Low-cost scalable discretization, prediction, and feature selection for complex systems.

Finding reliable discrete approximations of complex systems is a key prerequisite when applying many of the most popular modeling tools. Common discretization approaches (e.g., the very popular K-means clustering) are crucially limited in terms of quality, parallelizability, and cost. We introduce a low-cost improved quality scalable probabilistic approximation (SPA) algorithm, allowing for simultaneous data-driven optimal discretization, feature selection, and prediction. We prove its optimality, parallel efficiency, and a linear scalability of iteration cost. Cross-validated applications of SPA to a range of large realistic data classification and prediction problems reveal marked cost and performance improvements. For example, SPA allows the data-driven next-day predictions of resimulated surface temperatures for Europe with the mean prediction error of 0.75°C on a common PC (being around 40% better in terms of errors and five to six orders of magnitude cheaper than with common computational instruments used by the weather services).

[Antibodies against the chlamydial heat shock protein in women with periadnexal adhesions]. / Protilátky proti proteinu tepelného soku chlamydiového puvodu u zen s periadnexálními adhezemi.

OBJECTIVE: To compare and analyze IgG antibodies against chlamydial heat shock protein (cHSP60) in the blood serum of women with or without periadnexal adhesions in small pelvis. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Masaryk University, Brno, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty Hospital Brno. METHODS: IgG antibodies against cHSP60 in the blood serum were detected by means of recombinant enzyme immunoanalysis ("cHSP60 - IgG - rELISA medac"). The presence of antibodies was expressed as +, ++ or +++ pozitive. Laparoscopy according to a standard procedure was performed in 76 women (age 28 +/- 43 years) from couples with fertility disorders treated in the Centre of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. Chí-square test (programme Statcalc - EpiInfo 6) and calculation of OR value were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-four women (31.6%) had normal finding in small pelvis. Periadnexal adhesions were detected in 43 (56.6%) patients, hydrosalpinx in 13 cases (17.1%), endometriosis in 27 (35.5%) patients and uterine myomas in 11 (145%) women. In the group of 33 women without periadnexal adhesions cHSP-60 antibodies were pozitive in 3 women (9.1%), in 43 women with periadnexal adhesions were pozitive in 17 cases (39.5%). In 13 patients with hydrosalpinx cHSP-60 antibodies were pozitive in 61.5%. In patients with periadnexal adhesions semiquantitative pozitivity +++ was detected in 8 cases (18.6%), 4 of them with hydrosalpinx (30.8%). Statistical analysis found significantly higher presence of cHSP-60 antibodies in women with periadnexal adhesions (OR = 654, CI interval = 1.59 - 37.81, chi-square: p = 0.0028) CONCLUSION: Women with periadnexal adhesions have more frequent and stronger pozitivity of IgG antibodies against chlamydial heat shock protein cHSP60.

[Infection with Chlamydophila pneumoniae as a cause of female infertility of tubal origin?]. / Infekce Chlamydophila pneumoniae jako prícina neplodnosti zen tubárního puvodu?

OBJECTIVE: A contribution to the role of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in women from the IVF program. DESIGN: A serological study proving the antibodies against the antigens of Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) and Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) in women from the IVF program suffering from different factor of infertility. SETTING: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno. METHODS: The complement fixation test with chlamydial antigen and ELISA tests proving IgA and IgG antibodies against genus-specific antigen (cLPS) and species-specific chlamydial major outer membrane protein (cMOMP) of C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae in the blood serum of 32 females being in the fertilization program due the tubal factor infertility have been estimated and the results compared with those obtained in 26 females being in the fertilization program due the ovarian factor and in 42 female with andrological factor, respectively. RESULTS: The frequency of positive complement fixation test proved in the group of women with tubal factor infertility was significantly higher than in the groups with ovarial and andrological factor, respectively. The number of the strongly positive reactions (with high titres) in the group with tubal factor infertility was higher than in two remaining groups. The occurrence of species-specific IgG antibodies (anti-C. trachomatis) and chlamydia genus-specific IgA antibodies proved by means of ELISA in the group with tubal factor was statistically more frequent. The difference of the species-specific anti-C. pneumoniae antibodies in all three groups examined was not significant. The simultaneous occurrence of species-specific antibodies against anti-C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis in the group with tubal factor was higher than in other groups (in comparing with the group with andrological factor statistically significant). CONCLUSION: The opinion of the authors being in agreement with the view of most specialists is that the most important agent in the pathogenesis of tubal factor fertility is C. trachomatis. C. pneumoniae is above all a respiratory pathogen with a high prevalence and its impact for fertility disorders may be in the synergismus with C. trachomatis. The serological examination of both chlamydial infections should be a standard part of diagnostic algorithm.

[Evidence of antibodies against the chlamydial heat shock protein (cHSP60) in women from "in vitro" fertilization program]. / Prukaz protilátek proti proteinu tepelného soku chlamydií (cHSP60) u zen zarazených do in vitro fertilizacního programu.

OBJECTIVE: A contribution to the role of chlamydial heat shock protein in women from the IVF program. DESIGN: A serological study proving the antibodies against the chlamydial heat shock protein. SETTING: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Department of Clinical Microbiology, and Centrum of Reproductive Medicine, Faculty Hospital Brno. METHODS: The IgG antibodies against the chlamydial heat shock protein (cHSP60) and the IgA and IgG antibodies against species specific chlamydial major outer membrane protein (cMOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) and Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) in the blood serum of 70 females being in the fertilization program due to fertility disorders (Group 1) have been estimated and the results compared with those obtained in 50 females suffering from pelvic inflammation disease (PID) (Group 2) and in 51 female blood donors (Group 3) respectively. RESULTS: The anti-cHSP60 antibodies have been ascertained as follows: in 26 women from the first group (37.1%), in 16 of the second group (32.0%) and in 12 (23.5%) of female blood donors. The anti cHSP60-antibody-occurrence and mean index of positivity as well, found in the groups examined, was statistically insignificant. Similarly no difference has been found in the occurrence of the species specific anti-cMOMP antibodies C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae in the groups examined. The anti-cMOMP antibodies against C. trachomatis and simultaneously against C. pneumoniae have been detected in 21 from 171 women of all groups (12.3%), only against C. trachomatis in 9 (5.3%) and against C. pneumoniae in 73 of them (42.7%). There was considerably higher occurrence of the specific antibodies against C. trachomatis in women with a positive finding of antibodies against the cHSP60, especially in women suffering from gynecological disorders, than in women without such antibodies. CONCLUSION: C. trachomatis has a significant impact on the production of antibodies against the cHSP60. This fact can be documented by considerably higher occurrence of the specific antibodies against C. trachomatis in women with a positive finding of antibodies against the cHSP60, than in women without such antibodies. Preceding infection C. trachomatis and following sensitization with chlamydial heat shock protein indicate an unfavourable prognosis of the reproductive outcome and impairs the perspective of a successful in vitro fertilization. The proof of antibodies against the chlamydial HSP60 can be recommended as a further auxiliary criterion in women suffering from fertility disorders.

[Heat shock protein antibodies and other chlamydial antigens in various diseases and their occurrence in blood donors]. / Protilátky proti proteinu tepelného soku a dalsím antigenum chlamydií u nekterých chorob ve srovnání s jejich výskytem u dárcu krve.

BACKGROUND: The chlamydial infections are very frequently considered in the causal connection with some diseases e.g. atherosclerosis or chronic joint infections. The evidence of the antibodies against the heat shock protein of chlamydial origin is not the usual part of practical serological diagnostics. The aim of this study is an attempt to identify antibodies against the heat shock protein and other antigens of chlamydiae in the sera of two groups of patients and in the sera of blood donors. METHODS AND RESULTS: The sera of patients suffering from unstable angina pectoris (NAP = 69), sera of patients waiting for the application of endoprothesis due to coxarthrosis (EKK = 49), and sera of 100 blood donors have been examined for antibodies against the heat shock protein, against the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of C. pneumoniae, and against the chlamydial genus specific lipolysaccharides. The antibodies against the cHSP60 in the sera of patients suffering from NAP have been identified in 41 cases (59.4%), in orthopaedic patients in 21 cases (42.9%) and in 23 of the blood donors (23%). The difference of the antibody-occurrence in the sera of patients is significantly higher than in case of blood donors. The antibodies against the MOMP of C. pneumoniae prevailed in all sera of the persons examined. Their occurrence in the IgG class had a high statistical frequency. The genus specific positive reaction occurred more frequently also in the sera of the probands that reacted positively against the cHSP60 than in those negatively reacting. According to our results, the significance of C. pneumoniae in the genesis of the antibodies against of cHSP60 can be concluded. CONCLUSIONS: The proof of the anti-cHSP60 antibody and of the species-specific chlamydial antibodies may be a useful contribution to the exact diagnosis of the disease with possible chlamydial participation. The C. pneumoniae infection was probably of the main importance for the origin of the anti-cHSP60 antibody in examined persons.

[Serologic study of atherosclerosis and its vascular complications]. / Sérologické vysetrení u aterosklerózy a jejich cévních komplikací.

Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. p.) is very frequently cited as an important factor of the origin of atherosclerosis. To confirm the diagnostic value of the serological examination the following reactions have been used: microimmunofluorescence reaction (MIF) for estimating of antibodies against major outer membrane proteins C. p. (anti-MOMP) and ELISA for detecting antibodies against the lipopolysacharides of C. p. (anti-LPS), both in IgA and IgG immunoglobulin classes of the serum. The ELISA for the detection of the IgG antibodies against chlamydial heat shock protein (cHSP60) has been used. The sera of 155 patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 69 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) have been examined. The heart disease has been confirmed by anamnesis, electrocardiography and coronarography. As a control group the sera from 112 persons without sings of a heart disease were examined. The antibodies against the cHSP60 have been determined only in the sera 69 patients with UAP and 49 control sera. Statistically higher occurrence of the antibodies anti-MOMP C. p. in the IgA class sera of patients suffering from UAP has been noted compared with those found in the sera of the control group (chi 2 = 18.56; p < 0.01). In the globulin IgG class of the both groups no difference has been found. The anti-LPS C. p. antibodies in the IgA as well in IgG anti-LPS classes of the patients sera with UAP were present significantly more frequently than in the control group (chi 2 = 11.49; p < 0.01, chi 2 = 4.16; p < 0.05). Similarly the incidence of the anti-LPS C. p. antibodies in the IgA class sera of 155 patients suffering from AMI was significantly higher than in the control group (chi 2 = 8.55; p < 0.01). The anti-cHSP60 antibodies have been found in 41 out of 69 patients suffering from UAP (59.4%) and in 21 of 49 control individuals (42.9%). The results seem to confirm an important role of C. p. in atherogenesis. The monitoring of the antibodies against the C. p. may supplement the diagnostics in patients suffering from UAP and AMI and the efficacy of its therapy and prevention as well.

[Occurrence of chlamydia infection in relation to lipidemia indicators in the etiology of unstable angina pectoris]. / Ucast chlamydiové infekce ve vztahu k ukazatelum lipémie v etiologii nestabilní anginy pectoris (NAP).

The presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection was examined in 66 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), 155 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AIM) and 112 controls without signs of a heart disease. Besides evaluation of anamnestic data, ECG and coronarographic examination, serologic examination of C. pneumoniae by the microfluorescent method anti-MOMP and ELISA of anti-LPS of globulin IgA and IgG serum classes in every patient was performed. Moreover, in patients with UAP, routine biochemical methods for the detection of total cholesterol levels and its lipoprotein fractions LDL, HDL and triacylglycerols were used. The levels of anti-MOMP C. pneumoniae antibodies and anti-LPS of the IgA class in sera of patients with UAP were statistically highly significantly increased (chi 2 = 19.54; chi 2 = 12.92; p < 0.01) and anti-LPS of the IgG class significantly increased (chi 2 = 6.15; p < 0.05) in comparison with controls. It can be assumed that the participation of C. pneumoniae is aetiologically possible. Total cholesterol levels, LDL, HDL and triacylgylcerols were increased above the normal range in 34.8%, 48.5%, 39.4% and 28.8% of patients, respectively. The anti-LPS C. pneumoniae ELISA test of globulin class IgA in patients with UAP seems to be the most suitable method for the determination of infections with C. pneumoniae.

[Chlamydial heat shock protein (hsp 60) and fertility disorders]. / Protein tepelného soku (hsp60) chlamydiového puvodu a poruchy fertility.

OBJECTIVE: Summarization of recent knowledge on heat shock proteins (HSPs) of human and bacterial (chlamydial) origin and their participation in fertility disturbances. DESIGN: Review article for training of physicians (gynecologists and obstetricians). SETTING: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno. METHOD AND RESULTS: The subject of the study is heat shock protein--hsp60 as a significant epitope Chlamydia trachomatis. Heat shock proteins are induced as a response to various stress insults from external environment (hyperthermy, UV radiation, free oxygen radicals, heavy metals, ethanol etc.) and certain processes related to the cell cycle. Sensitization with the heat shock protein Chlamydia trachomatis and subsequent excretion of highly homologous human heat shock protein are co-operating factors in the development of fertility disturbances. Significant levels of IgA antibodies to hsp60 occur in cervical mucus of women and in seminal plasma of men with fertility disturbances. CONCLUSION: Preceding infection C. trachomatis and resulting sensitization with chlamydial heat shock protein indicate an unfavourable prognosis of the reproductive outcome and impairs the perspective of a successful in vitro fertilization.

[Importance of regular screening for genital chlamydiosis in adolescents]. / Význam pravidelne opakovaného screeningu genitální chlamydiózy u dospívající mládeze.

OBJECTIVE: Determination of prevalence of genital chlamydiosis in similar group of adolescents as in that examined two years ago. Comparison of the results with the previous ones to confirm positive impact of a repeated screening on drop of prevalence of the infection. Another objective is to make the epidemiological data on genital chlamydiosis in the countries of the "Eastern Block" more accurate, and at the same time to assess the most suitable screening method. DESIGN: Prospective epidemiological study aimed at finding whether the repeated screening examinations of genital chlamydiosis in adolescents will result in decreased incidence of the infection. SETTING: Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Clinical Microbiology of the Faculty Hospital, Regional Hygienic Station, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, Masaryk University, Brno. METHODS: The groups under testing comprised male and female students of two secondary medical schools and one private grammar school older than 18 (n = 232, of which 33 were boys and 199 girls). Direct detection of C. trachomatis was carried out from the urinary sediment of the sample of morning urine using ligase reaction, polymerase chain reaction, ELISA and direct immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Identical positive result of C. trachomatis detection by four methods was obtained 4 times, i.e. 1.7%. The result of LCR and PCR were positive identically (4 times), ELISA and IF were, besides the above results, positive in other 1 resp. 5 cases. CONCLUSION: Screening examinations of genital chlamydiosis were performed in adolescents in the town of Brno. Morning samples of urine from 232 students of secondary schools were examined on C. trachomatis using the following methods: LCR, PCR, ELISA, and IF. The LCR and PCR were positive 4 times, ELISA 5 times, IF 9 times. Positive results by LCR and PCR were identical. ELISA and IF were positive in other cases. Noninvasive methods are suitable for screening of latent genital chlamydiosis and for estimation of its prevalence. The authors of the study recommend the ligase chain reaction (LCR) as a most suitable screening method.

[Glanders--an eradicable disease--or a threat?]. / Vozhrivka--eradikovaná nemoc--nebo hrozba?

Glanders (malleus), attacking equids and transmissible to humans, does not occur in our geographical area any more, but world-wide eradication has not yet been achieved. Cases of glanders have been reported from India, Iraq, Mongolia and China and in 2001 also from South America. The disease is caused by Burkholderia mallei (earlied known as Bacillus, Pfeiferella, Loefflerella, Malleomyces, Actinobacillus, or Pseudomonas mallei). The continual interest of microbiologists in the causative agents indicates that glanders cannot be regarded as a closed historic episode. Occupational infections of laboratory personnel occurred during World War II and the years thereafter and the last accident was reported in May 2000. Topical problems of glanders include the development of a vaccine and antibiotic therapy tested in experimentally infected subjects.

[Chlamydia pneumoniae and myocardial infarct? (Serologic study)]. / Chlamydia pneumoniae a infarkt myokardu? (Sérologická vysetrení).

At disposal for tests were 156 blood sera collected from patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI samples) and 67 blood sera collected from control persons. The sera were tested by the following reactions: complement fixation test (CFT) with genus-specific antigen (C. psittaci, Bioveta, Ivanovice na Hané), ELISA in the immunoglobulin classes IgG and IgA using the MOMP (Vircell, Spain) and LPS (MEDAC, Hamburg, BRD) Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. p.) antigens, and indirect immunofluorescence test with MOMP C. p. antigen (MRL Diagnostics, USA). Eight AMI samples were not tested by CFT owing to haemolyis or lipaemia. CFT titres ranging from 1:4 to 1:16 were found in 28 of the 148 AMI samples (18.9%) and 3 of the 67 control samples (4.5%). The between-group difference was highly significant (chi 2 = 7.795 at 0.01). Positive by rELISA anti LPS C. p. were 89 of the 155 AMI samples (57%) and 22 of the 62 control samples (35%). Also this difference was highly significant (chi 2 = 8.528; alpha = 1%). The following conclusions can be drawn from the results: 1. Chlamydia pneumoniae can play an important role in the aetiology of atherosclerosis leading to AMI. 2. rELISA anti-LPS can be recommended for routine serological diagnostics of C. pneumoniae and studies of its role in the aetiology of atherosclerosis. 3. The complement fixation test is still suitable for the screening of human chlamydiosis.

[Noninvasive screening for genital chlamydiosis in adolescents in Brno]. / Neinvazivní screeningové vysetrení genitální chlamydiózy adolescentu mesta Brna.

OBJECTIVE: To run a screening for genital chlamydiosis in adolescents living in the town Brno as the first action of this type in the Czech Republic and to use the results of the screening for the elaboration of recommendations for running similar actions on the national scale. DESIGN: Prospective epidemiological study. SETTING: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno; Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General Faculty Hospital, Prague; Section of Public Health, Municipal Authorities of Brno; Bioplus Ltd., Brno; Regional Hygienic Services, Brno; Faculty Hospital Brno; with technical assistance of teachers and students of two Medical Assistant Schools in Brno. METHODS: Students (337 females and 15 males) of two Medical Assistant Schools, older than 18 years, were used as probands within the study. Sediments of the first portions of urine collected from the individual probands were tested for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis using the direct fluorescent test, ELISA, and the ligase chain reaction. RESULTS: Positive reactions in any of the three tests were found in 31 of the 352 probands (8.8%). Positive and doubtful reactions in the direct fluorescent antibody test were obtained in 11 (35.5%) and 3 (9.6%) of the 31 reactors, respectively. The corresponding values for ELISA were 9 (23.0%) and 8 (25.8%), respectively, and those for the ligase chain reaction 3 (16.6%) and 3 (16.6%), respectively. The overall prevalence of 8.8% is higher than the European mean. CONCLUSIONS: The first limited screening for genital Chlamydia infections in the Czech Republic was run in Brno. Urinary samples were collected from 337 females and 15 males aged approximately 18 years. The presence of Chlamydia trachomatis in the urinary sediment was demonstrated by the direct fluorescent test, ELISA, and the ligase chain reaction. The established prevalence of 8.8% exceeded the European mean (3.9%).

[Chlamydiae--still new surprises]. / Chlamydie--stále nová prekvapení.

A review on participation of chlamydiae in the origin of the HIV-infection, carcinoma and atherosclerosis. The antibodies against the newly discovered pgp3 protein of C. trachomatis were found in 83-87% of the seropositive HIV patients. The participation of C. trachomatis in the etiology of cervical and ovarian carcinoma has been discussed in a number of articles. Simultaneous examinations along different lines allow the hypothesis, that C. trachomatis acts as a cofactor in the development of ovarian and cervical carcinoma. Chronic infection by C. pneumoniae appears to be one of the risk factors of pulmonary carcinoma. Many papers dealing with the relation of chlamydiae and atherosclerosis have been published. The relation between the chronic C. pneumoniae-infection and atherosclerosis has been assessed serologically and by direct demonstration of chlamydiae in atheromatous plaques.

[Direct and indirect detection of Chlamydia in infertile married couples in the assisted reproduction program]. / Prímý a neprímý prukaz chlamydií u neplodných manzelských páru zarazených do programu asistované reprodukce.

The authors pay attention to the relationship of pregnancy in women enlisted in the IVF programme and the detection of Chlamydia infection. A group of 74 infertile couples were investigated. A significant relationship was found between confirmed Chlamydia infection in women and men. Moreover a significant relationship was found between Chlamydia infection confirmed by immunofluorescence in men and impregnation in women in the IVF programme. This means that in female partners of men with acute Chlamydia infection the results of IVF are less successful. The authors recommend that all couples enlisted in the IVF programme should be examined for this infection and if it is positive given adequate treatment.

[Occurrence of antibodies to chlamydial group antigens in the population of the Czech Republic]. / Výskyt protilátek proti skupinovému chlamydiovému antigenu v lidské populaci CR.

A set of 4,178 human blood sera was tested including 3,093 samples collected from blood donors, 624 randomly collected samples. 124 samples collected from persons possibly exposed to Chlamydia infection, and 337 samples from patients of various hospitals in the districts of Brno, Olomouc and Rumburk. All the sera were examined using the complement fixation microtest and the antigen of Chlamydia psittaci for CFR (Bioveta, Ivanovice na Hané, CzR). Moreover, a subset of samples collected from selected groups (n = 209) was tested by CFR using the genus-specific Ornithose-Antigen (Behring, Germany) (n = 209), another subset of 116 samples by indirect immunofluorescence using the biological Chlamydia trachomatis Spot IF (Bio Merieux) (n = 116), and a subset of 224 samples by ELISA for the demonstration of IgG, IgM and IgA class of antibodies using the kit rELISA Medac. Complement fixing antibodies assayed with the Chlamydia psittaci antigen (Bioveta), reached titres of 1.5, 1:10 and 1:20 in 15.5%, 5.29% and 0.48% of the randomly collected samples, respectively. The corresponding values for the tests carried out with the Ornithose-Antigen were 1:10 in 10.9%, 1:20 in 8.9%, 1:40 in 2.9% and 1:80 in 1.4%. ELISA yielded 52.7%, 26.85% and 17.59% positive results in the globulin classes IgG, IgA and IgM, respectively. Antibody titres from 1:20 and from 1:10, determined with the Bioveta antigen, were found in 2.36% and 9.47% within a representative group of blood donors. The corresponding values for the group of the hospitalized patients were 14.54% and 24.93%, respectively, and for the group of persons possibly exposed to Chlamydia infection 2.42% and 8.87% respectively. The indirect immunofluorescence test yielded positive, negative ad doubtful results in 47.41%, 27.59% and 25.0% persons of the latter group. This group showed also a higher percentage (37.07%) of positive results in ELISA in the class IgA than the randomly selected persons.

Decomposition Products of s-Triazine Herbicides by Electron-Transfer in Acidic Aqueous Media

The reduction of atrazine and terbutylazine was preceded by protonation equilibrium. Three protonation sites of the s-triazine molecule determined the structure of the final reduction product. Protonation was investigated by the change of UV-Vis spectra. Two slightly different pKs corresponding to protonation on N5 and N1 heteroatoms were evaluated. The principal reduction pathway involved the cleavage of a chlorine atom. A small quantity of desethylatrazine was detected in the most acidic media.

Electron Transfer in Donor-Acceptor Molecules of Substituted Naphtoquinones: Spectral and Redox Properties of Internal Charge Transfer Complexes

The investigated compounds were substituted naphtoquinones containing aniline moiety separated from the quinoid system by a methylene bridge. The nature of substituents on both donor and acceptor parts influenced the degree of formation of an internal charge transfer complex. Properties of the internal charge transfer interactions were investigated by voltammetry, spectroscopy, and in situ spectroelectrochemistry. Quantum chemical interpretation of experiments is given.

[Detection of Chlamydia in inflammation of the cervix and uterus in cows]. / Nálezy chlamydií u zánetu delozního krcku a pochvy krav.

Clinical findings in cows of seven farms with a frequent occurrence of birth canal inflammations were matched against results of serological and direct immunofluorescence tests for Chlamydia sp. infection. Normal clinical picture, weak to moderate and serious inflammations were found in 16.1%, 46.7% and 37.2% of the 205 examined cows, respectively. The results of micro CFT were negative in 32.7% and titres 1:5, 1:10, 1:20, and 1: > or = 40 were found in 8.7%, 38.0%, 12.3%, and 8.3%, respectively. Direct immunofluorescence test of cervical swabs, using the Progen Biotechnic GmbH set, was negative in 29.1% and clearly positive in 34.7% of the tested cows. The rest was animals in which sporadic elementary bodies were seen. The significance of the findings is discussed and the necessity to test Chlamydia infections in herds affected by frequent and/or chronic inflammations of genital organs is stressed. Evidence of the transmission of Chlamydia infection by contaminated semen is presented.