Organic material within the modern fluvial deposits in the broader surroundings of Zlín

Content of organic material within the modern fluvial deposits were studied in the broader surroundings of Zlín. Detailed grain-size studies reveal that the organic material is relative mostly concentrated in the coarsest fraction of the studied samples. Distribution of the organic material can affected the content of organic pollutants within the studied samples.Content of organic material within the modern fluvial deposits were studied in the broader surroundings of Zlín. Detailed grain-size studies reveal that the organic material is relative mostly concentrated in the coarsest fraction of the studied samples. Distribution of the organic material can affected the content of organic pollutants within the studied samples

Depositional environment and provenance of Lower Palaeozoic clastics in the Měnín-1 borehole, SSE of Brno

An unusual, more than 1.7 km thick successions of Paleozoic siliciclastic strata were drilled in an intermittently cored Měnín-1 borehole in 1973. The boundary between the Cambrian and Devonian siliciclastics has recently been localized at the drilling depth of 473 m, i.e. only 70 m below the base of the limestones. Several facies that identify similar depositional environments were found both in the numerous Cambrian sedimentary fills and thin Devonian siliciclastics. There were repeated changes between the terrestrial and shallow marine conditions, but the previling volumes of these siliciclastics were probably deposited in environments of braided deltas. The chemical compositions of detrital garnets and tourmalines sampled from both the Cambrian and Devonian sediments identify a similar material sources. Metasediments, mainly gneisses and schists as the main source rocks, were identified for the oldest parts of the Lower Cambrian stratal succession. Higher in these successions, a gradual decrease of granitoids in the Lower Cambrian source rocks was proved. Above the major, Lower Cambrian–Middle Devonian hiatus, the composition of translucent heavy mineral assemblage is strongly affected by redeposition from older sediments.An unusual, more than 1.7 km thick successions of Paleozoic siliciclastic strata were drilled in an intermittently cored Měnín-1 borehole in 1973. The boundary between the Cambrian and Devonian siliciclastics has recently been localized at the drilling depth of 473 m, i.e. only 70 m below the base of the limestones. Several facies that identify similar depositional environments were found both in the numerous Cambrian sedimentary fills and thin Devonian siliciclastics. There were repeated changes between the terrestrial and shallow marine conditions, but the previling volumes of these siliciclastics were probably deposited in environments of braided deltas. The chemical compositions of detrital garnets and tourmalines sampled from both the Cambrian and Devonian sediments identify a similar material sources. Metasediments, mainly gneisses and schists as the main source rocks, were identified for the oldest parts of the Lower Cambrian stratal succession. Higher in these successions, a gradual decrease of granitoids in the Lower Cambrian source rocks was proved. Above the major, Lower Cambrian–Middle Devonian hiatus, the composition of translucent heavy mineral assemblage is strongly affected by redeposition from older sediments

Ottnangian variegated sediments in Brno-Kohoutovice

The reddish coloured sediment layers (up to 5 m thick) were found within building pit in the Brno-Kohoutovice on the Libušina třída Avenue (NW part of Brno). These sediments were assigned to the Ottnangian based on characteristic pseudoassociation of microfossils. Smectite or illite/smectite dominates over kaolinite among the clay minerals. Minerals typomorphic for granitoids of the Brno Massif, i.e. epidote, amphibole and altered titanite, absolutely dominate (99 mod. %) within the assemblage of translucent heavy fraction. Minerals like garnet and staurolite which are typical for the Ottnangian sediments in this region, are presented only in accessoric amount. The chemical composition of the studied sediments is located between the chemical composition of granodiorites of the Brno Massif and Neogene clays. Relatively high content of Zr, Hf and HREE, which is interpreted as result of presence of very fine grained zircon in studied sediments, is characteristic. High content of SiO2 and comparatively low contents of Al2O3 and Fe2O3 indicates non-lateritic type of weathering. The chemical composition of studied sediments reflects semiarid to humid paleoclimate that the granitoids of the Brno Massif as parent rock have undergone.The reddish coloured sediment layers (up to 5 m thick) were found within building pit in the Brno-Kohoutovice on the Libušina třída Avenue (NW part of Brno). These sediments were assigned to the Ottnangian based on characteristic pseudoassociation of microfossils. Smectite or illite/smectite dominates over kaolinite among the clay minerals. Minerals typomorphic for granitoids of the Brno Massif, i.e. epidote, amphibole and altered titanite, absolutely dominate (99 mod. %) within the assemblage of translucent heavy fraction. Minerals like garnet and staurolite which are typical for the Ottnangian sediments in this region, are presented only in accessoric amount. The chemical composition of the studied sediments is located between the chemical composition of granodiorites of the Brno Massif and Neogene clays. Relatively high content of Zr, Hf and HREE, which is interpreted as result of presence of very fine grained zircon in studied sediments, is characteristic. High content of SiO2 and comparatively low contents of Al2O3 and Fe2O3 indicates non-lateritic type of weathering. The chemical composition of studied sediments reflects semiarid to humid paleoclimate that the granitoids of the Brno Massif as parent rock have undergone

Paleomeander at the Northern bailey of the archaeological site Pohansko near Břeclav

The site is situated in the bottomland near the confluence of Dyje and Morava rivers. The junction area is split by many sides and inactive channels. The human impact (settlement establishment, deforestation and landscape management) is also reflected in the bottomland development. Processes lead to erosion, accumulation of sediments in river beds and changes in vegetation. One of the peaks of the settlement of the studied area can be considered during existence of the Great Moravian Empire when the settlement agglomerations developed directly in the floodplain. The area has been intensively archaeologically studied for a long time. In the context of the ongoing climate change and increasing intensity of floods the relationship between climate, natural conditions and the functioning of the human settlements comes to the forefront of scientific interest. For the reconstruction of the complicated floodplain development a combination of different research methods was used. For direct determination of stratigraphy an excavated transect through the sediments connecting the edge of the settlement (in the area of the so called Northern bailey) on the sand elevation („hrúd“) and lower flood-plain step in the area of presumptive paleomeander has been studied. Direct field documentation and palynological and sedimentological studies and 14C dating method were utilized. These methods have been supplemented by remote sensing methods: Geophysics (ERT, DEMP), Lidar. On their basis a digital relief model (extend of measured area was 54 000 m2) was created as well as a map of conductivity anomalies. The study documented a sequence of extinct riverbeds (a series of fluvial point bars) of various ages at the northern edge of Pohansko. Their stratigraphic position proves the stage when the active channel was eroding the edge of the archaeological site. The sediments stored in previous periods were destroyed by erosion in this space. The aggradation of the floodplain occurred in 14th–16th century. Results of pollen analysis indicate the presence of a mosaic of forested and open landscape of mesophilous alluvial woodlands and open areas. The immediate vicinity of the sedimentary area was not too much affected by agricultural activity at that time. Compared to palynospectra from sediments of the Great Moravian settlement, the deforestation intensity and the proportion of anthropogenic indicators were noticeably lower.The site is situated in the bottomland near the confluence of Dyje and Morava rivers. The junction area is split by many sides and inactive channels. The human impact (settlement establishment, deforestation and landscape management) is also reflected in the bottomland development. Processes lead to erosion, accumulation of sediments in river beds and changes in vegetation. One of the peaks of the settlement of the studied area can be considered during existence of the Great Moravian Empire when the settlement agglomerations developed directly in the floodplain. The area has been intensively archaeologically studied for a long time. In the context of the ongoing climate change and increasing intensity of floods the relationship between climate, natural conditions and the functioning of the human settlements comes to the forefront of scientific interest. For the reconstruction of the complicated floodplain development a combination of different research methods was used. For direct determination of stratigraphy an excavated transect through the sediments connecting the edge of the settlement (in the area of the so called Northern bailey) on the sand elevation („hrúd“) and lower flood-plain step in the area of presumptive paleomeander has been studied. Direct field documentation and palynological and sedimentological studies and 14C dating method were utilized. These methods have been supplemented by remote sensing methods: Geophysics (ERT, DEMP), Lidar. On their basis a digital relief model (extend of measured area was 54 000 m2) was created as well as a map of conductivity anomalies. The study documented a sequence of extinct riverbeds (a series of fluvial point bars) of various ages at the northern edge of Pohansko. Their stratigraphic position proves the stage when the active channel was eroding the edge of the archaeological site. The sediments stored in previous periods were destroyed by erosion in this space. The aggradation of the floodplain occurred in 14th–16th century. Results of pollen analysis indicate the presence of a mosaic of forested and open landscape of mesophilous alluvial woodlands and open areas. The immediate vicinity of the sedimentary area was not too much affected by agricultural activity at that time. Compared to palynospectra from sediments of the Great Moravian settlement, the deforestation intensity and the proportion of anthropogenic indicators were noticeably lower

Insights into the evolution of mammalian telomerase: Platypus TERT shares similarities with genes of birds and other reptiles and localizes on sex chromosomes

Background The TERT gene encodes the catalytic subunit of the telomerase complex and is responsible for maintaining telomere length. Vertebrate telomerase has been studied in eutherian mammals, fish, and the chicken, but less attention has been paid to other vertebrates. The platypus occupies an important evolutionary position, providing unique insight into the evolution of mammalian genes. We report the cloning of a platypus TERT (OanTERT) ortholog, and provide a comparison with genes of other vertebrates. Results The OanTERT encodes a protein with a high sequence similarity to marsupial TERT and avian TERT. Like the TERT of sauropsids and marsupials, as well as that of sharks and echinoderms, OanTERT contains extended variable linkers in the N-terminal region suggesting that they were present already in basal vertebrates and lost independently in rayfinned fish and eutherian mammals. Several alternatively spliced OanTERT variants structurally similar to avian TERT variants were identified. Telomerase activity is expressed in all platypus tissues like that of cold-blooded animals and murine rodents. OanTERT was localized on pseudoautosomal regions of sex chromosomes X3/Y2, expanding the homology between human chromosome 5 and platypus sex chromosomes. Synteny analysis suggests that TERT co-localized with sex-linked genes in the last common mammalian ancestor. Interestingly, female platypuses express higher levels of telomerase in heart and liver tissues than do males. Conclusions OanTERT shares many features with TERT of the reptilian outgroup, suggesting that OanTERT represents the ancestral mammalian TERT. Features specific to TERT of eutherian mammals have, therefore, evolved more recently after the divergence of monotremes.Radmila Hrdličková, Jiří Nehyba, Shu Ly Lim, Frank Grützner, Henry R Bose J

Regulation of Telomerase Activity by Interferon Regulatory Factors 4 and 8 in Immune Cells▿

Telomerase activity is downregulated in somatic cells but is upregulated during the activation of cells of the immune system. The mechanism of this reactivation is not well understood. In this study, we demonstrated that interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF-4) and, to a lesser extent, IRF-8 induce telomerase activity. The suppression of IRF-4 results in decreased levels of TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase) mRNA and telomerase activity and reduces cell proliferation. The overexpression of TERT compensates for this proliferation defect, suggesting that telomerase contributes to the regulation of cell proliferation by IRF-4. The induction of telomerase by IRF-4 and IRF-8 correlates with the activation of the TERT promoter. IRF-4 binds the interferon response-stimulated element and the gamma interferon-activated sequence composite binding site in the TERT core promoter region in vivo. Additionally, the binding of Sp1, Sp3, USF-1, USF-2, and c-Myc to the TERT promoter is elevated in cells expressing IRF-4. IRF-4, but not IRF-8, synergistically cooperates with Sp1 and Sp3 in the activation of the TERT promoter. Collectively, these results indicate that IRF-4 and IRF-8, two lymphoid cell-specific transcription factors, increase telomerase activity by activating TERT transcription in immune cells

A Novel Interferon Regulatory Factor (IRF), IRF-10, Has a Unique Role in Immune Defense and Is Induced by the v-Rel Oncoprotein

The cloning and functional characterization of a novel interferon regulatory factor (IRF), IRF-10, are described. IRF-10 is most closely related to IRF-4 but differs in both its constitutive and inducible expression. The expression of IRF-10 is inducible by interferons (IFNs) and by concanavalin A. In contrast to that of other IRFs, the inducible expression of IRF-10 is characterized by delayed kinetics and requires protein synthesis, suggesting a unique role in the later stages of an antiviral defense. Accordingly, IRF-10 is involved in the upregulation of two primary IFN-γ target genes (major histocompatibility complex [MHC] class I and guanylate-binding protein) and interferes with the induction of the type I IFN target gene for 2′,5′-oligo(A) synthetase. IRF-10 binds the interferon-stimulated response element site of the MHC class I promoter. In contrast to that of IRF-1, which has some of the same functional characteristics, the expression of IRF-10 is not cytotoxic for fibroblasts or B cells. The expression of IRF-10 is induced by the oncogene v-rel, the proto-oncogene c-rel, and IRF-4 in a tissue-specific manner. Moreover, v-Rel and IRF-4 synergistically cooperate in the induction of IRF-10 in fibroblasts. The level of IRF-10 induction in lymphoid cell lines by Rel proteins correlates with Rel transformation potential. These results suggest that IRF-10 plays a role in the late stages of an immune defense by regulating the expression some of the IFN-γ target genes in the absence of a cytotoxic effect. Furthermore, IRF-10 expression is regulated, at least in part, by members of the Rel/NF-κB and IRF families

Utilization of lactic acid bacteria from whey for preparing of polylactide and production of biodegradable plastics

Při výrobě sýrů a tvarohů vzniká odpadní produkt syrovátka. Syrovátka je významná surovina obsahující celou řadu nutričních látek, které lze dále smysluplně využít. Jednou z možností využití je fermentace sladké syrovátky kmeny bakterií mléčného kvašení a vzniklou kyselinu mléčnou dále využít pro tvorbu gelů a fólií polymerací na polylaktát. V naší práci jsme se zaměřili na vytypování nejvhodnějších kmenů ze sbírky mlékařských mikroorganismů pro fermentaci sladké syrovátky s požadavkem na vyprodukování co nejvyššího množství kyseliny mléčné. A současně jsme provedli porovnání fermentací s mléčným substrátem. Byly zjištěny rozdíly mezi fermentacemi v různých substrátech a v rychlosti a hloubce prokysávání médií. Z širokého souboru kmenů byl vybrán kmen Lactobacillus helveticus CCDM 108 s nejvyšší produkcí kyseliny mléčné. Dobrou schopnost prokysávat sladkou syrovátku prokázaly i kmeny CCDM 92, 98, 121, 122, 447.Whey as waste products occurs by cheese and quark production. The whey is a significant raw material containing a range of nitritional matters, which is possible industrial utilize. The fermentattion of sweet way by the strains of lactic acid bacteria is one of these possibilities. Obtained lactic acid can be polymerize on polylactide and used further for gel and folia production. In our work we aim at selection of the most suitable strains from Collection of dairy microorganisms for sweet way fermentation with order the highest quantity of produced lactic acid. At the sam etime we meda comparison with milk substrate. The strain Lactobacillus helveticus CCDM 108 with the highest lactic acid production was chosen from wide group of strains. Also the other strains Lbc. helveticus CCDM 92, 98, 121, 122, 447 have shown the good ability for lactic acid fermentation

Evolution of a sedimentary infill of a palaeovalley at a distal margin of the peripheral foreland basin

The entrenched Odra palaeovalley, cut into the bedrock of the distal margin (forebulge basal unconformity) of the Moravian Carpathian Foredeep (peripheral foreland basin) is filled with an almost 300 m thick pile of Miocene deposits. The directon of the valley (NW-SE to NNW-SSE) has been controlled by faults subparallel with the system of “sudetic faults“. The sedimentary succession consists of 5 facies associations/depositional environments, which are interpreted (from bottom to top, i.e. from the oldest to the youngest) as: 1 - colluvial deposits to deposits of alluvial fan, 2 - deposits of alluvial fan, 3 - fan-delta deposits, 4 - shallow water delta to nearshore deposits and 5 - open marine deposits. This fining-up and deepening-up succession reveals the following: the formation of the new flexural shape of the basin; deep erosion connected with uplift and tilting of the forebulge and reactivation of the NW-SE trending basement faults; the Early/Middle Miocene sea level fall; alluvial deposition mostly driven by tectonics and morphology; forebulge flexural retreat; Middle-Miocene sea level rise; back-stepping of valley infill; marine invasion during the Early Badenian with shift of the coastline further landward of the pallaeovalley. Tectonics related to contemporary thrusting processes in the Western Carpathians are assumed to be the dominating factor of the studied deposition at the expense of eustatic sea level changes. Provenance studies have proven that the pre-Neogene basement (i.e. the Early Carboniferous clastic “Culmian facies” ofthe Moravian-Silesian Paleozoic) represents an important source for the conglomerates and sands, which volumetrically dominate in the palaeovalley infill. However, they also showed, that the deposits of the earlier Carpathian Foredeep Basin sedimentary stage (Karpatian in age?) covered the area under study and were eroded and resedimented into the palaeovalley infill

miRNAs targeting TERT regulate genes in the Wnt pathway.

<p>Western blot analysis of endogenously expressed TCF7 (38–80 kDa) and MSI1 (39 kDa and 43 kDa) proteins in DLD-1 cells transfected with scrambled control (SC), and MIX1, MIX2, and MIX3 as described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0086990#pone-0086990-g003" target="_blank">Figure 3</a> or with transfection reagent alone (TR). The mixtures of miRNAs as well as SC were at a concentration of 60 nM. Single transfected miRNAs gave more modest differences than mixtures. Molecular weight markers are shown in the left margin. β-actin served as a loading control. The quantification of Western blot analysis (Table) is shown on the right side. The signals of TCF7 or MSI1 were normalized to β-actin and expressed as a percentage of SC control. The ratio of 43 to 38 kDa MSI1 forms is shown on the picture under MSI1 bands.</p