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Iron is critically important and highly regulated trace metal in the human body. However, in its free ion form, it is known to be cytotoxic; therefore, it is bound to iron storing protein, ferritin. Ferritin is a key regulator of body iron homeostasis able to form various types of minerals depending on the tissue environment. Each mineral, e.g. magnetite, maghemite, goethite, akaganeite or hematite, present in the ferritin core carry different characteristics possibly affecting cells in the tissue. In specific cases, it can lead to disease development. Widely studied connection with neurodegenerative conditions is widely studied, including Alzheimer disease. Although the exact ferritin structure and its distribution throughout a human body are still not fully known, many studies have attempted to elucidate the mechanisms involved in its regulation and pathogenesis. In this review, we try to summarize the iron uptake into the body. Next, we discuss the known occurrence of ferritin in human tissues. Lastly, we also examine the formation of iron oxides and their involvement in brain functions.

Currently available human stress monitoring devices are either very inaccurate or rely on a strictly controlled laboratory environment. In this paper, we present the novel concept of a practical portable device for long-term monitoring of human stress in natural environment and an algorithm for calculation of the stress phenomenon. The concept envisages two synchronized blocks measuring a wider range of physiological parameters. One device will be placed on the forearm or fingers of the non-dominant hand, the other on the chest.

Modern Holter devices are very trendy tools used in medicine, research, or sport. They monitor a variety of human physiological or pathophysiological signals. Nowadays, Holter devices have been developing very fast. New innovative products come to the market every day. They have become smaller, smarter, cheaper, have ultra-low power consumption, do not limit everyday life, and allow comfortable measurements of humans to be accomplished in a familiar and natural environment, without extreme fear from doctors. People can be informed about their health and 24/7 monitoring can sometimes easily detect specific diseases, which are normally passed during routine ambulance operation. However, there is a problem with the reliability, quality, and quantity of the collected data. In normal life, there may be a loss of signal recording, abnormal growth of artifacts, etc. At this point, there is a need for multiple sensors capturing single variables in parallel by different sensing methods to complement these methods and diminish the level of artifacts. We can also sense multiple different signals that are complementary and give us a coherent picture. In this article, we describe actual interesting multi-sensor principles on the grounds of our own long-year experiences and many experiments.

Samples taken from the human brain (Globus Pallidus) have been investigated by physical techniques such as light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy and SQUID magnetometry. SEM-EDX/TEM investigation reveals multielemental composition of hematite and magnetite nanocrystals with sizes ranging from 40 nm to 100 nm and hematite microcrystals from 3 μm to 7 μm. Room temperature Mössbauer spectra show quadrupole doublets assigning to hematite and ferrihydrite. SQUID measurements of temperature dependence of the mass magnetic susceptibility between T = 2 – 300 K at DC field B 0 = 0.1 T, the field dependence of the mass magnetization taken at the fixed temperature T 0 = 2.0 and 4.6 K and the zero-field cooled and field cooled magnetization experiments (ZFCM/FCM) confirm a presence of ferrimagnetic phases such as maghemite and/or magnetite with hysteresis loops surviving until the room temperature. Differences between these measurements from the point of view of iron oxides detected can indicate important processes in human brain and interactions between ferritin as a physiological source of iron and surrounding environment.

Iron is very important element for functioning of the brain. Its concentration changes with aging the brain or during disease. The aim of our work was the histological examination of content of ferritin and free iron (unbound) in brain cortex in association with Aβ plaques from their earliest stages of accumulation in amyloid plaque forming APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Light microscopy revealed the onset of plaques formation at 8-monthage. Detectable traces of free iron and no ferritin were found around plaques at this age, while the rate of their accumulation in and around Aβ plaques was elevated at 13 months of age. Ferritin accumulated mainly on the edge of Aβ plaques, while the smaller amount of free iron was observed in the plaque-free tissue, as well as in and around Aβ plaques. We conclude that free iron and ferritin accumulation follows the amyloid plaques formation. Quantification of cortical iron and ferritin content can be an important marker in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

This article describes modern wireless sensor devices and their application in the measurements of the human physiology. We used our own advanced ECG Holter device and EEG helmet to record the heart and brain activity impacted by different environments, materials, colors or body positions during work. In this paper, we want to show the interactions between humans and architecture design, which modify human work performance and well-being. This paper is a conclusion of the 3 different pilot studies, where different scopes of human-space interaction were explored. In the experiments, we aimed mostly at wood materials and their beneficial effects on the nervous system. The research in its actual state is primarily focused on optimizing the methods of the ECG data analysis from our Holter device and the EEG data from helmet. Based on these data, we will improve the methodology of the experiments for the next enhanced research with aspiration to automate data analysi

BackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and type 2 diabetes (T2D) plays an important role in conferring the risk for AD. Although AD and T2D share common features, the common molecular mechanisms underlying these two diseases remain elusive.MethodsMice with different AD- and/or tauopathy-linked genetic backgrounds (APPswe/PS1dE9, Tau P301L and APPswe/PS1dE9/Tau P301L) were fed for 6 months with standard diet or typical Western diet (TWD). After behavioral and metabolic assessments of the mice, the effects of TWD on global gene expression as well as dystrophic neurite and microglia pathology were elucidated. Consequently, mechanistic aspects related to autophagy, cell survival, phagocytic uptake as well as Trem2/Dap12 signaling pathway, were assessed in microglia upon modulation of PI3K-Akt signaling. To evaluate whether the mouse model-derived results translate to human patients, the effects of diabetic phenotype on microglial pathology were assessed in cortical biopsies of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) patients encompassing β-amyloid pathology.ResultsTWD led to obesity and diabetic phenotype in all mice regardless of the genetic background. TWD also exacerbated memory and learning impairment in APPswe/PS1dE9 and Tau P301L mice. Gene co-expression network analysis revealed impaired microglial responses to AD-related pathologies in APPswe/PS1dE9 and APPswe/PS1dE9/Tau P301L mice upon TWD, pointing specifically towards aberrant microglial functionality due to altered downstream signaling of Trem2 and PI3K-Akt. Accordingly, fewer microglia, which did not show morphological changes, and increased number of dystrophic neurites around β-amyloid plaques were discovered in the hippocampus of TWD mice. Mechanistic studies in mouse microglia revealed that interference of PI3K-Akt signaling significantly decreased phagocytic uptake and proinflammatory response. Moreover, increased activity of Syk-kinase upon ligand-induced activation of Trem2/Dap12 signaling was detected. Finally, characterization of microglial pathology in cortical biopsies of iNPH patients revealed a significant decrease in the number of microglia per β-amyloid plaque in obese individuals with concomitant T2D as compared to both normal weight and obese individuals without T2D.ConclusionsCollectively, these results suggest that diabetic phenotype in mice and humans mechanistically associates with abnormally reduced microglial responses to β-amyloid pathology and further suggest that AD and T2D share overlapping pathomechanisms, likely involving altered immune function in the brain.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Even though these two diseases share common molecular pathways, the mechanisms remain elusive. To shed light into these mechanisms, mice with different AD- and/or tauopathy-linked genetic backgrounds were utilized; APPswe/PS1dE9 (A+Tw), Tau P301L (AwT+), and APPswe/PS1dE9/Tau P301L (A+T+). Feeding these mice with typical Western diet (TWD) led to obesity and diabetic phenotype as compared to respective mice with a standard diet. TWD also exacerbated memory and learning impairment in A+Tw and AwT+, but not in A+T+ mice. Furthermore, RNA sequencing of mouse hippocampal samples revealed altered responses to AD-related pathologies in A+Tw and A+T+ mice upon TWD, pointing specifically towards aberrant microglial functionality and PI3K-Akt signaling. Accordingly, fewer microglia alongside an increased number of dystrophic neurites around β-amyloid plaques, and impaired PI3K-Akt signaling, were discovered in the hippocampus of TWD mice. Mechanistic elucidation revealed that disruption of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway by pharmacological or genetic approaches significantly decreased the phagocytic uptake and proinflammatory response as well as increased the activity of Syk-kinase upon ligand-induced activation of Trem2/Dap12 signaling in mouse microglia. Finally, characterization of microglial pathology in cortical biopsies of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) patients harboring β-amyloid plaques revealed a significant decrease in the number of microglia per β-amyloid plaque in obese iNPH patients with T2D as compared to both normal weight and obese iNPH patients without T2D. Collectively, these results suggest that the peripheral diabetic phenotype in mice and humans associates with reduced microglial response to β-amyloid pathology.

The Eurasian (née European) Modern Pollen Database (EMPD) was established in 2013 to provide a public database of high-quality modern pollen surface samples to help support studies of past climate, land cover, and land use using fossil pollen. The EMPD is part of, and complementary to, the European Pollen Database (EPD) which contains data on fossil pollen found in Late Quaternary sedimentary archives throughout the Eurasian region. The EPD is in turn part of the rapidly growing Neotoma database, which is now the primary home for global palaeoecological data. This paper describes version 2 of the EMPD in which the number of samples held in the database has been increased by 60% from 4826 to 8134. Much of the improvement in data coverage has come from northern Asia, and the database has consequently been renamed the Eurasian Modern Pollen Database to reflect this geographical enlargement. The EMPD can be viewed online using a dedicated map-based viewer at https://empd2.github.io and downloaded in a variety of file formats at https: //doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.909130 (Chevalier et al., 2019)., Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) 200021_169598, University of Lausanne

The paper presents the application of natural materials, especially wood, which are relevant for human well-being in built environments of health, social, and day care facilities. These properties were tested by a complex methodology in a case study in the wooden waiting room at National Oncology Institute in Bratislava. In this space, experimental tests of physiological responses were further executed on 50 volunteers moving in the waiting room for 20 min. In this article, the EEG (electroencephalograph) (four persons) and emotions from the faces of all our volunteers before entering and after a stay in a wooden waiting room were recorded. Specifically, the ECG (electrocardiograph), heart rate (HR), and respiration activity were measured by using our own designed ECG holter (40 persons), and also blood pressure and cortisol levels were observed. The usage of wooden materials verifies their regenerative and positive impact on the human nervous system, through the appealing aesthetics (color, texture, and structures), high contact comfort, pleasant smell, possibility to regulate air humidity, volatile organic compound emissions (VOC-emissions), and acoustic well-being in the space.

This article describes successive development of electrodermal activity monitoring sensor system. Our aim is to improve existing systems to be more practical and suitable for long-term monitoring. Therefore, compared to conventional devices, our system must be easily wearable, without limiting the examined person in ordinary life, with low power consumption, battery operated and reducing the impact of negative artefacts. Specifically, we describe here three devices. The first is serving mainly to familiarize with the methodology, extensive testing and optimization of measurement parameters. Based on the obtained result, we constructed second system in form of small ring - "EDA ring". Last sensor system is developed with the effort to integrate the monitoring of electrodermal activity in e-health and smart clothes.

V této práci se popisují naše počáteční experimenty ve vývoji „on-line“ senzoru na monitoring koncentrace citrátu sodného (Na3C6H2O7) v mimo mozkovém proudění krve v průběhu hemodialýzy. Přesný a rychlý monitoring by umožnil regulaci koncentrace citrátu a návrat do krevního řečiště těla v jeho původních hodnotách, tím pacienta významně méně zatíženého než v přítomnosti. Nedávno jsme se soustředili na stanovení koncentrace měřením elektrické impedance a odrazivosti ve zkoumané krvi. Našim cílem je zkoumat trendy vlivu těchto signálů na koncentraci a vyvinout vhodnou metodiku, která může být použita později v senzorech. Částečně začínáme pracovat také na citlivosti metodiky, přičemž bychom rádi výpočtem dosáhli ekvivalentní elektrický model řešení. To je založeno na elektrochemickém dvouvrstvém modelu a korespondenci s Cole-Cole grafy In this paper, we describe our initial steps in the development of online sensor to monitor the tri-sodium citrate concentration in extra-cerebral blood flow during haemodialysis. Accurate and fast monitoring would allow the regulation of the concentration of citrate returning to the human bloodstream to its original values, thereby, making the patient significantly less burdened than at present. In the early stages, we focused on the determination of concentration by measuring of electrical impedance and reflection in the collected blood. Our aim is to study the trends of influencing these signals by concentration and to develop a suitable methodology that can be used later in the sensor. In part, we begin working on the selectivity of the methodology that we would like to achieve by calculating the equivalent electrical model of the solution. It is based on the electrochemical double layer model and the corresponding Cole-Cole graphs.

In this paper, we describe an application of modern wireless sensors in monitoring of physiological parameters during interaction between humans and environment design. Our goal was not only to record these interactions but also to optimize the methodology of measurement and evaluation.

Eemian lake deposits in Grande Pile and Ribains, France, correlate with marine isotope substages (MIS) 5e and 5d as delimited in two pollen-bearing deep-sea cores off Portugal. The Eemian forests in France lasted for approximately 20 millennia, from at least 126,000 to ca. 107,000 yr B.P. Oscillatory climate deteriorations began about 115,000 yr ago. An intense cold spell affected the region approximately 110,000 yr ago.

The Upper Paleolithic evolution in Moravia starts from the end of the first Wurmian Pleniglacial (before 40 000 B.P., earlier industries of the Bohunice- type). During the following Interpleniglacial, two temperate periods were distinguished : at about 38 000 B.P. (younger industries of the Bohunice- type, Szeletian) and between 32-25 000 B.P. (Aurignacian, Pavlovian). There seems to be a settlement hiatus during the second Pleniglacial maximum, followed by a resettlement in the Late Glacial. Within the Late Glacial period, three phases of wood extension were recognized. They are related subsequently to an undetermined Upper Palaeolithic, the Magdalenian and the Epimagdalenian., L'évolution du Paléolithique supérieur morave commence à la fin du premier Pléniglaciaire würmien (avant 40 000 ans, industnes anciennes du type Bohunice). Dans I ' Interpléniglaciaire suivant, on peut distinguer deux périodes de réchauffement, celle autour de 38 000 ans (industries récentes du type Bohunice, Szélétien) et celle entre 32-25 000 ans (Aurignacien, Pavlovien). On observe un hiatus dans l'occupation pendant le maximum du second Pléniglaciaire et une réoccupation dans le Tardiglaciaire suivant. Pendant le Tardiglaciaire, on a distingué trois périodes de boisement, liées successivement à un Paléolithique supérieur indéterminable, le Magdalénien et l'Epimagdalénien., Svobodova Helena, Svoboda Jin. Chronostratigraphie et paléoécologie du Paléolithique supérieur morave d'après les fouilles récentes. In: Revue archéologique de Picardie, n°1-2, 1988. Cultures et industries lithiques en milieu lœssique. Actes du colloque international, Amiens 9-11 décembre 1986. pp. 11-15.