amongst translators. Then, the empirical part of the findings are summarized and systemized. The last chapter deals with the expected development in the translation market, the...
|
|
|
Pharmacological Influence on Atherogenesis in Experimental Animal Models of Atherosclerosis
Rathouská, Jana ; Nachtigal, Petr (advisor) ; Vrablík, Michal (referee) ; Vohnout, Branislav (referee)
Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biological and Medical Sciences Candidate: Mgr. Jana Rathouská Supervisor: Doc. PharmDr. Petr Nachtigal, Ph.D. Title of Doctoral Thesis: Pharmacological influence on atherogenesis in experimental animal models of atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is a slow inflammatory process in arterial walls which is, as a part of cardiovascular diseases, the main source of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. However, searching for the possibilities of atherosclerosis treatment requires detailed knowledge of pathogenesis of the disease itself. The use of mouse models offers one of the possibilities of studying the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, which enables a number of interventions that would not be acceptable in human medicine. By using the high content lipid diet, we are able to induce the changes of lipid spectrum in mice. Moreover, if a targeted genetic manipulation is used, one can reach considerably advanced plaques in a relatively short time period. It is also possible to interfere in the process of atherogenesis in mouse models by using some hypolipidemic drugs, for example from the statin group that were represented in our studies by atorvastatin. By observing the vessel's reactivity to atorvastatin dosage,...
|
|
|
The psychosocial factors of perinatal care in relations with the patients' satisfaction, the conduct of delivery and the onset of lactation
Takács, Lea ; Šulová, Lenka (advisor) ; Dittrichová, Jaroslava (referee)
The aim of this study is to explore the psychosocial aspects of care provided in maternity hospitals. The study is divided into three parts: i) the psychosocial aspects of care for parturients, ii) the psychosocial aspects of care for the newborn, and iii) the psychosomatic issues in obstetrics. Each part includes a review of the relevant literature and a presentation of the specific research carried out for the purpose of this thesis. The first part discusses the psychosocial competences of healthcare providers (social support, communication, providing of information, etc.), while subsequent research focuses on the psychosocial factors that influence parturients' satisfaction with perinatal care. The second part is devoted to psychological importance of birth experience for the newborn and early mother-child contact, psychosocial needs of the health-risk newborn and initiation of breastfeeding, with the research section containing the inquiry into the factors that may influence the start of breastfeeding. The last part of this study concentrates on the effects of psychological variables on the perception of pain and the course of labour. The review of the relevant literature is followed by presenting the research results that show the impact of psychosocial factors of perinatal care on selected...
|
guest ::
