The Anglo-Scottish Struggle from the Outset of the Hundred Years' War to the Battle of Neville Cross: The Perspective of English Official Documents

Proč anglo-skotské zápolení mezi lety 1337 až 1346? Proč perspektiva anglických úředních dokumentů? Jaký vliv měla tzv. "stoletá válka" na anglo-skotské vztahy v prvních letech konfliktu? Jaký důsledek měla skotská problematika pro politiku anglického krále během anglicko-francouzského konfliktu? Jak se lišila perspektiva anglických úředních pramenů od pohledu anglických kronik, případně skotských či francouzských pramenů? Jaká byla rétorická rovina těchto pramenů a co vyjadřovala? Následující práce se pokusí některé z těchto problémů rozebrat a dokázat, že skotské království ovlivňovalo anglickou politiku několika způsoby od počátku stoleté války až po bitvu u Neville Crossu o necelou dekádu později.Why the term 'Anglo-Scottish Struggle' between 1337 and 1346? Why 'The Perspective of English Official Documents'? What influence did the so-called 'Hundred Year's War' have on the Anglo-Scottish relations in the first years of the war? What impact did the 'Scottish issue' have on the policy of the English king during the Anglo-French conflict? How did the perspective of English official documents differ from that of English chronicles or Scottish/French primary sources? What role did the rhetoric of these source play? How was it portrayed? The following thesis will try to analyse some of the aforementioned issues and will strive to prove that the Scottish kingdom had a profound impact on the English policy in multiple respects from the outset of the Hundred Years' War until the battle of Neville's Cross almost ten years later.Institute of General HistoryÚstav světových dějinFaculty of ArtsFilozofická fakult

Arthritis in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy:Clinical Features and Autoantibody Associations

Objective.To determine the prevalence, distribution, and clinical manifestations of arthritis in a cohort of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). Associations with autoantibody status and HLA genetic background were also explored.Methods.Consecutive patients with IIM treated in a single center were included in this cross-sectional study (n = 106). History of arthritis, 68-joint and 66-joint tender and swollen joint index, clinical features of IIM, and autoantibody profiles were obtained by clinical examination, personal interview, and review of patient records. High-resolution genotyping in HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 loci was performed in 71 and 73 patients, respectively.Results.A combination of patients’ medical history and cross-sectional physical examination revealed that arthritis at any time during the disease course had occurred in 56 patients (53%). It was present at the beginning of the disease in 39 patients (37%) including 23 cases (22%) with arthritis preceding the onset of muscle weakness. On physical examination, 29% of patients had at least 1 swollen joint. The most frequently affected areas were wrists, and metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints. Twenty-seven out of the 29 anti-Jo1-positive patients had arthritis at any time during the course of their illness; this prevalence was significantly higher compared to patients without the anti-Jo1 autoantibody (p &lt; 0.0001). No association of arthritis with individual HLA alleles was found.Conclusion.Our data suggest that arthritis is a common feature of myositis. It is frequently present at the onset of disease and it may even precede muscular manifestations of IIM. The most common presentation is a symmetrical, nonerosive polyarthritis affecting particularly the wrists, shoulders, and small joints of the hands. We have confirmed a strong association of arthritis with the presence of the anti-Jo1 antibody.</jats:sec

Expression Profiling of Major Histocompatibility and Natural Killer Complex Genes Reveals Candidates for Controlling Risk of Graft versus Host Disease

Background: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is the most important genomic region that contributes to the risk of graft versus host disease (GVHD) after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Matching of MHC class I and II genes is essential for the success of transplantation. However, the MHC contains additional genes that also contribute to the risk of developing acute GVHD. It is difficult to identify these genes by genetic association studies alone due to linkage disequilibrium in this region. Therefore, we aimed to identify MHC genes and other genes involved in the pathophysiology of GVHD by mRNA expression profiling. Methodology/Principal Findings: To reduce the complexity of the task, we used genetically well-defined rat inbred strains and a rat skin explant assay, an in-vitro-model of the graft versus host reaction (GVHR), to analyze the expression of MHC, natural killer complex (NKC), and other genes in cutaneous GVHR. We observed a statistically significant and strong up or down regulation of 11 MHC, 6 NKC, and 168 genes encoded in other genomic regions, i.e. 4.9%, 14.0%, and 2.6% of the tested genes respectively. The regulation of 7 selected MHC and 3 NKC genes was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR and in independent skin explant assays. In addition, similar regulations of most of the selected genes were observed in GVHD-affected skin lesions of transplanted rats and in human skin explant assays. Conclusions/Significance: We identified rat and human MHC and NKC genes that are regulated during GVHR in skin explant assays and could therefore serve as biomarkers for GVHD. Several of the respective human genes, including HLA-DMB, C2, AIF1, SPR1, UBD, and OLR1, are polymorphic. These candidates may therefore contribute to the genetic risk of GVHD in patients

Association study of functional genetic variants of innate immunity related genes in celiac disease

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggest that the innate immune system is implicated in the early events of celiac disease (CD) pathogenesis. In this work for the first time we have assessed the relevance of different proinflammatory mediators typically related to innate immunity in CD predisposition. METHODS: We performed a familial study in which 105 celiac families characterized by the presence of an affected child with CD were genotyped for functional polymorphisms located at regulatory regions of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1RN, IL-18, RANTES and MCP-1 genes. Familial data was analysed with a transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) that revealed no statistically significant differences in the transmission pattern of the different genetic markers considered. RESULTS: The TDT analysis for IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1RN, IL-18, and MCP-1 genes genetic variants did not reveal biased transmission to the affected offspring. Only a borderline association of RANTES promoter genetic variants with CD predisposition was observed. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the analysed polymorphisms of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1RN, IL-18, RANTES and MCP-1 genes do not seem to play a major role in CD genetic predisposition in our population

The Tumorigenicity of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells and In Vitro Differentiated Neuronal Cells Is Controlled by the Recipients' Immune Response

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have the potential to differentiate into all cell types and are considered as a valuable source of cells for transplantation therapies. A critical issue, however, is the risk of teratoma formation after transplantation. The effect of the immune response on the tumorigenicity of transplanted cells is poorly understood. We have systematically compared the tumorigenicity of mouse ES cells and in vitro differentiated neuronal cells in various recipients. Subcutaneous injection of 1×106 ES or differentiated cells into syngeneic or allogeneic immunodeficient mice resulted in teratomas in about 95% of the recipients. Both cell types did not give rise to tumors in immunocompetent allogeneic mice or xenogeneic rats. However, in 61% of cyclosporine A-treated rats teratomas developed after injection of differentiated cells. Undifferentiated ES cells did not give rise to tumors in these rats. ES cells turned out to be highly susceptible to killing by rat natural killer (NK) cells due to the expression of ligands of the activating NK receptor NKG2D on ES cells. These ligands were down-regulated on differentiated cells. The activity of NK cells which is not suppressed by cyclosporine A might contribute to the prevention of teratomas after injection of ES cells but not after inoculation of differentiated cells. These findings clearly point to the importance of the immune response in this process. Interestingly, the differentiated cells must contain a tumorigenic cell population that is not present among ES cells and which might be resistant to NK cell-mediated killing

Women on the Periphery: The Invisible Empire Reborn

The thesis examines the role of women in the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1920s. The author seeks to analyze the following aspects: the main goal is to prove that the foundation and the very existence of the women's auxiliary (WKKK) points to inner tensions within the movement. The WKKK, therefore, can be used as a model or a case study in order to highlight all the issues the Klan had to face, from financial struggles and various allegations to transient and unstable membership. Secondly, the author sets out to verify whether and to what degree WKKK members legitimized the Klan, be it from the outside (public opinion) or from the inside. The author also places emphasis on the fact that the Klan should not be primarily viewed as a violent racist organization, but as a group of members who felt threatened by the outside world from which they needed to shelter themselves. Social life of the Klan and what role Klanswomen had, charity work, or interventions in local affairs play a vital role in this thesis as a result. Last but not least, proper understanding of primary sources is essential. They are obviously highly subjective and serve as a prime example of how reality differed from what was stated. (W)KKK pamphlets and writings were colored by fear of the so-called "other". Most texts written by..

Problems of organisation of triathlon race at the level of country-championship

Topic: Problems oforganisation oftriathlon race at the level ofcounty-championship. Ambition of the work: The goal ofthis work is the creation ofthe metodical model-manual for potential organiser of a triathlon race, who should be capable to organise an event on similar level after the reading ofthis paper. Method: The data-recall research method was used for the analyse ofpapers, which deal with this problem. Another information-ressource was our own three-year organisational experience with triathlon-event. Results: Complex overview ofthe whole problem ofsport-event-organisation was created. The work describes the organisation ofcounty-championship in triathlon from the first preparations to the final accounting. The manual could be used for organisation of sport event with the similar level and direction. Keywords: Triathlon, race organisation, sport event, methodical manual

Ženy na pomezí: znovuzrození neviditelného impéria

The thesis examines the role of women in the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1920s. The author seeks to analyze the following aspects: the main goal is to prove that the foundation and the very existence of the women&apos;s auxiliary (WKKK) points to inner tensions within the movement. The WKKK, therefore, can be used as a model or a case study in order to highlight all the issues the Klan had to face, from financial struggles and various allegations to transient and unstable membership. Secondly, the author sets out to verify whether and to what degree WKKK members legitimized the Klan, be it from the outside (public opinion) or from the inside. The author also places emphasis on the fact that the Klan should not be primarily viewed as a violent racist organization, but as a group of members who felt threatened by the outside world from which they needed to shelter themselves. Social life of the Klan and what role Klanswomen had, charity work, or interventions in local affairs play a vital role in this thesis as a result. Last but not least, proper understanding of primary sources is essential. They are obviously highly subjective and serve as a prime example of how reality differed from what was stated. (W)KKK pamphlets and writings were colored by fear of the so-called &quot;other&quot;. Most texts written by...Následující diplomová práce se zabývá rolí žen v americkém Ku Klux Klanu v období tzv. zlatých dvacátých let dvacátého století, především v jeho první polovině. Autor se pokusí zaměřit na následující aspekty této problematiky: hlavním cílem bude prokázat, že vznik a vůbec samotná existence ženské pobočky Klanu poukazuje na vnitřní ambivalence tohoto hnutí a je tedy jistou sondou do veškerých problémů KKK, ať už se týkaly financí, členství, soudních sporů atp. Za druhé bude cílem ověřit, zda a do jaké míry ženské členky legitimizovaly Klan, ať už z hlediska veřejného mínění anebo samotných struktur Ku Klux Klanu. Zároveň bude snahou autora práce o to, aby přes působení ženské pobočky Klanu (tzv. WKKK) poukázal na to, že Ku Klux Klan nelze chápat apriorně chápat jako agresivní rasistickou organizaci, ale jako skupinu, která se cítila být ohrožena &quot;venkovním&quot; světem, před kterým se bránila. Z tohoto důvodu bude kladen značný důraz na společenské prvky, tzn. samotné fungování Klanu, pozice žen v něm, charitativní aspekty hnutí a snaha zasahovat do lokálního života. Posledním bodem je rovněž rovina primárních pramenů, které nesou silně subjektivní prvky a jejichž obsah se mnohdy nekryl s realitou. Spisy členů a členek Klanu jsou zabarveny strachem a obavami ze &quot;druhého&quot;, kdežto novinové články či reakce...Department of North American StudiesKatedra severoamerických studiíFakulta sociálních vědFaculty of Social Science

The Anglo-Scottish Struggle from the Outset of the Hundred Years' War to the Battle of Neville Cross: The Perspective of English Official Documents

Why the term 'Anglo-Scottish Struggle' between 1337 and 1346? Why 'The Perspective of English Official Documents'? What influence did the so-called 'Hundred Year's War' have on the Anglo-Scottish relations in the first years of the war? What impact did the 'Scottish issue' have on the policy of the English king during the Anglo-French conflict? How did the perspective of English official documents differ from that of English chronicles or Scottish/French primary sources? What role did the rhetoric of these source play? How was it portrayed? The following thesis will try to analyse some of the aforementioned issues and will strive to prove that the Scottish kingdom had a profound impact on the English policy in multiple respects from the outset of the Hundred Years' War until the battle of Neville's Cross almost ten years later