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(1) Background: The objective of this study was to uncover genomic causes of parental care. Since birds do not lactate and, therefore, do not show the gene expressional changes required for lactation, we investigate gene expression associated with parenting in caring and non-caring females in an avian species, the small passerine bird zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Here, we compare expression patterns in the hypothalamic–septal region since, previously, we showed that this area is activated in parenting females. (2) Methods: Transcriptome sequencing was first applied in a dissected part of the zebra finch brain related to taking care of the nestlings as compared to a control group of social pairs without nestlings. (3) Results: We found genes differentially expressed between caring and non-caring females. When introducing a log2fold change threshold of 1.5, 13 annotated genes were significantly upregulated in breeding pairs, while 39 annotated genes were downregulated. Significant enrichments of dopamine and acetylcholine biosynthetic processes were identified among upregulated pathways, while pro-opiomelanocortin and thyroid hormone pathways were downregulated, suggesting the importance of these systems in parental care. Network analysis further suggested neuro-immunological changes in mothers. (4) Conclusions: The results confirm the roles of several hypothesized major pathways in parental care, whereas novel pathways are also proposed.

Dnešní moderní, jakož i starší prvkové analýzy kovových artefaktů na bázi mědi z období staršího eneolitu a starší doby bronzové dokládají v západní části středního Podunají, a tedy i na území dnešní Moravy, rozšíření měděné suroviny původem kromě východních Alp a jihovýchodní Evropy také z oblasti Západních Karpat. V uvedených obdobích jde o měď pocházející z tetraedritové rudy. V daném kontextu se nabízí otázka, jaký význam sehrávala na Moravě měď západokarpatské provenience při produkci bronzové industrie v období popelnicových polí. Prvkové a izotopové analýzy měděných slitků z depotu Blučina 1 z mladší doby bronzové prokázaly jejich tetraedritovou chemickou signaturu. Tento poznatek autoři předkládaného článku doplnili o další analýzy slitků z depotů Blučina 1 a 13 metodou ICP-MS a ICP-OES a také analýzami stabilních izotopů olova. Na základě získaných výsledků je diskutována otázka provenience tetraedritové měděné suroviny z ložisek ležících v Západních Karpatech a východních Alpách.

The article presents a study on the role of journalistic translation (press translation) in translation teaching using a questionnaire in November-December 2016 on a sample of 52 translation teachers. The aim of the survey was to find out the role of journalistic translation in translation teaching in Hungary and three neighbouring countries: Croatia, Romania and Slovakia. The importance of the survey lies in the fact that no research has been published so far on this topic in Hungary, and only minor research has been done on the topic of journalistic translation itself (primarily limited to the field of text linguistics).

The research was aimed at studying the influence of sous vide heat treatment on the microbiological quality of fish meat marinated in honey sauce. The samples were vacuum packed and cooked at 55°C, 60°C, 65°C and 70°C for 15 minutes. The samples were first stored for 24 hours at 4°C and then stored for 7 days at 4°C. The microbiological quality of fish meat in honey sauce were examined. Microbiological indicators such as the total viable count (TVC), the number of coliform bacteria (CB) and the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were determined. The microbiota was identified by mass spectrometry using a MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper (Bruker Daltonics, Germany). Microbial counts varied significantly depending on temperature and storage in honey sauce. TVC in raw fish meat was 2.89 log CFU.g-1 stored at 4°C. TVC in raw fish meat was 4.56 log CFU.g-1 after 7 days of storage at 4°C. TVC in sous vide fish meat samples without honey ranged from 1.62 to 3.02 log CFU.g-1. TVC in sous vide fish meat samples with honey sauce was < 1 log CFU.g-1. The presence of coliform bacteria was not detected in the samples. LAB in raw fish meat was 2.47 log CFU.g-1 in the sample stored at 4°C. LAB in raw fish meat was 2.77 log CFU.g-1 after 7 days of storage at 4°C. LAB in sous vide fish meat samples without honey ranged from < 1 to 1.33 log CFU.g-1. LAB in sous vide fish meat samples with honey sauce ranged from < 1 to 2.66 log CFU.g-1. Our results show, that in the samples that were stored in honey sauce, the number of microorganisms decreased and even no microorganisms were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper assesses the influence of the heat flux on spruce wood (Picea abies L.) behavior. The heat flux was performed at 15, 20, 25, and 30 kW·m−2. The fire-technical properties, such as the mass burning rate, charring thickness, charring rate, as well as the chemical composition (contents of the extractives, lignin, cellulose, holocellulose), of wood were determined. The highest burning rate of spruce wood of 0.32%·s−1 was reached at the heat flux of 30 kW·m−2. The charring rate ranged from 1.004 mm·min−1 (15 kW·m−2) to 2.016 mm·min−1 (30 kW·m−2). The proposed model of the charring process of spruce wood in time and appropriate thickness as a selected parameter is applicable in validation of the results of computer fire models in the design of fire protection of wooden buildings. The decrease in the holocellulose content mostly caused by the degradation of hemicelluloses was observed during thermal loading. The biggest decrease in hemicelluloses (24.94%) was recorded in samples loaded at 30 kW·m−2. The contents of cellulose increased due to the structural changes (carbonization and crosslinking), the content of lignin increased as well due to its higher thermal stability compared to saccharides, as well as the resulting lignin condensation.

Miniaturization of electronic devices leads to new heat dissipation challenges and traditional cooling methods need to be replaced by new better ones. Polymer heat sinks may, thanks to their unique properties, replace standardly used heat sink materials in certain applications, especially in applications with high ambient temperature. Polymers natively dispose of high surface emissivity in comparison with glossy metals. This high emissivity allows a larger amount of heat to be dissipated to the ambient with the fourth power of its absolute surface temperature. This paper shows the change in radiative and convective heat transfer from polymer heat sinks used in different ambient temperatures. Furthermore, the observed polymer heat sinks have differently oriented graphite filler caused by their molding process differences, therefore their thermal conductivity anisotropies and overall cooling efficiencies also differ. Furthermore, it is also shown that a high radiative heat transfer leads to minimizing these cooling efficiency differences between these polymer heat sinks of the same geometry. The measurements were conducted at HEATLAB, Brno University of Technology.

The paper deals with the assessment of the age of oak wood (0, 10, 40, 80 and 120 years) on its fire resistance. Chemical composition of wood (extractives, cellulose, holocellulose, lignin) was determined by wet chemistry methods and elementary analysis was performed according to ISO standards. From the fire-technical properties, the flame ignition and the spontaneous ignition temperature (including calculated activation energy) and mass burning rate were evaluated. The lignin content does not change, the content of extractives and cellulose is higher and the content of holocellulose decreases with the higher age of wood. The elementary analysis shows the lowest proportion content of nitrogen, sulfur, phosphor and the highest content of carbon in the oldest wood. Values of flame ignition and spontaneous ignition temperature for individual samples were very similar. The activation energy ranged from 42.4 kJ·mol−1 (120-year-old) to 50.7 kJ·mol−1 (40-year-old), and the burning rate varied from 0.2992%·s−1 (80-year-old) to 0.4965%·s−1 (10-year-old). The difference among the values of spontaneous ignition activation energy is clear evidence of higher resistance to initiation of older wood (40- and 80-year-old) in comparison with the younger oak wood (0- and 10-year-old). The oldest sample is the least thermally resistant due to the different chemical composition compared to the younger wood.

Abstract The origin of mitochondria is a unique and hard evolutionary problem, embedded within the origin of eukaryotes. The puzzle is challenging due to the egalitarian nature of the transition where lower-level units took over energy metabolism. Contending theories widely disagree on ancestral partners, initial conditions and unfolding of events. There are many open questions but there is no comparative examination of hypotheses. We have specified twelve questions about the observable facts and hidden processes leading to the establishment of the endosymbiont that a valid hypothesis must address. We have objectively compared contending hypotheses under these questions to find the most plausible course of events and to draw insight on missing pieces of the puzzle. Since endosymbiosis borders evolution and ecology, and since a realistic theory has to comply with both domains’ constraints, the conclusion is that the most important aspect to clarify is the initial ecological relationship of partners. Metabolic benefits are largely irrelevant at this initial phase, where ecological costs could be more disruptive. There is no single theory capable of answering all questions indicating a severe lack of ecological considerations. A new theory, compliant with recent phylogenomic results, should adhere to these criteria. Reviewers: This article was reviewed by Michael W. Gray, William F. Martin and Purificación López-García.