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Twenty five species from four sections of the genus Bromus were evaluated by means of numerical analyses of characters of flower microstructures (lodicule, lemma, palea). Special development of lodicules (lobe and hairiness) and both glumellae (lemma and palea) similar in grasses evolutionarily close (Bromeae, Brachypodieae, Triticeae) was discovered. For most of the characters the original interspecific and intersectional relations were observed in a space of minimum spanning tree (MST). The evolutionary old section Pnigma occupies the largest space. Species of Pnigma having small chromosomes can be distinguished from those having large ones. The section Ceratochloa is scattered through the smallest space. The above points to the endemic evolution of high polyploids of the section. The sections Bromus and Genea are evolutionarily close and they distinctly overlap each other in the MST space. Bromus sterilis, B. catharticus and B. riparius are extremes in their own sections.

The grains of the following present-day cereal forms were charred: Secale cereale, Triticum aestivum var. compactum, var. vulgare and Avena sativa. For each caryopsis before and after charring width, thickness, length and weight were determined. The charring caused the increase of the coefficient of variation in the majority of cases, but proportionally to variation of the characters of the uncharred grains. The second group of anaylsed material were the grains of the present and fossil cereals. In the material six features of grain morphology were investigated. For present and fossil cereals the matrices of simple correlation were calculated. By means of analysis of multiple regression the interdependence of grain weight and its dimensions was investigated. The introduction into the equation of regression of successive independent variable (grain dimensions) causes a progressive exhaustion of the total variability of the regressand (grain weight). The weight of grain is equally a representative trait as well as its dimensions. This feature may serve for comparative studies of populations of fossil grain of the very same species originating from various periods or sites. This type of analysis may illustrate the influence of selection on the size of grain.

Embryos of 21 accessions of the genus Elytrigia s.l. were studied. Characters of scutellum, coleoptile, coleorhiza and epiblast were taken into consideration. Correlation of characters proves an independence of epiblast organogenesis. Principal components analysis reveals high loadings of embryo axis characters in the component I. Length of embryo, width of coleoptile and width of epiblast base were chosen as the best discriminants to distinguish the species. Cluster analysis joins, among other things, Elytrigia intermedia and E. elongata, E. elongata and E. juncea as well as E. repens and E. pungens. PCA shows an intermediate position of E. nodosa and E. intermedia in relation to E. elongata and E. repens. E. geniculata is an intermediate between E.juncea and other species. Scattering of species in the PCA diagram is consistent with Löve's genomic system of the Triticeae taxonomy.

The structure of spikes of Elytrigia repens, E. intermedia and Elymus caninus was investigated. The number of spikelets per spike reveals the weakest correlations with other characters of the spike. The same concerns some character ratios. The correlations provide information about the segmented structure (metamers) of the spike. There is a great difference between matrices of correlation coefficients for E. repens and E. intermedia related to the development and structure of spike. Characters important for the description of the spike were chosen - in five-character set these are among others: length of glume awn in median spikelet, length of lemma awn in the first floret of the median spikelet, number of spikelets per spike. Length of lemma awn and mean length of the rachis segment were recognized as the best discriminants for species. Ordination of forms along axes of canonical variates does not indicate the subunits within E. repens. Intermediate forms between E. repens and Elymus caninus have not been found. Between E. repens and E. intermedia there exists some proximity. Heteromorphic individuals were described by means of cluster analysis. They prove the mobility of the genome in ramets of a single genet.

Silybum marianum (L.) is a medicinal plant traditionally used in treatment of liver disorders. In last decades, silymarin (SM), a standardized extract from S. marianum seeds has been studied for its dermatological application, namely for UVB-protective properties. However, information on SM and its polyphenols effect on activity of enzymes participating in the (photo)aging process is limited. Therefore, evaluation of SM and its flavonolignans potential to inhibit collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase in tube tests was the goal of this study. The antioxidant and UV screening properties of SM and its flavonolignans silybin, isosilybin, silydianin, silychristin and 2,3-dehydrosilybin (DHSB) were also evaluated by a DPPH assay and spectrophotometrical measurement. DHSB showed the highest ability to scavenge DPPH radical and also revealed the highest UVA protection factor (PF-UVA) that corresponds with its absorption spectrum. SM and studied flavonolignans were found to exhibit anti-collagenase and anti-elastase activity. The most potent flavonolignan was DHSB. None of studied flavonolignans or SM showed anti-hyaluronidase activity. Our results suggest that SM and its flavonolignans may be useful agents for skin protection against the harmful effects of full-spectrum solar radiation including slowing down skin (photo)aging.

Nineteen characters of the single caryopsis of many pure lines and their F2 generation hybrids of spring wheat were analyzed. A large differentiation of forms was ascertained. "Manitoba" cultivar, sphaerococcum and spelta forms, hybrids of durum forms, hybrids of spelta and sphaerococcum forms were foud to have the higest values of the DBC parameter. The characters were found to show a differentiated relative varirtion from a few to more than 100%. A great variation of F2 generation as well as transgressions of characters appeard more marked in hybrids between various subspecies than between varietes of one subspecies. A specific gravity of the caryopsis is marked by a high value of coefficients of heritability in broad sense. An influence of asymetry of distribution on the h2 value was stated. The distributions of characters with a deviation from normal curve are only leptokurtic. The heigh of endosperm cavity revealed the largest number of deviations characterized by asymmetry and kurtosis. These deviations appeared smaller in the distributions of homozygous forms than of herterozygous forms. The interspecies hybrids are marked by numerous genetic correlations in matrix of correlation coefficients than hybrids of less differentiated forms. Many reciprocal hybrids revelated a differentiation in the mean values of characters as well as in the range of transgession. These hybrids are similar to their maternal forms. A short consideration of an ideotype of wheat caryopsis was made.

This paper seeks to define the process for the continuous evaluation of the financial benefits during Six Sigma project life time. The financial criteria are critical success factors of a Six Sigma project. The process has been developed as part of the six sigma project monitoring in order to estimate proper allocation of the resources taking in account the expected project benefits as well as evaluationof real achievements. The evaluation of the finacial benefits based on the quality costs is not sufficient in the real life and has to be accomplished with key financial performance indicators of the business to visualize the results. The evaluation based on the savings seems to be too difficult especially for green belts. The early involvement of the finance department in the project definition as well as ongoing evaluation is key. The defined process has been applied to real business enviroment.

This study is aimed at variance computation techniques for estimates of population characteristics based on survey sampling and imputation. We use the superpopulation regression model, which means that the target variable values for each statistical unit are treated as random realizations of a linear regression model with weighted variance. We focus on regression models with one auxiliary variable and no intercept, which have many applications and straightforward interpretation in business statistics. Furthermore, we deal with caseswhere the estimates are not independent and thus the covariance must be computed. We also consider chained regression models with auxiliary variables as random variables instead of constants.

Silymarin is a well-known standardized extract from the seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L., Asteraceae) with a pleiotropic effect on human health, including skin anticancer potential. Detailed characterization of flavonolignans properties affecting interactions with human skin was of interest. The partition coefficients log Pow of main constitutive flavonolignans, taxifolin and their respective dehydro derivatives were determined by a High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method and by mathematical (in silico) approaches in n-octanol/water and model lipid membranes. These parameters were compared with human skin intake ex vivo. The experimental log Pow values for individual diastereomers were estimated for the first time. The replacement of n-octanol with model lipid membranes in the theoretical lipophilicity estimation improved the prediction strength. During transdermal transport, all the studied compounds permeated the human skin ex vivo; none of them reached the acceptor liquid. Both experimental/theoretical tools allowed the studied polyphenols to be divided into two groups: low (taxifolin, silychristin, silydianin) vs. high (silybin, dehydrosilybin, isosilybin) lipophilicity and skin intake. In silico predictions can be usefully applied for estimating general lipophilicity trends, such as skin penetration or accumulation predictions. However, the theoretical models cannot yet provide the dermal delivery differences of compounds with very similar physico-chemical properties; e.g., between diastereomers.

Fourteen clonal apple rootstocks (M.9, M.26, M.27, MM.106, J-TE-E, J-TE-F, J-TE-G, J-TE-H, J-OH-A, Jork 9, Pajam 1, Pajam 2, Burgmer M.9-751, and Burgmer M.9-984) were tested in two experimental orchards established in the Research and Breeding Institute of Pomology Holovousy using scion cultivars Golden Delicious, Melrose, Jonagold, Rubin, and Florina. Following characteristics were recorded: yield, trunk circumference, suckering. Rootstocks Jork 9, Pajam 1, Pajam 2, M.9-751, and M.9-984 produced better results than original rootstock M.9. Clone J-TE-E favourably affected fruit-bearing of the Rubin cultivar. The growth vigour of trees grafted on Pajam 2, M.9-751, and M.9-984 was somewhat larger than those on M.9. Rootstock J-TE-H was semi-vigorous and grafted trees had low yield efficiency. Clone Pajam 1 had the similar growth vigour as M.9. Trees on Jork 9 grew significantly weakly in comparison with M.9. The rootstocks J-OH-A and J-TE-F produced a lot of suckers. The following rootstocks were recommended for growing in commercial plantations: Jork 9, Pajam 1, Pajam 2, M.9-751, and M.9-984.

The subchronic safety of sanguiritrin, a mixture of sanguinarine (SA) and chelerythrine (CHE) quaternary benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids (QBA), obtained from Macleaya cordata was assessed. Rats were fed a diet containing 120 ppm sanguiritrin (100 ppm QBA) for 109 days. The feed consumption and the animal weight were monitored. The content of QBA in selected tissues and plasma was determined using HPLC. It was evidenced that 2% of QBA were absorbed through the GIT while 98% were excreted in the feces. In plasma, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, glomerular filtration, AST, ALT, GMT, ALP and total antioxidant capacity were determined. In liver, GSH level, lipoperoxidation products, SOD and GPx activities and total amount of cytochrome P450 were evaluated. Damage to nuclear DNA was assessed; a 32P-postlabeling assay proved that no DNA-adducts were detected in nuclear and mitochrondrial DNA in liver. No adverse effects were observed on rat organism. QBA had no influence on the gut mucosal epithelium, liver tissue and any biochemical parameters tested. Oxidative stress was not manifested during the experiment.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the effect of an extract from Silybum marianum seeds (ESM, milk thistle extract) on lipid and liver parameters and the antioxidant capacity of serum was investigated in 29 healthy men aged 18-32 years. They received either 858 mg of ESM (531 mg silymarin complex calculated on pure silibinin), or placebo, daily for the period of 60 days. No side effects were found. A routine biochemical analysis of the serum was performed as a measure of lipid and liver metabolism. Positive trend towards decreased serum cholesterol level and HDL-cholesterol increase was observed in the ESM group as compared to the placebo group. The serum antioxidant capacity was significantly higher in the ESM group. The results suggest the use of ESM as a dietary supplement for hypercholesterolemia.

A plum rootstock trial with Stanley and Cacanska najbolja cvs. was established in spring 1992. The following rootstocks were assessed: MY-BO-1, Myrobalan SE 4043 (both Prunus cerasifera), MY-KL-A (P. cerasifera × P. cerasifera var. atropurpurea), Marunke SE 4034 (Ackerman), St. Julien A, Brompton, GF 655/2, GF 1869, GF 1380, GF 43, Damascena SE 4045, Pixy and Myrobalan seedling. Yields, trunk cross-section area, number of suckers and mean fruit weights were evaluated in the orchard in 1993-2003. There were statistically significant differences in trunk cross-section area, yield and yield efficiency between the tested rootstocks. Trees of Stanley were the most vigorous on MY-KL-A, followed by GF 43, GF 1380 and Myrobalan seedling. The weakest growth was recorded on trees grafted on Pixy, then on GF 655/2 and MY-BO-1. With Cacanska najbolja the growth was the strongest on GF 43, followed by Myrobalan seedling, MY-KL-A and Myrobalan SE 4043. The most compact trees were on Pixy and then on GF 655/2 and Marunke SE 4034. The total accumulated yield per tree was the highest with Stanley on MY-KL-A, followed by Brompton and St. Julien A. The cultivar Cacanska najbolja was most productive on Myrobalan SE 4043 and also on St. Julien A. The yield efficiency with both cultivars was the highest on GF 655/2, and the lowest one on GF 1380 (Stanley) or on Myrobalan seedling (Cacanska najbolja). No statistically significant differences between the tested rootstocks were found in fruit size. Suckers were the most prolific on GF 1869, followed by GF 655/2 and Marunke SE 4034. Based on the hitherto experience, the best rootstocks for Stanley seem to be MY-KL-A and MY-BO-1 and for Cacanska najbolja Myrobalan SE 4043 and St. Julien A.

This study was conducted in the Research and Breeding Institute of Pomology in Holovousy in order to test some new pear rootstocks under the conditions of the Czech Republic. In a rootstock trial planted in spring 1996 five clonal rootstocks (OH × F 69, OH × F 87, OH × F 230, OH × F 333 and standard Quince BA-29) were compared with Red Barttlet, Conference and Lucas as test cultivars. In comparison with Red Barttlet, the cumulative yield per tree from 1996 to 2002 was the highest on OH × F 69 and the lowest on OH × F 333. The yield efficiency (kg/cm2) was best on BA-29. The cultivar Conference had the highest total yield and yield efficiency on OH × F 87. The lowest yield was on OH × F 333. The cultivar Lucas was the most productive on OH × F 87. In the sixth year after planting no difference was observed in growth vigour (indicated by trunk crosssectional area) between OH × F clones with the cultivar Red Barttlet. The trees on BA-29 grew less. The tree size of Conference was largest for OH × F 230 and smallest for OH × F 333. The cultivar Lucas grew vigorously on OH × F 69. Small trees were observed on the rootstock OH × F 87. Fruit weight was higher on BA-29 than on OH × F rootstocks with all cultivars. The production of suckers proved to be small with all cultivars on all rootstocks. The anchorage of all trees was adequate. No graft incompatibility has been detected yet. The results were processed statistically.