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Gyamfi S, Gerstlberger W, Prokop V, Stejskal J. A new perspective for European SMEs' innovative support analysis: Does non-financial support matter? Heliyon 2024; 10:e23796. [PMID: 38192801 PMCID: PMC10772197 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Most of the previous research focused on the effects of public support for SMEs' innovative activities dealt with the effects of financial incentives, while non-financial support was considered a kind of "black box". This research therefore aims to fill this gap by exploring the role non-financial support systems play in triggering SMEs' collaborations and innovativeness in Europe. We show that non-financial support (framework condition) significantly facilitates collaboration and innovation of European SMEs, by using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and 216 sampled datasets of the 27 EU countries from 2012 to 2020 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS). Our expectation was confirmed about the SMEs' collaboration significant effects on their innovative activities, which subsequently translate into innovative outputs. We also found indirect significant effect of the non-financial support on SME's innovation output. This study serves several practical implications and contributes to the ongoing debate on the effects of non-financial support for cooperation and innovation activities of European SMEs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wolfgang Gerstlberger
- School of Business and Governance, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
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2
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Darfo-Oduro R, Prokop V, Stejskal J, Klímová V, Žítek V. Do R&D intensity and capacity utilisation matter for SMEs' innovations within the CEE region? Testing moderating roles of different ownership structures. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296873. [PMID: 38215159 PMCID: PMC10786405 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Existing innovation literature has assumed that the relationship between firms' R&D intensity and innovation take place without the interplay of other organizational factors. However, the reality differs, and research to date has shown that other factors affecting firms' innovation need to be considered. This is important especially in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries, which are highly dependent on both internal and external R&D and are associated with an inability to use R&D resources effectively. This study therefore responds to calls for further analysis, especially within the CEE region, and focuses on the role of two factors affecting SMEs' innovativeness and their effects, which have been mixed so far. First, we investigate the effects of SMEs' R&D intensity and capacity utilisation on product innovation. Second, we reveal the moderating role of SMEs' different ownership structures (ownership concentration; private/public ownership; family/non-family ownership) in the relationship between R&D intensity and product innovation. We confirm that CEE SMEs' ownership concentration and private ownership moderate the relationship between R&D intensity and product innovation. In contrast, we reject our hypothesis expecting that family ownership of SMEs can significantly moderate the relationship between R&D intensity and product innovation. Interestingly, we also show that the relationship between capacity utilisation and innovation is non-linear (inverted U-shaped). This study makes a significant contribution in the form of analysis within the CEE region, whose innovation systems are seen to be weak, and it is therefore necessary to bring new knowledge and recommendations to managers and public policymakers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Darfo-Oduro
- Institute of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Viktor Prokop
- Science and Research Centre, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Stejskal
- Institute of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Viktorie Klímová
- Department of Regional Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administration, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimír Žítek
- Department of Regional Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administration, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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3
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Akinyemi OO, Čepl J, Keski-Saari S, Tomášková I, Stejskal J, Kontunen-Soppela S, Keinänen M. Correction to: Derivative-based time-adjusted analysis of diurnal and within-tree variation in the OJIP fluorescence transient of silver birch. Photosynth Res 2023; 158:201. [PMID: 37735313 PMCID: PMC10695862 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-023-01050-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Olusegun Olaitan Akinyemi
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland.
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Jaroslav Čepl
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Sarita Keski-Saari
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Ivana Tomášková
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Stejskal
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Sari Kontunen-Soppela
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Markku Keinänen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
- Center for Photonics Sciences, Yliopistokatu 7, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
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Hildebrandt TB, Holtze S, Colleoni S, Hermes R, Stejskal J, Lekolool I, Ndeereh D, Omondi P, Kariuki L, Mijele D, Mutisya S, Ngulu S, Diecke S, Hayashi K, Lazzari G, de Mori B, Biasetti P, Quaggio A, Galli C, Goeritz F. In vitro fertilization program in white rhinoceros. Reproduction 2023; 166:383-399. [PMID: 37877686 PMCID: PMC10620463 DOI: 10.1530/rep-23-0087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
In brief To save endangered rhinoceros species, assisted reproductive technologies are warranted. We here report in vitro blastocyst generation of the Near-Threatened Southern white rhinoceros and, for the first time, also of the technically Extinct Northern white rhinoceros. Abstract The Anthropocene is marked by a dramatic biodiversity decline, particularly affecting the family Rhinocerotidae. Three of five extant species are listed as Critically Endangered (Sumatran, Javan, black rhinoceros), one as Vulnerable (Indian rhinoceros), and only one white rhino (WR) subspecies, the Southern white rhinoceros (SWR), after more than a century of successful protection is currently classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, while numbers again are declining. Conversely, in 2008, the SWR's northern counterpart and second WR subspecies, the Northern white rhinoceros (NWR), was declared extinct in the wild. Safeguarding these vanishing keystone species urgently requires new reproductive strategies. We here assess one such strategy, the novel in vitro fertilization program in SWR and - for the first-time NWR - regarding health effects, donor-related, and procedural factors. Over the past 8 years, we performed 65 procedures in 22 white rhinoceros females (20 SWR and 2 NWR) comprising hormonal ovarian stimulation, ovum pick-up (OPU), in vitro oocyte maturation, fertilization, embryo culture, and blastocyst cryopreservation, at an efficiency of 1.0 ± 1.3 blastocysts per OPU, generating 22 NWR, 19 SWR and 10 SWR/NWR hybrid blastocysts for the future generation of live offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bernd Hildebrandt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in the Forschungsverbund Berlin eV, Reproduction Management, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße, Berlin, Germany
- Freie Universitat Berlin, Veterinary Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in the Forschungsverbund Berlin eV, Reproduction Management, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße, Berlin, Germany
| | - Silvia Colleoni
- AVANTEA, Laboratorio di Tecnologie della Riproduzione, Lombardy, Cremona, Italy
| | - Robert Hermes
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in the Forschungsverbund Berlin eV, Reproduction Management, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Stejskal
- ZOO Dvůr Králové, Communication and International Projects, Štefánikova, Dvůr Králové nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Isaac Lekolool
- Kenya Wildlife Service, Veterinary and Capture Services, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - David Ndeereh
- Wildlife Training and Research Institute, Nakuru County, Naivasha, Kenya
| | - Patrick Omondi
- Kenya Wildlife Service, Veterinary and Capture Services, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Linus Kariuki
- Kenya Wildlife Service, Veterinary and Capture Services, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Domnic Mijele
- Kenya Wildlife Service, Veterinary and Capture Services, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Samuel Mutisya
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Conservation Laikipia, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Stephen Ngulu
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Conservation Laikipia, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Sebastian Diecke
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Technology Platform Pluripotent Stem Cells, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katsuhiko Hayashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Kyushu University, Maidashi, Higashiku, Fukuoka, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Giovanna Lazzari
- AVANTEA, Laboratorio di Tecnologie della Riproduzione, Lombardy, Cremona, Italy
| | - Barbara de Mori
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, Università degli Studi di Padova, Italy
- Universita degli Studi di Padova, Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, Veneto, Padova, Italy
| | - Pierfrancesco Biasetti
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in the Forschungsverbund Berlin eV, Reproduction Management, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße, Berlin, Germany
- Universita degli Studi di Padova, Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, Veneto, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandra Quaggio
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in the Forschungsverbund Berlin eV, Reproduction Management, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cesare Galli
- AVANTEA, Laboratorio di Tecnologie della Riproduzione, Lombardy, Cremona, Italy
- Fondazione Avantea, Riproduzione Cremona, Lombardy, Cremona, Italy
| | - Frank Goeritz
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in the Forschungsverbund Berlin eV, Reproduction Management, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße, Berlin, Germany
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Stejskal J, Čepl J, Neuwirthová E, Akinyemi OO, Chuchlík J, Provazník D, Keinänen M, Campbell P, Albrechtová J, Lstibůrek M, Lhotáková Z. Making the Genotypic Variation Visible: Hyperspectral Phenotyping in Scots Pine Seedlings. Plant Phenomics 2023; 5:0111. [PMID: 38026471 PMCID: PMC10644830 DOI: 10.34133/plantphenomics.0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Hyperspectral reflectance contains valuable information about leaf functional traits, which can indicate a plant's physiological status. Therefore, using hyperspectral reflectance for high-throughput phenotyping of foliar traits could be a powerful tool for tree breeders and nursery practitioners to distinguish and select seedlings with desired adaptation potential to local environments. We evaluated the use of 2 nondestructive methods (i.e., leaf and proximal/canopy) measuring hyperspectral reflectance in the 350- to 2,500-nm range for phenotyping on 1,788 individual Scots pine seedlings belonging to lowland and upland ecotypes of 3 different local populations from the Czech Republic. Leaf-level measurements were collected using a spectroradiometer and a contact probe with an internal light source to measure the biconical reflectance factor of a sample of needles placed on a black background in the contact probe field of view. The proximal canopy measurements were collected under natural solar light, using the same spectroradiometer with fiber optical cable to collect data on individual seedlings' hemispherical conical reflectance factor. The latter method was highly susceptible to changes in incoming radiation. Both spectral datasets showed statistically significant differences among Scots pine populations in the whole spectral range. Moreover, using random forest and support vector machine learning algorithms, the proximal data obtained from the top of the seedlings offered up to 83% accuracy in predicting 3 different Scots pine populations. We conclude that both approaches are viable for hyperspectral phenotyping to disentangle the phenotypic and the underlying genetic variation within Scots pine seedlings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Stejskal
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Čepl
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Neuwirthová
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Experimental Plant Biology,
Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Olusegun Olaitan Akinyemi
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences,
University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Jiří Chuchlík
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Provazník
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Markku Keinänen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences,
University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
- Center for Photonic Sciences,
University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Petya Campbell
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences,
University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Biospheric Sciences Laboratory,
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - Jana Albrechtová
- Department of Experimental Plant Biology,
Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Lstibůrek
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Lhotáková
- Department of Experimental Plant Biology,
Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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6
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Akinyemi OO, Čepl J, Keski-Saari S, Tomášková I, Stejskal J, Kontunen-Soppela S, Keinänen M. Derivative-based time-adjusted analysis of diurnal and within-tree variation in the OJIP fluorescence transient of silver birch. Photosynth Res 2023; 157:133-146. [PMID: 37382782 PMCID: PMC10485093 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-023-01033-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
The JIP test, based on fast chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) kinetics and derived parameters, is a dependable tool for studying photosynthetic efficiency under varying environmental conditions. We extracted additional information from the whole OJIP and the normalized variable fluorescence (Vt) transient curve using first and second-order derivatives to visualize and localize points of landmark events. To account for light-induced variations in the fluorescence transient, we present a time-adjusted JIP test approach in which the derivatives of the transient curve are used to determine the exact timing of the J and I steps instead of fixed time points. We compared the traditional JIP test method with the time-adjusted method in analyzing fast ChlF measurements of silver birch (Betula pendula) in field conditions studying diurnal and within-crown variation. The time-adjusted JIP test method showed potential for studying ChlF dynamics, as it takes into account potential time shifts in the occurrence of J and I steps. The exact occurrence times of J and I steps and other landmark events coincided with the times of significant differences in fluorescence intensity. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were linearly related to photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) at different times of day, and the values obtained by the time-adjusted JIP test showed a stronger linear regression than the traditional JIP test. For fluorescence parameters having significant differences among different times of day and crown layers, the time-adjusted JIP test resulted in more clear differences than the traditional JIP test. Diurnal ChlF intensity data indicated that differences between the southern and northern provenance were only evident under low light conditions. Taken together, our results emphasize the potential relevance of considering the time domain in the analysis of the fast ChlF induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olusegun Olaitan Akinyemi
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland.
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Prague 6, Czechia.
| | - Jaroslav Čepl
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Prague 6, Czechia
| | - Sarita Keski-Saari
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Ivana Tomášková
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Prague 6, Czechia
| | - Jan Stejskal
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Prague 6, Czechia
| | - Sari Kontunen-Soppela
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Markku Keinänen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
- Center for Photonics Sciences, Yliopistokatu 7, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
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7
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Biasetti P, Hildebrandt TB, Göritz F, Hermes R, Holtze S, Stejskal J, Galli C, Pollastri I, Muzzo A, Lekolool I, Ndereeh D, Omondi P, Kariuki L, Mijele D, Mutisya S, Ngulu S, de Mori B. Application of decision tools to ethical analysis in biodiversity conservation. Conserv Biol 2023; 37:e14029. [PMID: 36317722 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Achieving ethically responsible decisions is crucial for the success of biodiversity conservation projects. We adapted the ethical matrix, decision tree, and Bateson's cube to assist in the ethical analysis of complex conservation scenarios by structuring these tools so that they can implement the different value dimensions (environmental, social, and animal welfare) involved in conservation ethics. We then applied them to a case study relative to the decision-making process regarding whether or not to continue collecting biomaterial on the oldest of the two remaining northern white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), a functionally extinct subspecies of the white rhinoceros. We used the ethical matrix to gather ethical pros and cons and as a starting point for a participatory approach to ethical decision-making. We used decision trees to compare the different options at stake on the basis of a set of ethical desiderata. We used Bateson's cube to establish a threshold of ethical acceptability and model the results of a simple survey. The application of these tools proved to be pivotal in structuring the decision-making process and in helping reach a shared, reasoned, and transparent decision on the best option from an ethical point of view among those available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierfrancesco Biasetti
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare, Padua University, Padua, Italy
| | - Thomas B Hildebrandt
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Göritz
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Hermes
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Stejskal
- ZOO Dvůr Králové, Králové nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Cesare Galli
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Cremona, Italy
| | - Ilaria Pollastri
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare, Padua University, Padua, Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Alessia Muzzo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | | | - David Ndereeh
- Wildlife Research and Training Institute, Karagita, Kenya
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Barbara de Mori
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare, Padua University, Padua, Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
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8
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Hayashi M, Zywitza V, Naitou Y, Hamazaki N, Goeritz F, Hermes R, Holtze S, Lazzari G, Galli C, Stejskal J, Diecke S, Hildebrandt TB, Hayashi K. Robust induction of primordial germ cells of white rhinoceros on the brink of extinction. Sci Adv 2022; 8:eabp9683. [PMID: 36490332 PMCID: PMC9733929 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abp9683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In vitro gametogenesis, the process of generating gametes from pluripotent cells in culture, is a powerful tool for improving our understanding of germ cell development and an alternative source of gametes. Here, we induced primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs) from pluripotent stem cells of the northern white rhinoceros (NWR), a species for which only two females remain, and southern white rhinoceros (SWR), the closest species to the NWR. PGCLC differentiation from SWR embryonic stem cells is highly reliant on bone morphogenetic protein and WNT signals. Genetic analysis revealed that SRY-box transcription factor 17 (SOX17) is essential for SWR-PGCLC induction. Under the defined condition, NWR induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated into PGCLCs. We also identified cell surface markers, CD9 and Integrin subunit alpha 6 (ITGA6), that enabled us to isolate PGCLCs without genetic alteration in pluripotent stem cells. This study provides a first step toward the production of NWR gametes in culture and understanding of the basic mechanism of primordial germ cell specification in a large animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masafumi Hayashi
- Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Vera Zywitza
- Technology Platform Pluripotent Stem Cells, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin 13125, Germany
| | - Yuki Naitou
- Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Hamazaki
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Frank Goeritz
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin 10315, Germany
| | - Robert Hermes
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin 10315, Germany
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin 10315, Germany
| | - Giovanna Lazzari
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Cremona 26100, Italy
- Fondazione Avantea, Cremona 26100, Italy
| | - Cesare Galli
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Cremona 26100, Italy
- Fondazione Avantea, Cremona 26100, Italy
| | - Jan Stejskal
- ZOO Dvůr Králové, Dvůr Králové nad Labem 54401, Czech Republic
| | - Sebastian Diecke
- Technology Platform Pluripotent Stem Cells, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin 13125, Germany
| | - Thomas B. Hildebrandt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin 10315, Germany
- Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin D-14195, Germany
| | - Katsuhiko Hayashi
- Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
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9
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Stejskal J, Zapletal D, Prokop V. The perceived value of book borrowing services is stationary in the time of Covid-19: Empirical evidence from the Municipal Library in Prague. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/09610006221113919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Public libraries represent a specific sector of public service provision, where library management is limited in its ability to influence consumers’ perceptions of the value of borrowed books. This study expands previous research on consumers’ perceived value and its measurement and focuses on the nature of the data examined, which has not yet received much attention. We fill this research gap and examine whether the perceived value of book borrowing services remains stationary over time by considering a sample of readers from the Municipal Library in Prague, Czech Republic. Moreover, we analyse whether the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the perceived value of book borrowing services. Our results contribute to the discussion an important finding that consumers’ perceptions of book borrowing services are stable and do not change over time. Interestingly, we also find that the Covid-19 pandemic has not led to a change in consumers’ perceived value. This study thus creates both theoretical and practical contributions and leads to the definition of several practical implications for managers of (public) library organisations. JEL L86, H39, H44
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10
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Hejtmánek J, Stejskal J, Čepl J, Lhotáková Z, Korecký J, Krejzková A, Dvořák J, Gezan SA. Revealing the Complex Relationship Among Hyperspectral Reflectance, Photosynthetic Pigments, and Growth in Norway Spruce Ecotypes. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:721064. [PMID: 35712586 PMCID: PMC9197180 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.721064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Norway spruce has a wide natural distribution range, harboring substantial physiological and genetic variation. There are three altitudinal ecotypes described in this species. Each ecotype has been shaped by natural selection and retains morphological and physiological characteristics. Foliar spectral reflectance is readily used in evaluating the physiological status of crops and forest ecosystems. However, underlying genetics of foliar spectral reflectance and pigment content in forest trees has rarely been investigated. We assessed the reflectance in a clonal bank comprising three ecotypes in two dates covering different vegetation season conditions. Significant seasonal differences in spectral reflectance among Norway spruce ecotypes were manifested in a wide-ranging reflectance spectrum. We estimated significant heritable variation and uncovered phenotypic and genetic correlations among growth and physiological traits through bivariate linear models utilizing spatial corrections. We confirmed the relative importance of the red edge within the context of the study site's ecotypic variation. When interpreting these findings, growth traits such as height, diameter, crown length, and crown height allowed us to estimate variable correlations across the reflectance spectrum, peaking in most cases in wavelengths connected to water content in plant tissues. Finally, significant differences among ecotypes in reflectance and other correlated traits were detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Hejtmánek
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jan Stejskal
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jaroslav Čepl
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Zuzana Lhotáková
- Department of Experimental Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jiří Korecký
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Anna Krejzková
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jakub Dvořák
- Department of Genetics and Physiology of Forest Trees, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
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11
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Biasetti P, Hildebrandt TB, Göritz F, Hermes R, Holtze S, Galli C, Lazzari G, Colleoni S, Pollastri I, Spiriti MM, Stejskal J, Seet S, Zwilling J, Ngulu S, Mutisya S, Kariuki L, Lokolool I, Omondo P, Ndeereh D, de Mori B. Ethical Analysis of the Application of Assisted Reproduction Technologies in Biodiversity Conservation and the Case of White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) Ovum Pick-Up Procedures. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:831675. [PMID: 35591869 PMCID: PMC9113018 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.831675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Originally applied on domestic and lab animals, assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) have also found application in conservation breeding programs, where they can make the genetic management of populations more efficient, and increase the number of individuals per generation. However, their application in wildlife conservation opens up new ethical scenarios that have not yet been fully explored. This study presents a frame for the ethical analysis of the application of ART procedures in conservation based on the Ethical Matrix (EM), and discusses a specific case study—ovum pick-up (OPU) procedures performed in the current conservation efforts for the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni)—providing a template for the assessment of ART procedures in projects involving other endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierfrancesco Biasetti
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- *Correspondence: Pierfrancesco Biasetti
| | - Thomas B. Hildebrandt
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany
- Thomas B. Hildebrandt
| | - Frank Göritz
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Hermes
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cesare Galli
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Cremona, Italy
| | - Giovanna Lazzari
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Cremona, Italy
| | - Silvia Colleoni
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Cremona, Italy
| | - Ilaria Pollastri
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Maria Michela Spiriti
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Jan Stejskal
- ZOO Dvůr Králové, Dvůr Králové nad Labem, Czechia
| | - Steven Seet
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Zwilling
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Barbara de Mori
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
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12
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Zywitza V, Rusha E, Shaposhnikov D, Ruiz-Orera J, Telugu N, Rishko V, Hayashi M, Michel G, Wittler L, Stejskal J, Holtze S, Göritz F, Hermes R, Wang J, Izsvák Z, Colleoni S, Lazzari G, Galli C, Hildebrandt TB, Hayashi K, Diecke S, Drukker M. Naïve-like pluripotency to pave the way for saving the northern white rhinoceros from extinction. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3100. [PMID: 35260583 PMCID: PMC8904600 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07059-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The northern white rhinoceros (NWR) is probably the earth’s most endangered mammal. To rescue the functionally extinct species, we aim to employ induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to generate gametes and subsequently embryos in vitro. To elucidate the regulation of pluripotency and differentiation of NWR PSCs, we generated iPSCs from a deceased NWR female using episomal reprogramming, and observed surprising similarities to human PSCs. NWR iPSCs exhibit a broad differentiation potency into the three germ layers and trophoblast, and acquire a naïve-like state of pluripotency, which is pivotal to differentiate PSCs into primordial germ cells (PGCs). Naïve culturing conditions induced a similar expression profile of pluripotency related genes in NWR iPSCs and human ESCs. Furthermore, naïve-like NWR iPSCs displayed increased expression of naïve and PGC marker genes, and a higher integration propensity into developing mouse embryos. As the conversion process was aided by ectopic BCL2 expression, and we observed integration of reprogramming factors, the NWR iPSCs presented here are unsuitable for gamete production. However, the gained insights into the developmental potential of both primed and naïve-like NWR iPSCs are fundamental for in future PGC-specification in order to rescue the species from extinction using cryopreserved somatic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Zywitza
- Technology Platform Pluripotent Stem Cells, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ejona Rusha
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Core Facility, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Dmitry Shaposhnikov
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Core Facility, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jorge Ruiz-Orera
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Narasimha Telugu
- Technology Platform Pluripotent Stem Cells, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Valentyna Rishko
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Core Facility, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Masafumi Hayashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Geert Michel
- FEMTransgenic Technologies, Charité, 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Wittler
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Stejskal
- ZOO Dvůr Králové, Štefánikova 1029, 544 01, Dvůr Králové nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Göritz
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Hermes
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jichang Wang
- Mobile DNA, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Zsuzsanna Izsvák
- Mobile DNA, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Silvia Colleoni
- Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Avantea, 26100, Cremona, Italy
| | - Giovanna Lazzari
- Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Avantea, 26100, Cremona, Italy.,Fondazione Avantea, 26100, Cremona, Italy
| | - Cesare Galli
- Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Avantea, 26100, Cremona, Italy.,Fondazione Avantea, 26100, Cremona, Italy
| | - Thomas B Hildebrandt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10315, Berlin, Germany.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katsuhiko Hayashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Sebastian Diecke
- Technology Platform Pluripotent Stem Cells, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Micha Drukker
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Core Facility, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany. .,Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Leiden University, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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13
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Stejskal J, Klápště J, Čepl J, El-Kassaby YA, Lstibůrek M. Effect of clonal testing on the efficiency of genomic evaluation in forest tree breeding. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3033. [PMID: 35194102 PMCID: PMC8864020 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06952-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Through stochastic simulations, accuracies of breeding values and response to selection were assessed under traditional pedigree-(BLUP) and genomic-based evaluation methods (GBLUP) in forest tree breeding. The latter provides a methodological foundation for genomic selection. We evaluated the impact of clonal replication in progeny testing on the response to selection realized in seed orchards under variable marker density and target effective population sizes. We found that clonal replication in progeny trials boosted selection accuracy, thus providing additional genetic gains under BLUP. While a similar trend was observed for GBLUP, however, the added gains did not surpass those under BLUP. Therefore, breeding programs deploying extensive progeny testing with clonal propagation might not benefit from the deployment of genomic information. These findings could be helpful in the context of operational breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Stejskal
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 1176, 165 21, Praha, Czech Republic.
| | - J Klápště
- Scion (New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd.), 49 Sala Street, Whakarewarewa, 3010, Rotorua, New Zealand
| | - J Čepl
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 1176, 165 21, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Y A El-Kassaby
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - M Lstibůrek
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 1176, 165 21, Praha, Czech Republic
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14
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Poupon V, Chakraborty D, Stejskal J, Konrad H, Schueler S, Lstibůrek M. Accelerating Adaptation of Forest Trees to Climate Change Using Individual Tree Response Functions. Front Plant Sci 2021; 12:758221. [PMID: 34887888 PMCID: PMC8650053 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.758221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In forest tree breeding, assisted migration has been proposed to accelerate the adaptive response to climate change. Response functions are currently fitted across multiple populations and environments, enabling selections of the most appropriate seed sources for a specific reforestation site. So far, the approach has been limited to capturing adaptive variation among populations, neglecting tree-to-tree variation residing within a population. Here, we combined the response function methodology with the in-situ breeding approach, utilizing progeny trials of European larch (Larix decidua) across 21 test sites in Austria ranging from Alpine to lowland regions. We quantified intra-population genetic variance and predicted individual genetic performance along a climatic gradient. This approach can be adopted in most breeding and conservation programs, boosting the speed of adaptation under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Poupon
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Debojyoti Chakraborty
- Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape, Department of Forest Growth, Silviculture & Genetics, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan Stejskal
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Heino Konrad
- Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape, Department of Forest Biodiversity and Nature Conservation, Vienna, Austria
| | - Silvio Schueler
- Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape, Department of Forest Growth, Silviculture & Genetics, Vienna, Austria
| | - Milan Lstibůrek
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czechia
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15
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Stejskal J, Hajek P, Prokop V. The role of library user preferences in the willingness to read and pay for e-books: case of the Czech Republic. EL 2021. [DOI: 10.1108/el-01-2021-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to analyse library user preferences in the willingness to read and pay for e-books, using a sample of both active readers (users of public library services) and non-users (the general population).
Design/methodology/approach
Two empirical surveys were conducted from August to November of 2019; the research sample consisted of 1,334 users from the Municipal Library of Prague and 1,101 non-users from the general Czech population. The research was focussed on e-book user preferences. The willingness to pay (WTP) for e-book services and the determinants that affect this willingness were also examined.
Findings
The results show the specific approach of Czech readers, whose main determinant of WTP is not the content, but the price and method of its payment (allocation). Some people prefer a cheaper annual lump sum, whereas others may prefer a charge of small regular fees. The decision to pay depends on their reading or payment habits.
Originality/value
This study also aims to clarify the demand for various types of digital media in Czech libraries and the preferred distribution models. Furthermore, the study determines the dependence of the preferences of library users in their WTP for e-books using different evaluation models. The originality of this study is in the evaluation of the determinants of WTP for e-books, which makes this study unique, and the findings should contribute to the expansion of existing knowledge in the field of information science.
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16
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Prokop V, Stejskal J, Klimova V, Zitek V. The role of foreign technologies and R&D in innovation processes within catching-up CEE countries. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250307. [PMID: 33886616 PMCID: PMC8061943 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prior research showed that there is a growing consensus among researchers, which point out a key role of external knowledge sources such as external R&D and technologies in enhancing firms´ innovation. However, firms´ from catching-up Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries have already shown in the past that their innovation models differ from those applied, for example, in Western Europe. This study therefore introduces a novel two-staged model combining artificial neural networks and random forests to reveal the importance of internal and external factors influencing firms´ innovation performance in the case of 3,361 firms from six catching-up CEE countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), by using the World Banks´ Enterprise Survey data from 2019. We confirm the hypothesis that innovators in the catching-up CEE countries depend more on internal knowledge sources and, moreover, that participation in the firms groups represents an important factor of firms´ innovation. Surprisingly, we reject the hypothesis that foreign technologies are a crucial source of external knowledge. This study contributes to the theories of open innovation and absorptive capacity in the context of selected CEE countries and provides several practical implications for firms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Prokop
- Science and Research Centre, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Stejskal
- Institute of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
| | - Viktorie Klimova
- Department of Regional Economics and Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Zitek
- Department of Regional Economics and Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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17
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Abstract
Currently, there is a more frequent replacement of books by e-books, which have become an increasingly viable format and make it easier for readers to read books in a variety of places. Public libraries therefore focus more often on the provision of e-books as one of the components of their digital services. However, these services do not always meet with an adequate demand from readers due to several factors, such as service charges or a lack of awareness. Therefore, in this article, the authors focus on the demand side, represented by e-book readers. Specifically, they focus on the Municipal Library of Prague’s e-book readers’ behaviour and propose a three-step research model. It consists of analyses focusing on: (1) the specifics of the Municipal Library of Prague’s e-book readers; (2) e-book readers’ interest in borrowing e-books; and (3) e-book readers’ interest in the Municipal Library of Prague’s e-service when they must pay a fee. As a data source, the authors use unique data from an online questionnaire survey among readers of the Municipal Library of Prague in 2019 by the Sociores agency. The results show that science fiction and fantasy readers represent the most significant group of e-book readers at the Municipal Library of Prague, and that Facebook is the most significant channel for communication with e-book readers. The authors also confirm the importance of e-book readers and smartphones as devices that significantly affect readers’ decision to read e-books. In the final part of the article, the authors propose some practical recommendations that could attract more e-book readers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Prokop
- Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Stejskal
- Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Pardubice, Czech Republic
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18
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de Mori B, Spiriti MM, Pollastri I, Normando S, Biasetti P, Florio D, Andreucci F, Colleoni S, Galli C, Göritz F, Hermes R, Holtze S, Lazzari G, Seet S, Zwilling J, Stejskal J, Mutisya S, Ndeereh D, Ngulu S, Vigne R, Hildebrandt TB. An Ethical Assessment Tool (ETHAS) to Evaluate the Application of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Mammals' Conservation: The Case of the Northern White Rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum cottoni). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:312. [PMID: 33530613 PMCID: PMC7911958 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) can make a difference in biodiversity conservation. Their application, however, can create risks and raise ethical issues that need addressing. Unfortunately, there is a lack of attention to the topic in the scientific literature and, to our knowledge, there is no tool for the ethical assessment of ARTs in the context of conservation that has been described. This paper reports the first applications of the Ethical Assessment Tool (ETHAS) to trans-rectal ovum pick-up (OPU) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures used in a northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) conservation project. The ETHAS consists of two checklists, the Ethical Evaluation Sheet and the Ethical Risk Assessment, and is specifically customized for each ART procedure. It provides an integrated, multilevel and standardized self-assessment of the procedure under scrutiny, generating an ethical acceptability ranking (totally, partially, not acceptable) and a risk rank (low, medium, high), and, hence, allows for implementing measures to address or manage issues beforehand. The application of the ETHAS to the procedures performed on the northern white rhinoceros was effective in ensuring a high standard of procedures, contributing to the acceptability and improved communication among the project's partners. In turn, the tool itself was also refined through an iterative consultation process between experts and stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara de Mori
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Padua, Italy; (M.M.S.); (I.P.)
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, 35020 Padua, Italy; (P.B.); (D.F.); (F.A.)
| | - Maria Michela Spiriti
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Padua, Italy; (M.M.S.); (I.P.)
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, 35020 Padua, Italy; (P.B.); (D.F.); (F.A.)
| | - Ilaria Pollastri
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Padua, Italy; (M.M.S.); (I.P.)
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, 35020 Padua, Italy; (P.B.); (D.F.); (F.A.)
| | - Simona Normando
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Padua, Italy; (M.M.S.); (I.P.)
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, 35020 Padua, Italy; (P.B.); (D.F.); (F.A.)
| | - Pierfrancesco Biasetti
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, 35020 Padua, Italy; (P.B.); (D.F.); (F.A.)
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10315 Berlin, Germany; (F.G.); (R.H.); (S.H.)
| | - Daniela Florio
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, 35020 Padua, Italy; (P.B.); (D.F.); (F.A.)
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Andreucci
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, 35020 Padua, Italy; (P.B.); (D.F.); (F.A.)
| | - Silvia Colleoni
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, 26100 Cremona, Italy; (S.C.); (C.G.); (G.L.)
| | - Cesare Galli
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, 26100 Cremona, Italy; (S.C.); (C.G.); (G.L.)
- Avantea Foundation, 26100 Cremona, Italy
| | - Frank Göritz
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10315 Berlin, Germany; (F.G.); (R.H.); (S.H.)
| | - Robert Hermes
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10315 Berlin, Germany; (F.G.); (R.H.); (S.H.)
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10315 Berlin, Germany; (F.G.); (R.H.); (S.H.)
| | - Giovanna Lazzari
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, 26100 Cremona, Italy; (S.C.); (C.G.); (G.L.)
- Avantea Foundation, 26100 Cremona, Italy
| | - Steven Seet
- Science Communication, Science Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10315 Berlin, Germany; (S.S.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jan Zwilling
- Science Communication, Science Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10315 Berlin, Germany; (S.S.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jan Stejskal
- ZOO Dvůr Králové, 54401 Dvůr Králové nad Labem, Czech Republic;
| | - Samuel Mutisya
- Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy, Nanyuki 10400, Kenya; (S.M.); (S.N.); (R.V.)
| | | | - Stephen Ngulu
- Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy, Nanyuki 10400, Kenya; (S.M.); (S.N.); (R.V.)
| | - Richard Vigne
- Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy, Nanyuki 10400, Kenya; (S.M.); (S.N.); (R.V.)
| | - Thomas B. Hildebrandt
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10315 Berlin, Germany; (F.G.); (R.H.); (S.H.)
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Free University of Berlin, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
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Hildebrandt TB, Holtze S, Biasetti P, Colleoni S, de Mori B, Diecke S, Göritz F, Hayashi K, Hayashi M, Hermes R, Kariuki L, Lazzari G, Mijele D, Mutisya S, Ndeereh D, Ngulu S, Seet S, Zwilling J, Zywitza V, Stejskal J, Galli C. Conservation Research in Times of COVID-19 – The Rescue of the Northern White Rhino. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021. [DOI: 10.1163/25889567-bja10009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
COVID-19 has changed the world at unprecedented pace. The measures imposed by governments across the globe for containing the pandemic have severely affected all facets of economy and society, including scientific progress. Сonservation research has not been exempt from these negative effects, which we here summarize for the BioRescue project, aiming at saving the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), an important Central African keystone species, of which only two female individuals are left. The development of advanced assisted reproduction and stem-cell technologies to achieve this goal involves experts across five continents. Maintaining international collaborations under conditions of national shut-down and travel restrictions poses major challenges. The associated ethical implications and consequences are particularly troublesome when it comes to research directed at protecting biological diversity – all the more in the light of increasing evidence that biodiversity and intact ecological habitats might limit the spread of novel pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas B. Hildebrandt
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin D-14195, Berlin Germany
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin Germany
| | - Pierfrancesco Biasetti
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin Germany
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, Università degli Studi di Padova 35020 Padova Italy
| | - Silvia Colleoni
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies 26100, Cremona Italy
- Fondazione Avantea 26100, Cremona Italy
| | - Barbara de Mori
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, Università degli Studi di Padova 35020 Padova Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, Università degli Studi di Padova 35020 Padova Italy
| | - Sebastian Diecke
- Technology Platform Pluripotent Stem Cells, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Straße 2, 10178 Berlin Germany
| | - Frank Göritz
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin Germany
| | - Katsuhiko Hayashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University Fukuoka, 812-0054 Japan
| | - Masafumi Hayashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University Fukuoka, 812-0054 Japan
| | - Robert Hermes
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin Germany
| | | | - Giovanna Lazzari
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies 26100, Cremona Italy
- Fondazione Avantea 26100, Cremona Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Steven Seet
- Science Management, Public Relations, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin Germany
| | - Jan Zwilling
- Science Management, Public Relations, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin Germany
| | - Vera Zywitza
- Technology Platform Pluripotent Stem Cells, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin Germany
| | - Jan Stejskal
- Zoo Dvůr Králové Štefánikova 1029, 544 01, Dvůr Králové nad Labem Czech Republic
| | - Cesare Galli
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies 26100, Cremona Italy
- Fondazione Avantea 26100, Cremona Italy
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20
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Stejskal J, Hajek P, Cerny P. A novel methodology for surveying children for designing library services: A case study of the Municipal Library of Prague. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science 2020. [DOI: 10.1177/0961000620948568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Recognizing individual needs and customer preferences is key to succeeding and increasing competitiveness in both the commercial and public sectors. In the public sector, this is one of the ways to increase the efficiency of public funds allocated to public libraries. However, in order to make the right decisions, library management needs quality information about preferences and consumer behaviour, even from customers who cannot be the subject of routine research due to their young age. Therefore, this article proposes a new methodology for surveying children in order to design library services. The proposed methodology, which integrates principles from ethnographic and sociological methods, aims to overcome the problems of conventional sociological methods, such as how to conceive a child as a respondent and how to determine their preferences from hypothetical situations. This article uses a specially designed questionnaire tool to identify preferences, behaviour and information from children (as visitors of a library). The authors learned that Czech children went to the library primarily for books and games. In addition, the data from the questionnaire revealed patterns in the children’s and adults’ behaviour when visiting the library. All of the data in this article can be used for further research into consumer behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Petr Hajek
- Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Pardubice, Czech Republic
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21
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Lstibůrek M, Schueler S, El-Kassaby YA, Hodge GR, Stejskal J, Korecký J, Škorpík P, Konrad H, Geburek T. In Situ Genetic Evaluation of European Larch Across Climatic Regions Using Marker-Based Pedigree Reconstruction. Front Genet 2020; 11:28. [PMID: 32117444 PMCID: PMC7031344 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustainable and efficient forestry in a rapidly changing climate is a daunting task. The sessile nature of trees makes adaptation to climate change challenging; thereby, ecological services and economic potential are under risk. Current long-term and costly gene resources management practices have been primarily directed at a few economically important species and are confined to defined ecological boundaries. Here, we present a novel in situ gene-resource management approach that conserves forest biodiversity and improves productivity and adaptation through utilizing basic forest regeneration installations located across a wide range of environments without reliance on structured tree breeding/conservation methods. We utilized 4,267 25- to 35-year-old European larch trees growing in 21 reforestation installations across four distinct climatic regions in Austria. With the aid of marker-based pedigree reconstruction, we applied multi-trait, multi-site quantitative genetic analyses that enabled the identification of broadly adapted and productive individuals. Height and wood density, proxies to fitness and productivity, yielded in situ heritability estimates of 0.23 ± 0.07 and 0.30 ± 0.07, values similar to those from traditional “structured” pedigrees methods. In addition, individual trees selected with this approach are expected to yield genetic response of 1.1 and 0.7 standard deviations for fitness and productivity attributes, respectively, and be broadly adapted to a range of climatic conditions. Genetic evaluation across broad climatic gradients permitted the delineation of suitable reforestation areas under current and future climates. This simple and resource-efficient management of gene resources is applicable to most tree species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Lstibůrek
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Praha, Czechia
| | - Silvio Schueler
- Department of Forest Growth and Silviculture, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), Wien, Austria
| | - Yousry A El-Kassaby
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Gary R Hodge
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Jan Stejskal
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Praha, Czechia
| | - Jičí Korecký
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Praha, Czechia
| | - Petr Škorpík
- Department of Forest Genetics, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), Wien, Austria
| | - Heino Konrad
- Department of Forest Genetics, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), Wien, Austria
| | - Thomas Geburek
- Department of Forest Genetics, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), Wien, Austria
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22
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Stejskal J, Hájek P, Řehák T. The economic value of library services for children: The case of the Czech public libraries. Library & Information Science Research 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lisr.2019.100963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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23
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Moodley Y, Russo IRM, Robovský J, Dalton DL, Kotzé A, Smith S, Stejskal J, Ryder OA, Hermes R, Walzer C, Bruford MW. Contrasting evolutionary history, anthropogenic declines and genetic contact in the northern and southern white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum). Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.1567. [PMID: 30404873 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) has a discontinuous African distribution, which is limited by the extent of sub-Saharan grasslands. The southern population (SWR) declined to its lowest number around the turn of the nineteenth century, but recovered to become the world's most numerous rhinoceros. In contrast, the northern population (NWR) was common during much of the twentieth century, declining rapidly since the 1970s, and now only two post-reproductive individuals remain. Despite this species's conservation status, it lacks a genetic assessment of its demographic history. We therefore sampled 232 individuals from extant and museum sources and analysed ten microsatellite loci and the mtDNA control region. Both marker types reliably partitioned the species into SWR and NWR, with moderate nuclear genetic diversity and only three mtDNA haplotypes for the species, including historical samples. We detected ancient interglacial demographic declines in both populations. Both populations may also have been affected by recent declines associated with the colonial expansion for the SWR, and with the much earlier Bantu migrations for the NWR. Finally, we detected post-divergence secondary contact between NWR and SWR, possibly occurring as recently as the last glacial maximum. These results suggest the species was subjected to regular periods of fragmentation and low genetic diversity, which may have been replenished upon secondary contact during glacial periods. The species's current situation thus reflects prehistoric declines that were exacerbated by anthropogenic pressure associated with the rise of late Holocene technological advancement in Africa. Importantly, secondary contact suggests a potentially positive outcome for a hybrid rescue conservation strategy, although further genome-wide data are desirable to corroborate these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshan Moodley
- Department of Zoology, University of Venda, University Road, Thohoyandou 0950, Republic of South Africa
| | - Isa-Rita M Russo
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Jan Robovský
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Desiré L Dalton
- Department of Zoology, University of Venda, University Road, Thohoyandou 0950, Republic of South Africa.,National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Antoinette Kotzé
- National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.,Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, West Park, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - Steve Smith
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1A Savoyen Street, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan Stejskal
- Zoo Dvůr Králové, Štefánikova 1029, Dvůr Králové nad Labem 54401, Czech Republic
| | - Oliver A Ryder
- Genetics Division, San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, CA, USA
| | - Robert Hermes
- Leibniz-Institut for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Chris Walzer
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1A Savoyen Street, 1160, Vienna, Austria.,Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd., 10460 Bronx, USA
| | - Michael W Bruford
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK .,Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3BA, UK
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24
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Hildebrandt TB, Hermes R, Colleoni S, Diecke S, Holtze S, Renfree MB, Stejskal J, Hayashi K, Drukker M, Loi P, Göritz F, Lazzari G, Galli C. Embryos and embryonic stem cells from the white rhinoceros. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2589. [PMID: 29973581 PMCID: PMC6031672 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04959-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The northern white rhinoceros (NWR, Ceratotherium simum cottoni) is the most endangered mammal in the world with only two females surviving. Here we adapt existing assisted reproduction techniques (ART) to fertilize Southern White Rhinoceros (SWR) oocytes with NWR spermatozoa. We show that rhinoceros oocytes can be repeatedly recovered from live SWR females by transrectal ovum pick-up, matured, fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection and developed to the blastocyst stage in vitro. Next, we generate hybrid rhinoceros embryos in vitro using gametes of NWR and SWR. We also establish embryonic stem cell lines from the SWR blastocysts. Blastocysts are cryopreserved for later embryo transfer. Our results indicate that ART could be a viable strategy to rescue genes from the iconic, almost extinct, northern white rhinoceros and may also have broader impact if applied with similar success to other endangered large mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas B Hildebrandt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10315, Berlin, Germany. .,Freie Universität Berlin, D-14195, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Robert Hermes
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Silvia Colleoni
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, 26100, Cremona, Italy
| | - Sebastian Diecke
- Max Delbrück Center, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marilyn B Renfree
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Jan Stejskal
- ZOO Dvůr Králové, Štefánikova 1029, 544 01, Dvůr Králové nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Katsuhiko Hayashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-0054, Japan
| | - Micha Drukker
- Institute of Stem Cell Research and the Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Core Facility, Helmholtz Center Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Pasqualino Loi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Frank Göritz
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Giovanna Lazzari
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, 26100, Cremona, Italy.,Fondazione Avantea, 26100, Cremona, Italy
| | - Cesare Galli
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, 26100, Cremona, Italy. .,Fondazione Avantea, 26100, Cremona, Italy.
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25
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Stejskal J, Hajek P, Prokop V. COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION MODELS IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION CREATIVE INDUSTRIES – THE CASE OF GERMANY. JICT 2018. [DOI: 10.32890/jict2018.17.2.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Stejskal
- Institute of Economics Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Hajek
- Institute of System Engineering and Informatics, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Viktor Prokop
- Institute of Economics Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University Pardubice, Czech Republic
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26
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Stejskal J, Kuvíková H, Meričková BM. Regional Innovation Systems Analysis and Evaluation: The Case of the Czech Republic. Knowledge Spillovers in Regional Innovation Systems 2018. [PMCID: PMC7123695 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-67029-4_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Abstract
Purpose
The behaviour of a library user is based on his ability to evaluate the consumption of library services based on alternative market services. The purpose of this paper is to study the usage behaviour in a public library building in the context of alternative costs instead of a narrow focus on book circulation data.
Design/methodology/approach
By library usage mining, using associative rules, the authors described the behaviour of library users and identified the typical behaviour during the visits. The authors analyse the results in the context of alternative costs assigned to the visits.
Findings
The results confirm that some underused services, such as digital services, deliver significantly greater benefit. The frequency of use, the duration of visit and the number of items used are associated with higher alternative costs. There were no significant differences in alternative cost within economic groups (excluding pensioners). This paper identified 41 frequent patterns with different alternative costs.
Research limitations/implications
The limitation of this study is the fact that data for library usage mining were collected using a questionnaire survey.
Practical implications
This may be particularly important for both policy makers and library management. The first beneficiaries are donors and patrons, who can learn about the benefit that libraries bring to society. The proposed system for library usage mining also enables managers to promote specific (effective) services, take steps to avoid readers leaving, and improve the adoption of library services. It can also be used to adapt the location of library services. Librarians, especially those who engage in acquisitions, may also use this information in their evidence-based decisions about the design of services.
Originality/value
So far, there has been no relevant research on the economic aspects of extracted behaviour patterns. Therefore, this study revealed users’ economic preferences using a questionnaire survey that supplemented transaction data. The ability to describe users’ behaviour can provide library management with enough information to realise evidence-based decision making.
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28
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Adamcová V, Záleský M, Stejskal J, Minárik I, Koldová M, Pavličko A, Votrubová J, Matěj R, Babjuk M, Zachoval R. MRI as a triage test in prostate cancer diagnostic algorithm: Prospective study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/s1569-9056(17)32017-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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29
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Čepl J, Holá D, Stejskal J, Korecký J, Kočová M, Lhotáková Z, Tomášková I, Palovská M, Rothová O, Whetten RW, Kaňák J, Albrechtová J, Lstibůrek M. Genetic variability and heritability of chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Tree Physiol 2016; 36:883-895. [PMID: 27126227 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpw028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Current knowledge of the genetic mechanisms underlying the inheritance of photosynthetic activity in forest trees is generally limited, yet it is essential both for various practical forestry purposes and for better understanding of broader evolutionary mechanisms. In this study, we investigated genetic variation underlying selected chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) parameters in structured populations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) grown on two sites under non-stress conditions. These parameters were derived from the OJIP part of the ChlF kinetics curve and characterize individual parts of primary photosynthetic processes associated, for example, with the exciton trapping by light-harvesting antennae, energy utilization in photosystem II (PSII) reaction centers (RCs) and its transfer further down the photosynthetic electron-transport chain. An additive relationship matrix was estimated based on pedigree reconstruction, utilizing a set of highly polymorphic single sequence repeat markers. Variance decomposition was conducted using the animal genetic evaluation mixed-linear model. The majority of ChlF parameters in the analyzed pine populations showed significant additive genetic variation. Statistically significant heritability estimates were obtained for most ChlF indices, with the exception of DI0/RC, φD0 and φP0 (Fv/Fm) parameters. Estimated heritabilities varied around the value of 0.15 with the maximal value of 0.23 in the ET0/RC parameter, which indicates electron-transport flux from QA to QB per PSII RC. No significant correlation was found between these indices and selected growth traits. Moreover, no genotype × environment interaction (G × E) was detected, i.e., no differences in genotypes' performance between sites. The absence of significant G × E in our study is interesting, given the relatively low heritability found for the majority of parameters analyzed. Therefore, we infer that polygenic variability of these indices is selectively neutral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Čepl
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 1176, 165 21 Praha 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Dana Holá
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 43 Praha 2 - Nové Město, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Stejskal
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 1176, 165 21 Praha 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Korecký
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 1176, 165 21 Praha 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Kočová
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 43 Praha 2 - Nové Město, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Lhotáková
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 43 Praha 2 - Nové Město, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Tomášková
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 1176, 165 21 Praha 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Palovská
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 43 Praha 2 - Nové Město, Czech Republic
| | - Olga Rothová
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 43 Praha 2 - Nové Město, Czech Republic
| | - Ross W Whetten
- Department of Forestry & Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8008, USA
| | - Jan Kaňák
- Arboretum Sofronka, Plaská 877, 323 00 Plzeň-Bolevec, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Albrechtová
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 43 Praha 2 - Nové Město, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Lstibůrek
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 1176, 165 21 Praha 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic
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30
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Saragusty J, Diecke S, Drukker M, Durrant B, Friedrich Ben-Nun I, Galli C, Göritz F, Hayashi K, Hermes R, Holtze S, Johnson S, Lazzari G, Loi P, Loring JF, Okita K, Renfree MB, Seet S, Voracek T, Stejskal J, Ryder OA, Hildebrandt TB. Rewinding the process of mammalian extinction. Zoo Biol 2016; 35:280-92. [PMID: 27142508 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
With only three living individuals left on this planet, the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) could be considered doomed for extinction. It might still be possible, however, to rescue the (sub)species by combining novel stem cell and assisted reproductive technologies. To discuss the various practical options available to us, we convened a multidisciplinary meeting under the name "Conservation by Cellular Technologies." The outcome of this meeting and the proposed road map that, if successfully implemented, would ultimately lead to a self-sustaining population of an extremely endangered species are outlined here. The ideas discussed here, while centered on the northern white rhinoceros, are equally applicable, after proper adjustments, to other mammals on the brink of extinction. Through implementation of these ideas we hope to establish the foundation for reversal of some of the effects of what has been termed the sixth mass extinction event in the history of Earth, and the first anthropogenic one. Zoo Biol. 35:280-292, 2016. © 2016 The Authors. Zoo Biology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Saragusty
- The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Micha Drukker
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Barbara Durrant
- San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, Escondido, California
| | - Inbar Friedrich Ben-Nun
- Department of Chemical Physiology, Center for Regenerative Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Cesare Galli
- Avantea srl, Laboratorio di Tecnologie della Riproduzione, Cremona, Italy.,Dipartimento Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Università di Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.,Fondazione Avantea, Cremona, Italy
| | - Frank Göritz
- The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katsuhiko Hayashi
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Robert Hermes
- The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Holtze
- The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Giovanna Lazzari
- Avantea srl, Laboratorio di Tecnologie della Riproduzione, Cremona, Italy.,Fondazione Avantea, Cremona, Italy
| | - Pasqualino Loi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Univeristy of Teramo, Campus Coste San Agostino, Teramo, Italy
| | - Jeanne F Loring
- Department of Chemical Physiology, Center for Regenerative Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Keisuke Okita
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Marilyn B Renfree
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Steven Seet
- The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jan Stejskal
- ZOO Dvůr Králové, Dvůr Králové nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Oliver A Ryder
- San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, Escondido, California
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Stejskal J, Hájek P, Rehak T. The Economic Value of Book Loans – The Case of the Municipal Library of Prague. Libri 2016. [DOI: 10.1515/libri-2016-0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIn recent years, the value of public library services has tended to be evaluated using the contingent valuation method. This is able to reveal readers’ hidden preferences. However, it appears that the total value of a public library as expressed by one number leads to a methodological bias related to the difficulty of assessing the value of one standard book loan. Moreover, this approach does not reflect the needs of public libraries’ management. Therefore, this study focuses on a detailed investigation of the most important public library service, book loans. For this purpose, we have employed statistical models to identify the significant determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) for book loans and WTP for purchasing books, respectively. The results suggest that loan services have the greatest perceived value for students, people who are economically active. Management who are interested in increasing the success of their institution across society must also know the perceived value of individual books so that they can adjust their library's acquisition policy. It was found that novels had the highest perceived value, followed by educational literature in the fields of economics and education as well as information science. This entirely new analytical method of measuring WTP for public services raises many new implications that could change the strategies of individual libraries – as well as the public policy strategies of donors and library ownership.
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Stejskal J, Hajek P. Effectiveness of digital library services as a basis for decision-making in public organizations. Library & Information Science Research 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lisr.2015.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Humpolíček P, Radaszkiewicz KA, Kašpárková V, Stejskal J, Trchová M, Kuceková Z, Vičarová H, Pacherník J, Lehocký M, Minařík A. Stem cell differentiation on conducting polyaniline. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra12218j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyogenesis and neurogenesis were tested on polyaniline films. Polyaniline in pristine forms without any further modification can be applied in a variety of biomedical fields.
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Tegzova D, Andelova K, Kucerova I, Madar J, Stejskal J, Vlasakova V, Figurova E, Kovarik J, Dostal C. SAT0025 Pregnancy Outcomes in A Cohort of Women with Sle. Long Term 20 Years Observation. Ann Rheum Dis 2014. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.4057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Lemez P, Gáliková J, Michalová K, Dvoráková D, MacWhannell A, Zemanová Z, Stejskal J. [Patients older than 80 years with de novo acute myeloid leukemias without erythroblastic and/or megakaryocytic dysplasia achieve complete remission and longer survival after classical chemotherapy 3 + 7]. Vnitr Lek 2010; 56:37-43. [PMID: 20184110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapy in most patients with AML over 80 years of age is not recommended because their median survival is about 1 month. The aim of our study was to identify patients in this age group who might achieve complete remission with standard dose chemotherapy. We report 9 consecutive patients with de novo AML diagnosed and treated in 1992-2008. All bone marrow samples were hypercellular, classified as FAB types M2 in 2 cases, M4 in 6, and M5 in one case. Three patients opted for supportive or palliative therapy and survived 1-4 months. Six patients received standard dose chemotherapy. Two patients with a normal karyotype had resistant AML and survived 1.0 and 2.7 months; one patient with a complex karyotype died of septic shock on the 10th day of therapy. All these three patients exhibited erythroblastic and/or megakaryocytic dysplasia (EMD) at presentation (two in more than 26% erythroblasts, all three in a half or more of megakaryocytes). Three remaining patients with AML M4, a normal karyotype but without EMD, achieved complete remission in spite of co-morbidities and a poor performance status. Two of them survived 18.6 and 28 months on maintenance therapy, the third 16.5 months without it. Very elderly AML patients without EMD appear to represent a favorable prognostic biological category (single-lineage AML) that show a good response to standard dose chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Lemez
- Hematologicko-transfuzní oddĕlení Nemocnice Jihlava.
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Abstract
In the laboratory-type airlift tower reactor oxygen transfer from air in tap water and/or polyacrylamide solutions (Neuperm WF) was studied. In order to characterize the system, volumetric coefficient of oxygen transfer was determined by the gassing-out method. Two arrangements of the airlift tower reactor were compared, namely the reactor with and without motionless mixer. In addition, mean relative gas holdup and gas power output were determined for both arrangements.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Stejskal
- Institute of Chemical Technology, Pardubice, Czechoslovakia
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Lemez P, Galikova J, Michalova K, MacWhannell A, Dvorakova D, Zemanova Z, Stejskal J. P78 Patients over 80 years of age with de novo AML, normal karyotype, and without erythroblastic and/or megakaryocytic dysplasia may reach complete remission and better survival after standard dose chemotherapy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/s1040-8428(09)70116-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Drelinkiewicz A, Zięba A, Sobczak J, Bonarowska M, Karpiński Z, Waksmundzka-Góra A, Stejskal J. Polyaniline stabilized highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles: Preparation, characterization and catalytic properties. REACT FUNCT POLYM 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2009.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Sapurina IY, Kompan ME, Malyshkin VV, Rosanov VV, Stejskal J. Properties of proton-conducting Nafion-type membranes with Nanometer-thick polyaniline surface layers. RUSS J ELECTROCHEM+ 2009. [DOI: 10.1134/s1023193509060123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Fencl F, Simková E, Vondrák K, Janda J, Chadimová M, Stejskal J, Seeman T. Recurrence of nephrotic proteinuria in children with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis after renal transplantation treated with plasmapheresis and immunoadsorption: case reports. Transplant Proc 2008; 39:3488-90. [PMID: 18089416 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2007.09.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2006] [Revised: 07/30/2007] [Accepted: 09/13/2007] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is believed to be caused by a circulating permeability factor. FSGS recurrence is common after transplantation. The treatment is still a matter of debate; plasmapheresis (PE) and immunoadsorption (IA) are often used. We report on PE and IA in the treatment of two children with recurrent nephrotic proteinuria. Patient 1 was a 16-year-old girl who had recurrence of nephrotic proteinuria on the first day after transplantation (proteinuria-19 g/d). Primary immunosuppressive therapy was changed to high-dose cyclosporine and cyclophosphamide; plasmapheresis was started on day 4. Altogether we performed 53 PE and 38 IA procedures. During the first month, PE procedures were performed with no more than a 2-day interval between sessions, and the girl achieved partial remission (proteinuria 3 g/d). PE was then stopped. After 2 months, a relapse of heavy proteinuria occurred. This relapse was successfully treated again with intensified PE treatment. After achieving remission, a chronic PE regimen was started (PE once a week), similar to the previous series. The child remained in partial remission. Seven months after renal transplantation, she was switched from PE to IA, because of severe hypoproteinemia. Graft biopsy performed at 4 months showed effacement of the foot processes. At the present time she has a good graft function and 3 g/d proteinuria. Patient 2 was a 13-year-old girl with FSGS since 9 years. On the second day after renal transplantation she developed nephrotic proteinuria (proteinuria-14 g/d), which was treated with 39 PE and 16 IA treatments. She went into complete remission on the intensified PE regimen, had one relapse, and was switched to chronic IA. Graft biopsy performed at 2 weeks after transplantation showed effacement of the foot processes. At the present time she has good graft function and low proteinuria (0.3 g/d). In conclusion, intensified PE or IA treatments induced remission of recurrent nephrotic range proteinuria. Chronic PE or IA can maintain patients with frequent relapses in long-term remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Fencl
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Motol, Charles University in Prague, 2nd Medical School, Prague, Czech Republic
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Sedenková I, Trchová M, Stejskal J, Bok J. Polymerization of aniline in the solutions of strong and weak acids: the evolution of infrared spectra and their interpretation using factor analysis. Appl Spectrosc 2007; 61:1153-1162. [PMID: 18028693 DOI: 10.1366/000370207782597058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The progress of the oxidative polymerization of aniline with ammonium peroxydisulfate in an aqueous medium has been monitored in situ by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The growth of polyaniline film at the crystal surface, as well as the changes proceeding in the surrounding aqueous medium, are reflected in the spectra. The evolution of the spectra during aniline polymerization in the presence of acetic or sulfuric acid was studied with the aim of understanding the influence of acidity on the observed morphology of the final polyaniline films, granular or nanotubes. The changes occurring during polymerization are discussed with the help of differential spectra. Several processes connected with the various stages of aniline oxidation, the evolution of film morphology, or protonation, were distinguished by using factor analysis applied to a large number of spectra obtained in the course of aniline polymerizations on the crystal.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Sedenková
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
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Ćirić-Marjanović G, Janošević A, Marjanović B, Trchová M, Stejskal J, Holler P. Chemical oxidative polymerization of dianilinium 5-sulfosalicylate. Russ J Phys Chem 2007. [DOI: 10.1134/s0036024407090130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Sapurina IY, Kompan ME, Zabrodskii AG, Stejskal J, Trchova M. Nanocomposites with mixed electronic and protonic conduction for electrocatalysis. RUSS J ELECTROCHEM+ 2007. [DOI: 10.1134/s1023193507050059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Stejskal J. [Humor from the mortuary--patho-anatomic historic anecdotes--part 1]. Cesk Patol 2005; 41:38-40. [PMID: 15816123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J Stejskal
- Ustav patologie a molekulární medicíny 2. LF UK a FN v Motole
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Zeman L, Dusek M, Lisy J, Moravek J, Rygl M, Stejskal J, Snajdauf J. Multiple fibroepithelial polyps of the upper ureter in a 17-year-old boy--case report and review of the literature. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2004; 14:358-61. [PMID: 15543489 DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-815825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Benign tumours and primary malignant tumours of the ureter are uncommon in adults and extremely rare in children. The clinical symptoms are flank pain, urinary tract infection, and macro/micro-haematuria. There is an incomplete ureteral obstruction and filling defect on intravenous urography (IVU). Optimum treatment of this lesion results in renal preservation. Uretero-renoscopy is currently the best method available for the identification and histological diagnosis of ureteral polyps. Recommended operative procedures are pyeloureteric junction (PUJ) resection with Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty, ureteric resection with end-to-end anastomosis or with uretero-cysto-neoanastomosis (UCNA), ureteric resection with renal autotransplantation. Ureteronephrectomy is not indicated. A case of ureteral polyps in a 17-year-old boy with the chief complaint of left flank pain is reported here. The excretory urogram and renal scan showed left hydronephrosis. Resection of the pyeloureteral junction, partial resection of the upper ureter containing the lesions--multiple branching 30-40 mm long polyps with a common basis--and Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty were performed. The pathological diagnosis was benign fibroepithelial polyps of the ureter. Convalescence was uneventful and after 4 years of follow-up, excretory urogram and ultrasonography showed good renal function and improvement of hydronephrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Zeman
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Faculty Hospital Prague-Motol and II. Medical School, Prague, Czech Republic.
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Lemez P, Stejskal J, Cahova S, Benesova V, Dvorakova D, Fisar J, Slavicek L. Healers, providers of complementary/ alternative medicine, may be dangerous to all oncological patients including themselves. J Clin Oncol 2004. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2004.22.90140.6137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- P. Lemez
- Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic; Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic
| | - J. Stejskal
- Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic; Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic
| | - S. Cahova
- Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic; Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic
| | - V. Benesova
- Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic; Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic
| | - D. Dvorakova
- Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic; Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic
| | - J. Fisar
- Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic; Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic
| | - L. Slavicek
- Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic; Hospital Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic
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Lemez P, Stejskal J, Cahová S, Holub M, Svítil P, Maresová J, Vásová I, Boudová L, Benesová V, Dvoráková D, Fisar J, Slavícek L. [Dexrazoxane in patients with B-lymphomas or acute leukemias in the 2nd complete remission enables further therapy with cardiotoxic anthracyclines over recommended cumulative doses]. Vnitr Lek 2004; 50:438-46. [PMID: 15346637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Daunorubicin (DNR) and doxorubicin (DOX) have significant antitumor activity in acute myeloid leukemias (AML) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) but their use is limited by their life-threatening cumulative dose related cardiotoxicity. It is generally recommended not to administer DOX or DNR to patients in doses greater than 500 mg/sqm or 700 mg/sqm, respectively. the aim of the study was to follow up cardiotoxicity and efficacy of DNR or DOX above these limits in the 2nd complete remission (CR) patients pretreated with anthracyclines when they were given 30 minutes after cardioprotective agent dexrazoxane (DRZ) in the ratio 1:10 of DZR. RESULTS Two patients (54 and 53 years old) with mantle cell or diffuse large cell B-NHL, stage IV, who had relapsed after 6-8 cycles of classical CHOP therapy, reached their 2nd CR after 2-3 cycles of IDEA therapy (ifosfamide 1000 mg/sqm/day x 4, dexamethasone 30 mg/sqm/day x 4, etoposide 75 mg/sqm/day x 4, DOX 30 mg/sqm/day on days 1 and 3). Then they received further 3 cycles IDEA with DRZ 300 mg/sqm before every dose of DOX. After cumulative doses of DOX 600 mg/sqm and 700 mg/sqm these patients survived 12 months in their 2nd CR without significant signs of cardiotoxicity, even after their successful autologous peripheral stem cells transplantation. Their left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) remained above 60%. Six patients with AML in their 2nd CR were treated with consolidation cycles consisting of 10 high doses of cytosine arabinoside (2000 mg/sqm/12 hr) plus 2 doses of DNR 45 mg/sqm on the day 4 and 5. Two patients received cumulative doses corresponding to 1300 mg/sqm and 1000 mg/sqm of DNR, the other received DNR doses 550-850 mg/sqm. No signs of significant cardiotoxicity were observed in all 6 patients and their LVEF remained over 50%. One of two patients, transplanted with HLA-identical sibling bone marrow in her 2nd complete remission (CR), is still 8 years in her 2nd CR. Dexrazoxane enables to administer anthracyclines in doses over the recommended cumulative ones in pretreated patients with B-NHL or AML in their 2nd CR with the follow-up of their LVEF.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Lemez
- Radioterapeutické oddĕlení Nemocnice, Jihlava
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