Navigating institutional pressure in state-socialist and democratic regimes: The case of movement brontosaurus

Using the case of Movement Brontosaurus, a Czech organization founded in state socialist times, this article investigates how civic associations and nongovernmental organizations seeking to promote alternatives to the status quo respond to institutional pressures in different political and social contexts. The case shows that under state socialism, Brontosaurus appeared to conform to state mandates and societal expectations. However, its formal structure was decoupled from many activities to obscure its oppositional intent.After the transition to democracy, the organization was only able to maintain its place in society after it aligned its structure and practices with each other and openly expressed its alternative agenda. The findings demonstrate how social change and alternative lifestyle organizations vary their responses to institutional pressure in ways that enable them to realize their values and pursue their missions while accounting for the political and social contexts in which they are embedded

Experimental study of a control synthetic jet's efficiency

The present paper deals with an active control of jet flows by means of a system of synthetic jets. The control synthetic jet in one segment of the main round nozzle was measured by means of PIV. The strength of the control synthetic jet was quantified, relatively to the main jet, in terms of the ratios of their velocities, flow rates, and momenta. The results confirm efficiency of the present flow control method

Experimental investigation of a control synthetic jet

Synthetic jets were used in previous studies to control a continuous round air jet. This study focuses on the single synthetic jet, which is measured using Constant Temperature Anemometry (CTA) and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Velocity profiles and frequency characteristics of the single synthetic jet are discussed and the velocity maps at frequencies of 30 Hz, 81 Hz and 190 Hz are presented. Finally, velocity, flow rate and momentum coefficients featured the present flow control are evaluated, and examples of actively controlled round air jet are put on. The results confirm efficiency of the present flow control method

Caspase-2 and JNK Activated by Saturated Fatty Acids are Not Involved in Apoptosis Induction but Modulate ER Stress in Human Pancreatic β-cells

Background: Fatty acid-induced apoptosis and ER stress of pancreatic β-cells contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, however, the molecular mechanisms involved are unclear. Aims: In this study we have tested the role of caspase-2 and suggested ER stress mediator JNK in saturated fatty acid-induced apoptosis of the human pancreatic β-cells NES2Y. Results: We found that stearic acid at apoptosis-inducing concentration activated ER stress signaling pathways, i.e. IRE1α, PERK and ATF6 pathways, in NES2Y cells. During stearic acid-induced apoptosis, JNK inhibition did not decrease the rate of apoptosis nor the activation of caspase-8, -9, -7 and -2 and PARP cleavage. In addition, inhibition of JNK activity did not affect CHOP expression although it did decrease the induction of BiP expression after stearic acid treatment. Caspase-2 silencing had no effect on PARP as well as caspase-8, -9 and -7 cleavage and the induction of CHOP expression, however, it also decreased the induction of BiP expression. Surprisingly, caspase-2 silencing was accompanied by increased phosphorylation of c-Jun. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that caspase-2 as well as JNK are not key players in apoptosis induction by saturated fatty acids in human pancreatic β-cells NES2Y. However, they appear to be involved in the modulation of saturated fatty acid-induced ER stress signaling, probably by a mechanism independent of c-Jun phosphorylation