L'implant cochléaire représente le dispositif de référence pour réhabiliter l'audition des patients atteints de surdités sévère à profonde. Les indications se sont récemment étendues vers les patients avec une audition résiduelle avec de bons résultats. Il persiste cependant une grande hétérogénéité des résultats auditifs. Plusieurs facteurs ont été identifiés comme influençant les performances auditives: durée de la surdité, intelligibilité préopératoire et stratégie de codage. Dans cette thèse, l'anatomie de la cochlée et la position postopératoire du porte-électrodes ont été étudiés afin d'identifier les facteurs de variabilité de la discrimination vocale inter- et intra-individuelle. Les résultats de cette thèse ont montré un lien entre la position de l'électrode et les performances auditives à court terme, alors que la plasticité neuronale pourrait jouer un rôle important dans l'adaptation de l'implant cochléaire aux structures neurales à long terme. De plus, la préservation des structures cochléaires est maintenant recommandée pour tous les candidats à l'implantation, quelle que soit leur audition préopératoire. Une étude radio-histologique sur rochers avec une insertion motorisée du porte-électrodes a été réalisée afin d'identifier les paramètres des forces d'insertion qui pourraient prédire le traumatisme de l'oreille interne lié à l'insertion. Une corrélation entre les valeurs de forces d'insertion et le traumatisme cochléaire a été trouvée dans les os temporaux. Ces valeurs, serviront au développement d'outils d'insertion " intelligents " pour réduire les lésions liées à l'insertion et ainsi conduire à des conditions de rééducation auditive optimale. / The cochlear implantation represents the standard technique to restore the hearing in totallydeafened persons, and the indications during the last years are widening also to patients withresidual hearing or presenting single sided deafness. Despite the overall good to very goodresults after cochlear implantation reported in literature a wide heterogeneity of the hearingoutcomes emerges in the single studies and poor results both in unilateral and bilateralcochlear implantation are still reported. Several patients’ specific factors have been identifiedas affecting postimplant speech perception score, including duration of deafness, residualpreoperative speech recognition, and different speech coding strategy. In this thesis theanatomy of the cochlea and the position of the electrode array in implanted patients have beenstudied with the attempt to identify the affecting factors that contribute to the variability of theinter- and intra-individual speech discrimination scores both in bilaterally and unilaterallyimplanted patients. Moreover, following the expanding indication for cochlear implantation,the preservation of inner ear structures is becoming recommended for all cochlear implantcandidates, regardless of their preoperative hearing. A radio-histological temporal bone studywith a motorized insertion of the array was performed in order to identify the insertion forcesparameters that could predict the possible traumatism involving the inner ear. The results ofthis thesis showed a relationship between the intracochlear electrode position and hearingperformance in the short term follow up, whereas the neural plasticity would play animportant role in the adaptation of the cochlear implant to the neural structures in the longterm. A correlation between insertion forces and inner ear traumatism was found in temporalbones. Two different force profiles for traumatic and atraumatic insertion were obtained; thesevalues, if confirmed by further studies, could be useful for the development of future forcefeedback automated cochlear implant insertion tool in order to reduce the risk of insertionrelated damage and provide the best chance for an optimal hearing rehabilitation in cochlearimplanted candidates.

Cette thèse se compose de deux projets individuels et six chapitres, qui sont basées sur l'examen de la structure interne dentaire inférieure dentition postcanine dans un certain nombre de fossiles et modernes spécimens, à travers lesquels une étude approfondie a été effectuée à l'aide de micro-tomodensitométrie et ordinateur-outils de paleonanthropology assistée. Nous avons d'abord recensé et évalué la valeur taxinomique de l'épaisseur de l'émail et des modèles de distribution de l'épaisseur de l'émail 3D entier couronne dans un certain nombre des premiers membres du genre Homo en Afrique du Sud, et examiné dans le relavence taxonomique de EDJ morphologie long postcanine dentition, et discuté de la facteurs d'adaptation possibles / développement qui tiennent compte de la variation de la morphologie EDJ nous avons observé ici. Les trois premiers chapitres (Introduction, Matériel et méthodes) donnent un aperçu des objectifs de cette thèse, et d'examiner les études précédentes. En outre, ils fournissent une introduction détaillée des matières fossiles, les sites et un arrière-plan de la méthode assistée par ordinateur (micro-XCT) pour analyser la structure interne dentaire. Le chapitre des résultats comprend deux documents de recherche indépendants, dans les différentes étapes de soumission et de publication. Les résultats et les chapitres de discussion offrent un résumé détaillé de l'épaisseur de l'émail, EDJ morphométrie géométrique et 3D-EDJ variation métamérique entre les espèces, et de comparer les résultats avec un certain nombre d'études morphologiques et de développement, et de fournir une perspective d'étude future. Le dernier chapitre atteint des points décisifs de cette thèse, il met en évidence la valeur taxinomique des prémolaires EDJ, et met l'accent sur les caractéristiques de la mosaïque de la dentition des premiers membres du genre Homo sud-africaine. / This thesis consists of two individual projects and six chapters, which are based on the examination of dental inner structure of lower postcanine dentition in a number of fossil and modern specimens, through which a comprehensive study has been done using micro-computed tomography and computer-assisted paleonanthropology tools. We first documented and assessed the taxonomical value of enamel thickness and 3D whole-crown enamel thickness distribution patterns in a number of earliest members of the genus Homo in South Africa, and looked into the taxonomic relavence of EDJ morphology along postcanine dentition, and discussed the possible adaptive/developmental factors that account for the variation of EDJ morphology we observed here. The first three chapters (Introduction, Materials and Methods) provide an overview of the objectives of this thesis, and review previous studies. Also, they provide a detailed introduction of fossil materials, sites and a background of computer-aided method (micro-XCT) to analyze the dental inner structure. The Results chapter comprises of two independent research papers, in different stages of submission and publication. The Results and Discussion chapters offer an extensive summary of enamel thickness, EDJ geometric morphometrics and 3D-EDJ metameric variation between species, and compare the results with a number of morphological and developmental studies, and provide an outlook of future study. The last chapter reaches the conclusive points of this thesis, it highlights the taxonomical value of premolar EDJ, and emphasizes the mosaic features of the dentition of South African early Homo.

Les noyaux gris centraux (ganglions de la base en anglais) sont un réseau de structures sous-corticales dont la persistance dans l'ensemble des vertébrés plaide en faveur d'une fonction clef au cours de l'évolution. Comme ce fut remarqué dès le 18ème siècle, ils ont l'unique particularité de concentrer des afférences de l'entièreté de la surface corticale. Cette position centrale et l'analyse de l'anatomie du réseau leur ont valu le rôle d'arbitre central du cerveau, réglant les conflits entre processus neuronaux concomitants bien qu'incompatibles. Au sein du réseau, le noyau subthalamique jouit d'une notoriété particulière. Ce noyau, sur la base de ses afférences corticales, et en vertu de ses projections sur le soma des neurones pallidaux, aurait pour fonction de filtrer les programmes comportementaux codés par le striatum et concourant pour leur expression. Rapporté aux théories de la prise de décision, le noyau subthalamique fixerait le seuil décisionnel, ou la quantité d'information à accumuler en faveur d'une option comportementale afin qu'elle soit exprimée. Mais si ce petit noyau est devenu si célèbre, c'est surtout qu'il est la cible d'une procédure chirurgicale spectaculaire: la stimulation cérébrale profonde. Cette opération du cerveau est le dernier recours pour les patients souffrant d'une maladie de Parkinson ou d'un trouble obsessionnel compulsif sévère. Elle parvient même parfois à faire disparaître leurs symptômes. Malgré cette efficacité remarquable, les mécanismes de la stimulation cérébrale profonde restent inconnus. Il faut, entre autres, blâmer l'obscurité qui règne encore sur le noyau subthalamique, car les fonctions mentionnées ci-dessus restent des conjectures théoriques en manque de validation expérimentale. La première étape de ce travail a été d'en valider les bases anatomiques. En effet, l'existence d'une voie fronto-subthalamique - nécessaire au modèle - n'était connue que sur la base d'études menées chez le rat. Nous avons démontré, par des méthodes de traçage axonal, l'existence de cette connexion chez le primate. En sus, cette connexion aura permis de redéfinir les frontières médiales du noyau subthalamique avec les conséquences cliniques qui peuvent en être tirées. Le deuxième objectif global de cette thèse était de tester la validité fonctionnelle du modèle, la stimulation cérébrale profonde offrant un accès rare aux activités du noyau subthalamique. Cependant, il était d'abord nécessaire de caractériser la population étudiée, à savoir des patients souffrants d'un trouble obsessionnel compulsif. Grâce à l'imagerie de diffusion nous démontrons une diminution ainsi qu'une désorganisation des connexions cortico-sous corticales, se traduisant probablement par un défaut de contrôle conscient sur le processus de sélection. Une étude de magnétoencéphalographie est en cours pour approfondir les changements d'activité corticale. Pour tester le rôle du noyau subthalamique dans l'établissement du seuil décisionnel nous avons enregistré son activité électrophysiologique pendant que les patients effectuaient une tâche de prise de décision perceptuelle. Nous démontrons que les neurones du noyau subthalamique ont une réponse multimodale, concordant en cela avec nos données anatomiques qui montrent une convergence d'informations au niveau du noyau subthalamique. De plus, une augmentation de l'activité est retrouvée dans les conditions attendues... / The basal ganglia are a network of subcortical structures of which the invariant architecture throughout vertebrate evolution suggests a key function in evolution. As was noted as early as the 18th century, they have the unique characteristic of concentrating afferences from the entire cortical surgace. Given this central position and the internal architecture of the network, they could provide a centralised selection mechanism in the brain, arbitrating between any two conflicting processes. Among the basal ganglia, the subthalamic nucleus has become of particular interest as it is the target of deep brain stimulation, a neurosurgical procedure used to treat severe Parkinson’s disease and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It would have for function to integrate contextual information from its cortical inputs to filter behavioural programs encoded by the striatum. Within the framework of decision-making models, this filtering function is akin to setting the decision threshold, or the amount of evidence required before selecting a program. However, this considerations remain hypothetical as they are lacking experimental support. The first objective of this work was to validate the anatomical basis of these assumptions. Indeed, the existence of a prefrontal-subthalamic pathway, necessary to expand the decision models to every type of decision, had only been demonstrated in rodents. We demonstrated its existence in the primate using anterograde axonal tracing. In addition, this projection will have allowed us to redefine the medial border of the subthalamic nucleus with the clinical consequences that that may have. The second objective of this thesis was to test the functional validity of the models, and specifically the role of the subthalamic nucleus in setting decision thresholds. Deep brain stimulation offers a rare access to the electrophysiology of this structure; however, it is a patient population, here obsessive-compulsive disorder patients. A first step was, therefore, to characterise this population, anatomically and behaviourally, to understand how it might be of use as a model of decision-making in the basal ganglia. We demonstrated a reduction in the strength of cortico-subcortical anatomical connections. We suggest that this prevents accurate conscious control over decision mechanisms. Behaviourally, patients displayed a pathologically low confidence levels in their decisions and we hypothesised that this would lead to an increase of the decision threshold and matching subthalamic activity. To test this, we recorded the activity of the subthalamic nucleus during a decision-making task. We demonstrate that subthalamic neurons have a multimodal activity, consistent with our demonstration of convergent cortical inputs. However, we were unable to demonstrate a link between subthalamic activity and decision threshold, although this may be due to technical considerations…

This thesis contains introduction to the principles of dynamic plantography and it´s clinical application. Afterwards it is described feet anatomy, types of feet arch and human walking process. Next part describes principles of various types of tactile sensors and electrical platform Arduino. Most important part of this thesis is focused on teoretical design of device and it’s practical realization. The last part of diploma thesis is devoted to discussion of parameters of the device and to results of measuring of group of volunteers.

Multiple sclerosis · Cortical demyelination · Oligodendrocytes · Oligodendrocyte precursors · Targeted cortical EAE

Global warming and its influence on the environment has become a popular and widespread issue. Nowadays, an analogy of a high latitude ecosystem during the greenhouse type of climate does not exist. The Cretaceous polar ecosystem gave us a unique possibility of understanding these extreme ecosystems and the specific adaptations of organisms to these conditions. Such types of ecosystem are crucial for a better understanding of possible future climate changes. This thesis focusses on the adaptation strategies of land plants during the Late Cretaceous in the Arctic peninsula. The land plants responded to these specific solar conditionals in two different ways: evergreen or deciduous. The fossil material for this study comes from Brandy Bay and Crame Col, James Ross Island, Antarctic. The material was collected in a continuous sequence from Kotic point to Santa Marta Formation (Cenomanian - Companian). A detailed and systematic analysis was performed on five out of fifty-five samples that well represented the studied region and age: Agathoxylon kellerense, Agathoxylon antarcticus, Araucarioxylon chapmanae, Podocarpoxylon multiparenchymatosum and Phoroxylon sp. Based on the detailed study of Agathoxylon kellerense (sample number AN34) wood anatomy and growth rings structure, adaptation strategies were...

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) are the most abundant deciduous and coniferous tree species in the Czech Republic. Both beech and spruce are due to their sensitivity to drought threatened by ongoing climate change that can cause deterioration of their vitality in current habitats. Drought periods are already becoming longer and stronger and previously rare spring droughts become more frequent. The dissertation thesis is based on experiments with Norway spruce and European beech seedling exposed to different levels of drought (well-watered, moderate drought and severe drought). After three to six weeks of drought, the seedlings were well-watered for another two weeks and their response of physiology, anatomy and morphology was evaluated. Experiments were conducted with seedlings at early stage of leaf development and with fully developer leaves to compare response to spring and summer drought. Overall drought response was stronger in spring. Both spring and summer drought reduced gas exchange parameters (in both beech and spruce seedlings up to 100 %), hydraulic conductivity and less strongly also fluorometric parameters. Efficiency of water use in stressed seedlings decreased in spring, while it increased in summer. Shoot and leaves biomass was more reduced by drought than root biomass. Tree-ring width decreased about two times more in beech seedlings than in spruce seedlings. Vessel and tracheids in stem and shoots reduced their number and size, on the contrary, vessel size increased in beech petioles. After rewatering the reduced parameters increased, however, hydraulic conductivity, anatomy and morphology did not reach values of well-watered seedlings. While most of physiological parameters restored in moderately stressed seedlings, in severely stressed seedlings mainly gas exchange parameters remained lower.

The aim of this work is to critically review the anatomical and morphological characters being currently used in the determination of Central European species of the genus Anisus and to confront them with molecular characters. For the molecular analysis mitochondrial genes for 16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase - subunit I (COI) were used. DNA analysis showed that known species occuring in the Czech Republic form well distinguishable genetic lines. Subsequent revisions of the anatomical characters of these lines have proven that these characters are due to their variability not suitable for determination, especially for the differentiating of the species A. spirorbis and A. leucostoma. The conchological characters have proven more suitable, especially the ratio of the size of the last and penultimate whorl. With the help of this character, we can safely determine a population within which there are transitional forms in other morphological and anatomical characters.

Univerzita Karlova v Praze Přírodovědecká fakulta Studijní program: Filosofie a dějiny přírodních věd MUDr. Jan Hrudka Nádory v dějinném a kulturním kontextu v novověku Tumours in historical and social context in the modern period Disertační práce Školitel / Supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Stanislav Komárek, Dr. Praha, 2017 SUMMARY: The PhD thesis called Tumours in historical and social context in the modern period is an attempt to describe a change of medical thinking in modern period; science and medicine turns from antique humoral pathology, explaining all diseases as an imbalance of the four body humours, to pathological anatomy and experimental physiology. In the point of view of pathological anatomy, the viscera of diseased person are no more "screen" or "mirror" of the disease, but it becomes directly the "stage" or "theatre" of the acting disease. This shift in the thought may be labelled as movement from humoralism to localism or ontologism; the disease isn't just abnormal amount of some natural juice any more, but becomes new original entity. This change undergoes the understanding of tumours and cancerous disease as well. Instead of antique understanding tumours as precipitates of black bile, the cell theory occurs in the 19th century. This theory explains tumours as a mass of cells undergoing excessive...

Hybridization is an important phenomenon in plant evolution because it is one of the sources of new genetic variability. Hybridization is the merging of genomes of formerly isolated evolutionary lineages. In many taxonomic groups, the detection of plants of hybrid origin is challenging. A wide spectrum of methods for their detection has been employed since the beginning of botanical research. The introduction of genomic in situ hybridization has had a great impact on the study plants of hybrid origin. This molecular cytogenetic approach allows to reveal the genomic contributions of particular parental species to hybrid taxa. The tribe Triticeae is a prime example of a group whose present-day diversity has been strongly influenced by hybridization (together with polyploidy). The majority of its species are allopolyploids resulting from frequent interspecific and intergeneric hybridization. The structure of relationships within the tribe is therefore highly reticulate. This thesis includes three papers dealing with the hybrid complex of Elytrigia repens - E. ×mucronata - E. intermedia: (1) The representatives of this hybrid complex are morphologically poorly differentiated, and only two morphological characters are used to their distinguishing. Among anatomical characters on the leaf blade, some...