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Based on reconstruction of the spatial context of causewayed enclosures and long barrows of the Proto- and Early Eneolithic period, we attempt to model the phenomenon of the ritual landscape in Central and North Bohemia. Discussing the purpose and meaning of the long barrows and enclosures, they are being described as funerary and religious structures related to the cult of ancestors. An alternative explanation views them primarily, in economic terms, as territorial markers delineating the areas controlled by different communities. It seems likely that both of these interpretations are valid and well characterise the true nature of such structures. Both types of monuments should not be perceived as isolated structures, but just the opposite as they are part of a pattern of regional and super-regional identity of communities and individuals. In fact, they are crucial elements of the overall system of structuring of the prehistoric landscape.

Determining pharmaceutical levels in fish plasma represents an increasingly valuable approach for environmental assessments of pharmaceuticals. These fish plasma observations are compared to human therapeutic plasma doses because of the high evolutionary conservation of many drug targets among vertebrates. In the present study, we initially identified highly variable information regarding plasma sampling practices in the literature and then tested the hypothesis that fish plasma levels of selected pharmaceuticals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) would not change with time to process samples from the field. After common carp were placed in a wastewater-fed pond for one month, we immediately sampled fish plasma nonlethally in the field or after transferring fish to clean water and held them under these conditions for either 3 or 20 h. We then quantitated pharmaceuticals in water, and pharmaceuticals and PFASs in plasma by LC-MSMS. Whereas plasma levels of most pharmaceuticals decreased even after 3 h that fish spent in clean water, plasma concentrations of the PFASs examined here remained stable over 20 h. Collectively, our examination of these time-dependent sampling approaches and associated findings highlight the importance of appropriate and consistent sampling for bioaccumulation studies, biomonitoring activities, and aquaculture product safety evaluations.

The drive to develop maximal atom-efficient catalysts coupled to the continuous striving for more sustainable reactions has led to an ever-increasing interest in single-atom catalysis. Based on a periodic conceptual density functional theory (cDFT) approach, fundamental insights into the reactivity and adsorption of single late transition metal atoms supported on a fully hydroxylated amorphous silica surface have been acquired. In particular, this investigation revealed that the influence of van der Waals dispersion forces is especially significant for a silver (98 %) or gold (78 %) atom, whereas the oxophilicity of the Group 8–10 transition metals plays a major role in the interaction strength of these atoms on the irreducible SiO2 support. The adsorption energies for the less-electronegative row 4 elements (Fe, Co, Ni) ranged from −1.40 to −1.92 eV, whereas for the heavier row 5 and 6 metals, with the exception of Pd, these values are between −2.20 and −2.92 eV. The deviating behavior of Pd can be attributed to a fully filled d-shell and, hence, the absence of the hybridization effects. Through a systematic analysis of cDFT descriptors determined by using three different theoretical schemes, the Fermi weighted density of states approach was identified as the most suitable for describing the reactivity of the studied systems. The main advantage of this scheme is the fact that it is not influenced by fictitious Coulomb interactions between successive, charged reciprocal cells. Moreover, the contribution of the energy levels to the reactivity is simultaneously scaled based on their position relative to the Fermi level. Finally, the obtained Fermi weighted density of states reactivity trends show a good agreement with the chemical characteristics of the investigated metal atoms as well as the experimental data.

Autor opracowania wybiera z wielu zagadnień poruszanych w Liście 22 św. Hieronima temat dziewictwa rozumianego jako ustawiczna walka dla Pana i analizuje fundamenty biblijne tej idei. Próbuje najpierw ustalić cel, jaki przyświecał św. Hieronimowi, piszącemu ten list, czyli ukazanie, w świetle Biblii, z jednej strony racji i piękna życia w dziewictwie, z drugiej zaś trudów i wyrzeczeń, które trzeba nieustannie podejmować, aby wytrwać w tym stanie. Zajmuje się następnie odnośnymi tekstami biblijnymi, pochodzącymi głównie z Nowego Testamentu, zwłaszcza z Ewangelii i z listów św. Pawła apostoła; analizuje ich użycie, wybrane zwroty i wyrażenia (pochodzące niekiedy ze świata sportowców i żołnierzy) oraz ich kontekst literacki i doktrynalny. Podaje następnie konkretne elementy duchowej walki podejmowanej przez dziewicę dla Chrystusa (modlitwa, rozważanie Pisma świętego, milczenie, post, pozostawanie w domu, różne umartwienia dotyczące ciała i ducha), który osobiście dał nam dowody najwyższej miłości, ubóstwa i wytrwałości w znoszeniu cierpień. Pyta na zakończenie, w kontekście ciągle aktualnej debaty dotyczącej dziewictwa i małżeństwa, o znaczenie omawianego Listu 22 św. Hieronima dla tego tematu w perspektywie biblijnej, chrystologicznej, eklezjologicznej i eschatologicznej. St. Jerome deals with many themes in his Letter 22 to Eustochium, but the author focuses on virginity interpreted as a constant struggle for the Lord, and he analyses the Biblical foundations of this exposition. He first tries to clarify St. Jerome’s purpose as he wrote this letter, that is, the articulation, in the light of the Bible, on the one hand of the reason and beauty of life in virginity, and on the other hand the difficulties and renunciations that have to be constantly undertaken so as to persevere in this state. He then discusses the pertinent Biblical references, primarily from the New Testament and in particular from the Gospels and the letters of the apostle St. Paul. He analyses their use, the chosen expressions and terms (sometimes taken from the vocabulary of sportsmen and soldiers) and their literary and doctrinal context. He then lists concrete elements of the spiritual struggle undertaken by the virgin for Christ (prayer, meditating of the Sacred Scriptures, silence, fasting, remaining at home, various mortifications pertaining to the body and spirit), as the Lord has personally given us proofs of supreme love, poverty and perseverance in the withstanding of sufferings. Finally, in the context of the continuously actual debate about virginity and marriage, he questions the value of the discussed Letter 22 of St. Jerome for this theme within a Biblical, Christological, ecclesiological and eschatological perspective.

The growing importance of aquaculture products for human health also raises the question of product sustainability and decreasing its costs. Insects are considered as novel feed ingredients and source of proteins. In this study, a twelve-week feeding trial with replacement of 25% fishmeal by a mixture of house cricket (Acheta domesticus) and superworm (Zophobas morio) in the fish feed was conducted with perch (Perca fluviatilis). There were no significant differences in this feeding trial, regarding survival, but decreased fish growth and increased feed conversion between the control and the experimental fed groups. Hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP1A and CYP3A-like) activity and fatty acid (FA) composition were assessed in perch also. No significant effects were observed on cytochrome P450 activity associated with presence of toxic compounds in fish. Feeding with insect pellets resulted in significant increasing of linoleic FA and an increase of the total content of n-6 FA in fish fillets, compared to the fish fillets from control group. However, changes in FA composition were only minor and did not affect the nutritional value of the fish with insect-based diet for human consumption. Further evaluation should be conducted with different ratios or different insect species.

Freshwater protected areas are designated parts of the inland waters that restrict human activities. They were created as a mechanism to combat the decline of fauna and flora of the world. Some authors have questioned their actual effectiveness in terms of the purpose of protecting endangered fauna and flora. We conducted an experiment in Lipno reservoir in the Czech Republic to evaluate the impact of protection against angling pressure on the fish community. We selected data from two years of gill netting and analyzed the difference between areas of low anthropogenic impact (LAI) and those of high anthropogenic impact (HAI) in terms of abundance, biomass, standard length, and diversity indices. Three groups of fish were found to prefer protected areas with low anthropogenic pressure: 1. YOY (Young-of-the-year) perch (Perca fluviatilis), the dominant of the young-of-the-year fish community. 2. Pike (Esox lucius), wels catfish (Silurus glanis) and rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus), which were not found in HAI areas at all. 3. Larger individuals of pikeperch (Stizostedion lucioperca), which survived better in LAI areas. Some factors may affect LAI, such as illegal poaching or setting out food bait to attract the fish outside. Another factor that can be considered is the migration of fish, either to forage or to reproduce, since the LAI areas are open to the reservoir. The areas of LAI act as protective habitats for heavily exploited predatory fish species and increase fish diversity indexes. The example of the protected and low-impact areas of Lipno should be followed in other water bodies with high fishing pressure and anthropogenic impact.

A stable ionic κ2Sn,P-coordinated Ru complex shows excellent catalytic activity in aerobic oxidations of benzylamine and benzyl alcohol. This complex is stabilized by a stannylene-phosphine peri-substituted naphthalene ligand, which can act as either a reducing agent for a Ru(III) complex or as a κ2Sn,P-chelating ligand for Ru(II) compounds.

Alpha-Iminopyridine ligands L-1(2-(CH=N(C6H2-2,4,6-Ph-3))C5H4N), L-2 (2-(CH=N(C6H2-2,4,6-tBu(3)))C5H4N) and L-3 (1,2-(C5H4N-2-CH=N)(2)CH2CH2) differing by the steric demand of the substituent on the imine CH=N group and by the number of donating nitrogen atoms were utilized to initiate a Lewis base mediated ionization of SnCl2 in an effort to prepare ionic tin(II) species [L1-3 -> SnCl][SnCl3]. The reaction of L-1 and L-2 with SnCl2 led to the formation of neutral adducts [L-1 -> SnCl2] (2) and [L-2 -> SnCl2] (3). The preparation of the desired ionic compounds was achieved by subsequent reactions of 2 and 3 with an equivalent of SnCl2 or GaCl3. In contrast, ligand L-3 containing four donor nitrogen atoms showed the ability to ionize SnCl2 and also Sn(OTf)(2), yielding [L-3 -> SnCl][SnCl3] (7) and [L-3 -> Sn(H2O)][OTf](2) (8). The study thus revealed that the reaction is dependent on the type of the ligand. The prepared complexes 4-8 together with the previously reported [{2-((CH3)C=N(C6H3-2,6-iPr(2)))-6-CH3O-C5H3N}SnCl][SnCl3] (1) were tested as catalysts for the ROP of L-lactide, which could operate via an activated monomer mechanism. Finally, a DFT computational study was performed to evaluate the steric and electronic properties of the ionic tin(II) species 1 and 4-8 together with their ability to interact with the L-lactide monomer. Alfa-iminopyridinové ligandy L-1(2-(CH=N(C6H2-2,4,6-Ph-3))C5H4N), L-2 (2-(CH=N(C6H2-2,4,6- tBu(3)))C5H4N) a L-3 (1,2-(C5H4N-2-CH=N)(2)CH2CH2) lišící se stericitou substituentu na iminové skupině CH=N a počtem donorových atomů dusíku byly použity k autoionizaci SnCl2 zprostředkované Lewisovou bází ve snaze připravit cínaté iontové komplexy [L1-3 -> SnCl][SnCl3]. Reakce L-1 a L-2 se SnCl2 vedla ke vzniku neutrálních aduktů [L-1 -> SnCl2] (2) a [L-2 -> SnCl2] (3). Příprava požadovaných iontových sloučenin byla dosažena následnými reakcemi s ekvivalentem SnCl2 nebo GaCl3. Naproti tomu ligand L-3 obsahující čtyři donorové atomy dusíku vykazoval schopnost ionizovat SnCl2 a také Sn(OTf)(2), čímž vznikl [L-3 -> SnCl][SnCl3] (7) a [L-3 -> Sn(H20)][OTf](2) (8). Studie tak odhalila, že reakce je závislá na typu ligandu. Připravené komplexy 4-8 spolu s dříve uvedeným [{2-((CH3)C=N(C6H3-2,6-iPr(2)))-6-CH3O-C5H3N}SnCl][SnCl3] (1) byly testovány jako katalyzátory pro ROP L-laktidu prostřednictvím mechanismu aktivovaného monomeru. Nakonec byla provedena výpočetní DFT studie, aby se vyhodnotily sterické a elektronické vlastnosti cínatých iontových komplexů 1 a 4-8 spolu s jejich schopností interagovat s monomerem L-laktidu.

Les façons dont le « package campaniforme » a été diffusé dans la majeure partie de l’Europe centrale et occidentale ont probablement été différentes d’une région à l’autre. Des artefacts prestigieux circulaient par échange, migration par infiltration, mariages interrégionaux et mobilité d’individus. Mais cela n’explique pas pourquoi des personnes qui se trouvaient dans des régions géographiquement et culturellement éloignées ont subitement partagé un style et un système symbolique uniformes. Le nouveau système symbolique ainsi que le set d’artefacts significatifs contribuaient à renforcer l’identité collective en maintenant une série d’activités spirituelles. Au sein de pratiques funéraires individualisées, l’importance de la communication avec les ancêtres est soulignée, le statut social des défunts mis en lumière, au même titre qu’une hiérarchie sociale, se trouve confirmée et un système de descendance basé sur la richesse héréditaire d’individus et de familles est renforcé. Cet article soutient l’hypothèse selon laquelle cette uniformisation et la diffusion rapide d’une uniformité commune surviennent à ce moment-là à cause d’une idéologie commune qui se servait du nouvel ensemble du set campaniforme en tant qu’expression officielle d’une unité symbolique et cosmologique. The ways in which the “Bell Beaker package” spread across most of Central and Western Europe may have been different from region to region. Prestigious artefacts circulated through exchange, migration by infiltration, interregional marriages and mobility of individuals. This, however, does not explain why people from geographically and culturally distant regions suddenly shared a distinct uniform style and symbolic system. The new symbolic system and the package of significant artefacts helped to reinforce collective identity and maintained a range of spiritual activities. Within these individualised funerary practices people emphasised communication with their ancestors and a display of their social status, as well as confirmation of social hierarchy and reinforcement of a genealogical system of hereditary wealth of individuals and families. I believe that this unification and rapid spread of shared uniformity occurred as a result of a common ideology that used the new assemblage of the Bell Beaker package as a formal expression of symbolical and cosmological unity.

Autor artykułu podejmuje temat polemiki św. Hieronima z herezjami w świetle jego Homilii o Psalmie 82 (seria II). Omawia najpierw niektóre cechy ogólne tej polemiki, a następnie te jej elementy, które odnoszą się do konkretnych autorów, czyli Maniego, Marcjona, Ariusza, Walentyna i Bazylidesa. Ukazuje w tym kontekście św. Hieronima jako obrońcę jedności całego Pisma św., twierdzącego, że Nowy Testament jest logiczną kontynuacją i dopełnieniem Starego Testamentu. Przedstawia autora Wulgaty jako opowiadającego się zdecydowanie za prawdziwym bóstwem Chrystusa, przeciwko wszystkim tym, którzy widzieli w Nim jedynie stworzenie. Wreszcie prezentuje księcia egzegetów głoszącego absolutne panowanie Boga Najwyższego nad światem i wszystkimi stworzeniami, przeciwko twórcom nauki o neonach i ich rzekomo szczególnej mocy. Z opracowania wynika, że św. Hieronim mógł przejąć niektóre elementy polemiki z dzieł Orygenesa, jednak wykazuje on dużą kreatywność także w sporze z tymi heretykami, którzy nie byli znani w czasach autora O zasadach. The article deals with the polemic of St. Jerome against the heresies in the light of his Homily on Psalm 82 (series II). First, it discusses some general characteristics of this polemic and then those fragments of it that refer to specific authors, that is, to Manes, Marcion, Arius, Valentine and Basilides. In this context, St. Jerome is presented as the defender of the unity of the entire Scriptures, because he claimed that the New Testament is a logical continuation and fulfilment of the Old Testament. It is shown that the translator of the Vulgate decisively professed the true divinity of Christ against all those who saw in Him only a creature. Finally, the prince of the exegetes is presented as claiming the absolute dominion of Almighty God over the world and all creatures, this being against those who invented the teaching on the neons and their supposed particular power. The study demonstrates that St. Jerome could have taken certain elements of the polemic from the writings of Origen; nevertheless, he has manifested ample creativity also in the conflict with those heretics who were unknown in the times when the author of The Principles wrote.

With increasing population growth and climate change, de facto reuse practices are predicted to increase globally. We investigated a longitudinal gradient within the Uhlava River, a representative watershed, where de facto reuse is actively occurring, during Fall and Spring seasons when instream flows vary. We observed human pharmaceutical levels in the river to continuously increase from the mountainous areas upstream to downstream locations and a potable intake location, with the highest concentrations found in small tributaries. Significant relationship was identified between mass flow of pharmaceuticals and the size of human populations contributing to wastewater treatment plant discharges. Advanced ozonation and granular activated carbon filtration effectively removed pharmaceuticals from potable source waters. We observed a higher probability of encountering a number of targeted pharmaceuticals during colder Spring months when stream flows were elevated compared to warmer conditions with lower flows in the Fall despite a dilution paradigm routinely applied for surface water quality assessment and management efforts. Such observations translated to greater water quality hazards during these higher Spring flows. Future water monitoring efforts should account for periods when higher chemical uses occur, particularly in the face of climate change for regions experiencing population growth and de facto reuse.

The reactions of monomeric C,N-chelated organogermanium(II) hydride L(H)Ge⋅BH3 with organolithium salts RLi yielded lithium hydrogermanatoborates (Li(THF)2 {BH3 [L(H)GeR]})2 . Compound (Li(THF)2 {BH3 [L(H)GePh]})2 was used as a source of LiH for the reduction of organic C=O or C=N bonds in nonpolar solvents accompanied by the elimination of a neutral complex L(Ph)Ge⋅BH3 . The interaction of (Li(THF)2 {BH3 [L(H)GePh]})2 with the polar C=O bond was further investigated by computational studies revealing a plausible geometry of a pre-reactive intermediate. The experimental and theoretical studies suggest that, although the Li atom of (Li(THF)2 {BH3 [L(H)GePh]})2 coordinates the C=O bond, the GeH fragment is the active species in the reduction reaction. Finally, benzaldehyde was reduced by a mixture of L(H)Ge⋅BH3 with PhLi in nonpolar solvents.

Treatment of N,C,N-chelated organopnictogen(I) compounds ArE (1-3) (Ar=2,6-(RN=CH)2 C6 H3 , E/R=As/Dmp (1), Sb/tBu (2), and Bi/tBu (3), where Dmp=2,6-Me2 C6 H3 ) with various electron-deficient alkynes RC≡CR' (R/R'=CO2 Me (DMAD), R/R'=H/CO2 Me, or R/R'=NC5 F4 ) affords different types of heterocyclic compounds. In these reactions, 1-3 act as hidden dienes and participate in hetero-Diels-Alder (DA) reactions, a feature that has been only rarely reported for heavier pnictogen compounds. In this way, reactions of 1 furnished the set of 1-arsanaphthalenes 4-6. The most likely mechanism involves two steps, that is, an arsa-DA reaction giving a 1-arsa-1,4-dihydro-iminonaphthalene, followed by CH→NH proton migration. In contrast, this reaction sequence terminates at the first step in the case of the antimony analogue 2, thus giving the 1-stiba-1,4-dihydro-iminonaphthalenes 7 and 8. Reactions of the bismuth congener 3 gave one of two products depending on the alkyne used. Reaction of 3 with DMAD gave 1-bisma-1,4-dihydro-iminonaphthalene 9, whilst its reaction with two equivalents of HC≡C(CO2 Me) gave bismacyclohexadiene (10). All compounds have been characterized by NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopies and X-ray diffraction analysis. The experimental data were complemented by a computational study, including a description of the reaction profiles of the hetero-DA reactions and an assessment of the aromaticities of the heterocyclic naphthalene derivatives.

Aquaculture is increasing at the global scale, and beneficial reuse of wastewater is becoming crucial in some regions. Here we selected a unique tertiary treatment system for study over a one-year period. This experimental ecosystem-based approach to effluent management included a treated wastewater pond (TWP), which receives 100% effluent from a wastewater treatment plant, and an aquaculture pond (AP) that receives treated water from the TWP for fish production. We examined the fate of a wide range of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in this TWP-AP system and a control pond fed by river water using traditional grab sampling and passive samplers. We then employed probabilistic approaches to examine exposure hazards. Telmisartan, carbamazepine, diclofenac and venlafaxine, exceeded ecotoxicological predicted no effect concentrations in influent wastewater to the TWP, but these water quality hazards were consistently reduced following treatment in the TWP-AP system. In addition, both grab and passive sampling approaches resulted in similar occurrence patterns of studied compounds, which highlights the potential of POCIS use for water monitoring. Based on the approach taken here, the TWP-AP system appears useful as a tertiary treatment step to reduce PhACs and decrease ecotoxicological and antibiotic resistance water quality hazards prior to beneficial reuse in aquaculture.

Monitoring the contamination level in aquatic environments and assessing the impact on aquatic life occurs throughout the world. In the present study, an approach based on a combination of biomarkers and the distribution of various industrial and municipal pollutants was used to investigate the effect of aquatic environmental contamination on fish. Monitoring was performed in ten rivers in the Czech Republic (Berounka, Dyje, Elbe, Lužnice, Odra, Ohře, Otava, Sazava, Svratka, and Vltava rivers, with one or two locations in each river) at the same sites that were regularly monitored within the Czech National Monitoring Program in 2007–2011. Health status, hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, total cytochrome P450 content, and the plasma vitellogenin concentration were assessed in wild chub (Squalius cephalus) males caught at the monitored sites. The contamination level was the highest in the Svratka River downstream of Brno. Among all measured persistent organic pollutants (POPs), polychlorinated biphenyls and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites were the major contributors of POPs in fish muscle. Elbe, Odra, and Svratka rivers were identified as the most polluted. Fish from these locations showed reduced gonad size, increased vitellogenin concentration in male plasma, EROD, and total cytochrome P450 content. These biomarkers can be used for future environmental monitoring assessments. Overall, this study improves our understanding of the relationship between human activities and pollutant loads and further contributes to the decision to support local watershed managers to protect water quality in this region.

The 2,1-benzazaarsole (1) showed a diene-like reactivity towards selected alkynes RC≡CR (R=CO 2 Me, C 5 F 4 N) thus forming 1-arsa-1,4-dihydro-iminonaphthalenes 2 a and 3 a as hardly isolable intermediates, that underwent facile CH→NH proton migration leading to before elusive substituted 1-arsanaphthalenes 2 b and 3 b that could be completely structurally characterized.

Monomeric organogermanium(II) hydrides {(LGeH)M(CO) 5 } (M = Cr (1), W (2), L = [2-(CH 2 NEt 2 )-4,6-tBu 2 -C 6 H 2 ] – ) were treated with ortho-quinones and terminal alkyne HC≡CCO 2 Me to give {[(LH)Ge(κ 2 -O 2 -3,5-tBu 2 C 6 H 2 )]M(CO) 5 } (M = Cr (3), W (4)), {[(LH)Ge(κ 2 -O 2 -3,4,5,6-Cl 4 C 6 )]M(CO) 5 } (M = Cr (5), W (6)) and {[LGeCH=CH(COOMe)]Cr(CO) 5 } (11). These reactions proceeded as catalyst-free reductions of C=O and C≡C bonds. Experimental data demonstrated zwitterionic character of Ge(II) complexes 3–6, where the 1,3,2-benzodioxagermylenolato anion involving the GeO 2 C 2 five membered ring coordinates the M(CO) 5 fragment. This anionic part is compensated by the NHEt 2 counter cation that is part of ligand L. Reactions of 1 and 2 differ mutually in the case of reduction of HC≡CCO 2 Me. The experimental and theoretical data suggest that compound 1 reacts with HC≡CCO 2 Me to give vinyl germylene 11 as the product of the anti-Markovnikov cis-1,2-addition, while complex 2 is inactive. These results thus suggest that the reactivity of the terminal GeH bond may be tuned by its coordination to various transition metals.

This study characterized changes in biomarker responses in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) upon exposure to effluent water discharged from a sewage treatment plant (STP) under real conditions. Fish were exposed to contamination in Cezarka pond, which receives all of its water input from the STP in the town of Vodnany, Czech Republic. Five sampling events were performed at day 0, 30, 90, 180, and 360 starting in April 2015. In total, 62 pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) were detected in the polar organic chemical integrative sampler. Compared to a control pond, the total concentration of PPCPs was 45, 16, 7, and 7 times higher in Cezarka pond at day 30, 90, 180, and 360, respectively. The result of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme biomarkers indicated alterations in the liver and intestine tissues of fish from Cezarka pond at day 30 and 360, respectively. High plasma vitellogenin levels were observed in both exposed females (180 and 360 days) and males (360 days) compared with their respective controls. However, only exposed female fish had higher vitellogenin mRNA expression than the control fish in these periods. Exposed female fish showed irregular structure of the ovary with scattered oocytes, which further developed to a vitellogenic stage at day 360. Low white blood cell levels were indicated in all exposed fish. Despite numerous alterations in exposed fish, favorable ecological conditions including high availability of food resulted in a better overall condition of the exposed fish after 1 year of exposure compared to the controls.

W opracowaniu został podjęty temat języków, którymi posługiwali się chrześcijanie Afryki Północnej. Jako że wywodzili się oni głównie z trzech obszarów kulturowych (fenickiego, greckiego i łacińskiego), próbuje się najpierw ustalić, jak wielu z nich mówiło po fenicku (właściwiej po punicku), grecku albo po łacinie. Ukazuje się następnie, że w analizowanym okresie od III do V wieku środowisko Rzymian propagowało bardzo skutecznie swój język i swoją kulturę. To powodowało, że coraz więcej chrześcijan tego regionu posługiwało się łaciną i, konsekwentnie, najwięcej świadectw literackich (także w odniesieniu do języków fenickiego i greckiego) zachowało się w tym języku. Co więcej, dostrzega się, że to właśnie głównie dzięki chrześcijanom Afryki Północnej, a nie Rzymu, łacina stała się z biegiem czasu głównym językiem Kościoła. Analizując odnośne teksty Tertuliana, św. Cypriana i św. Augustyna, wyróżnia się trzy różne style łaciny używanej przez tamtejszych chrześcijan. Chodzi najpierw o język wykwintny, którego twórcy kontynuowali (wprowadzając znaczące zmiany co do treści i słownictwa) styl pisania oparty na starożytnej łacinie klasycznej. Ci sami autorzy jednak używali w wielu wypadkach, zwłaszcza w katechezie i w kaznodziejstwie, łaciny prostszej, biorąc pod uwagę możliwości percepcyjne zwykłych wiernych. Najuboższą łaciną posługiwali się ci, którzy byli wychowani w najniższych warstwach, zwłaszcza społeczności fenickiej. The study has focused on the languages used by Christians in North Africa. Since they derived primarily from three cultural backgrounds (Phoenician, Greek and Latin), first of all, it tries to ascertain how many of them spoke Phoenician (strictly speaking: Punic), Greek or Latin. It turns out that in the studied time period, from the III to V centuries, the Roman circles furthered their own language and culture and they did this very effectively. As a result, more and more Christians in the region used Latin, and in consequence most of the literary production (even that which originally had been in Punic and Greek) survived in the Latin version. Furthermore, it is noted that it was primarily thanks to the Christians of North Africa, and not of Rome, that in time, Latin became the major language of the Church. As the respective texts of Tertullian, St. Cyprian and St. Augustine are compared, it becomes clear that there were three different styles of Latin used by these Christians. First of all, there was the polished language, in which the authors continued the style of writing based on ancient classical Latin (even though they introduced changes as to the meaning and terminology used). These same authors, in many cases, in particular in catechesis and preaching used a simpler Latin, taking into account the perceptive capacities of the simple faithful. The poorest Latin was used by those who were brought up in the lowest strata, particularly in the Phoenician society.

Reservoirs are known to alter temperature and flow regimes, shift nutrient cycles, reduce downstream species diversity and enable a predominantly upstream spread of non-native species. However, information about the seasonal dynamics of the spread of non-natives from a reservoir to its tributaries and the further consequences regarding the spatial distribution of native species is rare. We observed the occurrence of fish in the Vltava River and its tributaries (Elbe catchment area, central Europe) upstream of the Lipno Reservoir for five consecutive years. We radio-tagged two non-native and four native species. To detect assemblage spatial variability, we sampled sites in the study area by electrofishing twice per year (spring and autumn). We expected seasonal trends in non-native species appearance in upstream reservoir tributaries and, conversely, low motivation of native fishes to descend to the reservoir. By analysing nearly 3000 individuals of 21 species from the longitudinal profile of the study area, we observed an effect of reservoir distance on the native species ratio in the upper Vltava catchment area, i.e., an increase in distance increased the native species proportion, and the opposite was observed for non-native species. Analyses of 3798 tracking positions of 193 tagged individuals showed massive spring dispersal of non-native species from the reservoir to the main tributary, the Vltava River, and their return to the reservoir for wintering. Their upstream movement positively correlated with an increase in flow rate. Native Salmo trutta showed a specific shift from the Vltava River to smaller streams during the summer, when the presence of non-native species in the Vltava River was most significant. These findings indicate that non-native species repeatedly spread from the reservoir to the upstream river stretch and its tributaries and potentially compete with native species for resources.

Fluxes of major ions and nutrients were measured in the N-saturated mountain forest catchment-lake system of Certovo Lake (Czech Republic) from 1998 to 2014. The lake has been rapidly recovering from atmospheric acidification due to a 90% decrease in sulphate (SO42−) deposition since the late 1980s and nitrate (NO3−) contribution to the pool of strong acid anion and leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) have increased. Present concentrations of base cations, phosphorus (P), total organic N (TON), and ionic (Ali) and organically bound (Alo) aluminium in tributaries are thus predominantly governed by NO3− and DOC leaching. Despite a continuing recovery lasting 25 years, the Certovo catchment is still a net source of protons (H+), producing 44 mmol m−2 yr−1 H+ on a catchment-area basis (corresponding to 35 μmol L−1 on a concentration basis). Retention of the deposited inorganic N in the catchment averages 20%, and ammonium consumption (51 mmol m−2 yr−1) and net NO3− production (28 mol m−2 yr−1) are together the dominant terrestrial H+ generating processes. In contrast, the importance of SO42− release from the soils on terrestrial H+ production is continuously decreasing, with an average of 47 mmol m−2 yr−1 during the study. The in-lake biogeochemical processes reduce the incoming acidity by ∼40%, neutralizing 23 μmol L−1 H+ (i.e., 225 mmol m−2 yr−1 on a lake-area basis). Denitrification and photochemical and microbial decomposition of DOC are the most important in-lake H+ consuming processes (50 and 39%, respectively), while hydrolysis of Ali (from tributaries and photochemically liberated from Alo) is the dominant in-lake H+ generating process. Because the trends in water chemistry and H+ balance in the catchment-lake system are increasingly related to variability in NO3− and DOC leaching, they have become sensitive to climate-related factors (drought, elevated runoff) and forest damage that significantly modify the leaching of these anions. During the study period, increased exports of NO3− (accompanied by Ali and base cations) from the Certovo catchment occurred after a dry and hot summer, after forest damage, and during elevated winter runoff. Increasing DOC export due to decreasing acid deposition was further elevated during years with higher runoff (and especially during events with lateral flow), and was accompanied by P, TON, and Alo leaching. The climate-related processes, which originally “only” confounded chemical trends in waters recovering from acidification, may soon become the dominant variables controlling water composition in N-saturated catchments.

The concentrations of seven perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were investigated in 36 European chub (Squalius cephalus) individuals from six localities in the Czech Republic. Chub muscle and liver tissue were analysed at all sampling sites. In addition, analyses of 16 target PFASs were performed in Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers (POCISs) deployed in the water at the same sampling sites. We evaluated the possibility of using passive samplers as a standardized method for monitoring PFAS contamination in aquatic environments and the mutual relationships between determined concentrations. Only perfluorooctane sulphonate was above the LOQ in fish muscle samples and 52% of the analysed fish individuals exceeded the Environmental Quality Standard for water biota. Fish muscle concentration is also particularly important for risk assessment of fish consumers. The comparison of fish tissue results with published data showed the similarity of the Czech results with those found in Germany and France. However, fish liver analysis and the passive sampling approach resulted in different fish exposure scenarios. The total concentration of PFASs in fish liver tissue was strongly correlated with POCIS data, but pollutant patterns differed between these two matrices. The differences could be attributed to the metabolic activity of the living organism. In addition to providing a different view regarding the real PFAS cocktail to which the fish are exposed, POCISs fulfil the Three Rs strategy (replacement, reduction, and refinement) in animal testing.

Environmental monitoring and surveillance studies of pharmaceuticals routinely examine occurrence of substances without current information on human consumption patterns. We selected 10 streams with diverse annual flows and differentially influenced by population densities to examine surface water occurrence and fish accumulation of select psychoactive medicines, for which consumption is increasing in the Czech Republic. We then tested whether passive sampling can provide a useful surrogate for exposure to these substances through grab sampling, body burdens of young of year fish, and tissue specific accumulation of these psychoactive contaminants. We identified a statistically significant (p 0.05) relationship between ambient grab samples and passive samplers in these streams when psychoactive contaminants were commonly quantitated by targeted liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, though we did not observe relationships between passive samplers and tissue specific pharmaceutical accumulation. We further observed smaller lotic systems with elevated contamination when municipal effluent discharges from more highly populated cities contributed a greater extent of instream flows. These findings identify the importance of understanding age and species specific differences in fish uptake, internal disposition, metabolism and elimination of psychoactive drugs across surface water quality gradients.

The huge stone statues of winged bulls with human heads at the gates of Assyrian palaces are among the most iconic symbols of ancient Mesopotamia. They were meant as protective spirits. They protected the land between Euphrates and Tigris almost for three millennia but now they were beaten by the evil spirit of ISIL (ISIS). The statues have guarded the gates of Nineveh near present-day Mosul since the palace was built in the 7th century BC. They stood during the glory and fall of the Assyrian empire and survived in their original location even when excavated in the 1840s and when many of its treasures were carried off to Britain and America. On Thursday, 26th of February 2015, they fell to men with a power drill and a mission to erase every trace of Iraq’s pre-Islamic history. Shortly after the capture of Mosul in June 2014, ISIS started systematic and spectacular demolitions of the city’s architectural and cultural heritage as a part of the ideological war against Iraq’s integrity, historical memory and civilization. The civilian citizens of Mosul have several times peacefully opposed this vandalism and often successfully. The so-called Caliphate’s policy is to destroy the large monuments in the most theatrical way and show off their crimes on social networks, while the smaller portable artefacts they hypocritically sell abroad, mainly to dealers and immoral collectors in Western Europe and America. The powerless feeling amongst the global archaeological community is devastating. To many of us, who believe in decolonizing principles, it raises a painful question: why are these monuments safer in museum collections in London, Paris or Berlin, where they E D IT O R IA L

Various tri-, di- and monoorganotin(IV) catecholates were prepared independently by three different reaction pathways, e.g. elimination of a small molecule (lithium halide) from the conversion of organotin(IV) halide with lithium catecholate, condensation or protonolytic reactions of organotin(IV) oxide or hydride with catechol and reduction of a quinone by distannane, organotin(IV) hydride or stannylene. C,N-chelating 2-[(CH3)2NCH2]C6H4– = LCN, bulky amido ([2,6-(iPr)C6H3](SiMe3)N– = LN and amido-amino chelating ({2-[(CH3)2NCH2]C6H4}(SiMe3 or GePh3)N– = LNN1 or LNN2 ligands were used in this study. All tin(IV) catecholates reveal dimeric structures with six-coordinated tin atoms except for (LCN)2Sn{(3,5-(t-Bu)2C6H2]-1,2-(O)2)} which is monomeric due to the presence of two C,N-chelating ligands. All compounds, including two hydrolysis products, were characterized by a multinuclear NMR approach and X-ray diffraction techniques.

An experiment on the effects of hormonal preparations (Gonazon™ and Supergestran containing gonadotropin-releasing hormone) on the course of reproduction of farmed grayling (Thymallus thymallus L.) broodstock and their post-stripping mortality was performed at the hatchery in spring 2009. Four-year-old marked grayling females (n = 80) were randomly divided into four groups. The fish were intramuscularly injected with Supergestran at a dose of 30 μg·kg-1 body weight (Group 1), with GonazonTM at a dose of 30 μg·kg-1 (Group 2) and with saline 0.9% NaCl (Group 3), while fish of Group 4 were left without treatment (control group). No effect of treatment on the total number of ovulated females (70–80%) was found at the end of the stripping period. Slightly higher (non-significant) percentage of ovulated fish in the first stripping time (3 days post injection) was observed in fish treated with Gonazon. The 30-days post-ovulatory mortality remained unaffected by hormone treatments in all groups. Significant differences (P < 0.001) were found in the fertilization rate of egg samples from the first stripping time. The highest fertilization rate (98.6%) was found in fish treated with Supergestran, lower fertilization rates (61% and 65%) in fish treated with saline and control, respectively, and the lowest fertilization rate (39%) in fish treated with Gonazon. Other reproductive indicators remained unaffected by treatment in all groups. Based on our results, Supergestran is the most suitable preparation for the enhancing of artificial reproduction efficiency of farmed European grayling in fishery practice. The study brings important information about artificial reproduction of grayling broodstocks reared in controlled conditions.

Muscle tissue and pectoral fins of two important indicator fish species, frequently used in biomonitoring programs, were sampled and analysed for total mercury content (THg) at six localities within the Czech Republic. The relationship between mercury concentration in muscle and in fin-clips was described. Mean values of THg fin-clip concentration correlate significantly (p

The L CN n -BuSnCl 2 where L CN is 2-( N , N -dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl- as a chelating ligand was reduced by one molar equivalent of potassium to distannane L CN n -Bu(Cl)Sn–Sn(Cl) n -BuL CN ( 3 ). The same reduction of L CN 2 SnCl 2 led essentially quantitatively to the stannylene L CN 2 Sn. Distannane 3 can be oxidized to corresponding organotin(IV) chalcogenides (L CN n -Bu(Cl)Sn-Y-Sn(Cl) n -BuL CN , where Y is O, S, Se, and Te). The structure of these chalcogenides was evaluated by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy techniques and X-ray crystallographic techniques for sulfide, revealing two diastereomeric pairs with the centre of chirality at the tin atoms for all compounds. The further reduction of 1 by excess of reducing agents gave tetranuclear compound [L CN ( n- Bu)SnCl]-Sn-{[Sn( n -Bu)L CN ] 2 (μ-Cl)} ( 10 ) and L CN ( n -Bu) 2 SnCl. The product of reduction of 3 by K(BEt 3 )H.THF is the complex 10 as well. The structure and bonding properties in 10 were conducted at DFT theory level.

The original version of this Article unfortunately contained an error. The authors’ given and family names were transposed erroneously. It has been corrected now in this Erratum. The original article has also been corrected.