MONETARY POLICY AND OIL PRICES

This article discusses the relationship between monetary policy and oil prices and, in a broader sense, commodity prices. Firstly, it focuses on describing the relationship between key macroeconomic variables, gas prices and other commodity prices relative to oil prices. Subsequently, it discusses the existence of “transmission channels” through which monetary policy can be propagated to oil prices (or prices of commodities). It then provides an insight into the CNB’s forecasting process, both by looking retrospectively at the oil price outlook in the past and by analysing a transitory and a permanent shock (a rise in the oil price of USD 30/b). The simulated oil price shock is calculated from the average level of Brent oil prices in the first quarter of 2010, i.e. USD 77.50/b.oil price ; monetary policy ; real interest rate ; oil price shock JEL Classification: G12 ; G14 ; D53

Properties of Electro Discharge Machining with a Spinning Disc Tool System

We have developed a spinning disc tool systemto test machining properties of such a tool to enhance theElectro Discharge Machining (EDM) process of hard anddifficult to machine materials. We performed experimentalmachining tests with this disc tool system. We havemeasured and explained effects, which affect the stability ofthis electro discharge machining process with use of thespinning disc tool technique. We found out this system mayspeed up material removal rate of the EDM process, but itsuse for micromachining is limited by the tool wear

Upper Pleistocene environmental dynamics in central Europe: multidisciplinary research of loess/paleosols sequences and lacustrine sediments

Cílem této práce bylo poskytnout relevantní informace o časové a prostorové dynamice erozně-sedimentačních a zvětrávacích procesů posledního klimatického cyklu a získané poznatky interpretovat v kontextu s paleoenvironmentálním vývojem Evropy. Pomocí široké škály nástrojů instrumentální a paleontologické analýzy byly detailně zpracovány reprezentativní sekvence spraší, paleopůd a jezerních sedimentů z oblasti Českého masívu, karpatské předhlubně a severních okrajů Panonské pánve. Jednotný instrumentálně analytický přístup aplikovaný na tyto facie poskytl řadu nových informací o paleoklimatickém a paleoenvironmentálním vývoji východní části střední Evropy - oblasti situované do tranzitní zóny mezi oceanickým a kontinentálním klimatickým režimem. Jednotlivé výzkumy stratigraficky pokrývají celý úsek svrchního pleistocénu (MIS 5-2; ~130-12,7 ka BP) a jsou prezentovány jako samostatné kapitoly v superpozičním pořadí. V kapitolách III/1-3 jsou představeny výsledky výzkumu šesti sprašových sérií situovaných v centrální části Českého masívu, v transektu moravskými úvaly a na severozápadním, resp. severním okraji Panonské pánve. Detailní paleoenvironmentální analýza, opírající se především o výsledky metod environmentálního magnetismu, geochemie a půdní mikromorfologie prokázala zřetelné rozdíly v...The principal goal of this thesis was to provide relevant information on the spatiotemporal dynamics of erosion-sedimentation and weathering processes in the last climatic cycle and to interpret the obtained data in the context of European paleoenvironmental development. Representative sequences of loess, paleosols and lacustrine sediments from the area of the Bohemian Massif, the Carpathian Foredeep, the the Vienna Basin and the northern edge of the Panno-nian Basin were investigated using a wide range of instru-mental tools and paleontological methods. A uniform analytical approach applied to these sedimentary facies has provided ample new information about the paleoclimatolog-ical and paleoenvironmental development of East-Central Europe - an important region in the transition zone from oceanic to continental macro-climatic settings. The individu-al studies included in this PhD thesis cover the complete period of the Upper Pleistocene (MIS 5-2; ~130-12.7 ky BP) and are presented as separate chapters in the order of the superposition of strata. Chapters III/1-3 deal with the results of research into six loess/paleosol sequences (LPSs) situated in the Central Bohemian Massif, throughout the Moravian Valleys, and at the northwest and north edge of the Pannonian Basin. A detailed paleoenvironmental...Ústav geologie a paleontologieInstitute of Geology and PaleontologyPřírodovědecká fakultaFaculty of Scienc

Monetary policy and oil prices

This article discusses the relationship between monetary policy and oil prices and, in a broader sense, commodity prices. Firstly, it focuses on describing the relationship between key macroeconomic variables, gas prices and other commodity prices relative to oil prices. Subsequently, it discusses the existence of “transmission channels” through which monetary policy can be propagated to oil prices (or prices of commodities). It then provides an insight into the CNB’s forecasting process, both by looking retrospectively at the oil price outlook in the past and by analysing a transitory and a permanent shock (a rise in the oil price of USD 30/b). The simulated oil price shock is calculated from the average level of Brent oil prices in the first quarter of 2010, i.e. USD 77.50/b

LATE QUATERNARY EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION DYNAMICS WITHIN THE SANDSTONE AREAS: A CASE STUDY FROM BOHEMIAN PARADISE (CZECH REPUBLIC)

89-8

The sulfate-reducing microbial communities and meta-analysis of their occurrence during diseases of small-large intestine axis

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are often isolated from animals and people with ulcerative colitis and can be involved in the IBD development in the gut-intestine axis. The background of the research consisted of obtaining mixed cultures of SRB communities from healthy mice and mice with colitis, finding variation in the distribution of their morphology, to determine pH and temperature range tolerance and their possible production of hydrogen sulfide in the small-large intestinal environment. The methods: Microscopic techniques, biochemical, microbiological, and biophysical methods, and statistical processing of the results were used. The results: Variation in the distribution of sulfate-reducing microbial communities were detected. Mixed cultures from mice with ulcerative colitis had 1.39 times higher production of H2S in comparison with samples from healthy mice. The species of Desulfovibrio genus play an important role in diseases of the small-large intestine axis. Meta-analysis was also used for the observation about an SRB occurrence in healthy and not healthy individuals and the same as their metabolic processes. Conclusions: This finding is important for its possible correlation with inflammation of the intestine, where the present of SRB in high concentration plays a major part. It can be a good possible indicator of the occurrence of IBD.Grant Agency of the Masaryk University [MUNI/A/0902/2018

On the Suitability of Raman Spectroscopy to Monitor the Degree of Graphene Functionalization by Diazonium Salts

Raman spectroscopy is undoubtedly the most frequently used technique for universal characterization of graphene and related materials. Quantification of parameters like disorder or strain is possible through analysis of particular Raman bands. However, under certain conditions, such evaluation can be jeopardized by - sometimes hidden - convolution of more overlapping effects. In this work, graphene functionalization by the common nitrobenzenediazonium salt under simultaneous biaxial tensile deformation induced by substrate swelling was investigated by Raman spectroscopy. As expected, the disorder-related D band appeared in the spectra documenting the covalent attack on the graphene lattice. However, the strain-induced shift of the graphene bands exposed additional peaks, masked at exactly the same positions as the unstrained graphene bands. The new bands were assigned to vibrations of the diazonium molecule and its decomposition products adsorbed on top of the functionalized graphene. The external strain thus provided means for more correct quantification of the lattice disorder

Auxin transport at cellular level: new insights supported by mathematical modelling

The molecular basis of cellular auxin transport is still not fully understood. Although a number of carriers have been identified and proved to be involved in auxin transport, their regulation and possible activity of as yet unknown transporters remain unclear. Nevertheless, using single-cell-based systems it is possible to track the course of auxin accumulation inside cells and to specify and quantify some auxin transport parameters. The synthetic auxins 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and naphthalene-1-acetic acid (NAA) are generally considered to be suitable tools for auxin transport studies because they are transported specifically via either auxin influx or efflux carriers, respectively. Our results indicate that NAA can be metabolized rapidly in tobacco BY-2 cells. The predominant metabolite has been identified as NAA glucosyl ester and it is shown that all NAA metabolites were retained inside the cells. This implies that the transport efficiency of auxin efflux transporters is higher than previously assumed. By contrast, the metabolism of 2,4-D remained fairly weak. Moreover, using data on the accumulation of 2,4-D measured in the presence of auxin transport inhibitors, it is shown that 2,4-D is also transported by efflux carriers. These results suggest that 2,4-D is a promising tool for determining both auxin influx and efflux activities. Based on the accumulation data, a mathematical model of 2,4-D transport at a single-cell level is proposed. Optimization of the model provides estimates of crucial transport parameters and, together with its validation by successfully predicting the course of 2,4-D accumulation, it confirms the consistency of the present concept of cellular auxin transport