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Non-invasive methods for sex and steroid homones determination in gibbons of the genus Nomascus
Bolechová, Petra ; Bartoš, Luděk (advisor) ; Pavel, Pavel (referee)
The gibbon primates of the family Nomascus are classified as critically endangered species, and, to date, basic understanding and information about their biology is missing. With regard to the status of these animals in the wild and captive populations in zoos, being familiar with their reproduction, may improve captive breeding programs. Data collection in this study was to be carried out by the practical use of non-invasive methods (polymerase chain reaction for DNA extraction and enzyme immunoassays), using faecal samples for analysis. The first method, polymerase chain reaction, was used for sex determination in juveniles, because of their coat colour and visual similarity of secondary sex characteristic in both sexes; it is not possible to determinate sex without handling the animal. Another main purpose of this study is to try and answer the hypothesis regarding the ovarian cycle of females, factors influencing their hormone concentration and also the onset of sexual maturity in females and the timing of their fur colour change. Hypotheses were checked by monitoring the concentration of progesterone and oestrogen faecal metabolites and by evaluation of the composition of breeding groups of gibbons with the ZOO influence. During a four year period (from 2010 till 2014), there were a total of 51 animals analysed from 16 different zoos with a faecal sample count totalling 1618 samples. The results confirmed the use of noninvasive methods for sex determination, and thus ensuring the maximum welfare standards. Endocrinological analysis confirmed the hypothesis of the influence of the environment (ZOO) to the hormone concentrations and female´s pregnancy effect in conjunction with her age on the final results of the male - father hormone concentrations. The initial information in this study is the confirmation of the onset of ovarian cycle in young females without connection to their fur colour change and a significant factor of a mother´s impact and her territoriality. This study is the first to present a long term monitoring of ovarian cycles in females and hormone concentrations of other individuals, both male and female, and from various age groups. The results allow us to understand the possible impact of zoo environments on the reproductive status of these gibbons and contribute to the general improvement of breeding management.
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Time lapse tomography of fracture progress in silicate-based composite subjected to the loading a combination with acoustic emission scanning
Kumpová, Ivana ; Kytýř, Daniel ; Fíla, Tomáš ; Veselý, V. ; Trčka, T. ; Vopálenský, Michal ; Vavřík, Daniel
The initiation and propagation of a fracture in quasi-brittle materials (such as silicatebased composite) is an increasingly discussed topic for which various methods of research have been developed/applied. As the quasi-brittle silicate-based composite compounds are very non-homogenous, the mechanism of the crack initiation and propagation can be very different even for samples with the\nidentical geometry. One possible approach to study the fracture mechanism in quasi-brittle materials is to use several different experimental techniques in a single experiment and perform detail analysis to identify generally valid fracture process phenomena. In this work, a simultaneous monitoring of fracture\nprocess zone formation and propagation by three different methods is presented and discussed. A three point bending test was performed on a notched silicate composite specimen. During the loading process, a highly accurate force displacement dependence was recorded accompanied with X-ray radiography,\nX-ray computed tomogra-phy and acoustic emission scanning.
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Extensions to Probabilistic Linear Discriminant Analysis for Speaker Recognition
Plchot, Oldřich ; Fousek, Petr (referee) ; McCree,, Alan (referee) ; Burget, Lukáš (advisor)
Tato práce se zabývá pravděpodobnostními modely pro automatické rozpoznávání řečníka. Podrobně analyzuje zejména pravděpodobnostní lineární diskriminační analýzu (PLDA), která modeluje nízkodimenzionální reprezentace promluv ve formě \acronym{i--vektorů}. Práce navrhuje dvě rozšíření v současnosti požívaného PLDA modelu. Nově navržený PLDA model s plným posteriorním rozložením modeluje neurčitost při generování i--vektorů. Práce také navrhuje nový diskriminativní přístup k trénování systému pro verifikaci řečníka, který je založený na PLDA. Pokud srovnáváme původní PLDA s modelem rozšířeným o modelování neurčitosti i--vektorů, výsledky dosažené s rozšířeným modelem dosahují až 20% relativního zlepšení při testech s krátkými nahrávkami. Pro delší testovací segmenty (více než jedna minuta) je zisk v přesnosti menší, nicméně přesnost nového modelu není nikdy menší než přesnost výchozího systému. Trénovací data jsou ale obvykle dostupná ve formě dostatečně dlouhých segmentů, proto v těchto případech použití nového modelu neposkytuje žádné výhody při trénování. Při trénování může být použit původní PLDA model a jeho rozšířená verze může být využita pro získání skóre v případě, kdy se bude provádět testování na krátkých segmentech řeči. Diskriminativní model je založen na klasifikaci dvojic i--vektorů do dvou tříd představujících oprávněný a neoprávněný soud (target a non-target trial). Funkcionální forma pro získání skóre pro každý pár je odvozena z PLDA a trénování je založeno na logistické regresi, která minimalizuje vzájemnou entropii mezi správným označením všech soudů a pravděpodobnostním označením soudů, které navrhuje systém. Výsledky dosažené s diskriminativně trénovaným klasifikátorem jsou podobné výsledkům generativního PLDA, ale diskriminativní systém prokazuje schopnost produkovat lépe kalibrované skóre. Tato schopnost vede k lepší skutečné přesnosti na neviděné evaluační sadě, což je důležitá vlastnost pro reálné použití.
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Do Consumers Really Follow a Rule of Thumb? Three Thousand Estimates from 130 Studies Say “Probably Not”
Havránek, Tomáš ; Sokolova, Anna
We show that three factors combine to explain the mean excess sensitivity reported in studies estimating consumption Euler equations: the use of macro data, publication bias, and liquidity constraints. When micro data are used, publication bias is corrected for, and the households under examination do not face liquidity constraints, the literature implies no evidence for the excess sensitivity of consumption to income. Hence little remains for pure rule-of-thumb behavior. The results hold when we control for 45 additional variables reflecting the methods employed by researchers and use Bayesian model averaging to account for model uncertainty. The estimates of excess sensitivity are also systematically affected by the order of approximation of the Euler equation, the treatment of non-separability between consumption and leisure, and the choice of proxy for consumption.
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Vývoj metodologické a technologické platformy pro neinvazivní odhad fenolických látek v listech a bobulích
ŠEBELA, David
Plant optical signals can serve as important source of information about biochemical and physiological processes in plants. These signals are influenced by compounds synthesized by plants during primary or secondary metabolism and thus, can also serve as their qualitative and quantitative indicators. Light reaching plant surface (leaf or fruit) can undergo three main pathways- it can be (i) reflected, (ii) absorbed or it can (iii) transmit through plant material. The probability of these three processes depends on particular wavelength of incident irradiation and on the morphological characteristics of plant tissues themselves. As such, plant contains various spectrum of photosynthetic pigments and fluorescent compounds which can either reflect, absorb or pass incident irradiation through at specific wavelengths. Biophysical techniques working with these optical properties of plant pigments and/or other compounds have become universal and common tool in basic and applied research. To quote some example, chlorophyll fluorescence imaging, UV induced fluorescence or spectroscopic techniques are on the top of interest thanks to its non-invasive nature, allowing maintain the integrity of measured cells or the whole plant constituents. The main aim of this thesis is to provide a comprehensive study on the possibility of non-invasive monitoring of phenolic compounds in the leaves and fruits.
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The contributions of the sections (NACE-CZ) to the creation of gross value added
BEDNÁŘOVÁ, Monika
The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the contributions of the sections (NACE-CZ) to the creation of gross value added. The first part of this thesis described the theoretical concepts relating to national economic gross value added. Analytical processes were used for the calculations, which may be used only if we are dealing with an additive link between individual factors. The sections' contributions to the creation of national eco-nomic gross value added were evaluated in the practical part, on the basis of the proc-esses set forth in the methodology. In the given time horizon, contributions by institu-tional sectors and groups of sections classified according to the level of technology showed a certain dependency on the actual economic cycle. Although the strongest in-stitutional sector is non-financial enterprises, they were the ones most affected during the crisis period, together with government institutions. On the contrary, the financial institution sector showed a strong position during the crisis period. In terms of the grouping of the sections according to the level of technology, the greatest contribution to national economic gross value added is by groups B1 and B2. The influence of the economic cycle was noted in all the groups but, according to the results, group C did not react quite as sensitively as the other groups.
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Injuries of children at home
POCHYLÁ, Petra
The theoretical part of this thesis is oriented at an actual issue of accidents involving children in home environment, their prevention and a correct provision of first aid by a non-professional at these types of selected accidents. The practical part of this thesis was led by a qualitative form of research, a method of a semicontrolled interview. The interview given was led by chosen caring people, who gave first aid to children with a home environment injury. The whole process of the interview was recorded at a digital record book and then rewritten to a text form, with the approval of the respondents. The respondents were chosen on the basis of a survey. The final information from the interviews were analyzed and subsequently summarized into results. Six respondents were registered into the research part. Six basic questions were given to the respondents. The questions were chosen to find out information about an injured child, an injury character, a procedure of caring person while giving first aid, or other professional care and permanent effects. While preparing the research part, I was expecting that most of the respondents would manage to give first aid, however, according to the results, half of the parents didn't know how to deal with giving first aid. Non- professional first aid, provided at the right time and done correctly, is one of the basic and essential steps to reverse the injured person back into the normal quality of life. This is why, all people should be able to give first aid without special equipment and tools. The aim of my thesis was to monitor the process of the caring person while giving first aid for selected accidents involving children in home environment. I gave myself one fundamental research question: What was the process of the caring person while giving first aid for accidents involving children in home environment? At the final evaluation and comparison of my results, I achieved the results, in most examined facts, which are presented in other different studies dealing with similar issues- children's injuries and giving first aid for accidents involving children.
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The Importance of the Fundraiser in a Non-profit Organization
STARÁ, Radka
The main theme of the bachelor work is the importance of the fundraiser in a non-profit organization. It defines the term fundraising, its principles, forms and methods, the work of a fundraiser in a non-profit organization.The work characterizes nonprofit organizations, their legal status and field of activity. There are also information about activities, which improve economy and financial situation of these organizations. In the practical part of my work I have analyzed the way of financing a non-profit organization Junak- Czech scout, Centre Pod Kleti Holubov z.s. I am comparing in this part the way of fundraiser work on the local and state platform. The facts here available are drawn from the public web pages of this organization and also from the account keeping documents of its local center. At the conclusion of my work I am assessing the effectiveness of fund raising plan and its strategy and also describing the way of negotiation with donors. I am noticing the need of a fund raising team creation and also rules of fundraising including necessary cooperation between the center of organization and its local branches.
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Estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) in testicular cells and sperm
Dostálová, Pavla ; Žatecká, Eva ; Děd, Lukáš ; Dorosh, Andriy ; Postlerová, Pavla ; Jonáková, Věra ; Dvořáková-Hortová, Kateřina ; Pěknicová, Jana
Estrogen is a steroid hormone that plays an important role during sperm development in the male and female reproductive tract. Estrogen signalling is a complex process that depends on cell milieu and presence of receptors. Thanks to the steroid nature of estrogens, they can pass through the plasmatic membrane and bind to the intracellular estrogen receptors (ERs). Within the cell, there are several pools of ERs. One of them is localized to the cell nucleus and their activation leads to direct or indirect binding to DNA and ultimately to alternation in gene expression (genomic pathway). Other pools of ERs are associated with plasma membrane or are located in cytosol. Activation of membrane associated ERs leads to rapid non-genomic responses. Nowadays, two classical estrogen receptors are known – ERα and ERβ. Since ERβ is a predominant variant in testes, we focused our study on expression of ERβ variants in murine testes and sperm. We detected two variants of ERβ at mRNA level in both, testes and sperm. These variants differ in 54 nucleotids within the ligand binding domain and this variability results in different affinity to estrogen. We analyzed individual testicular cell types (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, Sertoli cells) by RT-qPCR. Our results suggest that both ERβ variants are coexpressed in the same cell type and may therefore interact together. This may have consequences in mediating of estrogen signalling. Moreover, ERβ is expressed more in the later stages of spermatogenesis suggesting the role of ERβ in these stages or alternatively in spermatozoa alone. At the protein level, we detected ERβ in nuclear, membrane and cytosolic fraction prepared from testicular tissue suggesting the involvement of both, genomic and non-genomic, pathways of estrogen signaling in testes. In sperm, anti-ERβ antibodies localized ERβ in acrosome region and tail which is in accordance with the known role of estrogen on capacitation, acrosome reaction and motility.
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The role of a nurse in a prevention and a treatment of intestinal parasites of children
JANDOVÁ, Anna
The best-known intestinal parasites are Pinworms, Roundworms, Tapeworms and the disease called Toxocarosis. The oftenest parasite is, according to sources, the Pinworm. Intestinal parasites affect mostly young children of pre-school age, sometimes even older. The first goal of the thesis was to investigate parents' awareness of the prevention of parasitic diseases in children. There is a hypothesis set to this goal: Parents of children who suffered from parasitic disease are more informed than parents of children who have not had this disease. The second goal was to map the specifics of nursing care for children with parasitic diseases at GPCHA practice. A research question was chosen for this aim: What are the specifics of nursing care at GPCHA in parasitic diseases? In methodology, the empirical part was chosen and it was a qualitative - quantitative research survey. For the quantitative part, the interrogation method and technique of non-standardized questionnaire was used. The research sample of quantitative survey consisted of 223 respondents, it means parents whose child is aged from 0 to 6 years. The questionnaires were distributed on social networking and others in a nursery school in Týn nad Vltavou. At the very beginning, respondents were acquainted with the topic of the thesis. The results of a quantitative survey were processed with the help of a data matrix and were further processed within twenty-arranged bar charts. To verify the hypothesis, we used the Chi- Quadrat test, which in this case is not satisfactory, therefore, there had to be chosen to merge the responses. An interrogation method, technique-depth interview was used in the qualitative part. The research group consisted of five nurses; three nurses working at GPCHA in Týn nad Vltavou and two working at GPCHA in České Budějovice. While processing the interviews, there open coding was used and an analysis of interviews was conducted by using the method of Pencil and Paper Interview. The results of this bachelor thesis will be published in the journal Paediatrics practice.
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