The aim of this dissertation is to present the issue of legal possession of firearms in the Czech Republic and identify problematic areas within this topic. Dissertation examines whether the current policy of legal possession of firearms is adequate, considering all consequences that this possession brings. Considerable attention is paid to this policy tools and unintended consequences. Dissertation uses the method of desk- research. Within its boundaries content analysis and comparison of available data and documents is made. In the empirical part semi-standardized questionnaire with experts selected from specific areas was conducted as well as a questionnaire survey with license applicants and holders. The main bodies of theory are cultural theory of risk and other heuristics describing distorted risk perception, as well as ethnic security dilemma, which is relevant considering the current threats. Particular empirical support was found, which suggests misperception of risks, when insignificant risks -as driving force for firearms acquisition - are overrated. Firearms holders and applicant are therefore influenced by unfounded fear. Dissertation shows new perspective on the impact of weapons in dealing with emergencies and coexistence with migrants. Examined group of firearms license holders and...

In the search for new genes that are regulated by thyroid hormone, DISP3, a new member of the SSD (sterol-sensing domain) protein family, has been identified. Expression analysis showed that DISP3 is expressed in cells of neural origin, and our previous results indicate that overexpression of this gene affects cell proliferation and differentiation. Oncomine database analysis also showed that DISP3 expression is increased in medulloblastomas, the most common malignancies of the central nervous system in children. The subject of this diploma thesis is studying the effect of increased DISP3 levels on cell apoptosis and cell ability to form a colony. Cell lines derived from medulloblastomas were used in the work. We compared the expression levels of the DISP3 gene in different medulloblastoma lines by quantitative PCR and selected a line with low expression of this gene for further experiments. Some medulloblastoma cell lines can form neurospheres when cultured in serum-free medium. Using quantitative PCR, we compared the expression levels of neural markers in cells cultured both as neurospheres and as adherent cells. By transfecting cells with a plasmid overexpressing DISP3, we prepared cells with increased levels of this gene. We induced apoptosis by radiation at different doses. Apoptosis was...

The development of nuclear weapons and their proliferation: A comparison of Iran and North Korea Master Thesis Author: Martin Marek Supervisor: PhDr. Vít Střítecký, M.Phil., Ph.D. Year: 2016 Abstract The text deals with nuclear proliferation in the cases of Iran and North Korea. The motives of nuclear ambitions are examined using models of Scott D. Sagan and other selected theoretical concepts. Gradual analysis of exposed states in the perspective of historical development, national security, domestic politics and norms forms the basis for understanding the perception of nuclear weapons by these states and approach to them as to a mean to accomplish certain objectives. Subsequent comparison reveals both similarities and difference between examined states in the perspective of motives of nuclear proliferation and shows explanatory potential of each model, which is various, in given cases. The effort of ensuring national security seems to be the strongest motive in both examined cases. It is followed by domestic influences, whereas norms stand rather for additional factor. Nevertheless, variety in explanatory power of the models is apparent in the cases of Iran and North Korea, notably in relation with their limitations. Other factors, such as regime type or parallel development of other type of weapons of...

Mitochondria are multifunctional organelles playing a key role in energy metabolism and cell death induction. Mitochondria, and specifically their respiratory chain, are also the main producers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. Metabolism can be affected by the state of cellular proliferation and certain ROS-inducing agents have an antiangiogenic effect based on the preferential elimination of proliferating endothelial cells (EC). Therefore, in this work we investigated, whether mitochondria could be responsible for different sensitivity of proliferation and confluent EC to cell death. We mainly focused on systems that regulate ROS level and apoptosis: respiratory chain (ROS production), antioxidant defense (ROS detoxification) and Bcl-2 family of proteins (apoptosis regulation). First, we treated EC with functional and nonfunctional respiratory chain with various oxidative stress- and apoptosis-inducing agents and determined ROS production and susceptibility to apoptosis in proliferating and confluent cells. Our results show that functional respiratory chain greatly increases the susceptibility of proliferating cells to ROS induction and apoptosis, whereas in qiescent cells it protects against cell death. Given these findings, we assessed the activity of respiratory chain in proliferating...

Bc. Tomáš Pažitný Nuclear latency and the problem of deterrence 2020 Abstract The primary goal of the master's thesis is to uncover the actual impact of latent nuclear deterrence on the decision to avert the conflict. The thesis employs a variety of concepts, including the latent nuclear deterrence, as articulated by Matthew Fuhrmann, to ascertain which one of them plays a vital role in dissuading one country from attacking another one. The influence of respective concepts is examined on the example of two historical case studies, which form the core part of the master's thesis. The first case study presents two crises that occurred in the 1980s between Pakistan as a latent nuclear state and India as the challenging state, eventually dissuaded from the attack. The second case study is devoted to the 1965 crisis between Pakistan as a challenging state and India as a latent nuclear state. This crisis, which eventually led to the war, works as a control case study. The analysis of both cases reveals valuable findings concerning the role of latent nuclear deterrence and nuclear latency in general. Contrary to what would proponents of this weaponless deterrence believe, latent nuclear deterrence was not the central factor when the attack on the latent nuclear state was contemplated. The findings of the master's...

Nuclear weapons are the key element of the security policy of the United States of America since 1945. Since then, nuclear weapons and related nuclear threats were part of a social discourse of the United States. This thesis examined how these threats were socially constructed within the discourse by individual actors. Then, by discoursive analysis, the thesis investigated how the nuclear disarmament discourse responded to these identified threats. The study focused on how these identified threats and the nuclear disarmament discourse influenced each other in each period and how they impacted following periods. This diploma thesis examined the U.S. nuclear discourse while using a methodological framework of discoursive analysis. The diploma thesis operated with the theory of securitization and determined key moments, when particular threat was designated as existential to the security of the United States and when, eventually, this threat subsided.

To find out if the haematopoietic system is common feature of vertebrates, we decided to examine haematopoiesis in a sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). All blood cells arises from the haematopoietic stem cells in higher vertebrates. We assume that this is common for the higher vertebrates and a jawless vertebrates, but nobody was interested in the jawless haematopoiesis since 1970. Using a reverse genetic, we identify homologues of important hematopoietic of higher vertebrates in transcriptome of the sea lamprey with emphasis on important receptors or transcription factors, because they can be used as the specific markers of different blood cells and their progenitors. Then we use those sequences for cloning, expression measurements and other work. We picked up sea lamprey as model organism because its unique phylogenetic position, important foe evo-devo studies, but also because lack of elementary knowledge about sea lamprey haematopoiesis. Key words: Petromyzon marinus, haematopoiesis, HSC, evo-devo

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) represents potentially very suitable way of plant production - micropropagation - of plants in vitro. The process had been studied for more than thirty years and a lot of knowledge has been gained in the field though new ways based on new knowledge leading to improvement and increase of the effectiveness of cultivation protocols are still under focus in the field. Relatively recent discovery of aromatic cytokinins lead to new knowledge on very positive effects on different morphogenetic and physiological processes during both cultivation in vitro or in vivo treatments. This gave origin to the topic of the present thesis, which focused on study of the effect of meta-topolin (mT), aromatic cytokinin, on proliferation phase of SE on structural level of embryogenic lines of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) Karst. The aim of the thesis is analysis of structural development of embryogenic lines with the use of anatomical preparations and quantitative stereological methods. The material represented three embryogenic lines: 107 and 34C were obtained from the Forestry and Game Management Research Institute from the lab of Dr. Jana Malá and the line AFO 541, which was used as a standard line. To compare the effect of mT with benzylaminopurine (BAP) on proportion of different...

Graphene (G) and nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) are carbon allotropes and promising nanomaterials with an excellent combination of their properties, such as high mechanical strength, electrical and thermal conductivity, possibility of functionalization and very high surface area to volume ratio. For these reasons, G and NCD are employed next to electronics in biomedical applications, including implant coating, drug and gene delivery and biosensing. For a fundamental characterization of cell behavior on G and NCD, we studied osteoblast adhesion and proliferation on differently treated G and NCD. Generally, both G and NCD exhibited better properties for osteoblast cultivation than control tissue culture polystyrene. Better cell adhesion but lower cell proliferation were observed on NCD compared to G. The most surprising finding was that hydrophobic G with nanowrinkled topography enhanced cell proliferation extensively, in comparison to hydrophilic and flat G and both NCDs (hydrophobic and hydrophilic) with slightly higher roughness. Promoted cell proliferation enables faster cell colonization of G and NCD substrates, meaning faster new tissue formation which is beneficial in biomedical applications. Furthermore, it was shown that osteoblast adhesion was promoted in the initial absence of fetal bovine...

Disulfide bridges play a significant role in protein-folding as well as en- zyme activity and thus regulate many intra- and extracellular processes. Sulfhydryl oxidase QSOX1 forms S-S bridges de novo, modulating the activity of its substrates and thus directly or indirectly influences vital cel- lular processes. The first part of this thesis focuses on characterization of the role of QSOX1 in cancerogenesis, using breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, MDA-MB-231) and pancreatic cancer cell line (Panc-1), while the second part emphasizes the regulation of QSOX1 expression by different oxygen concentrations. To study the effect of QSOX1 on proliferation of triple-negative cancer cells MDA-MB-231, two genetically modified cell lines - QSOX1-overexpressing and QSOX1 knockout cell lines - were constructed. While increased QSOX1 protein levels do not have a significant effect, the absence of QSOX1 leads to a decreased cellular growth. Lack of QSOX1 also results in visible change in cellular morphology. QSOX1 knockout cells can be mostly characterized as more round-shaped with less noticeable or completely missing lamellipo- dia. This finding is with agreement with to-date literature suggesting that QSOX1 is important not only for cellular proliferation but also for migration and invasiveness. While authenticating the theory of...