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COMPASS addressed several physical processes that may explain the behaviour of important phenomena. This paper presents results related to the main fields of COMPASS research obtained in the recent two years, including studies of turbulence, L–H transition, plasma material interaction, runaway electron, and disruption physics: Tomographic reconstruction of the edge/SOL turbulence observed by a fast visible camera allowed to visualize turbulent structures without perturbing the plasma. Dependence of the power threshold on the X-point height was studied and related role of radial electric field in the edge/SOL plasma was identified. The effect of high-field-side error fields on the L–H transition was investigated in order to assess the influence of the central solenoid misalignment and the possibility to compensate these error fields by low-field-side coils. Results of fast measurements of electron temperature during ELMs show the ELM peak values at the divertor are around 80% of the initial temperature at the pedestal. Liquid metals were used for the first time as plasma facing material in ELMy H-mode in the tokamak divertor. Good power handling capability was observed for heat fluxes up to 12 MW m−2 and no direct droplet ejection was observed. Partial detachment regime was achieved by impurity seeding in the divertor. The evolution of the heat flux footprint at the outer target was studied. Runaway electrons were studied using new unique systems—impact calorimetry, carbon pellet injection technique, wide variety of magnetic perturbations. Radial feedback control was imposed on the beam. Forces during plasma disruptions were monitored by a number of new diagnostics for vacuum vessel (VV) motion in order to contribute to the scaling laws of sideways disruption forces for ITER. Current flows towards the divertor tiles, incl. possible short-circuiting through PFCs, were investigated during the VDE experiments. The results support ATEC model and improve understanding of disruption loads.

Quantitative and qualitative soil organic matter properties were observed in a specific large area experi - ment (Chernozem - Gross Enzersdorf, Austria) and in a medium-term field experiment (Cambisol - Studena, Czech Republic). Two technologies - minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT) - were compared by means of the determination of quantitative and qualitative soil organic matter parameters of the soil samples in the years 2004-2005. Cambisol showed higher values of quantitative soil organic matter parameters in MT compared to those in CT over the whole soil profile. For Cambisol, the qualitative parameters were almost comparable for both technologies. Cher - nozem showed more favourable values of the quantitative parameters in the surface layer in MT, however, the values had rather a contrary trend in deeper soil layers. CT showed slightly more favourable values of the qualitative soil organic matter parameters in Chernozem. It can be said that Chernozem organic matter reaction to tillage technology changes is slower and of minor rate in comparison with that of Cambisol organic matter. The results of quantitative and qualitative parameters do not conform with the generally recognised values for the Chernozem soil type.

We have bred low glucosinolate (GSL) winter oilseed rape lines carrying the fertility restorer for the CMS Ogu-INRA system. The original restorer line BO20 contained 31μmol/g GSL in seeds, but by crossing this line with various low GSL CMS lines, followed by repeated selection of fertile segregants, we were able to obtain fertile lines with a mean GSL content in seeds of 11.8 μmol/g. This result confirmed that the gene(s) controlling the GSL content are not closely linked to the fertility restorer gene. The results confirm, that the SCAR marker SG34 is closely associated with the fertility restoring allele, and facilitates so the selection of fertile segregants; however, the marker is unable to distinguish between the homozygous and the heterozygous Rfrf genotypes.

Environmental (geographic location, year-to-year effect) and genetic (intravarietal variation) effects on the stability of the isozyme patterns of esterase (EST), acid phosphatase (ACP), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), shikimate dehydrogenase (SDH) and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (PGI) used for pea cultivar genotyping were studied. In addition, selected DNA markers (RAPD, SSR, ISSR, IRAP) were used to study intravarietal genetic homogeneity/variation at a DNA level. Five commercial dry-seed pea ( Pisum sativum L.) cultivars Canis, Gotik, Komet, Sonet and Zekon were grown during four years (2001 - 2004) in three locations in the Czech Republic (Sumperk, Caslav, Uherský Ostroh) that differed in soil and climatic character - istics. Mature dry seeds were used as a standard input sample for analyses. No variation in isozyme spectra was found within particular cultivars between years, locations and fruiting nodes in enzymes providing in general a low polymorphism in pea cultivars (ACP, ADH, LAP, SDH, PGI); similarly, these enzymes also exhibited high stability as related to intravarietal variation. In contrast, EST - highly polymorphic in pea cultivars - showed certain qualitative variation within particular cultivars as related to both environmental and genetic factors. The intravarietal variation detected by selected DNA markers was negligible and mostly quantitative. Possible reasons for the instability/variation of isozyme markers are discussed from the aspect of cultivar genotyping used in pea breeding and seed production.

Total protein patterns were studied in the course of development of pea somatic embryos using simple protocol of direct regeneration from shoot apical meristems on auxin supplemented medium. Protein content and total protein spectra (SDS-PAGE) of somatic embryos in particular developmental stages were analysed in Pisum sativum, P. arvense, P. elatius and P. jomardi. Expression of seed storage proteins in somatic embryos was compared with their accumulation in zygotic embryos of selected developmental stages. Pea vegetative tissues, namely leaf and root, were used as a negative control not expressing typical seed storage proteins. The biosynthesis and accumulation of seed storage proteins was observed during somatic embryo development (since globular stage), despite of the fact that no special maturation treatment was applied. Major storage proteins typical for pea seed (globulins legumin, vicilin, convicilin and their subunits) were detected in somatic embryos. In general, the biosynthesis of storage proteins in somatic embryos was lower as compared to mature dry seed. However, in some cases the cotyledonary somatic embryos exhibited comparatively high expression of vicilin, convicilin and pea seed lectin, which was even higher than those in immature but morphologically fully developed zygotic embryos. Desiccation treatments did not affect the protein content of somatic embryos. The transfer of desiccated somatic embryos on hormone-free germination medium led to progressive storage protein degradation. The expression of true seed storage proteins may serve as an explicit marker of somatic embryogenesis pathway of regeneration as well as a measure of maturation degree of somatic embryos in pea.

Analysis of the prevalence of selected congenital anomalies in the Czech Republic in 1994-2009.Retrospective epidemiological analysis of the postnatal and overall (including prenatally diagnosed cases) prevalence of congenital anomalies from the database of the National Registry of Congenital Anomalies of the Czech Republic.Data from the National Registry of Congenital Anomalies (NRCA) maintained by the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic (IHIS CR) were used. The analysis was carried out for the entire Czech Republic, based on the data from 1994 to 2009. Additional data on prenatally diagnosed anomalies were obtained from medical genetics centres and laboratories in the Czech Republic. This study analyzed the postnatal and overall (including prenatally diagnosed cases) prevalence of congenital anomalies. More detailed analysis was carried out for the following diagnoses: anencephaly, spina bifida, encephalocoele, congenital hydrocephalus, omphalocoele, gastroschisis, oesophageal atresia and stenosis, anorectal anomalies, and diaphragmatic hernia. Prevalence trends were analysed using Poisson regression.In 2009, a total of 118 348 live births were recorded in the Czech Republic, 60 368 boys and 57 980 girls. Of this total, 4 653, i.e. 2 745 boys and 1 908 girls, were diagnosed with congenital anomalies. In 2007-2009, the total of life births with congenital anomalies ranged between 4.6 and 4.8 thousand per year. The respective ranges in this three-year period were in the order of 2.7 and 2.8 thousand per year for boys and 1.9 thousand per year for girls. The prevalence of postnatally diagnosed anencephaly was minimal, as most cases were diagnosed prenatally, and the data did not vary significantly. The prevalence of postnatally diagnosed cases remained at the same level. The effectiveness of the prenatal diagnosis of spina bifida increased and thus the prevalence of postnatally diagnosed cases decreased. The prevalence of prenatally diagnosed encephalocoele increased and that of postnatally diagnosed cases varied between years, with no clear trend. The prevalence of omphalocoele varied for both prenatally and postnatally diagnosed cases; nevertheless, the effectiveness of prenatal diagnosis of this defect increases. The prevalence of gastroschisis remained unchanged, but the number of live births with this diagnosis showed a non-significant upward trend. If the trend reflects the real situation, it could be a result of a changed approach to prenatal diagnosis due to advances in corrective surgery of this defect. The prevalence of live births with congenital hydrocephalus showed a downward trend in the second half of the period 1994-2009 thanks to the improved diagnosis. The prevalence rates of live births with congenital esophageal and anorectal anomalies were slightly increasing. The prevalence of congenital diaphragmatic hernia varied between years but the overall prevalence appeared to be slightly increasing.The prevalence of some congenital anomalies (spina bifida, omphalocoele, and congenital hydrocephalus) showed a downward trend over the study period 1994-2009, mainly as a result of effective prenatal diagnosis. The prevalence of other congenital anomalies such as anencephaly or encephalocoele remained unchanged in live births. As for anencephaly, postnatally diagnosed cases were rare as the prenatal diagnosis was close to 100 %. The trend in encephalocoele is explained by the low incidence of this diagnosis in the population. The third group of postnatally diagnosed congenital anomalies such as gastroschisis or esophageal and anorectal anomalies were on the rise. As for gastroschisis, the reason was the changed approach to prenatal diagnosis due to good prognosis of this operable defect. The prevalence of congenital esophageal and anorectal anomalies varied between years, with a slowly increasing trend, similarly to diaphragmatic hernia.

Detailed, high-quality histopathological examination of colorectal carcinoma is an essential component of accurate disease staging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of standard pathological protocol implementation on the quality of colorectal cancer specimen evaluation.The standard protocol for colorectal cancer specimens evaluation was created on the basis of the NCCN guidelines for colorectal carcinoma and in accordance with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) recommendations. The protocol has been implemented into the practice of University Hospital Ostrava since 1 January 2013. All patients who underwent resection for colorectal cancer in University Hospital Ostrava between 1 January 2011 and 30 June 2013 were included into the study. Histopathological reports (before and after protocol implementation) were analysed with a focus on the presence of the parameters being monitored; the differences underwent statistical analysis.In total, 235 patients who underwent resection of colorectal cancer (184 patients before and 51 patients after protocol implementation) were included into the study. The mean number of investigated lymph nodes was 12.5±6.3 (colon) and 12.6±6.2 (rectum) before protocol implementation. The mean number of lymph nodes was 15.0±4.6 (colon) and 16.8±6.7 (rectum) after protocol implementation; the differences are statistically significant. Before protocol implementation, the limit of 12 investigated lymph nodes was not reached in 49 patients with colon carcinoma (43.8%) and in 32 patients with rectal carcinoma (44.4%). Statistically significant improvement was noted after protocol implementation - the limit of 12 lymph nodes was not reached in 5 patients (18.5%) with colon and 4 patients (16.7%) with rectal carcinoma. There were also differences in the number of macroscopic mesorectal excision quality evaluation, circumferential resection margin reports and signs of microscopic tumour aggressiveness, in favour of histopathological reports after standard protocol implementation.Our retrospective study proved that the implementation of the standard protocol for colorectal cancer resection specimens leads to an improved quality of definitive histopathological reports.

Numerical studies of resonant scattering of electrons by diatomic molecules with full account of the nonlocal level shift and resonance width operators are carried out with emphasis on the various approximations of the nonlocal potentials. The Schwinger–Lanczos approach proposed recently by Meyer, Horacek and Cederbaum [Phys. Rev. A 43, 3587 (1991)] is applied and its performance is investigated. The efficiency of the method is further improved by introducing a new local complex potential. Very accurate values of the dissociative attachment cross sections for a d‐wave resonance model are reported.

An analysis of prenatal and postnatal incidences of selected birth defects and secondary prevention efficiency in the Czech Republic in 1994 - 2008 period.Retrospective epidemiological analysis of birth defects data from particular centers of clinical genetics and prenatal diagnostics (prenatal data) and from the Czech National Birth Defects Register database (birth data).Data from the National Birth Defects Register (Institute for Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic) were used along with data from particular centers of clinical genetics and prenatal diagnostics covering the whole area of the Czech and the 1994 - 2008 period. Total prenatal diagnostics efficiency and an efficiency of prenatal diagnostics of 5 selected defects (anencephaly, spina bifida, omphalocele, gastroschisis and Down syndrome) were studied.In the period under study the number of prenatally diagnosed birth defects has increased. In 1994, the incidence of prenatally diagnosed (and selectively terminated) birth defects was 27.40 per 10 000 live births while in 2008 it was 73.26 per 10 000. In prenatally diagnosed but not terminated defects the corresponding numbers were 8.91 in 1994 and 32.87 in 2008. In last years, a quality change in prenatal birth defects screening has taken place in the Czech Republic. A first trimester screening with an increased efficiency not only for Down syndrome (DS) has been used more often implicating a wider application of chorionic villi sampling (CVS). An increased screening efficiency also made possible a relative decrease of invasive prenatal diagnostics procedures necessary to diagnose a single case of Down syndrome. When comparing CVS and amniocentesis from this particular point of view a higher CVS efficiency (about 12 CVS versus some 120 amniocenteses per 1 case of DS). Prenatal diagnostics efficiency has increased in all defects under study over the 1994 - 2008 period, being about 80% in DS almost 10% in anencephaly, 65 - 68% in omphalocele and gastroschisis and 80% in spina bifida in last years.Chromosomal aberration (DS especially) are among the most frequent prenatally diagnosed birth defects, further being heart defects, neural tube defects (anencephaly, encephalocele, spina bifida), hydrocephalus, congenital skeletal system defects, abdominal wall defects (omphalocele, gastroschisis) and renal defects. In some defects, prenatal diagnostics has also significantly influenced their incidence in births (anencephaly, gastroschisis and DS e.g.).

The basic praebioptic methods detecting the precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix are oncologic cytology (PAP smears) and colposcopy. However in the Czech Republic the incidence of the invasive carcinomas during the last 10 years did not considerably decrease. Therefore the goal of our study is to estimate the validity of the prebioptic methods and compare the results of praebioptic methods (procedures) versus biopsy.Analysis of the results of the oncologic cervical cytology comparing with the results of cervical biopsies performed during the years 2002-2003 were compared to those of the year 2009. THE SUBJECT AND METHODS OF THE STUDY: evaluation of the prebioptic methods (cytology, colposcopy) versus biopsy prior and during the start of the National Screening in the Czech Republic.1. Centre for Gynaecological Oncological prevention, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Prague, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. 2. Institute of Physiology, Department of cybernetics, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague. 3. Institute of Pathology, University of Ostrava. 4. Institue for Mother and Child Care, Prague.We screened the documentation related to the treatment of 423 women with cervical lesions, examined at the Oncological prevention centre of the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Department of the 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague and the General Teaching Hospital in Prague 2. Results of the oncologic cytology, colposcopy and biopsy were compared. The comparison revealed differences related to the time of examinations. During the years 2002 and 2003 the agreement between cytologic diagnosis and biopsies in the group of HSIL was 40 %. In the year 2009 the agreement between HSIL and CIN was 68% the colposcopic diagnosis of precancerous lesions with those of bioptic specimens, during the years 2002 and 2003 was 90% while in the year 2009, during the National Screening, the agreement reached 98%.

Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the liver is a rare tumour, probably arising from scattered neuroendocrine cells of the bile duct. We present the case of a 72-year-old male who experienced gradual weight loss and diarrhoea. Given the fact that he had stayed in the Dominican Republic, a parasitic disease was initially suspected. However, this was not confirmed. Further examination showed tumour infiltration of the liver. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the tumour site was performed. The diagnostic procedure revealed neuroendocrine carcinoma. The tumour cells expressed the following neuroendocrine markers (chromogranin, synaptophysin, CD56 and NSE) as well as the epithelial marker AE1-AE3. The tumour was considered metastasis of the primary tumour located in the gastrointestinal tract. A thorough clinical examination was performed including gastroscopy, colonoscopy, In-111 Octreoscan scintigraphy, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. These methods revealed metastases in the vertebrae, pelvis, long bones and skull. No other tumour sites were found in the lungs, gastrointestinal tract or pancreas. The patient became increasingly cachexic and later died. An autopsy showed massive multicentric tumour infiltration of the liver. Histological examination revealed well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma which transformed into intermediate and small cells. The autopsy found no tumour sites in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs or pancreas. The results were suggestive of primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the liver.neuroendocrine carcinoma - liver - primary tumour.

The paper presents two methods of noise reduction of speech signal recorded in an MRI device during phonation for the human vocal tract modelling. The applied approach of noise speech signal cleaning is based on cepstral speech analysis and synthesis because the noise is mainly produced by gradient coils, has a mechanical character, and can be processed in spectral domain. Our first noise reduction method is using real cepstrum limitation and clipping the “peaks” corresponding to the harmonic frequencies of mechanical noise. The second method is coming out from substation of the short-time spectra of two signals recorded withal: the first includes speech and noise, and the second consists of noise only. The resulting speech quality was compared by spectrogram and mean periodogram methods.

The paper is interested in numerical modelling of incompressible channel flow interacting with elastic part of its walls simulating vocal fold oscillations. The flow in moving domain is described with the aid of the Arbitrary Lagrangian‐Eulerian method, see e.g. [1], and governed by the 2D incompressible Navier‐Stokes equations. The flow model is coupled with the structural motion modelled by an aeroelastic two degrees of freedom model of the oscillating vocal folds, cf. [2], [9]. The described fluid‐structure interaction problem is discretized in time and space, see also [1]. The numerical results of a channel flow modelling the glottal region of the human vocal tract including the vibrating vocal folds are shown. The vibrations of the channel walls are either prescribed (1st case) or induced by the aerodynamical forces (2nd case).

Recent experiments during lower hybrid (LH) current drive on Tore Supra have indicated the existence of suprathermal electrons in the scrape‐off layer (SOL) all the way from the LH grill mouth to the last closed flux surface (LCFS). This finding contradicts the prediction of a narrow, less than about 5 mm thick, LH power absorption zone adjacent to the grill mouth. The present contribution discusses the edge electron distribution function in a typical tenuous and cold SOL, which supports relatively dense and hot blobs propagating outwards from the LCFS due to the interchange instability. The LH spectrum easily penetrates inward with little damping but on encountering a blob it strongly damps and generates fast electrons at the blob radial position.

The work deals with a numerical solution of the interaction of two-dimensional inviscid incompressible flow and a vibrating profile with two degrees of freedom. The profile can oscillate around an elastic axis and in the vertical direction. The mathematical model is represented by the system of incompressible unsteady Euler equations. Numerical schemes in the form of finite volume method are applied on a structured quadrilateral C-mesh. Two strategies, an artificial compressibility approach and a dual-time stepping method, are employed for numerical solution of governing equations. The motion of the profile is described by a system of two linear ordinary differential equations that are transformed to the system of first order ordinary differential equations and solved numerically using multistage four-order Runge-Kutta method. Deformations of the computational domain due to the profile motion are treated using the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian method. Numerical schemes used satisfy the geometric conservation law. Numerical simulations of flow-induced vibrations are performed for different upstream flow velocities past the profile NACA 0012 and the results are presented for translation and rotation of the profile in time domain. Moreover, pressure and velocity fields around the profile are shown at several time levels. The two numerical strategies are compared respectively.

We set out to present the incidences of the neural tube defects (anencephaly, spina bifida and encephalocele) and to document maternal age distribution and the influence of the prenatal diagnostics on incidences in neonates. We also analysed maternal age as a risk factor for the defects studied. This was a retrospective epidemiological study of neural tube defects using data from the population-based register of congenital malformations in the Czech Republic over the 1961-99 period. The total number of neural tube defects detected both pre- and postnatally was 4696 in this period (anencephaly 1857, spina bifida 2420 and encephalocele 419 cases). In this period, a significant decrease (due to improved prenatal diagnostic efficiency) in the above-mentioned defects occurred in the Czech Republic. No statistically significant correlation between any of the particular defects and the maternal age was revealed. However, neural tube defects as a whole show some correlation, the probability of these defects occurring being higher than expected in 15- and 32-year-old mothers. By application of the two-sided 95% CI, statistically significant correlation was found in 15-, 35- and 39-year cohorts; in other age-groups above the age of 32 years this correlation was neither confirmed nor rejected. In this study, maternal age as a risk factor for the origin of neural tube defects has not been statistically confirmed. However, probability estimate makes this correlation possible. Statistical methods in use reveal the risk for these defects (regarding their relative incidences) only in maternal age groups of 15, 35 and 39 years.

Inelastic low-energy electron collisions with hydrogen halides HCl, HBr, DBr and HI are studied theoretically on the basis of the nonlocal resonance model of Domcke and Mundel. The model takes account of the dependence of the dipole-modified threshold exponent on the internuclear distance and of the precise form of the long-range part of the negative ion potential. Cross sections for vibrational excitation, dissociative attachment and associative detachment have been calculated. For all three collision processes, the cross sections calculated are in better agreement with experiment than previous calculations.

The asymptotic D-state to S-state wave function ratio of the deuteron is recalculated by the pole-extrapolation method. Contrary to the standard polynomial expansion approach we extrapolate by using rational functions. This results in faster convergence, better stability and higher accuracy of the extrapolated value.

The preparation of hydroxyalkyl methacrylate copolymers derivatized with epichlorohydrin (epoxide group content 140–1770 μmol/g) has been accomplished. The coupling of various amino derivatives on to derivatized carriers has been investigated as a function of pH, time of coupling, concentration of the compound bound, degree of epoxidation of the carrier and specific structural features of amino compounds. The unreacted epoxide groups were eliminated using hydrolysis with 0.1 M perchloric acid. For the preparation of a specific sorbent of carboxylic proteinases, a procedure for the synthesis of ϵ-aminocaproyl- L Phe- D Phe-OCH 3 and for its binding on to an epoxide carrier has been devised. The sorbents prepared were used in affinity chromatography of a raw sample of pepsin and proteinases from Aspergillus oryzae . The same efficiency was achieved with pepsin solutions, the enzyme concentration differing within the range of two orders of magnitude. The mechanical stability of the support made possible an analytical application of the high-performance liquid affinity chromatography of pepsin, by which the pepsin concentration in solution can be determined within 30 min with high sensitivity.

Die Bedingungen der quantitativen Sorption von Zirkonium an einer Silikagelsaule wurden untersucht. Die Vollstandigkeit der Sorption wurde in Abhangigkeit vom ph, der Durchflusgeschwindigkeit und dem Volumen der Waschflussigkeit untersucht. In 1- bis 1,2-n HCl oder HNO3 ist die Sorption sehr selektiv, Zirkonium kann von einer Reihe von Begleitelementen getrennt werden. Der Einflus einiger Anionen auf die Vollstandigkeit der Zirkoniumelution aus der Saule wurde untersucht. Nach einer statischen Methode wurde die Kapazitat des verwendeten Silikagels bestimmt. Die erzielten Ergebnisse wurden zur Bestimmung kleiner Zirkoniummengen in mineralischen Rohstoffen verwendet.

A new simple rapid method for the combustion of organic deuterium- containing compounds was worked out which makes possible the direct obtention of water. The water is sditable for isotopic analysis by the falling drop method without further purification. The decomposition products of silver permanganate at 500 deg C were used as oxidation catalysts and decomposition products of potassium permanganate at the same temperature were used for the quantitative absorption of nitrogen in the combustion chamber. By decreasing the dimensions of the combustion chamber, a contamination reduction was obtained. The thermostat, which maintains the temperature of the bath with sn sccuracy of plus or minus O.OO1 deg at a constant height, is described. (trauth)