The ageing trajectory (trend in ageing) and reproduction-longevity trade-off in both sexes of the ladybird Propylea dissecta were studied. The ageing trajectories of both sexes were investigated in terms of reproductive performance, using initial oviposition (egg laying within 24 h of mating) acting as an indicator of the effect of female age and initial viability (percentage of eggs laid within 24 h of mating that hatched) of the effect of male age. Ageing trends were sex dependent, with reproductive performance declining later in females than in males. Initial oviposition of females was largely age dependent and the initial viability of males was age dependent but less so than for females. There is a strong trade-off between number of matings and longevity. Statistical analyses reveal that this trade-off results from an early onset of mortality rather than an increase in mortality rate. A minimum lifespan was observed in this ladybird beyond which the longevity did not further decline.
The aim of this paper is to analyze changes in fertility in Slovakia in interwar period and to describe its overall character in transversal and longitudinal perspective. The article is based on data from vital statistics of Statistical office. Special attention is paid to the level of concious fertility control and spatial differencies. and Branislav Šprocha, Pavol Tišliar.
For biological control it is necessary to store mass-reared biological control agents when the demand is low. The objective of this study is to increase their shelf life without significantly reducing their fitness. The ladybird Hippodamia variegata is a widespread and voracious aphidophagous predator, with an important role in decreasing the abundance of pest aphids in many parts of the world. We investigated the effect of storage at three temperatures: constant 1°C, constant 6°C, and an alternating thermal regime of 12°C/0°C (the higher temperature for 12 h and the lower one for another 12 h). They were exposed to each of the temperature regimes for either 15, 25, 35, 45 or 60 days. We recorded survival, pre-oviposition period, fecundity and voracity of adult H. variegata following storage. The survival of adult beetles significantly declined with increasing storage duration at all three temperatures. Storage at 6°C up to 35 days and at 12°C/0°C up to 45 days had no significant effects on the fecundity of the ladybirds, but storage for longer significantly decreased fecundity. Beetles stored at 1°C for any of the durations had significantly lower fecundities. Prolonged cold storage caused an increase in the pre-oviposition period at all storage temperatures. Generally, 6°C and 12°C/0°C are the best temperatures for storing the ladybirds as they had the least negative effect on their fitness. The results of this research can help in improving the quality of H. variegata stored for use as biological control agents in the following season.
In December of 2019, several cases of unknown atypical respiratory diseases emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province in China. After preliminary research, it was stated that the disease is transmittable between humans and was named COVID-19. Over the course of next months, it spread all over the world by air and sea transport and caused a global pandemic which affects life of everyone now-a-days. A large number of countries, have since been forced to take precautions such as curfews, lockdowns, wearing facemasks etc. Even with vaccines being produced in mass numbers, lack of targeted therapy continues to be a major problem. According to studies so far it seems that elderly people are more vulnerable to severe symptoms while children tend to by asymptomatic or have milder form the disease. In our review, we focused on gathering data about the virus itself, its characteristics, paths of transmission, and its effect on hormone production and secretion. In such, there is insufficient information in the literature worldwide, especially the ones that focus on the effect of COVID-19 on individual organs systems within the human body. Hence, the present evidence-based study focused on the possible effects of COVID-19 on adrenal gland and gonads i.e. on the process of steroidogenesis and fertility.
The transition between foraging and farming represents one of the most discussed topics in human history. This study deals with demographic aspects of farming spread in Central Europe (6th millenium BC). On the theoretical and empirical level and on the basis of demographic modelling, we argue that both south-eastern farmers and local foragers participated on the establishment of farming communities in Central Europe., Patrik Galeta, Jaroslav Brůžek., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The current text resumes the topic of fertility rituals in Japan. This part of the entire article deals primarily with two protective village deities, the Dösojin, residing at entrance points to the village and thus overseeing all activity and movement to and from the village itself. The Dösojin thus have the capacity to control and influence everyday life of the villagers in the supernatural field, including new year festivities connected with fertility rituals. The current text not only introduces the shape of the two-day festival but also contributes to a deeper understanding of the issue in question by providing a complex insight into the symbolism and contextual meaning of the performance of the ritual itself., Zuzana Kubovčáková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The present article introduces a new operationalization of preference theory in the Czech Republic; and tests if fertility differs in terms of life-style preferences using data from a survey of men and women in post-reproductive period (aged 40 +) of the life cycle. This study has three main parts. First, it introduces and discusses a new operationalization of life-style preferences that can be applied for both men and women. Secondly, this paper presents the distribution of life-style preferences among males and females in the Czech population. In the final part, the authors test whether this new typology is a good predictor of Czech fertility levels, and highlight the differences in fertility between men and women by lifestyle preferences., Beatrice Chromková Manea a Ladislav Rabušic., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In the present study, we investigated the effect of acrylamide (ACR) exposure during pregnancy on the ovary of female adult offspring of two subsequent generations. Sixty-day-old Wistar albino female rats were given different doses of ACR (2.5 and 10 mg/kg/day) from day 6 of pregnancy until giving birth. Females from the first generation (AF1) were fed ad libitum, and thereafter, a subgroup was euthanized at 8 weeks of age and ovary samples were obtained. The remaining females were maintained until they reached sexual maturity (50 days old) and then treated in the same way as the previous generation to obtain the second generation of females (AF2). The histopathological examination indicated a high frequency of corpora lutea along with an increased number of antral follicles that reached the selectable stage mainly at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day. Interestingly, ACR exposure significantly increased the mRNA levels of CYP19 gene and its corresponding CYP19 protein expression in AF1 females. The TUNEL assay showed a significantly high rate of apoptosis in stromal cells except for dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day. However, in AF2 females, ACR exposure significantly increased the number of degenerating follicles and cysts while the number of growing follicles was reduced. Moreover, in both ACR-treated groups, estradiolproducing enzyme CYP19A gene and its corresponding protein were significantly reduced, and an excessive apoptosis was produced. We concluded that the ovarian condition of AF1 females had considerable similarity to the typical early perimenopausal stage, whereas that of AF2 females was similar to the late perimenopausal stage in women.
Smoking is the most widespread substance dependence in the world. Nicotine and some other components of the cigarette smoke cause various endocrine imbalances, and have negative effects on pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, testicular and ovarian functions. Here, we examined studies that describe the influence of smoking and smoking cessation on the male and female reproductive systems. We also focused on studies providing an account of differences in cessation success rates between men and women. In men, the most common effects associated with smoking are erectile dysfunction and decreasing spermiogram quality. Several groups have studied the effects of cigarette smoking on testosterone levels in men. However, the results have been conflicting. In women, nicotine has an antiestrogen effect and increases the ratio of androgens to estrogens throughout life. Beside nicotine, other cigarette toxins also cause dysregulation of reproductive and hormonal system, and essentially influence the probability of a successful pregnancy not only in cases of assisted reproduction but also in healthy women. Tobacco addiction is one of the forms of addiction that are generally thought to be different for men and for women. Women are less successful than men in quitting smoking, and nicotine replacement therapy is less effective in female smokers. We also summarize recent studies that have indicated possible reasons., H. Jandíková, M. Dušková, L. Stárka., and Obsahuje bibliografii