Herein is reported the synthesis of molecular probes for action of neuroactive steroids in vitro and in living organisms. In the first part, preparation of enantiomeric pregnane steroids is investigated, ultimately resulting into the total synthesis of ent-progesterone. The chirality of the target molecule is introduced by a highly effective organocatalytic asymmetric Robinson annulation. A new method for the sequential construction of five-membered carbocyclic ring is introduced as the key step. This is composed of substrate-controlled copper-catalyzed conjugate addition followed by radical oxygenation and subsequent thermal cyclization employing the persistent radical effect. The synthesis of truncated neurosteroid analogs is described and their biological activity at the NMDA receptor is compared with the native hormone. In the second part, methodology for specific deuterium labeling of both angular methyls of the 5β-pregnane steroid core is explored. Special attention was paid to the Barton-McCombie deoxygenation as the tool for introduction of the last deuterium atom into the methyl group. Both positions were labelled with total of three deuterium atoms in high isotopic purity.

Title Evaluation of the effect of physiotherapeutic approaches in painful conditions of the cervical spine. Objectives The aim of this thesis is to find out, which physiotherapy methods and techniques are used for pain of cervical spine, and to evaluate their effect. The study also aims to summarize current knowledge on this issue. Methods The thesis is processed through the method of literature review and is of analytical and descriptive nature. The used studies meet all pre-determined criteria. The thesis is divided into several parts. The first part, general information, describes mainly the physiotherapy methods and techniques that are used for treatment of pain in cervical spine. The second part, results, summarizes these physiotherapy approaches and evaluates their effect. The study concludes with a discussion that is focused on the two main questions of the thesis. Results A total of 25 studies met the criteria for inclusion in this thesis. These studies show that the physiotherapy methods and techniques currently used in painful conditions of cervical spine, include: mobilization and manipulation of cervical, possibly thoracic spine, therapeutic exercise, massage, McKenzie therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, conservative interventions, and educational and physical programs....

The aim of the submitted thesis "Nominal and Real Convergence of the Czech Republic to EU (selected issues)" is to analyze nominal and real convergence of the Czech Republic to EU member countries from macroeconomic point of view, by using comparison with other transition economies. It presents and discusses theoretical issues relating to convergent process. The thesis deals with analysis of convergence using these indicators: GDP per capita in purchasing power parities, comparative price level, Maastricht criteria and some other indicators.

This thesis focuses on analysis and comparison of volatility on selected European stock markets. At first paper briefly introduces the reader to the specific features of financial econometrics and the importance of asset returns volatility analysis. Further chapters precisely cover the construction of linear and nonlinear conditional heteroscedasticity models as an appropriate tool for describing the volatility in financial data. The empirical part of the thesis analyze four stock exchange indices from various European regions and seek appropriate models to express volatility behavior in period before the financial crisis in 2008 and also during the crisis phase. Based on selected models, the paper tries to compare the volatility in both periods within the specific stock market index and moreover between different regions. The last section examines asymmetric effects in volatility of stock indices using their graphical representation.

Abiotic and biotic factors directly or indirectly influence physiology, behaviour, ecology and the distribution of organisms. This thesis provides unique results in terms of the ability of crayfish to cope with a series of these abiotic and biotic factors. Successful overwintering is key factor facilitating establishment and spread of non-indigenous species. We provide experimental evidence of substantial resistance of three out of four warm water crayfish species to the low water temperatures tested in our study. To sum up, red swamp crayfish together with yabby demonstrated high survival in experimental conditions and exhibited feeding activity even during the coldest part of the experiment. Marbled crayfish suffered high mortality, but a single specimen of survived. Redclaw is expected not to pose a risk for the European temperate zone in the near future. Drought is an important factor for freshwater organisms determining their success in a given ecosystem. One of the strategies how to survive drought are an elevated desiccation capacity and burrowing ability. We evaluated the ability of three European native and five non-native crayfish to survive and burrow in a humid sandy-clayey substrate under a simulated one-week drought. Survival of non-native species was substantially higher, being absolute in the red swamp crayfish and yabby. Red swamp crayfish and marbled crayfish constructed bigger and deeper burrows than yabby and spiny-cheek crayfish. Three native species (noble crayfish, narrow-clawed crayfish and stone crayfish) suffered extensive mortalities. The native species and signal crayfish exhibited no ability to burrow under drought conditions. Marbled crayfish are a successful invader, capable of colonization new habitats. It is also established in the wild of Ukraine and pet-traded in Eastern Europe. If released, it might pose a risk to populations of native crayfish that also inhabit saline ecosystems of the Black, Azov and Caspian Sea. We conducted the first study on salinity tolerance in marbled crayfish. In summary, marbled crayfish are probably unable to invade saline ecosystems due to its low survival, reduced growth and inhibited reproduction. Nevertheless, it showed an ability to withstand the highest salinity for an extended period of time, opening a possibility for its spread to other freshwaters via this corridor. Also, a short generation time might lead to local adaptations to saline environments in the future. Yabby demonstrated an ability to withstand simulated low winter temperatures, opening the question of its potential establishment in the region of Central Europe. To successfully do so, yabby would have to deal with present strains (A, B, and E) of Aphanomyces astaci, a causative agent of crayfish plague, a devastating disease to all crayfish not originating from North America. Our comparative study revealed the ability to survive (strain A) or delay the effects (strains B and E) of crayfish plague compared to native noble crayfish. Our result, highlights a high potential for its establishment in temperate Europe. As a prominent invader, it may cause negative impacts on entire ecosystems and contribute to the spread of crayfish plague in Europe. Nowadays, organisms face multiple global drivers influencing the strength of links in food webs. Altogether, we found that predator identity, prey density, and temperature all affect trophic and non-trophic interaction strengths. Effects of prey density were always independent of temperature and predator identity in trophic as well as non-trophic interaction strength. On the other hand, the magnitude of responses in trophic as well as non-trophic interaction strengths varied strongly across predator pairs and temperatures. Based on the current evidence, we could not find strong support for a general mechanism underlying the dependence of interaction strengths on species traits and environmental conditions. Therefore, other studies are need it.

The present thesis deals with the concept of the banality of evil philosopher Hannah Arendt Along with other interpretations of the notion of evil. This work aims to introduce the concept of the banality of evil take Adolf Eichmann Nazi criminals Which Mel trial in Jerusalem, on the basis of Arendt created already mentioned the term banality of evil. Further more, the work tasked to introduce more starting positions on the question of evil. The work also focuses Another controversial idea of Jewish elites Collaboration with the Nazis. At work I have stated several perspectives on this issue and presented the views of opponents Arendt. The works appear as philosophical Thus sociological and psychological perspectives on the question of evil. To support the thesis of the banality of evil, I introduced the psychological experiments that partially confirmed the concept of Hannah Arendt.

Title: Effect comparison of educational-movement therapy "stabilization function"of a trunk and traditional rehabilitation therapeutic approach for patients with nonspecific low back pain. Nonspecific low back pain is a main cause of disability and the principal cause for injury-related lost work-days. The various therapies for nonspecific low back pain have been elaborated in many studies. The recommended therapeutic guideline for primary care of patients with nonspecific low back pain is early mobilization combined with a specific rehabilitation therapeutic approach. One such specific rehabilitation therapeutic approach is "trunk stabilization" therapy. The objective of this dissertation is to compare a therapeutic approach involving "stabilization exercises" with the traditional clinical approach that has been clinically proven to be most efficacious for patients with acute nonspecific low back pain. This study compares the effects of the prescribed therapies on 24 patients with non- specific acute low back pain. The test subjects (men and women with an average age 41.2 years) were allocated into two simple randomized subgroups. The test subjects received 2 outpatient therapy sessions per week for 4 weeks. Pre-test and post-test spine shape and range of motion examination were determined using...

The Diploma is focused on the EU's external borders impact on the border area of Lviv. Both local and regional level of social and economic development of the border area and its relations with Poland and EU are examined in the context of political development from the beginning of independent Ukraine until presents. Mixed-Methods approach has been applied as it allows case studies to be set in a wider context. Structural and regional disparities of the development are observed by methods of quantitative analysis and Descriptive Statistics. Qualitative Research is applied to analyse a cognitive role of the border. From the political point of view, the development of Eastern European border area is controlled by European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and related EU regional political initiative. In the Western Ukrainian regions these are mainly represented by micro-projects focused on local problems and their solutions and intensification of the local cross-border cooperation development. Statistical analysis states that remarkable economic development has not reached the required level yet. However, the increasing social and infrastructural potential ushers in its rise in the future. Key words: Ukraine, border area of Lviv, border impact, cross-border cooperation, European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)

Diplomová práce se zabývá vlivem bioplynových stanic na lokální ekonomiku venkova. Pro zachycení vlivu bioplynové stanice na lokální ekonomiku byla použita metoda lokálního multiplikačního efektu. Byla provedena analýza vlivu bioplynové stanice na lokální ekonomiku obce Žabovřesky a jejího okolí. Analýza čerpá z empirických dat získaných přímo od provozovatele bioplynové stanice.

Deficits in interval timing have been described in focal brain lesions and in various neuropsychiatric disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of this study was to explore brain areas responsible for human time perception and for the timing deficit in PD. We used a time reproduction task (TRT) which consisted of an encoding phase (during which visual stimuli of durations from 5 to 16.6 sec were presented) and a reproduction phase (during which interval durations were reproduced by a button pressing). In our first fMRI study, we used a parametric modulated analysis searching for brain areas with activity, expressed as Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) signal, correlated with the duration of time interval. During the encoding phase, there was a gradual deactivation of the left prefrontal cortex (PFC) and cingulate gyrus. During the reproduction phase, there was a gradual deactivation in precuneus and an accumulation of activity in the left PFC, primary motor area, right caudate and supplementary motor area (SMA). The second study aimed at supporting the role of two of these areas, SMA and precuneus in interval timing by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Accuracy and variability of time estimates were compared before and after rTMS. Accuracy of estimates was not...