Effects of Fungicide Euparen Multi (Tolylfluanid) on Development of Preimplantation Embryos in Mouse

The effect of the fungicide Euparen Multi (containing 50% tolylfluanid) on the development of mouse preimplantation embryos was evaluated. Euparen Multi was daily administered per os to female mice (ICR strain) at four different doses of 118, 294, 588 and 1177 mg/kg b.m., beginning on day 1 of pregnancy. Embryos obtained on day 4 of pregnancy were stained by morphological triple staining (Hoechst 33342, propidium iodide, Calcein AM), and the number of nuclei, blastocyst formation, distribution of embryos according to the nucleus number and cell death incidence were determined. Embryos in the experimental groups (except for the lowest dose 118 mg/kg b.m.) showed a highly significant dose-dependent reduction in total cell numbers corresponding to the lower proportion of blastocysts. The occurrence of cell death was significantly increased in all experimental groups, indicating that Euparen Multi is able to cause cell death at relatively low doses. Our data demonstrate that Euparen Multi could induce significant alterations in the preimplantation embryo development

Estimating price gradient in Bratislava with different distance measurements

Purpose: This paper aims to analyse the price gradient of apartments in the city of Bratislava with different measurements of travel time and distance to the city centre. Design/methodology/approach: The price gradient is analysed by means of a hedonic price model. To overcome the problem with spatial autocorrelation in the data, the authors apply a spatial error model. Findings: The paper provides empirical insights into the size of the price gradient in the city of Bratislava. In addition, it suggests that even in the case of a city with complicated urban structure, Euclidean distance is the best proxy for distance to the city centre and it is not necessary to use a more demanding distance calculation in hedonic price models. Originality/value: Price gradients are usually analysed in western European or American cities whose urban structure differ from the cities in central and eastern Europe. This paper is the first in which the price gradient is estimated with different measurements of time and distance to the city centre using a spatial econometric model

Determinants of choice of the place of university study in Slovakia (Determinanty výberu miesta vysokoškolského štúdia na Slovensku)

Determinants of choice of the place of university study in Slovakia – Growth of human capital is one of the main drivers of regional development. Regions that are able to attract students from other regions, and retain university graduates, derive the greatest benefit from human capital accumulation. 6is paper aims to explore the determinants for regional migration of Slovak students when pursuing higher education. Individual micro-data from the 2011census in Slovakia were used, along with the socio-economic characteristics of home regions and higher education locations. 6e results of a spatial discrete choice model, based on logistic regression, indicate that the main factors pushing to study outside the domestic region are unfavorable socio-economic characteristics in their domestic region, coupled with students’ attraction towards better socio-economic conditions, amenities of other regions, and higher quality of education. Women and individuals from more peripheral parts of a region are also more likely to study outside their home region

Creative capacity of European countries

In the paper we study creative capacity of 28 European countries in the period 2005–2014. We construct a creativity index based on the 3Ts concept of talent, technology and tolerance as the key components of the creativity. Our index is measured and calculated with both the cross-section and the time series dimensions, which is an important contribution compared to other studies. We have demonstrated relatively stable rankings of the countries in time, even though the creative capacity measured by our creativity index was gradually growing in time with varying rate of growth for individual countries. We have also shown evidence that the creative capacity is clustered geographically. The creativity index was compared to World happiness index, GDP per capita and Human development index. We have replicated earlier cross-sectional analyses and shown the relatively strong correlation. However, we show that the picture is different for changes within individual countries. Here we demonstrated lack of correlation between creativity and GDP per capita or World happiness index

Experimental system design for the integration of trapped-ion and superconducting qubit systems

We present a design for the experimental integration of ion trapping and superconducting qubit systems as a step towards the realization of a quantum hybrid system. The scheme addresses two key difficulties in realizing such a system: a combined microfabricated ion trap and superconducting qubit architecture, and the experimental infrastructure to facilitate both technologies. Developing upon work by Kielpinski et al. (Phys Rev Lett 108(13):130504, 2012. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.130504), we describe the design, simulation and fabrication process for a microfabricated ion trap capable of coupling an ion to a superconducting microwave LC circuit with a coupling strength in the tens of kHz. We also describe existing difficulties in combining the experimental infrastructure of an ion trapping set-up into a dilution refrigerator with superconducting qubits and present solutions that can be immediately implemented using current technology

Landau-Zener-Stückelberg-Majorana lasing in circuit quantum electrodynamics

We demonstrate amplification (and attenuation) of a probe signal by a driven two-level quantum system in the Landau-Zener-St\"{u}ckelberg-Majorana regime by means of an experiment, in which a superconducting qubit was strongly coupled to a microwave cavity, in a conventional arrangement of circuit quantum electrodynamics. Two different types of flux qubit, specifically a conventional Josephson junctions qubit and a phase-slip qubit, show similar results, namely, lasing at the working points where amplification takes place. The experimental data are explained by the interaction of the probe signal with Rabi-like oscillations. The latter are created by constructive interference of Landau-Zener-St\"{u}ckelberg-Majorana (LZSM) transitions during the driving period of the qubit. A detailed description of the occurrence of these oscillations and a comparison of obtained data with both analytic and numerical calculations are given

Effects of selected plant essential oils on the growth and development of mouse preimplantation embryos in vivo .

Summary Plant essential oils (EOs) have been reported to have health benefit properties and their preventive and therapeutic use in animals is expected to increase in the future. We evaluated the influence of five essential oils obtained from plant species which are known to have positive antimicrobial, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects -sage EO from Salvia officinalis L. (Lamiaceae), oregano EO from Origanum vulgare L. (Lamiaceae), thyme EO from Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae), clove EO from Syzygium aromaticum L. (Myrtaceae) and cinnamon EO from Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (Lauraceae) on the growth and development of mouse preimplantation embryos in vivo. Essential oils were added to commercial diet at concentrations of 0.25 % for sage EO, thyme EO, clove EO, cinnamon EO and 0.1 % for oregano EO, and fed to ICR female mice for 2 weeks ad libitum. Females were then mated with males of the same strain. Embryos obtained on Day 4 of pregnancy at the blastocyst stage were stained by morphological triple staining (Hoechst, PI, Calcein-AM) and evaluated using fluorescent microscopy. The effects of essential oils were estimated by the viability of embryos, number of nuclei and distribution of embryos according to nucleus number. Cinnamon EO significantly decreased the number of nuclei and the distribution of embryos according to nucleus number was significantly altered. Sage EO negatively influenced the distribution of embryos according to nucleus number. Clove and oregano EOs induced a significantly increased rate of cell death. Only thyme EO had no detectable effects on embryo development. In conclusion, none of the essential oils had any positive effect on embryo development, but some of them reduced the number of cells and increased the incidence of cell death