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An optional leisure activity in the countryside for wheelchair users is subject to discussion b in this article. Geo-caching is a leisure activity on the borders between tourism and sport, which appeals to a growing proportion of peoples globally. It can become a prospective part of social tourism as a leisure activity for persons with disabilities: this paper devotes attention to wheelchair users. In this research project we analysed how terrain difficulty and its markings reflect on the availability of caches to be gained by wheelchair users. The aim of the field survey was to verify if the caches indicated by the difficulty of the terrain (terrain level: 1 and 1.5) can be considered available for disabled people. The availability of the caches was also assessed based on the presence (aid) of an assistant. We found that access to most of the easily available caches contains small but critical constraints for wheelchair users – from path bumps to the very cache locations which are unreachable for wheelchair users. Therefore, we have proposed a set of recommendations and pictograms to make geo-caching more available for persons using wheelchairs and to expand their opportunities for active outdoor leisure activity. The results will be used to design access to natural sites for wheelchair users.

Glycosylated sphingolipids (GSLs) are a diverse group of cellular lipids typically reported as being rare in normal mammary tissue. In breast cancer (BCa), GSLs have emerged as noteworthy markers associated with breast cancer stem cells, mediators of phenotypic plasticity, and contributors to cancer cell chemoresistance. GSLs are potential surface markers that can uniquely characterize the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment, including cancer cell subpopulations and epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). In this study, mass spectrometry analyses of the total sphingolipidome in breast epithelial cells and their mesenchymal counterparts revealed increased levels of Gb3 in epithelial cells and significantly elevated GD2 levels in the mesenchymal phenotype. To elucidate if GSL-related epitopes on BCa cell surfaces reflect EMP and cancer status, we developed and rigorously validated a 12-color spectral flow cytometry panel. This panel enables the simultaneous detection of native GSL epitopes (Gb3, SSEA1, SSEA3, SSEA4, and GD2), epithelial–mesenchymal transition markers (EpCAM, TROP2, and CD9), and lineage markers (CD45, CD31, and CD90) at the single-cell level. Next, the established panel was used for the analysis of BCa primary tumors and revealed surface heterogeneity in SSEA1, SSEA3, SSEA4, GD2, and Gb3, indicative of native epitope presence also on non-tumor cells. These findings further highlighted the phenotype-dependent alterations in GSL surface profiles, with differences between epithelial and stromal cells in the tumor. This study provides novel insights into BCa heterogeneity, shedding light on the potential of native GSL-related epitopes as markers for EMP and cancer status in fresh clinical samples. The developed single-cell approach offers promising avenues for further exploration.

Abstract Metastatic melanoma, a highly lethal form of skin cancer, presents significant clinical challenges due to limited therapeutic options and high metastatic capacity. Recent studies have demonstrated that cancer dissemination can occur earlier, before the diagnosis of the primary tumor. The progress in understanding the kinetics of cancer dissemination is limited by the lack of animal models that accurately mimic disease progression. We have established a xenograft model of human melanoma that spontaneously metastasizes to lymph nodes and lungs. This model allows precise monitoring of melanoma progression and is suitable for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). We have validated a flow cytometry-based protocol for CTCs enumeration and isolation. We could demonstrate that (i) CTCs were detectable in the bloodstream from the fourth week after tumor initiation, coinciding with the lymph node metastases appearance, (ii) excision of the primary tumor accelerated the formation of metastases in lymph nodes and lungs as early as one-week post-surgery, accompanied by the increased numbers of CTCs, and (iii) CTCs change their surface protein signature. In summary, we present a model of human melanoma that can be effectively utilized for future drug efficacy studies.

Heterocyclic drugs display diverse pharmacological activities and metabolic stability. However, their poor solubility and pharmacokinetic properties often compromise bioavailability and clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, the prodrug approach provides a viable strategy to overcome unwanted attributes of drug candidates. In this proof-of-concept study, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of glycol methylene-bridged phosphate (GMBP) prodrugs developed for heterocyclic drug delivery. Through methylene bridging, the heterocyclic nitrogen was directly attached to the phosphate, whereas the glycol moiety enabled drug release via cyclization, as confirmed by 31P NMR spectroscopy. Additional prodrugs of carboxylic acids, phenols, and thiols confirmed the broad application scope of our GMPB approach. Heterocyclic GMBP prodrugs were stable in aqueous buffers and activated by phospholipase CAL-B in vitro. Select prodrugs, including zidovudine prodrug 33, were even more potent (3 nM on HIV-1) than the parent compound. These findings demonstrate that our GMBP approach is not only feasible but also highly versatile.

Microplastics, pervasive contaminants in freshwater ecosystems, have raised ecological concerns. Efforts are underway to substitute conventional plastics with biodegradable alternatives that should be more easily decomposed in the environment. However, the biodegradation of these alternatives depends on specific conditions such as temperature, humidity, pH, and microorganisms, which are not always met. Consequently, these biodegradable alternatives can also fragment and generate microplastics, which can be ingested and affect biota. In this study, we investigated the acute, chronic, and multigenerational effects of two fractions (particles

Představujeme českou verzi konceptuálního rámce pro středoškolskou úroveň tématu nervová soustava, který vznikl jako výsledek Delphi studie pod vedením Pala Kvella a byl publikován v roce 2021. Česká verze byla připravena podle TRAPD metody. Bylo analyzováno zastoupení jednotlivých konceptů v devíti učebnicích či souhrnných publikacích středoškolské biologie. V učebních textech byly nejčastěji zastoupeny koncepty popisující anatomii nervové soustavy. Koncepty popisující fyziologii byly většinou v textech zastoupeny částečně, zatímco koncepty popisující souvislosti s chováním, učením, vnímáním, pocity a zkušenostmi jedince v analyzovaných textech typicky chyběly. Naopak některá fakta, která nepřispívají k pochopení principů, ale spíše ukazují na to, že učební texty odrážejí stav poznání starý řadu dekád, byla zastoupena napříč texty. I v tomto případě se potvrzuje, že české středoškolské učebnice biologie neodrážejí současný stav poznání a doporučení pro výběr vyučovaného obsahu. Překlad konceptuálního rámce může v českém prostředí sloužit jako inspirace pro výběr odborného obsahu učiva o nervové soustavě na středoškolské úrovni a podklad k tvorbě učebních materiálů odborníky i učiteli.

The circular economy represents an effective way to address limited resources and mitigate the impact of human activity on the planet. To summarize the possible effect of circular economy implementation on business performance and its possible measurement, a systematic literature review on a final sample of 28 papers was conducted. The main findings reveal that the circular economy can help to improve business performance and that numerous indicators could be used to measure it, especially the balanced scorecard approach, which seems suitable for such classification (however, more research on this topic is needed). Additionally, it was revealed that the circular economy concept itself has no clear and generally used definition, which complicates the summarizing of the revealed indicators. To simplify future research, we proposed a research framework based on this systematic literature review and emphasized the research gaps.

This study aimed to compare the frequency, duration, and location of dog walking during and before the first Covid-19 lockdown (LD) and possible variable factors. The research team interviewed 504 adult Czech dog owners using an online questionnaire regarding their dog walking activity. During the LD in April 2020, the frequency of dog walking was significantly lower, and a single walk duration was significantly higher than before (p < 0.001). The preference for locations also changed during the LD. Dog walking was considered beneficial for physical activity (PA) and daily rhythm. Factors related to dog walking frequency during the LD were age (p = 0.016) and the length of working/studying hours (p < 0.001). These factors were significant before and during the LD: the number of children (p < 0.001), the number of household members (p = 0.044), and the type of housing (p = 0.006). This study brings a broad amount of data on current trends and changes in dog walking during the unprecedented lockdown, which might contribute to the organisation of public health or research methodology in future relatable situations.

Recent research highlights the profound impact of the gut microbiome on neuropsychiatric disorders, shedding light on its potential role in shaping human behavior. In this study, we investigate the role of the gut microbiome in appetite regulation using activity-based anorexia (ABA) mouse model of anorexia nervosa (AN) — a severe eating disorder with significant health consequences. ABA was induced in conventional, antibiotic-treated, and germ-free mice. Our results show the clear influence of the gut microbiome on the expression of four orexigenic (neuropeptide Y, agouti-related peptide, melanin-concentrating hormone, and orexin) and four anorexigenic peptides (cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript, corticotropin-releasing hormone, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, and pro-opiomelanocortin) in the hypothalamus. Additionally, we assessed alterations in gut barrier permeability. While variations were noted in germ-free mice based on feeding and activity, they were not directly attributable to the gut microbiome. This research emphasizes that the gut microbiome is a pivotal factor in AN's appetite regulation beyond just dietary habits or physical activity.

This study focuses on the effect of agricultural soil management on soil organic matter (SOM) composition. The addition of manure and crop residues was tested under different pedoclimatic conditions. The quality of SOM was assessed using diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy. The following parameters were calculated from the spectra: sum of aliphatic bands (ΣAL), aromatic bands at wave numbers 1 620 and 1 520 cm-1 (AR1620 and AR1520), potential wettability (PWI), organic matter quality (OMQ), and decomposability (DI) indexes. The addition of manure or crop residues may not cause fundamental changes in the qualitative composition of SOM. Rather, pedoclimatic conditions determine which components are fixed in the soil on a long-term scale. A dominant effect of soil type was found in the distribution of all spectral parameters studied using main effect ANOVA. The main differences between the soil types concern the aromatic, oxygen and nitrogen groups contained in the SOM. Chernozems are soils with higher OMQ and DI, whereas Cambisols are soils with low OMQ and DI and the highest PWI. The stabilisation of SOM in soils can thus be based on the biochemical persistence of organic molecules, their specific affinity for minerals and the formation of aggregates that protect enclosed SOM.

The glomalin content is generally considered an indicator of the soil organic matter (SOM) quality. The content of easily extractable glomalin (EEG) and the total glomalin (TG) content was investigated across 71 different sites in the Czech Republic with arable soil and crop production (12 chernozems, 30 luvisols, 17 cambisols, and 12 fluvisols). The majority of the crops in the crop rotation were cereals (45.5%—mainly winter wheat, winter barley, and spring barley). The proportion of winter canola within the crop rotation was 15.9%. The contribution of other crops was substantially smaller (alfalfa, clover, potatoes, beet, silage maize, grain maize). The representation of crops in the crop rotation is standard for conventional farming in the Czech Republic. Based on the results of long-term field monitoring at 71 sites in different soil–climate conditions, we can state the following. The TG content was significantly correlated with the soil organic matter carbon content (CSOM), as well as another important indicator of SOM quality (humic and fulvic acid carbon content ratio—CHA/CFA). A significant and positive correlation was also determined for the TG and clay content (size < 0.002 mm), as well as particles smaller than 0.01 mm. The easily extractable glomalin content (EEG) did not differ based on the reference soil group (RSG). On the other hand, the total glomalin content (TG) was significantly higher in the chernozem RSG in comparison with other RSGs (luvisols, cambisols, fluvisols). There was no relationship between the pHCaCl2 and glomalin (EEG; TG). The same can be said about the relationship between glomalin (EEG; TG) and the bulk density and porosity. No link was established between the glomalin content (EEG; TG) and phosphorus plant-available content. There was no relationship between the amount of applied organic matter (carbon inputs) and the soil glomalin content (EEG; TG). This relationship was not influenced by the type of applied organic fertilizer. No significant relationship was found for either straw, manure, or compost. The data on the glomalin content are significantly influenced by the site (soil type and soil texture).

Melting glacier surfaces are unique ecosystems for specialized microbes, frequently harbouring blooms of microalgae with pigments contributing to the darkening of ice surfaces, reducing albedo and enhancing melt rates. The main cause of this phenomenon is algae of the genus Ancylonema. Prior investigation depended on field-collected material because these algae resisted cultivation. To enhance research on how these algae dominate melting ice, we established a strain of Ancylonema alaskanum from an alpine glacier and exposed to temperatures around the freezing point at irradiations of ~10% of full sunlight. The morphology of the culture changed, with the cells becoming longer and turning green by losing their brownish pigmentation, indicating that these dark phenols are crucial for survival in the cryosphere. Photophysiological comparisons of strain and glacial material showed adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus to prevailing conditions. This laboratorial strain opens possibilities for a wide range of comparative ‘omics’ research.

The article focuses on the neuropsychological evaluation of selected cognitive functions in patients with diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGG) who underwent awake craniotomy (surgery performed on the patient while conscious and alert). This surgical approach requires the patient's commitment and the cooperation of an interprofessional team. The most important benefit is that it allows the patient's cognitive functions to be monitored

In the context of global climate change and the increasing need to study plant response to drought, there is a demand for easily, rapidly, and remotely measurable parameters that sensitively reflect leaf water status. Parameters with this potential include those derived from leaf spectral reflectance (R) and chlorophyll fluorescence. As each of these methods probes completely different leaf characteristics, their sensitivity to water loss may differ in different plant species and/or under different circumstances, making it difficult to choose the most appropriate method for estimating water status in a given situation. Here, we present a simple comparative analysis to facilitate this choice for leaf-level measurements. Using desiccation of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Bojos) leaves as a model case, we measured parameters of spectral R and chlorophyll fluorescence and then evaluated and compared their applicability by means of introduced coefficients (coefficient of reliability, sensitivity, and inaccuracy). This comparison showed that, in our case, chlorophyll fluorescence was more reliable and universal than spectral R. Nevertheless, it is most appropriate to use both methods simultaneously, as the specific ranking of their parameters according to the coefficient of reliability may indicate a specific scenario of changes in desiccating leaves.

The cornea is one of the most commonly transplanted tissues worldwide. It is used to restore vision when severe visual impairment or blindness occurs in patients with corneal diseases or after trauma. Due to the global shortage of healthy donor corneas, decellularized corneal tissue has significant potential as an alternative to corneal transplantation. It preserves the native and biological ultrastructure of the cornea and, therefore, represents the most promising scaffold. This article discusses different methods of corneal decellularization based on the current literature. We searched PubMed.gov for articles from January 2009 to December 2023 using the following keywords: corneal decellularization, decellularization methods, and corneal transplantation. Although several methods of decellularization of corneal tissue have been reported, a universal standardised protocol of corneal decellularization has not yet been introduced. In general, a combination of decellularization methods has been used for efficient decellularization while preserving the optimal properties of the corneal tissue.

Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) of the DUF3494 type have been found in many ice-associated unicellular photoautotrophs, including chlorophytes, haptophytes, diatoms and a cyanobacterium. Unrelated IBPs have been found in many land plants (streptophytes). Here we looked for IBPs in two streptophyte algae that grow only on glaciers, a group in which IBPs have not previously been examined. The two species, Ancylonema nordenskioeldii and Ancylonema. alaskanum, belong to the class Zygnematophyceae, whose members are the closest relatives to all land plants. We found that one of them, A. nordenskioeldii, expresses a DUF3494-type IBP that is similar to those of their chlorophyte ancestors and that has not previously been found in any streptophytes. The protein is unusual in having what appears to be a perfect array of TXT motifs that have been implicated in water or ice binding. The IBP strongly binds to ice and almost certainly has a role in mitigating the daily freeze-thaw cycles that the alga is exposed to during late summer. No IBP was found in the second species, A. alaskanum, which may rely more on glycerol production for its freeze-thaw tolerance. The IBP is also unusual in having a 280-residue domain with a β sandwich structure (which we designate as the DPH domain) that is characteristic of root cap proteins of land plants, and that may have a role in forming IBP oligomers. We also examined existing transcriptome data obtained from land plants to better understand the tissue and temperature dependence of expression of this domain.

The extensive production and use of plastics have led to widespread pollution of the environment. As a result, biodegradable polymers (BDPs) are receiving a great deal of attention because they are expected to degrade entirely in the environment. Therefore, in this work, we tested the effect of two fractions (particles

This study responds to the call for a more nuanced understanding of intragenerational variations and provides a detailed insight into how men and women in Generation Z perceive work motivation. Unlike most prior studies with a similar focus, this study is qualitative, employing a specific method of empathy-based stories (MEBS) to capture the (de)motivators in Gen Z directly through their native point of view. On a sample of 437 business students, the vast majority of whom reported having work experience, results reveal that Gen Z women pay significantly more attention to social aspects of interpersonal relationships at the workplace, intrinsic factors of having a dream job, low levels of routine, experiencing job success, and an extrinsic need to receive recognition for the work done, while Gen Z men are more attentive to the altruistic factor of making a meaningful difference at work, extrinsic factor of benefits, and leisure-related aspects of happy personal life and no stress at work. Findings inform evidence-based motivation policies, which may help target more precisely recruitment and motivation programs in companies.

The influence of toxic elements, such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), in the root zone of As-hyperaccumulator Pteris cretica 'Albo-lineata' and non-As-hyperaccumulator P. straminea, on the enzymatic activity of β-glucosidase, dissolved organic carbon (C) in soil, toxic element accumulation in fern roots, and root biomass were evaluated in a pot experiment. Ferns were cultivated in soils from the locality of Suchdol (control) and Litavka (high contamination) for six months. For all toxic elements, an increasing trend in their contents in the roots was observed with soil contamination for both ferns. Differences between ferns were observed in As and Zn accumulation. Pteris cretica had a significantly higher As accumulation than P. straminea. Zinc accumulation in the roots showed an opposite trend. A significant difference between ferns was confirmed in the dissolved organic C content. Our results showed a significantly higher content of dissolved organic C in the P. straminea root zone than in P. cretica. The significant effect of toxic elements in the soil on β-glucosidase activity was observed. Toxic elements inhibited β-glucosidase activity in the root zone of P. cretica, and an increase in P. straminea was determined in the Litavka soil. The results suggest a higher sensitivity of P. straminea to toxic element contamination in soil, leading to increased β-glucosidase activity and increased dissolved organic C content.

Microplastics contribute to various environmental issues and serve as carriers for a wide range of toxic compounds such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and metal ions. Consequently, there is a gradual shift towards replacing them with biodegradable plastics (bioplastics). However, biodegradable plastics require specific conditions for complete biodegradation, and their biodeterioration often leads to the rapid production of smaller fragments, known as microbioplastics. In this review, we summarize selected issues related to the impact of plastic particles on soil properties and the soil microbiome. Findings from numerous studies indicate that both microplastics and microbioplastics induce adverse changes in soil microbiology, potentially increasing the abundance of soil-borne pathogens. Based on these observations, we argue that plastic particles could serve as carriers for colonies of soil-borne pathogens. Furthermore, the use of bioplastics may exacerbate this issue due to their easier and faster formation, increased support for biofilms, and more pronounced adverse effects on soil biota. However, further research is necessary to either substantiate or refute this perspective.

The objective of this research is to describe the impact of different advanced oxidation processes used for the removal of sulfamethoxazole on wastewater quality.Ozone, UV, a combination of ozone and UV, and plasma discharge were employed. Concentrations of sulfamethoxazole were analysed by LC-MS/MS. Chemical and microbiological analyses and ecotoxicological tests were conducted to investigate the quality of treated wastewater.The results of this study show that the most effective technique for the removal of sulfamethoxazole is O3, followed by plasma discharge, O3 + UV and, finally, UV.A significant effect of tested advanced oxidation processes on the chemical composition of wastewater was not observed; however, the number of microorganisms was reduced. In the case of ecotoxicological tests with Lemna minor and crustacean Daphnia magna, a significant negative effect was only observed when plasma was applied.

Abstract Background It has been hypothesised that the gut microbiota causally affects obesity via its capacity to extract energy from the diet. Yet, evidence elucidating the role of particular human microbial community structures and determinants of microbiota-dependent energy harvest is lacking. Results Here, we investigated whether energy extraction from the diet in 85 overweight adults, estimated by dry stool energy density, was associated with intestinal transit time and variations in microbial community diversity and overall structure stratified as enterotypes. We hypothesised that a slower intestinal transit would allow for more energy extraction. However, opposite of what we expected, the stool energy density was positively associated with intestinal transit time. Stratifications into enterotypes showed that individuals with a Bacteroides enterotype (B-type) had significantly lower stool energy density, shorter intestinal transit times, and lower alpha-diversity compared to individuals with a Ruminococcaceae enterotype (R-type). The Prevotella (P-type) individuals appeared in between the B- and R-type. The differences in stool energy density between enterotypes were not explained by differences in habitual diet, intake of dietary fibre or faecal bacterial cell counts. However, the R-type individuals showed higher urinary and faecal levels of microbial-derived proteolytic metabolites compared to the B-type, suggesting increased colonic proteolysis in the R-type individuals. This could imply a less effective colonic energy extraction in the R-type individuals compared to the B-type individuals. Notably, the R-type had significantly lower body weight compared to the B-type. Conclusions Our findings suggest that gut microbial energy harvest is diversified among individuals by intestinal transit time and associated gut microbiome ecosystem variations. A better understanding of these associations could support the development of personalised nutrition and improved weight-loss strategies. Video Abstract

Industry 4.0, digitization and digital transformation are undoubtedly some of the main trends of a transforming economy, society and business. They represent a fundamental topic that is currently resounding in both the real business world and the academic sphere. New modern digital technologies and their use have a crucial impact on the existing operation of entrepreneurial entities. These technologies require them to make radical changes in the management of business processes and particular activities. The presented paper reflects the need to focus research activities on the digitalization of various business areas; specifically, it focuses on the field of human resource (HR) management. The goal of this paper is to contribute to the existing literature on HR digitalization, specifically by exploring the current state of the art in this area. For this purpose, a systematic literature review in the Scopus database was carried out. This study summarizes and presents existing knowledge in a structured manner and also identifies possible directions for future research activities. Selected papers were analyzed and classified according to area of interest into two main categories of human resource digitalization. The first includes papers that deal with HR digitalization as such, i.e. the digitalization of the discipline of HR management. The second area deals with HR as a support for digitalization, i.e. fields in which HR can help with the digital transformation of other business activities or processes. Digitalized human capital has become the primary common denominator of the majority of articles across both categories.

Abstract Background Soil fertility is substantially influenced by soil organic matter quality and quantity. Much attention has also been given to glomalin content as one of the qualitative parameters of soil fertility. Glomalin content is considered an indicator of soil fertility due to its positive correlation with soil organic carbon. Aim This study aim to (i) determine the influence of different fertilization systems on maize yield and soil organic matter quality parameters, (ii) ensure that changes in total glomalin content (TG) and easily extractable glomalin (EEG) content are sensitive enough to reflect changes in the SOM quality resulting from long-term fertilization, and (iii) determine whether both forms of glomalin must be determined or if the easily extractable glomalin (EEG) content is sufficient, even for a fertile chernozem. Materials and methods Long-term field experiments with silage maize monocultures were used to study relationships under different rates of mineral nitrogen and sewage sludge fertilization. The trials comprised 5 treatments: (i) no fertilization control (Con), (ii) and (iii) two different calcium ammonium nitrate rates (N120 and N240 at doses of 120 and 240 kg N ha−1 year−1, respectively), and iv) and v) two different sewage sludge rates (S120 and S240 corresponding to mineral N doses). Topsoil (0–30 cm) analysis was performed 28 years after the onset of the experiment to determine soil organic carbon, the fractions of humic substances, potentially mineralizable carbon and dissolved organic carbon, the potential wettability index, soil aggregate stability, EEG, and total glomalin (TG). Results The control treatment, which did not include fertilization, showed significantly lower average yields (9.76 t DM ha−1 year−1) than the fertilization treatments (on average 12.3 DM ha−1 year−1). Significant differences in yields were not found between the fertilization treatments. A positive correlation between glomalin (EEG, TG) content and soil organic matter carbon content was observed. A periodic application of sewage sludge increased the content of glomalin. However, the highest quality of SOM was found in the control treatment (nonfertilized). This treatment had the highest values for the humic/fulvic acid ratio and the highest contents of humic acids and potentially mineralizable carbon. Furthermore, the Con treatment showed the highest soil aggregate stability and potential wettability index. Mineral N fertilization significantly reduced soil aggregate stability values. Conclusions The unfertilized control showed the highest SOM quality but the lowest yields. The data on glomalin content can be used to study soil organic matter quality. Because the EEG extraction method is easy to apply, uses lower quantities of chemicals and consumes less time, it presents a better option than TG extraction. The sensitivity of the methods for SOM quality determination decreases with increasing SOM content. Graphical Abstract

Studie si klade za cíl podrobně prozkoumat, zda má dodržování bilančních pravidel vliv na výkonnost podniku. Pro ověření tohoto předpokladu byla statisticky testována data za malé a mikropodniky v ČR (celkový počet 2 537), a to pomocí t-testu a Mann-Whitneyho U testu. Zvláštní pozornost byla věnována ukazateli rentability vlastního kapitálu (jako ukazateli výkonnosti podniku) a změnám jeho hodnoty mezi skupinami podniků, které pravidla dodržují, a těmi, které tato pravidla nedodržují. Výsledky naznačují, že pozitivní vliv dodržování bilančních pravidel na výkonnost podniku nelze potvrdit, stejně jako nelze pozorovat jejich dodržování ve větším měřítku. Bylo by tedy vhodné otevřít diskuzi o tom, zda je potřeba, aby se bilanční pravidla pravidelně objevovala v současné literatuře podnikové ekonomiky. Zmíněné výsledky jsou zobrazeny a diskutovány v tomto článku spolu s omezeními výzkumu.

E. coli phage SU10 has a short non-contractile tail. Here, the authors show that after cell binding, nozzle proteins and tail fibers of SU10 change conformation to form a nozzle that enables the delivery of the phage DNA into the bacterial cytoplasm.

Politically, summers in the Czech Republic are often quiet. This year is different. A newly elected president, Petr Pavel, is selecting almost all of the fifteen members of the Czech Constitutional Court („CCC“) during the next two years. Unexpectedly, Pavel’s selection process has sparked a great deal of controversy and discussion about how a president should choose constitutional judges. What happened? And what are the main lessons to be learned from the current situation in the Czech Republic?

Plants, unlike animals, possess a unique developmental plasticity, that allows them to adapt to changing environmental conditions. A fundamental aspect of this plasticity is their ability to undergo postembryonic de novo organogenesis. This requires the presence of regulators that trigger and mediate specific spatiotemporal changes in developmental programs. The phytohormone cytokinin has been known as a principal regulator of plant development for more than six decades. In de novo shoot organogenesis and in vitro shoot regeneration, cytokinins are the prime candidates for the signal that determines shoot identity. Both processes of de novo shoot apical meristem development are accompanied by changes in gene expression, cell fate reprogramming, and the switching-on of the shoot-specific homeodomain regulator, WUSCHEL. Current understanding about the role of cytokinins in the shoot regeneration will be discussed.

Summary: While the pivotal role of linker histone H1 in shaping nucleosome organization is well established, its functional interplays with chromatin factors along the epigenome are just starting to emerge. Here we show that, in Arabidopsis, as in mammals, H1 occupies Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) target genes where it favors chromatin condensation and H3K27me3 deposition. We further show that, contrasting with its conserved function in PRC2 activation at genes, H1 selectively prevents H3K27me3 accumulation at telomeres and large pericentromeric interstitial telomeric repeat (ITR) domains by restricting DNA accessibility to Telomere Repeat Binding (TRB) proteins, a group of H1-related Myb factors mediating PRC2 cis recruitment. This study provides a mechanistic framework by which H1 avoids the formation of gigantic H3K27me3-rich domains at telomeric sequences and contributes to safeguard nucleus architecture.

In this study, we used microscopic, spectroscopic, and molecular analysis to characterize endolithic colonization in gypsum (selenites and white crystalline gypsum) from several sites in Sicily. Our results showed that the dominant microorganisms in these environments are cyanobacteria, including: Chroococcidiopsis sp., Gloeocapsopsis pleurocapsoides, Gloeocapsa compacta, and Nostoc sp., as well as orange pigmented green microalgae from the Stephanospherinia clade. Single cell and filament sequencing coupled with 16S rRNA amplicon metagenomic profiling provided new insights into the phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity of the endolithic cyanobacteria. These organisms form differently pigmented zones within the gypsum. Our metagenomic profiling also showed differences in the taxonomic composition of endoliths in different gypsum varieties. Raman spectroscopy revealed that carotenoids were the most common pigments present in the samples. Other pigments such as gloeocapsin and scytonemin were also detected in the near-surface areas, suggesting that they play a significant role in the biology of endoliths in this environment. These pigments can be used as biomarkers for basic taxonomic identification, especially in case of cyanobacteria. The findings of this study provide new insights into the diversity and distribution of phototrophic microorganisms and their pigments in gypsum in Southern Sicily. Furthemore, this study highlights the complex nature of endolithic ecosystems and the effects of gypsum varieties on these communities, providing additional information on the general bioreceptivity of these environments.

BackgroundDiets rich in whole grains are associated with health benefits. Yet, it remains unclear whether the benefits are mediated by changes in gut function and fermentation.ObjectiveWe explored the effects of whole-grain vs. refined-grain diets on markers of colonic fermentation and bowel function, as well as their associations with the gut microbiome.MethodsFifty overweight individuals with increased metabolic risk and a high habitual intake of whole grains (~69 g/day) completed a randomised cross-over trial with two 8-week dietary intervention periods comprising a whole-grain diet (≥75 g/day) and a refined-grain diet (

The aim of this study was to determine the thrombogenicity of lupus anticoagulant (LA) antibodies using a modified thrombin generation assay (TGA) with the addition of activated protein C (APC) in a group of 85 patients with LA-positive samples. Of these, 58 patients had clinical manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) according to the Sydney criteria classification, i.e., each patient had thrombosis or foetal loss, and 27 patients did not show any clinical manifestations of APS. A comparison of the two groups’ TGA results revealed statistically significant differences (Fisher’s test p = 0.0016). The group of patients exhibiting clinical manifestations of APS showed higher thrombogenicity in 56.9% of patients, while the group of patients not yet exhibiting clinical manifestations of APS showed higher thrombogenicity in 25.9% of patients. There were no significant differences in the specificity of the TGA test between the groups of patients exhibiting similar clinical manifestations. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed a more significant relationship (p = 0.0060) for TGA than for LA titre (p = 0.3387). These data suggest that the determination of LA thrombogenicity with the TGA assay leads to an increased prediction of the manifestation of a thromboembolic event. Our findings appear to be particularly relevant for the prediction of thrombotic events in patients with laboratory-expressed APS and no clinical manifestations.

A 2.9 Å resolution structure of the L-BC virus provides insight into the contacts between capsid proteins and the mechanism of capsid assembly.

The article deals with the methodology of processing names of pharmaceutical products in the monolingual Academic Dictionary of Contemporary Czech (Akademický slovník současné češtiny), under preparation at the Czech Language Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences since 2012. The article focuses on the choice of genera proxima in the explanatory definitions and their segmentation according to different shades of meaning. Special attention is paid to the selection of appropriate examples illustrating the meaning of the given lexical units and to the use of a terminological label for each dictionary entry. Based on a sample of entries belonging to this lexico-semantic group of words, the article aims to compare the approach to their lexicographical processing in the forthcoming dictionary and in previous Czech, Slovak and English monolingual dictionaries.

Soil organic matter (SOM) quantity and quality are important factors that significantly influence soil fertility. SOM quality indicators change throughout time. In this study, long—term field experiments (22–50 years in duration) on a Cambisol at four sites in the Czech Republic were selected. Seven crops were successively rotated in the sequence: clover, winter wheat, early potato, winter wheat, spring barley, potato, and spring barley with interseeded clover. Five treatments were investigated, including an unfertilized treatment, farmyard manure, and various combinations of farmyard manure and mineral fertilization. A total of 40 t ha−1 of farmyard manure was applied to the early potato and potato crops. Combining organic and mineral fertilizers increased soil organic matter quality and quantity over unfertilized or organic only treatment. The highest intensity of mineral fertilizers in our trials elevated the mean of carbon sequestration efficiency to 45.6% in comparison to pure manure treatment which reached only 22.9% efficiency. A strong correlation was established between the total glomalin content and soil organic matter carbon, fulvic acid, humic acid, carbon hot water extraction, potential wettability index (PWI), and aromaticity index. The PWI was also strongly correlated with these indicators. The E4/E6 ratio indicator was shown to be a much less sensitive method for reflecting the change in soil organic matter quality.

Long-term field experiments were conducted on luvisol at five sites in the Czech Republic (42–48-year duration). The average total organic carbon content in the soil varied between 9.0 and 14.0 g kg−1. In these trials, seven crops were rotated in the following order: clover, winter wheat, early potato, winter wheat, spring barley, potato, and spring barley with interseeded clover. Five treatments were studied: unfertilized treatment (Con), farmyard manure (F), and combinations of farmyard manure with three mineral fertilization levels (F+M1, F+M2, F+M3). Plant residues were not incorporated into the soil. An amount of 40 t ha−1 of farmyard manure fresh matter was applied twice during crop rotation. Intensive mineral fertilizer (F+M3) increased the average value of the carbon sequestration efficiency (CSE) by 12.9% and up to 26.3%. Combining organic and mineral fertilizers at moderate and higher intensities increased the soil organic matter quantity and quality compared to the unfertilized or manure treatment. Data on the glomalin content can be used to study the organic matter quality. We determined a strong correlation between the total glomalin content and the soil organic matter carbon, fulvic acid content, humic acid content, extractable carbon content, and dissolved organic carbon content, as well as the potential wettability index and aromaticity index.

The Czech Plant Nucleus Workshop 2021 (CPNW2021) took place during mid-September 2021 in Olomouc, Czech Republic. About 80 researchers and students working in the field of plant nuclear and chromosome biology in the Czech Republic gathered together to present and discuss their current research. The meeting revealed many plant models that are used to study plant genomes and their organization, and also a great diversity of topics including epigenetic regulation of gene expression, genome stability, telomere biology, or sex chromosomes. CPNW2021 provided a broad platform for establishing new research contacts and collaborations. Here, we summarize the main research directions and findings presented at the CPNW2021 meeting.

A rapid rise of global population has led to the intensive production of laundry wastewater. Industrial laundries release effluents in large volumes containing many contaminants, which causes the effluent to be loaded with suspended solids while displaying variable chemical and physical values. In consequence, the laundry wastewater has highly toxic properties and imposes negative impacts on the environment, such as water bodies pollution and eutrophication. On average, the laundry business uses around 15 L of freshwater to process 1 kg of linen. A conventional laundry with the capacity of 10 t linen/d produces a total amount of 150 m3 of wastewater daily. Due to the rising amount of discharge effluent, the adequate wastewater treatment is necessary in order to minimize the environmental impact. This review begins with an assessment of the amounts and chemical composition of laundry effluents, which varies depending on the location. Then it evaluates the available treatment technologies. Understanding of the basic treatment methods is fundamental for the development of an effective treatment system, that would typically consist of multi-processes (physicochemical, biological, or combination of both). Such systems would ideally treat, purify, and recover water and valuable substances from the detergent. The outcome of this review is a general overview and evaluation of available recovery technologies for laundry wastewater treatment and recommendations for their further development.

We present climatology and trends of the UTCI obtained from the ERA5 reanalysis between 1941 and 2018 for the Czech Republic. Long-term average of the UTCI exposes regions with approximately similar stress levels given by weather on humans, and it also forms the basis for the first bioclimatological mapping of the Czech Republic. Furthermore, positive long-term trends of UTCI indicate gradually increasing thermal stress on humans in all seasons but winter, in which, on the contrary, the cold stress decreases. Nevertheless, inhomogeneities in our results are expected because of flattened orography due to the coarse resolution of ERA5.

Abstract Unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) is the end-product of heme catabolism in the intravascular compartment. Although beneficial for human health when mildly elevated in the body, when present at greater than a critical threshold concentration, UCB exerts toxic effects that are related to its physico-chemical properties, particularly affecting the central nervous system. The aim of the present study was to characterize bilirubin-10-sulfonate (ranarubin), a naturally occurring bile pigment, including determination of its mixed acidity constants (pK a *). Thanks to the presence of the sulfonic acid moiety, this compound is more polar compared to UCB, which might theoretically solve the problem with an accurate determination of the UCB pK a * values of its propionic acid carboxylic groups. Bilirubin-10-sulfonate was synthesized by modification of a previously described procedure; and its properties were studied by mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Determination of pK a * values of bilirubin-10-sulfonate and UCB was performed by capillary electrophoresis with low pigment concentrations in polar buffers. The identity of the synthesized bilirubin-10-sulfonate was confirmed by MS, and the pigment was further characterized by NMR, IR, and CD spectroscopy. The pK a values of carboxylic acid moieties of bilirubin-10-sulfonate were determined to be 5.02, whereas those of UCB were determined to be 9.01. The physico-chemical properties of bilirubin-10-sulfonate were partially characterized with low pK a * values compared to those of UCB, indicating that bilirubin-10-sulfonate cannot be used as a surrogate pigment for UCB chemical studies. In addition, using a different methodological approach, the pK a * values of UCB were found to be in a mildly alkaline region, confirming the conclusions of a recent critical re-evaluation of this specific issue.

Reducing energy costs in Europe is more challenging than before due to extreme price increases. The use of local renewable energy sources is one way to contribute to this effort. In the case of spa resorts, the use of heat from hot springs for therapeutic baths is an option. It is necessary to cool down this thermal mineral water to a temperature acceptable to the human body. However, due to the high mineral content of this water, heavy fouling can be a problem for conventional heat exchangers. The purpose of this study is to identify the suitable cooling technology in terms of required cooling capacity and waste heat recovery capability. The cooling technology was selected on the basis of a literature search. A pilot cooling unit consisting of vacuum cooler and plate heat exchanger was designed and tested in a real spa resort for six months. Both selected technologies have demonstrated the ability to cool thermal mineral water in long-term operation, as well as the possibility to utilize waste heat for domestic hot water heating. However, fouling problems occur in the plate heat exchanger. The vacuum cooler demonstrated greater operational robustness and resistance to encrustation.

Nadežda Jankelová, Zuzana Joniaková, Jana Blštáková, Zuzana Skorková, Katarína ProcházkováDepartment of Management, Faculty of Business Management, University of Economics in Bratislava, Bratislava, SlovakiaCorrespondence: Nadežda JankelováDepartment of Management, Faculty of Business Management, University of Economics in Bratislava, Dolnozemská Cesta 1, Bratislava, 852 35, SlovakiaTel +421 911 232 927Email nadezda.jankelova@euba.skPurpose: The fast and shocking onset of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 virus created the need for a complete crisis management of healthcare facilities to manage the current stage of the crisis. The purpose of our research is to examine the relations between the competences of crisis management in healthcare facilities and the performance of employees, measured during the acute stage of the crisis by their feeling of satisfaction, safety and creation of conditions for work, whereby we assume that these variables are mutually interlinked by the sharing of information, teamwork and cognitive diversity of the work teams.Materials and Methods: A questionnaire survey was created and used based on a sample of 216 mid-level managers of health care facilities in Slovakia, which took place during the first month after the outbreak of the crisis (during the month of March/April 2020). The Baron and Kenny mediator model has been used for research purposes and the Freedman–Schatzkin test has been used to test the mediator effect. Regression analysis has been used to verify the hypotheses. The control variables were the size of the healthcare facility based on the number of employees, gender and age of the manager, his position in the management hierarchy and the duration of practice in a management position. The ANOVA analysis of variance was used to analyze multiple dependencies. The level of significance was 5%. The research sample consisted of 216 managers at different types of healthcare facilities.Results: The hypothesis for the dependency between the crisis competences of management and performance of teams during the acute stage of the crisis, facilitated by sharing information, teamwork and cognitive diversity of crisis management was confirmed. It is a multilateral incomplete mediation, where almost two thirds of the total effect are facilitated by mediators, of which the sharing of information has the greatest effect (35%).Conclusion: Based on our mediation model, healthcare facilities, which strive to implement crisis management during the acute stage of the crisis, should place emphasis especially on reliable background information and the fast sharing of information, supporting the performance of healthcare teams. The strategies for achieving these goals should also include education focused on the development of managerial competences.Keywords: crisis management, sharing information, teamwork, team performance, cognitive diversity

The contribution brings attention to the growing role of knowledge intensive services in the Society 4.0. Faculty of Economics of the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň joined forces with the Institute of Technology and Economics in České Budějovice in the project “Knowledge-intensive services sector adaptation to the conditions of Society 4.0” supported by the programme ÉTA of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic. This contribution summarizes the research results of the completed first phase of the project: the development of two studies focused on identification, analysis and evaluation of methods and tools for knowledge intensive services adaptation and catalogue of requirements to competencies and skills to the changing jobs. Those studies were complemented by the questionnaire research among the relevant companies in Plzeň and South Bohemia regions followed by semi-structured interviews with managers of selected companies. The presented findings, observations, recommendations and feedback from business practice form the basis for the second phase of the project, which is focused on creating a methodology for adapting small and medium-sized enterprises in the services sector to the conditions of Society 4.0.

Maize (Zea mays L.) belongs among the most important agriculture crops all over the world. The conventional way of cultivating maize with wide row spacing does not have a soil conservation effect and significantly contributes to water erosion and surface run-off. In our research, we tested the soil conservation technology (strip-till into grass cover) which took place in 2016 and 2017 in the location of Central Bohemia. The impact of a strip-till system of maize into grass cover on reducing the soil loss due to erosion was verified on the area of 21 m2 using a rainfall simulator. During the research, 70 measurements were realised. The strip-till was compared to fallow land, conventional cultivation and no-till methods. Profound differences were found in the soil loss between the treatments. There was a decrease in the soil loss of about 98% in the strip-till compared to the conventional cultivation. Moreover, the surface run-off was reduced by 79%. The ANCOVA (analysis of covariance) models of the log-transformed soil loss on the surface run-off and treatment were highly significant (P < 10-15). The measurement results clearly demonstrate the positive effect of the strip-till into the grass on the surface run-off and soil loss. This positive soil conservation effect was observed even in springtime, as well as the rest of the season. Using a grass cover for establishing the maize significantly contributes to the soil conservation on the land threatened by erosion and offers farmers a suitable way of farming when growing maize. Strip-tilling is a technology that has great potential in sustainable farming.

Social enterprises have become a natural part of the economy. Their importance is significantly increasing, as well as the need to evaluate their performance. There are different points of view on the indicators and methods used to evaluate their performance and they often lack simplicity and are costly and time consuming. Thus, this study aims to identify and discuss performance evaluation indicators for social enterprises with particular focus on identifying a set of indicators that might be applied without placing high demands on each social enterprise. A two-phase approach was adopted and applied in the Czech social entrepreneurship environment. First, the Delphi technique was used to get a set of indicators for each of the areas of the triple bottom line principles. Consequently, an empirical examination of these indicators using a set of social enterprises was conducted. Final results were determined using Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). As a result, a set of twelve indicators that cover social, economic, environmental and local areas are proposed. These indicators reflect the opinions of experts in the field as well as their practical usefulness, which is discussed at the end of the paper.

Bordetella pertussis

Snow algae are photosynthetic microbes that inhabit the melting snow surface in alpine and polar regions. We analyzed the pigment and species composition of colored snow collected on Mt. Tateyama in Japan during the melting seasons of 2015 and 2016. High-performance liquid chromatographic analyses of the pigments extracted from the colored snow showed that their composition varied within the study area and were classified into four types: Type A (astaxanthin-monoester dominant), Type B (medium astaxanthin-monoester content), Type C (abundant primary carotenoids and free-astaxanthin), and Type D (abundant primary carotenoids and astaxanthin diesters). Types A and B were most commonly observed in the study area, whereas Types C and D appeared only at specific sites. Analysis of the 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene revealed six major amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) of snow algae, belonging to the Sanguina, Chloromonas, and Chlainomonas groups. The relative abundance of the algal ASVs showed that Sanguina was dominant (>48%) in both Types A and B, suggesting that the difference in astaxanthin abundance between the two types was caused by the production of pigments in the algal cells. The algal community structures of Types C and D differed from those of Types A and B, indicating that the primary carotenoids and astaxanthin diesters were derived from certain algal species in these types. Therefore, astaxanthin-rich Sanguina algae mostly induced the red snow that appeared widely in this alpine area; however, they were partially dominated by Chloromonas or Chlainomonas algae, causing different pigment compositions.