The endothelin system may play a role in the pathogenesis of vasovagal syncope (VVS) because it is implicated in blood pressure regulation. We hypothesized that endothelin-related genetic polymorphisms might modulate susceptibility to VVS. This study aimed to evaluate the possible influence of endothelin-1 (EDN1) and endothelin receptor A (EDNRA) gene variants on the occurrence of tilt-induced VVS and autonomic nervous system activity during the head-up tilt test (HUT). Results were expressed as mean ± SEM. In 254 patients with recurrent syncope (age 45.33±1.22 years, 94 males, 160 females), heart rate variability (HRV) was measured during HUT. EDN1 rs5370 G>T and EDNRA rs5333 T>C gene polymorphisms were assessed using high-resolution melting analysis. There was no statistically significant association between polymorphisms EDN1 rs5370 and EDNRA rs5333 and positivity of HUT or hemodynamic types of VVS. Patients with GT or TT genotypes at the rs5370 locus of the EDN1 had significantly higher values of high-frequency (HF) and the standard deviation of the average NN intervals at the time of the syncope, and they tended to have lower low-frequency (LF) and LF/HF ratio when compared to homozygotes (GG). No statistically significant differences were found in HRV parameters concerning the EDNRA rs5333 genotypes. Our findings suggest the potential role of EDN1 rs5370 variants in regulating autonomic nervous activity and pathogenesis of VVS.
This article discusses the Enlightenment concept of theatre as formulated in the work of the Viennese playwright Paul Weidmann, who was active in the reign of Joseph II (1765-90). In Weidmann’s conception, theatre has two main functions: one is to provide a theoretical basis (the idea of a national theatre; theatre as a school of moral educational); the second is to delineate a socio-historical context. The themes explored by Weidmann are civil war and wars of religion, and the question of how to level social differences - problems that still very much beset the modern world. In the face of current religious, political and economic conflicts, Weidmann’s stage plays still carry a powerful message., Joanna Giel., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Fifty-day old plants of Capsicum anmmm L, with two developed leaves were placed into controlled environment chambers at atmospheric (350 cm^ m'^, ACO2) and elevated (700 cm^ m-^, ECO2) CO2 concentrations under different nitrogen and water supply. Plant response to ECO2 and the modulating effect of the availability of nitrogen and water were evaluated. CO2 effects were significant only after 40 d of treatment, An increase in plant growth and yield was found in ECO2 plants only under a good supply of both water (HW) and nitrogen (HN). Chlorophyll concentration responded only to N supply. Root/shoot ratio was higher under ECO2 only under low N (LN) and low water (LW) supply. Leaf area and specific leaf area decreased under ECO2. Flowering and fructification took plače earlier in ECO2 under FIN and FIW. Thus, all CO2 effects were modulated by the N and water supply and the duration of exposure.
Watermelon (Citrillus lanatus) plants were grown for two consecutive years in open-top chambers with three different ozone concentrations (O3-free air, O3 ambient, and air with additional O3; CFA, NFA, and NFA+O3) and three nitrogen fertilizer concentrations [0, 14.0, and 29.6 g N per pot; N0, N1, and N2). There was an interaction between ozone and N fertilizer for the major parameters studied. O3 and N2 treatments led to a significant decrease in maximum efficiency of photosystem 2 (PS2) photochemistry (Fv/Fm), and induced a significant decrease in the actual quantum yield of PS2 (ΦPS2), due mainly to the increased closure of PS2 reaction centres (qP) and to an increase in the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). On the other hand, these plants exhibited an increased susceptibility to photoinhibition, which could be associated with an increased fraction of reduced QA. An increase in lipid peroxidation indicated that damage was occurring at the membrane levels. High N concentration enhanced the detrimental effects of ozone on the fluorescence parameter induction and lipid peroxidation. All these negative alterations led to a decreased yield. and A. Calatayud, F. Pomares, E. Barreno.
The Green-Ampt (GA) model is widely used in hydrologic studies as a simple, physically-based method to estimate infiltration processes. The accuracy of the model for applications under rainfall conditions (as opposed to initially ponded situations) has not been studied extensively. We compared calculated rainfall infiltration results for various soils obtained using existing GA parameterizations with those obtained by solving the Richards equation for variably saturated flow. Results provided an overview of GA model performance evaluated by means of a root-meansquare-error-based objective function across a large region in GA parameter space as compared to the Richards equation, which showed a need for seeking optimal GA parameters. Subsequent analysis enabled the identification of optimal GA parameters that provided a close fit with the Richards equation. The optimal parameters were found to substantially outperform the standard theoretical parameters, thus improving the utility and accuracy of the GA model for infiltration simulations under rainfall conditions. A sensitivity analyses indicated that the optimal parameters may change for some rainfall scenarios, but are relatively stable for high-intensity rainfall events.