Process planning optimization is a well-known NP-hard combinatorial problem extensively studied in the scientific community. Its main components include operation sequencing, selection of manufacturing resources and determination of appropriate setup plans. These problems require metaheuristic-based approaches in order to be effectively and efficiently solved. Therefore, to optimize the complex process planning problem, a novel hybrid grey wolf optimizer (HGWO) is proposed. The traditional grey wolf optimizer (GWO) is improved by employing genetic strategies such as selection, crossover and mutation which enhance global search abilities and convergence of the traditional GWO. Precedence relationships among machining operations are taken into account and precedence constraints are modeled using operation precedence graphs and adjacency matrices. Constraint handling heuristic procedure is adopted to move infeasible solutions to a feasible domain. Minimization of the total weighted machining cost of a process plan is adopted as the objective and three experimental studies that consider three different prismatic parts are conducted. Comparative analysis of the obtained cost values, as well as the convergence analysis, are performed and the HGWO approach demonstrated effectiveness and flexibility in finding optimal and near-optimal process plans. On the other side, comparative analysis of computational times and execution times of certain MATLAB functions showed that the HGWO have good time efficiency but limited since it requires more time compared to considered hybrid and traditional algorithms. Potential directions to improving efficiency and performances of the proposed approach are given in conclusions.

• Klíčová slova
• constraint handling, crossover, grey wolf optimizer, mutation, precedence constraints, process planning optimization, selection,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

In the current scenario of global warming and climate change, plants face many biotic stresses, which restrain growth, development and productivity. Nanotechnology is gaining precedence over other means to deal with biotic and abiotic constraints for sustainable agriculture. One of nature's most beneficial metalloids, silicon (Si) shows ameliorative effect against environmental challenges. Silicon/Silica nanoparticles (Si/SiO2NPs) have gained special attention due to their significant chemical and optoelectronic capabilities. Its mesoporous nature, easy availability and least biological toxicity has made it very attractive to researchers. Si/SiO2NPs can be synthesised by chemical, physical and biological methods and supplied to plants by foliar, soil, or seed priming. Upon uptake and translocation, Si/SiO2NPs reach their destined cells and cause optimum growth, development and tolerance against environmental stresses as well as pest attack and pathogen infection. Using Si/SiO2NPs as a supplement can be an eco-friendly and cost-effective option for sustainable agriculture as they facilitate the delivery of nutrients, assist plants to mitigate biotic stress and enhances plant resistance. This review aims to present an overview of the methods of formulation of Si/SiO2NPs, their application, uptake, translocation and emphasize the role of Si/SiO2NPs in boosting growth and development of plants as well as their conventional advantage as fertilizers with special consideration on their mitigating effects towards biotic stress.

• Klíčová slova
• Biotic stress, Crop improvement, Silica NPs, Silicon nanoparticles, Sustainable agriculture,
• MeSH
• fyziologický stres MeSH
• křemík * farmakologie   MeSH
• nanočástice * toxicita   MeSH
• rostliny MeSH
• zemědělství MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• křemík * MeSH

Male reproductive success in most mammals is determined by their success in direct inter-male competition through aggression and conflict, resulting in female-defense mating systems being predominant. This is linked to male testosterone levels and its dynamics. However, in certain environments, a scramble-competition mating system has evolved, where female reproductive behavior takes precedence and male testosterone dynamics are unlikely to be related to inter-male competition. We studied the North American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), a species with a well-established scramble-competition system. Using an ACTH hormonal challenge protocol as a proxy for competitive interactions, we compared the testosterone dynamics in breeding males in late winter with that in nonbreeding males in late spring in the Yukon. To gain an integrated picture of their physiological state, we also assessed changes in their stress response, body mass, energy mobilization, and indices of immune function. Testosterone levels at the base bleed were high in breeding males (2.72ng/mL) and virtually absent in non-breeding males (0.04ng/mL). Breeding males were in better condition (heavier body mass, higher hematocrit, and higher erythrocytes), had higher indices of immune function (neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio), but a similar ability to mobilize energy (glucose) compared with non-breeding males. Though total cortisol was higher in non-breeding males, free cortisol was twice as high in breeding males as their corticosteroid binding globulin levels were half as high. In response to the ACTH challenge, testosterone levels in breeding males declined 49% over the first hour and increased 36% over the next hour; in non-breeding males levels showed no change. Free cortisol increased only modestly (26% in breeding males; 23% in non-breeding males). Glucose levels changed similarly in breeding and nonbreeding males, declining for the first 30min and then increasing for the next 60min. Thus, testosterone and components of the stress axis function in a profoundly different manner in male red squirrels than in males of mammals with female-defense mating systems. There are four probable interrelated reasons for these adaptations in male red squirrels: the marginal benefits of each mating, the constraints of mate searching away from their own resource-based territories, energy mobilization in a harsh environment, and a long life span.

• Klíčová slova
• ACTH challenge, Aggression, Corticosteroid binding globulin, Energy mobilization, Free cortisol, Seasonal reproductive changes, Stress response,
• MeSH
• adrenokortikotropní hormon farmakologie   MeSH
• chov MeSH
• energetický metabolismus účinky léků   MeSH
• hydrokortison krev   MeSH
• kompetitivní chování * MeSH
• krevní glukóza metabolismus   MeSH
• Sciuridae krev   fyziologie   MeSH
• sexuální chování zvířat * MeSH
• testosteron krev   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adrenokortikotropní hormon MeSH
• hydrokortison MeSH
• krevní glukóza MeSH
• testosteron MeSH

Climatic constraints on tree growth mediate an important link between terrestrial and atmospheric carbon pools. Tree rings provide valuable information on climate-driven growth patterns, but existing data tend to be biased toward older trees on climatically extreme sites. Understanding climate change responses of biogeographic regions requires data that integrate spatial variability in growing conditions and forest structure. We analyzed both temporal (c. 1901-2010) and spatial variation in radial growth patterns in 9,876 trees from fragments of primary Picea abies forests spanning the latitudinal and altitudinal extent of the Carpathian arc. Growth was positively correlated with summer temperatures and spring moisture availability throughout the entire region. However, important seasonal variation in climate responses occurred along geospatial gradients. At northern sites, winter precipitation and October temperatures of the year preceding ring formation were positively correlated with ring width. In contrast, trees at the southern extent of the Carpathians responded negatively to warm and dry conditions in autumn of the year preceding ring formation. An assessment of regional synchronization in radial growth variability showed temporal fluctuations throughout the 20th century linked to the onset of moisture limitation in southern landscapes. Since the beginning of the study period, differences between high and low elevations in the temperature sensitivity of tree growth generally declined, while moisture sensitivity increased at lower elevations. Growth trend analyses demonstrated changes in absolute tree growth rates linked to climatic change, with basal area increments in northern landscapes and lower altitudes responding positively to recent warming. Tree growth has predominantly increased with rising temperatures in the Carpathians, accompanied by early indicators that portions of the mountain range are transitioning from temperature to moisture limitation. Continued warming will alleviate large-scale temperature constraints on tree growth, giving increasing weight to local drivers that are more challenging to predict.

• Klíčová slova
• Picea abies, Carpathian arc, climate change, climate sensitivity, growth trends, montane temperate forest, primary forest, synchrony,
• MeSH
• borovice * MeSH
• klimatické změny MeSH
• lesy MeSH
• smrk * MeSH
• teplota MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Blood Panel exists to promote interoperability of transfusion practice between NATO partners. However, it has served as an important forum for the development of prehospital transfusion and transfusion in the austere environment. There are synergies with the trauma hemostasis and oxygen research community especially in the areas of innovation and research. Four presentations are summarized together with a review of some scientific principles. The past decade has already seen significant changes in early transfusion support. Sometimes practice has preceded the evidence and has stretched regulatory and logistic constraints. Ethical and philosophical issues are also important and require us to question "should we" and not just "could we." The challenge for the combined communities is to continue to optimize transfusion support underpinned by evidence-based excellence.

• MeSH
• krevní transfuze metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ozbrojené síly statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• resuscitace metody   MeSH
• vojenské lékařství metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The behavioural manipulation hypothesis posits that parasites can change the behaviour of hosts to increase the reproductive fitness of the parasite. The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii fits this description well. Sexual reproduction occurs in the cat intestine, from which highly stable oocysts are excreted in faeces. Grazing animals, including rodents, can then ingest these oocysts. The parasite has evolved the capacity to abolish the innate fear that rodents have of the odours of cats, and to convert that fear into an attraction. This presumably increases the likelihood of the rodent being predated, thereby completing the parasite's life cycle. The behavioural syndrome produced by T. gondii does not have any precedent in neuroscience research. This is not a case where the normal functioning of fear system have been altered. This is not even the case of the altering of fear towards predator odours, while leaving other kinds of fear intact. This is an unprecedented example of one component of the fear being eliminated (and replaced by a novel attraction), while appearing to leave other domains unchanged. An understanding of the neurobiological effects of T. gondii is beginning to emerge. One possibility is T. gondii's preferential localisation to, and effects within the amygdala; this is particularly intriguing, given the role of this brain structure in the normal fear response. Obviously, far more must be understood, and the unique behavioural effects of T. gondii put very demanding constraints on any hypothesis we formulate to explain proximate neurobiological mechanisms.

• MeSH
• chování nemocného fyziologie   MeSH
• psychomotorický výkon * MeSH
• toxoplazmóza zvířat patofyziologie   psychologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process that plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and its impairment has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various metabolic diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This review synthesizes the current evidence from human studies on autophagy alterations under these metabolic conditions. In obesity, most data point to autophagy upregulation during the initiation phase of autophagosome formation, potentially in response to proinflammatory conditions in the adipose tissue. Autophagosome formation appears to be enhanced under hyperglycemic or insulin-resistant conditions in patients with T2D, possibly acting as a compensatory mechanism to eliminate damaged organelles and proteins. Other studies have proposed that prolonged hyperglycemia and disrupted insulin signaling hinder autophagic flux, resulting in the accumulation of dysfunctional cellular components that can contribute to β-cell dysfunction. Evidence from patients with MASLD supports autophagy inhibition in disease progression. Nevertheless, given the available data, it is difficult to ascertain whether autophagy is enhanced or suppressed in these conditions because the levels of autophagy markers depend on the overall metabolism of specific organs, tissues, experimental conditions, or disease duration. Owing to these constraints, determining whether the observed shifts in autophagic activity precede or result from metabolic diseases remains challenging. Additionally, autophagy-modulating strategies are shortly discussed. To conclude, more studies investigating autophagy impairment are required to gain a more comprehensive understanding of its role in the pathogenesis of obesity, T2D, and MASLD and to unveil novel therapeutic strategies for these conditions.

• Klíčová slova
• Autophagy modulators, Cellular quality control, Metabolic diseases, Patients, Therapies, Tissue biopsy,
• MeSH
• autofagie * fyziologie   MeSH
• diabetes mellitus 2. typu * komplikace   patofyziologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• obezita * komplikace   patofyziologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• ztučnělá játra patofyziologie   komplikace   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Anaerobes have emerged in several major lineages of ciliates, but the number of independent transitions to anaerobiosis among ciliates is unknown. The APM clade (Armophorea, Muranotrichea, Parablepharismea) represents the largest clade of obligate anaerobes among ciliates and contains free-living marine and freshwater representatives as well as gut endobionts of animals. The evolution of APM group has only recently started getting attention, and our knowledge on its phylogeny and genetics is still limited to a fraction of taxa. While ciliates portray a wide array of alternatives to the standard genetic code across numerous classes, the APM ciliates were considered to be the largest group using exclusively standard nuclear genetic code. In this study, we present a pan-ciliate phylogenomic analysis with emphasis on the APM clade, bringing the first phylogenomic analysis of the family Tropidoatractidae (Armophorea) and confirming the position of Armophorida within Armophorea. We include five newly sequenced single cell transcriptomes from marine, freshwater, and endobiotic APM ciliates - Palmarella salina, Anteclevelandella constricta, Nyctotherus sp., Caenomorpha medusula, and Thigmothrix strigosa. We report the first discovery of an alternative nuclear genetic code among APM ciliates, used by Palmarella salina (Tropidoatractidae, Armophorea), but not by its close relative, Tropidoatractus sp., and provide a comparative analysis of stop codon identity and frequency indicating the precedency to the UAG codon loss/reassignment over the UAA codon reassignment in the specific ancestor of Palmarella. Comparative genomic and proteomic studies of this group may help explain the constraints that underlie UAR stop-to-sense reassignment, the most frequent type of alternative nuclear genetic code, not only in ciliates, but eukaryotes in general.

• Klíčová slova
• Alternative genetic code, Anaerobic ciliates, Caenomorpha, Phylogenomics, Single cell transcriptomes, Tropidoatractidae,
• MeSH
• Ciliophora * genetika   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genetický kód MeSH
• proteomika * MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
• terminační kodon MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• terminační kodon MeSH