The Influence of CO2 Admixtures on the Product Composition in a Nitrogen-Methane Atmospheric Glow Discharge Used as a Prebiotic Atmosphere Mimic.

This work extends our previous experimental studies of the chemistry of Titan's atmosphere by atmospheric glow discharge. The Titan's atmosphere seems to be similarly to early Earth atmospheric composition. The exploration of Titan atmosphere was initiated by the exciting results of the Cassini-Huygens mission and obtained results increased the interest about prebiotic atmospheres. Present work is devoted to the role of CO2 in the prebiotic atmosphere chemistry. Most of the laboratory studies of such atmosphere were focused on the chemistry of N2 + CH4 mixtures. The present work is devoted to the study of the oxygenated volatile species in prebiotic atmosphere, specifically CO2 reactivity. CO2 was introduced to the standard N2 + CH4 mixture at different mixing ratio up to 5 % CH4 and 3 % CO2. The reaction products were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. This work shows that CO2 modifies the composition of the gas phase with the detection of oxygenated compounds: CO and others oxides. There is a strong influence of CO2 on increasing concentration other products as cyanide (HCN) and ammonia (NH3).

Study of nitrogen flowing afterglow with mercury vapor injection.

The reaction kinetics in nitrogen flowing afterglow with mercury vapor addition was studied by optical emission spectroscopy. The DC flowing post-discharge in pure nitrogen was created in a quartz tube at the total gas pressure of 1000 Pa and discharge power of 130 W. The mercury vapors were added into the afterglow at the distance of 30 cm behind the active discharge. The optical emission spectra were measured along the flow tube. Three nitrogen spectral systems--the first positive, the second positive, and the first negative, and after the mercury vapor addition also the mercury resonance line at 254 nm in the spectrum of the second order were identified. The measurement of the spatial dependence of mercury line intensity showed very slow decay of its intensity and the decay rate did not depend on the mercury concentration. In order to explain this behavior, a kinetic model for the reaction in afterglow was developed. This model showed that the state Hg(6 (3)P1), which is the upper state of mercury UV resonance line at 254 nm, is produced by the excitation transfer from nitrogen N2(A ³Σ(u)⁺) metastables to mercury atoms. However, the N2(A ³Σ(u)⁺) metastables are also produced by the reactions following the N atom recombination, and this limits the decay of N2(A ³Σ(u)⁺) metastable concentration and results in very slow decay of mercury resonance line intensity. It was found that N atoms are the most important particles in this late nitrogen afterglow, their volume recombination starts a chain of reactions which produce excited states of molecular nitrogen. In order to explain the decrease of N atom concentration, it was also necessary to include the surface recombination of N atoms to the model. The surface recombination was considered as a first order reaction and wall recombination probability γ = (1.35 ± 0.04) × 10(-6) was determined from the experimental data. Also sensitivity analysis was applied for the analysis of kinetic model in order to reveal the main control parameters in the model.

Study of argon flowing afterglow with nitrogen injection.

In this work, the reaction kinetics in argon flowing afterglow with nitrogen addition was studied by optical emission spectroscopy. The DC flowing post-discharge in pure argon was created in quartz tube at the total gas pressure of 1000 Pa and discharge power of 60 W. The nitrogen was added into the afterglow at the distance of 9 cm behind the active discharge. The optical emission spectra were measured along the flow tube. The argon spectral lines and after nitrogen addition also nitrogen second positive system (SPS) were identified in the spectra. The measurement of spatial dependence of SPS intensity showed a very slow decay of the intensity and the decay rate did not depend on the nitrogen concentration. In order to explain this behavior a kinetic model for reaction in afterglow was developed. This model showed that C (3)Πu state of molecular nitrogen, which is the upper state of SPS emission, is produced by excitation transfer from argon metastables to nitrogen molecules. However, the argon metastables are also produced at Ar2(+) ion recombination with electrons and this limits the decay of argon metastable concentration and it results in very slow decay of SPS intensity.

[History and present of registration of congenital anomalies in the Czech Republic]. / Historie a soucasnost registrace vrozených vad v Ceské Republice.

In this paper we summarize the development of the official registration program of congenital anomalies in the Czech Republic from its beginnings in 1964 to present state. The historical review shows all running changes in the registration process that always reflected the actual knowledge in the epidemiology of congenital anomalies. The quantitative changes include mainly the change in the numbers of registered diagnoses. The qualitative changes include the increase of the age limit at diagnoses from original 7 days to current 15 years of age and the association of the prenatally diagnosed cases with the core database. During the 45 years of consecutive monitoring of the congenital anomalies in the Czech Republic we have determined the incidences of severe congenital anomalies in the population and we have analyzed the trends in these incidences (using both time and territory criteria). In the conclusion we discuss the role of the registration in the National health information system and the importance for the healthcare quality monitoring.

[Extent of tuberculin skin testing spot in bacteriologically verified tuberculosis]. / Velikost kozní reakce tuberkulinového testu u bakteriologicky overené tuberkulózy.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculin skin test was evaluated in patients with bacteriologically verified tuberculosis notified in the Czech Republic during 2003 and 2004. METHODS AND RESULTS: Out of 1172 patients with bacteriologically verified tuberculosis altogether 28.8% were tuberculin-negative. The average value of tuberculin reaction in this cohort was 11.6 mm. Among 30-year-old patients with bacteriologically verified tuberculosis the number of tuberculin-negative individuals was statistically lower (14 %) in comparison with 70-year-old and older patients, where the prevalence of tuberculin-negative individuals was 42 %. Higher rate of tuberculin-negative individuals with bacteriologically verified tuberculosis was found among patients who were diagnosed with liver disease (42 % of tuberculin-negative) or malignant tumor (47 % of tuberculin-negative). Presented results show that in circumstances of the Czech Republic the tuberculin skin test can be used to follow up the spreading of tuberculosis infection in younger age groups without accompanying serious disease only. CONCLUSIONS: The improvement of the diagnostics of latent tuberculosis infection can bring the routine introduction of new tests, e.g. Quantiferon-TB Gold or other methods.

[Tuberculosis in the Czech Republic in the year 2004]. / Tuberkulóza v Ceské republice v roce 2004.

The number of notified TB cases in the Czech Republic continued to decrease in the year 2004. 1057 new TB cases and relapses of TB were reported in the year 2004 (10.3 / 100,000). 861 were pulmonary TB (8.4 / 100,000) and from those 584 were unequivocal pulmonary TB cases (5.7 / 100,000). The decreasing trend in TB incidence reported since 1998 has continued. Treatment success was present in 76.7% of cases; failures and interrupted treatment were observed in only 2.0%. Results of the treatment were affected by great numbers of deaths for other causes then TB, because they were observed in the oldest part of population. The resistance for AT drugs was confirmed in less than 6% of cases and MDR-cases were under 2%. The low level of resistance and good treatment outcomes are very important for further decline of new TB cases. The next target of TB control should be the active case finding in high-risk groups and monitoring latent TB infection.

[Tuberculosis in the Czech Republic in 2003]. / Tuberkulóza v Ceské republice v roce 2003.

BACKGROUND: 1162 new cases of tuberculosis were diagnosed in the Czech Republic in 2003; pulmonary tuberculosis represented 942 cases and in 660 cases the diagnosis of tuberculosis was bacteriologically confirmed. METHODS AND RESULTS: 355 cases were smear positive tuberculosis. The increase of certain TB cases (70%) in 2003 compared to 2002 is not statistically significant (p = 0.031). The notification rate (incidence) in 2003 was 11,4/100 000 all cases of tuberculosis, 9,2/100 000 pulmonary tuberculosis and 6,5/100 000 certain cases of tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to 2002 a decline of all forms of tuberculosis was observed, this decline however was not statistically significant. The increase in bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis and smear positive tuberculosis was also not statistically significant.

[Tuberculosis in the Czech Republic in 2002]. / Hodnocení situace tuberkulózy v Ceské republice v roce 2002.

BACKGROUND: The number of all notified TB cases decreased in the year 2002. 1200 (11.8/100,000) cases of new TB diseases and relapses were reported in the year 2002. 972(9.6/100,000) were pulmonary TB and from them 658 (6.4/100,000) were confirmed pulmonary cases. METHODS AND RESULTS: The decreasing trend in TB incidence, reported since 1999, has continued. The treatment of confirmed pulmonary cases notified in 2001 and evaluated in 2002 was effective. Treatment success was in 71% of cases, but failures and interrupted were only 3.3%. Results of treatment were affected by many patients who died for other reason then TB, because they were from the oldest group of population. We have no influence on these deaths. The resistance for AT drugs was less then 7% and MDR cases were less the 2%. CONCLUSION: The low level of resistance and the effectiveness of treatment allow presuming a further decrease of TB cases. Next target of TB control should be active case finding in high-risk groups and monitoring latent infection.

Near 10-year and longer periods modulate circadians: intersecting anti-aging and chronoastrobiological research.

Biological cycles with relatively long and some unusual periods in the range of the half-week, the half-year, years, or decades are being discovered. Their prior neglect constituted a confounder in aging and much other research, which then"flew blind" concerning the uncertainties associated with these cycles when they are not assessed. The resolution of more about 10-year and other cycles, some reported herein, replaces the admission of complete unpredictability, implied by using the label "secularity." Heretofore unaccounted-for variability becomes predictable insofar as it proves to be rhythmic and is mapped systematically to serve as a battery of useful reference values. About 10-year cycles in urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion and in heart rate and its variability, among others, are aligned with cycles of similar length in mortality from myocardial infarction. Associations accumulate between cycles of natural physical time structures, chronomes such as the 10.5-year (circadecennian) Schwabe and the 21-year (circavigintunennian) Hale cycles of solar activity, and chronomes in biota. There are about 50-year (circasemicentennian) cycles in mortality from stroke in Minnesota and in the Czech Republic and also in human morphology at birth, the latter result reducing the likelihood that these cycles are purely human made. Associations among large populations warrant long-term systematic coordinated sampling of natural physical and biological variables of interest for the design of countermeasures against already documented elevated risks of stroke, myocardial infarction, and other catastrophic diseases, notably in elderly adults. New findings will be introduced against the background of the documented value of mapping rhythms in medicine and gerontology. In both these fields, rhythms promise the seeming paradox of better care for less.

[A survey of citizens' views on health care]. / Anketa názoru obcanu na zdravotní péci.

The Institute of Health Information and Statistics organized in 1988 a survey to assess citizens' views on the health services. The purpose was to reveal the citizens' views and to provide data which would be used by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs during the implementation of provisions to eliminate shortcomings and to improve the standard of provided services. The authors present the results of the survey.

[A method for studying total population morbidity in the Czech Republic in 1986]. / Metodika setrení celkové nemocnosti populace CR r. 1986.

The authors evaluate the method applied in an extensive investigation of the general morbidity of the Czech population implemented in 1986, based on treated morbidity, not combined with the method of actual medicinal examinations. The population sample was selected by one-stage selection, randomization was made by birth data (seventh day in odd month). In the investigation participated all health community and factory doctors, as well as paediatricians and adolescent medical officers in the Czech Republic. Morbidity was assessed retrospectively from the documentation of health community doctors. The investigation confirmed the hypothesis that this method can be used under local conditions for periodic examinations of the general morbidity of the population.

[Demographic trends and the health status of the Czech population in the 80s]. / Demografický vývoj a zdravotní stav populace CR v osmdesátých letech.

The author summarizes basic indicators from which conclusions can be drawn on the health status of the population of the Czech Republic in the eighties up to 1988. She emphasizes the mortality life expectancy at birth, abortion rate, work incapacity on account of illness and injury, morbidity from diabetes and tuberculosis, the trend of newly detected malignant tumours and causes of invalidity. The assessed data are supplemented by figures and maps.

[Analysis of the causes of work disability and mortality in the middle-aged population in Czechoslovakia]. / Rozbor prícin pracovní neschopnosti a úmrtnosti stredních vekových skupin obyvatelstva CSSR.

The authors submit an analysis of the mortality rate and work incapacity of middle-aged population groups of the CSSR by sex, territory (CSR, SSR) and selected groups of diagnoses.

[Analysis of morbidity in the Czech population]. / Analýza nemocnosti obyvatelstva v CSR.

Because of the need of more extensive knowledge of data on the health status of the population, in 1986 in the CSR a survey of the "treated morbidity" was made which recorded data pertaining to 1.3% of the entire population of the CSR (i. e. more than 130,000 subjects). The paper presents the results of the survey.