In this diploma thesis has been tested potential of maternal influences on body growth at two model groups of geckos with large interspecific body size variability. The effect of egg manipulation to hatchling size was proved to be significant for hatchlings at both model species Paroedura picta and Goniurosaurus lichtenfelderi. However, in adult animals, there were no more significant body size differences caused by egg manipulation. It leads to conclusion that both species of geckos have compensatory growth and its adult size is likely to be primarily genetically determined. Key words: maternal effect, egg manipulation, body growth, allometric engeneering, Paroedura picta, Goniurosaurus lichtenfelderi

One of the most interesting extraterrestrial bodies in the Solar System is Europa, the icy satellite of Jupiter. This icy moon might have a sufficiently hospitable environment which could be harbouring life in the subsurface ocean deep under its icy crust. The thesis thoroughly examines the generation process of one of the surface formations called chaotic terrains. These huge areas of ice disruptions which uniquely characterize Europa's surface might play a significant role in the understanding of the inner structure of the moon. The latest research assumes the chaotic terrains form above liquid water lenses perched relatively shallow in the ice shell, however, no numerical simulations have been performed to confirm this theory. The goal of the thesis is to create a model which would validate the theory and explain the formation process of the chaotic terrains. The thesis runs several simulations, and our results suggest these water lenses and the process in the mantle might play a key role in the chaotic terrains formation.

Sensory deprivation in one modality can enhance the development of the remaining modalities via mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. Mice of C3H strain suffers from RD1 retinal degeneration that leads to visual impairment at weaning age. Independently on the retinal degeneration there is also present olivocerebellar degeneration caused by Lurcher mutation. This neurodegenerative disorder causes motor deficits, increased CNS excitability as well as changes in synaptic plasticity. The aim of this study was to evaluate a role of whiskers in compensation of the visual deficit and to assess the influence of the olivocerebellar degeneration on this process. To differentiate contribution of the whiskers from other mechanisms that can take part in the compensation, we investigated the effect of both chronic and acute tactile deprivation. We focused on motor skills (rotarod, beam walking test), gait control (CatWalk system), spontaneous motor activity (open field) and the CNS excitability (audiogenic epilepsy). In the seeing mice without olivocerebellar degeneration, the removal of the whiskers had no effect. In the blind animals without olivocerebellar degeneration, chronic tactile deprivation caused changes in gait and impaired the performance in motor tests. Some other compensatory mechanisms were involved but the...

Sensory deprivation in one modality can enhance the development of the remaining modalities via mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. Mice of C3H strain suffers from RD1 retinal degeneration that leads to visual impairment at weaning age. Independently on the retinal degeneration there is also present olivocerebellar degeneration caused by Lurcher mutation. This neurodegenerative disorder causes motor deficits, increased CNS excitability as well as changes in synaptic plasticity. The aim of this study was to evaluate a role of whiskers in compensation of the visual deficit and to assess the influence of the olivocerebellar degeneration on this process. To differentiate contribution of the whiskers from other mechanisms that can take part in the compensation, we investigated the effect of both chronic and acute tactile deprivation. We focused on motor skills (rotarod, beam walking test), gait control (CatWalk system), spontaneous motor activity (open field) and the CNS excitability (audiogenic epilepsy). In the seeing mice without olivocerebellar degeneration, the removal of the whiskers had no effect. In the blind animals without olivocerebellar degeneration, chronic tactile deprivation caused changes in gait and impaired the performance in motor tests. Some other compensatory mechanisms were involved but the...

Polyploidization is a key mechanism of rapid speciation, with many phenotypic consequences which extent, however, is poorly understood. A deeper understanding of the evolutionary implications of genome duplication is limited due to lack of knowledge of the links between changes in genome, the phenotype of the individual and environmental constraints. Natural lineages closely related to model species represent the ideal systems for addressing such questions. The thesis is thus focuses on highly promising yet overlooked di-polyploid system within Arabidopsis genus. In the western Carpathians morphologically distinct populations of diploid and tetraploid plants of Arabidopsis arenosa grow along a marked altitudinal gradient. Using high-throughput DNA sequencing, measuring morphological characteristics and collecting ecological data of high alpine and foothill populations I try to reveal main trends of genetic and morphological variability of these populations. Additionaly, using morphometrics of natural and experimentally planted populations we want to test the hypothesis whether morphological divergence of alpine and foothill populations has a genetic basis or is driven by phenotypic plasticity. The presented thesis is an important multidisciplinary combination of genetic research on natural related of model...

Vision plays a key role in life of many vertebrates, and the performance of visual system is often adapted to specific environments inhabited by individual species. Fish colonized a wide range of habitats and adjusted their visual abilities to maximize their success rates in hunting, reproduction and predator avoidance. This thesis is focused on molecular mechanism of visual system, namely on genes for photoreceptor proteins, opsins, of two major groups of teleost fishes: African riverine cichlids (family Cichlidae, order Cichliformes, part of larger taxa Percomorpha), and European freshwater cyprinids (family Cyprinidae, order Cypriniformes, part of larger taxa Ostariophysi). Two types of photoreceptor cells are present on retina: the cones and the rods. Actinopterygian fishes in general have four cone opsin types (SWS1, SWS2, RH2 and LWS) used for colour (photopic) vision, and one rod opsin type (rhodopsins) for vision in deteriorated light conditions (scotopic vision). In the present thesis, I focus on 1) DNA sequence and amino acid substitutions of the opsin genes, and on 2) gene expression levels of opsins sensitive to various wavelengths of light spectrum. The results of my work show that both cichlids (family Cichlidae) and cyprinids (family Cyprinidae) have a complete set of opsin genes in...

iii Abstract Cells have evolved multiple mechanisms of cellular motility ranging from the migration of large cell cohorts to specialized migration of individual cells. The wide range of invasion modes has been exploited by cancer cells to their advantage, which has rendered the metastatic process so difficult to defeat. To allow for a better understanding of cancer invasion plasticity, we have employed studies on cancer cells that adopt the proteolytically active, adhesion-dependent, elongated mesenchymal invasion mode, the protease-independent, low adhesion, rounded amoeboid invasion mode, or combination of both. To study invasion plasticity directly, we have established two model systems of the mesenchymal- amoeboid transition (MAT) that allow for regulated induction of MAT in 3D in vitro environments. Using these systems, MAT was induced in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells and the acquisition of a motile, invasive amoeboid phenotype was confirmed. We then observed the mesenchymal and amoeboid invasion strategies within 3D collagen in more detail using a digital holographic microscope. Further, HT1080 cells before and after MAT were subject to high throughput proteomic and transcriptomic studies. Comparison of gene expression and protein levels of mesenchymal and amoeboid cells disclosed an inflammatory-like...

The presented thesis was created in cooperation with Siemens, s.r.o. and deals with the analysis of the bending of aluminium sheets. These products are used as conductors of electrical energy. The problem happened when the bending angle was 90 ° when there was a violation outside of the bend. The aim of the thesis is to verify whether the bend is correctly designed using analytical and empirical relations and the finite element method. Because of the requirement for running numerical simulation on one of the freely available software the Salome Meca program environment was used. The results of numerical simulation did not confirm that the violation should occur. In deeper analysis appeared doubts whether it is possible to correctly evaluated result only by data from tensile test. In the final part, there are recommended some experiments which would be necessary for the correct calibration of the ductil fracture criteria.

Hlavním cílem této práce je analýza napěťových polí, indukovaných dvojčatěním ovlivněných přítomností precipitátu před čelem dvojčete. Zvolený případ popisuje tahové dvojče {1012} 101 1 s lamelarními precipitáty v hořčíkové slitině AZ31. Systém je modelován metodou konečnýh prvků jako 2D elastická eliptická inkluze, se dvěmi elastickými precipitáty tyčovitého tvaru, nacházející se před čelem elipsy obklopené plastickou matricí modelovanou pomocí krystalové plasticity. Analýza dvojčat a precipitátů s různou tlouštkou ukazje inhibující účinek precipitátů na růst tloušťky dvojčat. Velikost tohoto účinku se mění s tloušťkou dvojčete v důsledku komplexní interakce mezi dvojčetem precipitátem a indukovanou plastickou zónou.

This thesis is focused on laser welding and hybrid laser-TIG welding. The first part contains a brief theoretical description of these technologies. Standard quality and plasticity tests of welded joint are also mentioned. The second, experimental part, centres on the study of plasticity of tailored blanks (made of different types of HSLA steel), that are welded with laser and laser-TIG technology. The aim of the thesis is to assess process parameters effect on weld suitability for following deep drawning operation. Based on the calculated and measured figures obtained from the experiment, the most suitable welding parameters were chosen.