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Arctic tundra dendrochronology
Lehejček, Jiří ; Svoboda, Miroslav (advisor) ; Monika, Monika (referee)
Historically unprecedented environmental change in the Arctic ecosystems is often given into the context of its past and possible future development. In the region where instrumental meteorological observations are scarce archives need to be investigated in order to address this issues. The comprehensive synthesis one of the archives: long-live circumpolar evergreen Juniperus communis L. shrub is presented here. 20 individuals from southwest Greenland were investigated at the cell anatomy level to understand the ecology of the species and unhide its potential for environmental and climate reconstructions. The findings are as follows:
i) Stop of exponential cross-sectional conduit-lumen widening with increasing age is in contrast with conduit-lumen nature of trees. This indicates that shrubs do not need to saturate their water and nutrient demands via traits of classical hydraulic conductivity law but rather developed different mechanisms. Extreme weather conditions result in prostrate growth form. However, different weather factors probably influence shrub growth differently: While snow and wind act mechanically (a), temperature influences the form of growth physiologically (b). a) So long as the young shrub stem has high resilience to bend back to an upright position after snow melt and so long as it can withstand the wind during the vegetation season it most likely grows upright and the conduit-lumens widen. b) Temperature, resp. freeze-thaw events are responsible for the shrubs preference of safety (finite size of conduit-lumens) over hydraulic efficiency, thus not allowing for more primary growth. All of these (and other) factors are apparently working together and the transition of vertical to more horizontal growth is gradual. As a consequence, the conduit-lumen sizes may not have to be further increased (due to ecophysiological restrictions possibly also must not) because water is no longer transported against gravity.
ii) Observed age/growth trend has to be taken into consideration for further employment of the wood anatomical parameter in paleoenvironmental studies. That is, shrub cell parameters can only be used for this purposes if correctly detrended. This allows for more accurate as well as longer reconstructions because youth trend was often neglected in reconstructions based on shrub annual-rings.
iii) The south-western Greenland Ice-Sheet (GrIS) melt rates reconstruction is presented for the whole 20th century. This part of GrIS is considered as the most active. According to the presented reconstruction current GrIS melt rates are not uncommon for the last century being comparable to first decades of 20th century. This finding is particularly important contribution to the debate on Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). Too high fresh water inputs into the Northern Atlantic from GrIS melting may slow down or even stop the AMOC which would result in more continental climate in Europe. Presented results indicate that this threshold lies higher than observed current melt rates of GrIS.
Fascinating Juniperus comunnis species has shown to be able to address many ecological as well as environmental open questions and due to its longevity and abundant distribution has a great potential to become an important player in the Arctic research.
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Epidemiological study of obesity in populations of different racial, cultural, economic and dietary background
Zelenková, Miroslava ; Lukešová, Daniela (advisor) ; Martin, Martin (referee)
Cílem práce bylo zjistit a zhodnotit, zda provedení adjustabilní žaludeční bandáže (bariatrická léčba) u morbidně obézních pacientů (BMI>35) vede k signifikantnímu snížení hodnoty BMI a dále na základě vybraných kritérií zhodnotit současnou situaci v oblasti obezity ve světě. Byly stanoveny dvě hypotézy: H1: provedení adjustabilní žaludeční bandáže morbidně obézním pacientům vede k signifikantnímu snížení BMI a hypotéza H2: existují rozdíly v hodnotách BMI v závislosti na geografick&eacu te;m původu, pohlaví, kulturních a ekonomických odlišnostech. Sledování se uskutečnila v klinickém centru ISCARE I.V.F. a. s. v Praze na pracovišti Centra pro léčbu obezity. Byla statisticky zpracována a zhodnocena data 159 obézních pacientů (BMI>35) operovaných v rámci bariatrické chirurgie metodou adjustabilní gastrické bandáže (věk, pohlaví, stupeň dosaženého vzdělání, hodnota BMI před operačním výkonem, 1. týden po operaci, 1 měsíc po operaci, 3 měsíce po operaci, 6 měsíců po operaci, 1 rok po operaci a komplikace související s výkonem a léčbou) a dále data WHO o hodnotách BMI podle geografického regionu, pohlaví, kulturních a ekonomických odlišností.
Hypotéza H1 byla potvrzena. Po adjustabilní žaludeční bandáži dochází u pacientů k statisticky významnému poklesu (P<0,05) hodnoty BMI (ze 42,27 - + 5,58 na 35,13 - + 6,0). Pokles hodnoty BMI není závislý na věku pacienta ani na pohlaví pacienta, avšak je signifikantně (P<0,05) ovlivněn stupněm dosaženého vzdělání. Nejlepších výsledků bylo dosaženo u vysokoškolsky vzdělaných pacientů. Procento komplikací (4,4%) po operačním zákroku bylo vzhledem k počtu provedených zákroků nízké. Také hypotéza H2 byla potvrzena. Byly prokázány rozdíly v z& aacute;vislosti na geografickém regionu, pohlaví, kulturních a ekonomických odlišnostech. První místo v dosažené hodnotě BMI zaujímá Severní Amerika, naopak nízké hodnoty BMI vykazují státy Subsaharské Afriky, u evropské populace byl zjištěn vyšší BMI u mužů nežli u žen v porovnání se zbývajícími hodnocenými oblastmi. Muži Severní Ameriky zaujímají první místo svou hodnotou BMI, zatímco u žen je to Střední Východ a Severní Afrika. Byl zjištěn pouze statisticky nevýznamný nárůst BMI v jednotlivých oblastech světa. Existuje signifikantní rozdíl (P< 0,05) v hodnotách BMI mezi ekonomicky vyspělými a ekonomicky méně vysp ělými státy. V ekonomicky méně vyspělých zemích existují rozdíly mezi BMI žen a mužů, kdy ženy mají průkazně vyšší (P< 0,05) hodnoty BMI oproti mužům. Obecně nejvyšší BMI vykazují státy s křesťanskou kulturou, poté státy s kulturou islámskou a nakonec státy ovlivněné buddhismem a hinduismem. U ekonomicky méně vyspělých států je dosahováno nejvyššího BMI u křesťanských států, naopak z ekonomicky vyspělých států mají nejvyšší hodnotu BMI státy s islámskou kulturou.
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The Wine Market in the Czech Republic and the Politics of Wine
Vlašicová, Eliška ; Tomšík, Karel (advisor) ; Malý, Michal (referee)
The dissertation thesis is focusing on the wine market in the Czech Republic. The aim is to identify weaknesses in the wine sector in order to formulate recommendations for improving a current situation in the sector. The Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union and the Common Market Organisation for Wine was presented in the theoretical part of the thesis, where also theoretical aspects of a market including supply and demand were described, as well as an agri-food market and its specifics, wine commodity chain, determinants of demand, supply and prices of wine. In the following chapters an analysis of the wine market, especially with emphasis on the production potential of vineyards in the Czech Republic was created, and demand, supply and price of wine including a price transmission in the commodity chain of wine were modelled based on a regression analysis. The significant influence on demand of wine have had previous values of wine consumption and wine prices, substitutes consumptions (prices of substitutes were not a significant factors), household income and salary, a quality of the wine and awards in international competitions. Significant factors of the side of supply including the price of wine grapes, the price of wine, vineyard area, production of wine grapes, some aspects of weather and certain subsidies. A climate change, which is in progress, may result to the expansion of viticulture and winemaking in the Czech Republic and also to a change of varieties in vineyards. Demand has in the commodity chain of wine greater impact than the supply. It can have a negative effect on growers or winemakers. Planting of vines is not sufficient to maintain current levels of a production potential of vineyards in the Czech Republic. The ideal amount of annual planting vines should be about 655 ha. A related issue is financing a vineyards renewal, which is costly. Based on a financial analysis of small and medium-sized wine companies, it was found that these businesses cannot afford the renewal of vineyards from its own resources and will require grant assistance of the state, eventually EU.
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Freezing technology of bull sperm in relation to its survivability and fertilization ability
Doležalová, Martina ; Stádník, Luděk (advisor) ; Jiří, Jiří (referee)
The aim of optimalization the insemination doses production is to provide the highest fertilization ability of spermatozoa during the demanding proces of processing fresh semen and its subsequent cryopreservation. Temperature changes causes spermatozoa damage during the cooling and freezing. Spermatozoa is exposed to cold shock and many others limiting factors, which leads to cell death and therefore to decline of fertilization ability of thawed insemination doses. For increasing spermatozoa resistance, exactly the plasma membrane resistance against cold shock was fraction of egg yolk LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein) at various concentrations into the comercially produced diluents added. It is believed that LDL acts possitively to plasma membrane and helps to maintain the fertilization ability of spermatozoa after thawing. Following step in the proces of insemination doses production is slow cooling of diluted semen and equilibration, when the straws are store at cooling box for 30 minutes to 240 hours. This period is necessary to penetrate of certain diluent components into the spermatazoa also maintain the balance between their intracellular and extracellular concentration. Also important is subsequent freezing temperature gradient of insemination doses. The most suitable freezing method is based on computer controlled temperature decline in freezing chamber which allows the precise control of ice crystals formation that could tear and kill the cell.
During 2012 to 2016 was repeatedly collected semen from the group of breeding bulls (n = 27, Holstein and Czech Fleckvieh breed) at AI centre. Semen which fulfill the standard entrance conditions in first step was evenly into several parts divided. For dilution the three types of comercially diluents AndroMed, Bioxcell and Triladyl with and without LDL addition were used. Into the diluents AndroMed and Bioxcell the concentration of LDL 4 %, 6 % and 8% into the dilent Triladyl 6 %, 8 % and 10 % was added. Diluted semen was filled into the glass capillares with volume 0,1 ml and temperature +4 °C. Subsequently the sample was placed to cold bath (0°C) for 10 minutes. Then the volume of capillare with physiological solution (37 °C) was mixed and for next 120 minutes was incubate. The effect of cold shock to proportion of live spermatozoa was evaluated by using Eosin and Nigrosine staining technique during heat test of spermatozoa survivability after spermatozoa heating and after 120 minutes of incubation.
The more suitable semen diluents which provide the higher spermatozoa resistance against cold shock were AndroMed and Bioxcell. Together the possitive effect of LDL addition into the diluents to lower decrease of proportion of live spermatozoa during heat test was found (P<0.05). The most suitable LDL concentration which had a favorable influence at spermatozoa resistance against cold shock was 6 % in diluent Bioxcell. Values of the proportion of live sperm were higher at the beginning of the heat test (+1.31% to + 3.2%) and after 120 minute incubation (+5.82% to +8.41%) compared to other diluents with and without addition of LDL.
In the next step the process of equilibration was optimized, is an important part of insemination doses production. The effect of the length of equilibration for subsequent fertilization ability of spermatozoa was evaluated using spermatozoa motility based of CASA and proportion of live spermatozoa after thawing and during heat survival test lasting 120 minutes (37 ° C). Suitable semen was diluted by comercially used diluent AndroMed based on soya lecithin, filled into the straws (0.25 ml), cooled and equilibrated in cooling box for 30, 120 and 240 minutes and freezed in programmable freezing box applying four types of freezing curves differing in temperature rate decline. There was used standard and by producer recommended 3. phase freezing curve, then 2. phase freezing curve, and 3. phase freezing curve with slower as well as rapid decline of temperature rate in freezing chamber, compared with standard freezing curve. The highest spermatozoa motility was found using 240 minutes of equilibration by +2.72% and +4.58% compared to other lengths of equilibration (P <0.05 to 0.01). The highest proportion of live spermatozoa was found using 120 minutes of equilibration (+6.87 % and +8.68 %). The highest average spermatozoa motility during heat test after thawing was achieved by using 2. phase freezing curve (from +2.97% to +10.37%, P <0.05), also in the proportion of live spermatozoa (from + 4.37% to +8.82%, P <0.01). When evaluating interaction between the length of equilibration and freezing curve (standard 3. phase and 2 . phase freezing curve), the highest average spermatozoa motility and proportion of live spermatozoa using 240 minutes of equilibration by both freezing curves was reached, there was no statistically significant differences. As well as, in all evaluated parts of this study the individual differences between ejaculate of bulls and within semen from one bull (P <0.05) as secondary effect were found.
To maintain good fertilization ability of semen during cryopreservation is necessary to increase the spermatozoa resistance against cold shock using addition of correct concentration of LDL into the commercially used diluents AndroMed and Bioxcell. Subsequently the fertilization ability of insemination dose is influenced by cooling, the length of equilibration and freezing. The length of equilibration 120 minutes and more as well as gentle way of freezing according to freezing curve, which ensures a gradual decrease of temperature in freezing chamber provided the higher average spermatozoa motility and proportion of live spermatozoa.
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Antioxidant, anti-proliferative and immunomodulatory effect of fruits, vegetables and mushrooms in vitro
Doskočil, Ivo ; Havlík, Jaroslav (advisor) ; Orsák, Matyáš (referee)
Recently there has been an increasing interest in discovering of new species of plants and mushrooms which have antioxidant or anti proliferative activity. The interest is caused by the fact that these species have medicinal and food utilization. These properties of plants and mushrooms can be used when dealing with many diseases which may be connected with oxidative stress (inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and tumour disease, etc.).
The thesis propounds characteristics of in vitro antioxidant and anti proliferative activity of 19 types of juices and 28 methanol extracts of fruits and vegetables, which are common parts of a diet. In the thesis there are also characteristics of 13 ethanol extracts of edible mushrooms of the order of Polypore (Popyporales). Antioxidant activity was quantifie by 2, 2 diphenyl 1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production. Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT (3 (4,5 dimethylthiazol 2 yl) 2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide. Immunomodulatory activity was determined by an assay of phagocytic activity of human neutrophil granulocytes. Further a total phenolic content (TPC) and total beta glucan content were investigated; these are considered to be the potentially active constituents participating in mentioned activities.
From the obtained results it is evident that juices (TPC = 1603.2 mg GAE/L; ORAC = 438.5 umol TE/g)
and a bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) fruit extract (ORAC 836.6 umol TE/g; DPPH = 404.6 umol TE/g) showed
the highest antioxidant activity of all tested samples of fruits and vegetables. Capsicum (Capsicum L.)
juices (TPC = 642.1 mg GAE/L; ORAC = 127.9 umol TE/g) and a radish (Raphanus sativus L.) extract
(ORAC 724.5 umol TE/g; DPPH = 52.2 umol TE/g) also proved to have the high values of antioxidant activity. From the tested fruits and vegetables the following inhibited to produce a nitric oxide: onion (Allium cepa L) juices (lowered the NO production by 57%), tangerine juices (Citrus reticulata Blanco)(by 52%), broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis italic) extract (by 21%), and orange (Citrus sinensis Pers.) extract (by 10%). Concerning edible
mushrooms, Lentinus tigrinus (Bull.) Fr. (TPC = 216.2 umol GAE/g of extract), Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Kras (TPC = 257.9 umol GAE/g of extract), and Royoporus badius (Pers.) A.B. De (TPC = 257.8 umol GAE/g of extract) presented the highest phenolic content. Sparassis crispa (Wulfen) Fr. (117.4 mg/g of extract) had the highest content of beta glucan. Substantial effect on phagocytic activity of granulocytes was noticed in connection with Neolentinus lepideus (Fr.) Redhead & Ginns, Polyporus squamosus (Huds.) Fr., and S. crispa. In connection with the latter of mentioned mushrooms, a moderate inhibitory effect towards HT 29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line
(IC50 = 107 ug/ml of extract) was noticed.
The results indicate that the tested plants and mushrooms can be beneficial when reducing the negative effects of oxidative stress. The oxidative stress has been recognized as a contributing factor to a whole range of diseases and the reduction of the oxidative stress may lead to the decrease in the possibility of the diseases´ progression. The results show the possible favourable effects on the human health. When evaluating the results, the following fact should be taken into consideration; the in vitro tests and screenings are considered to be the first phase of systematic research of the effects and serve for the choice of respondents for further detailed studies.
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Cooperation of high schools with external contractors in preparing school educational programs
Tulach, David ; Lačev, Alek (advisor) ; Hochel, Matej (referee)
This thesis, Cooperation of high schools with external contractors in preparing school educational programs, deals with the question whether it would be possible and beneficial for high schools to cooperate with companies on the preparation or modification of their educational programs, with the goal of improving the quality of education. After initial contributions from experts who provided negative replies to this question, the view was focused on the root of the issue - what are the historical pillars of public schools and pedagogy, what does science say about learning and teaching, how pedagogy reacts to the crisis of science. After comparing literal sources and results from interview with the experts, in combination with a trace and activity analysis, a theory was established that public education is reaching a point of crisis, has not changed in its essence since its beginning and that the best solution might be the establishment of alternative educational institutions.
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Frequency stabilized semiconductor laser source for high-resolution interferometry
Řeřucha, Šimon ; Hucl, Václav ; Holá, Miroslava ; Čížek, Martin ; Pham, Minh Tuan ; Pravdová, Lenka ; Lazar, Josef ; Číp, Ondřej
We have assembled an experimental iodine stabilized Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) diode based laser system lasing at a wavelength that is in a close proximity to the wavelength of a stabilized He-Ne lasers traditionally used for metrological applications (λ=632.9 nm in vacuum). The aim was to verify whether such a system could be used as an alternative to the He-Ne laser while yielding wider optical frequency tuning range, higher output power and high frequency modulation capability. We have measured the basic characteristics of the laser source and then we have compared the performance of the laser system with that of a traditional frequency stabilized He-Ne laser with a series of experimental arrangements similar to those usually found in laser interferometry and displacement metrology applications. The results indicate that DBR diode laser system provides a good laser source for applications in dimensional (nano)metrology since it provides more output power and advanced tunability options than stabilized He-Ne lasers while maintaining fundamental requirements such as the frequency stability, coherence length and also a defined traceability.\n\n
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Packet Classification Algorithms
Puš, Viktor ; Lhotka,, Ladislav (referee) ; Dvořák, Václav (advisor)
Tato práce se zabývá klasifikací paketů v počítačových sítích. Klasifikace paketů je klíčovou úlohou mnoha síťových zařízení, především paketových filtrů - firewallů. Práce se tedy týká oblasti počítačové bezpečnosti. Práce je zaměřena na vysokorychlostní sítě s přenosovou rychlostí 100 Gb/s a více. V těchto případech nelze použít pro klasifikaci obecné procesory, které svým výkonem zdaleka nevyhovují požadavkům na rychlost. Proto se využívají specializované technické prostředky, především obvody ASIC a FPGA. Neméně důležitý je také samotný algoritmus klasifikace. Existuje mnoho algoritmů klasifikace paketů předpokládajících hardwarovou implementaci, přesto však tyto přístupy nejsou připraveny pro velmi rychlé sítě. Dizertační práce se proto zabývá návrhem nových algoritmů klasifikace paketů se zaměřením na vysokorychlostní implementaci ve specializovaném hardware. Je navržen algoritmus, který dělí problém klasifikace na jednodušší podproblémy. Prvním krokem je operace vyhledání nejdelšího shodného prefixu, používaná také při směrování paketů v IP sítích. Tato práce předpokládá využití některého existujícího přístupu, neboť již byly prezentovány algoritmy s dostatečnou rychlostí. Následujícím krokem je mapování nalezených prefixů na číslo pravidla. V této části práce přináší vylepšení využitím na míru vytvořené hashovací funkce. Díky použití hashovací funkce lze mapování provést v konstantním čase a využít při tom pouze jednu paměť s úzkým datovým rozhraním. Rychlost tohoto algoritmu lze určit analyticky a nezávisí na počtu pravidel ani na charakteru síťového provozu. S využitím dostupných součástek lze dosáhnout propustnosti 266 milionů paketů za sekundu. Následující tři algoritmy uvedené v této práci snižují paměťové nároky prvního algoritmu, aniž by ovlivňovaly rychlost. Druhý algoritmus snižuje velikost paměti o 11 % až 96 % v závislosti na sadě pravidel. Nevýhodu nízké stability odstraňuje třetí algoritmus, který v porovnání s prvním zmenšuje paměťové nároky o 31 % až 84 %. Čtvrtý algoritmus kombinuje třetí algoritmus se starším přístupem a díky využití několika technik zmenšuje paměťové nároky o 73 % až 99 %.
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Location-aware data transfers scheduling for distributed virtual walkthrough applications.
Přibyl, Jaroslav ; Sochor, Jiří (referee) ; Sojka, Eduard (referee) ; Zemčík, Pavel (advisor)
Důležitou součástí aplikací procházení distribuovanou virtuální scénou je proces plánování přenosu dat. Jeho hlavním úkolem je zajištění efektivního přenosu dat a maximální kvality renderovaného obrazu. Největší vliv na kvalitu renderované scény mají omezení síťového připojení. Tyto omezení lze redukovat pomocí multi-resolution reprezentace dat scény, určováním priorit stahování jednotlivých částí scény, a přednačítáním dat. Pokročilé metody pro určování priorit a přednačítání částí scény jsou založeny na predikci pohybu uživatele vycházející z matematického popisu jeho pohybu. Tyto metody jsou schopny predikovat následující pozici uživatele jen v krátké vzdálenosti od jeho aktuální polohy. V případě náhlých, ale pravidelných změn směru pohybu uživatele jsou tyto metody nedostatečné co do přesnosti i délky predikce. V této práci je navrhnut komplexní přístup k řešení plánování přenosu dat splňující i tyto požadavky. Navrhované řešení využívá predikci pohybu uživatele založenou na znalostech k určení priority stahování dat i předstahování částí scény. Provedené experimenty nad testovacími daty ukazují, že navržené schéma plánování přenosu dat umožňuje dosažení vyšší efektivity přenosu dat a vyšší kvality renderovaného obrazu během průchodu testovací scénou.
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A NEW DAWN OF NAMING, ADDRESSING AND ROUTING ON THE INTERNET
Veselý, Vladimír ; Muntan,, Jordi Perelló (referee) ; Grasa, Eduard (referee) ; Day, John (referee) ; Švéda, Miroslav (advisor)
Internet roku 2015 se potýká s problémy, které jsou důsledky špatného designu pojmenovávání a adresování v TCP/IP a jež mají přeneseny vliv i na škálovatelnost směrování. Problémy jako růst páteřních směrovacích tabulek, neefektivní multihoming sítí či mobilita zařízení a mnohé další zadávají k otázce, jestli není třeba architekturu Internetu pozměnit. V teoretické části je kvantifikován dopad problémů, možná řešení a zejména je formálně definována teorie kompilujicí poznatky významných publikací zabývajících se problematikou pojmenování, adresování a směrování v počítačových sítí. Tato práce se zabývá dvěma konkrétními technologiemi, jež mají ambicí Internet měnit - Locator/Id Separation Protocol a Recursive InterNetwork Architecture. Výstupem práce jsou vylepšení funkcionality obou výše zmíněných technologií. Za účelem praktického ověření dopadů našeho výzkumu jsou vyvinutý a popsány nové simulační modely pro OMNeT++, které jsou věrné úrovni detailu popisu ze specifikací.
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