Charles University in Prague

About: Charles University in Prague is a education organization based out in Prague, Czechia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Large Hadron Collider. The organization has 32392 authors who have published 74435 publications receiving 1804208 citations.

Comment on "High-resolution global maps of 21st-century forest cover change".

Abstract: Hansen et al. (Reports, 15 November 2013, p. 850) published a high-resolution global forest map with detailed information on local forest loss and gain. We show that their product does not distinguish tropical forests from plantations and even herbaceous crops, which leads to a substantial underestimate of forest loss and compromises its value for local policy decisions.

Energy calibration and resolution of the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Abstract: The article is the pre-print version of the final publishing paper that is available from the link below.

Variation in a repeat sequence determines whether a common variant of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene is pathogenic or benign.

Abstract: An abbreviated tract of five thymidines (5T) in intron 8 of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene is found in approximately 10% of individuals in the general population. When found in trans with a severe CFTR mutation, 5T can result in male infertility, nonclassic cystic fibrosis, or a normal phenotype. To test whether the number of TG repeats adjacent to 5T influences disease penetrance, we determined TG repeat number in 98 patients with male infertility due to congenital absence of the vas deferens, 9 patients with nonclassic CF, and 27 unaffected individuals (fertile men). Each of the individuals in this study had a severe CFTR mutation on one CFTR gene and 5T on the other. Of the unaffected individuals, 78% (21 of 27) had 5T adjacent to 11 TG repeats, compared with 9% (10 of 107) of affected individuals. Conversely, 91% (97 of 107) of affected individuals had 12 or 13 TG repeats, versus only 22% (6 of 27) of unaffected individuals (P<.00001). Those individuals with 5T adjacent to either 12 or 13 TG repeats were substantially more likely to exhibit an abnormal phenotype than those with 5T adjacent to 11 TG repeats (odds ratio 34.0, 95% CI 11.1-103.7, P<.00001). Thus, determination of TG repeat number will allow for more accurate prediction of benign versus pathogenic 5T alleles.

Next-generation Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines for allergic rhinitis based on Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) and real-world evidence

Abstract: The selection of pharmacotherapy for patients with allergic rhinitis aims to control the disease and depends on many factors. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines have considerably improved the treatment of allergic rhinitis. However, there is an increasing trend toward use of real-world evidence to inform clinical practice, especially because randomized controlled trials are often limited with regard to the applicability of results. The Contre les Maladies Chroniques pour un Vieillissement Actif (MACVIA) algorithm has proposed an allergic rhinitis treatment by a consensus group. This simple algorithm can be used to step up or step down allergic rhinitis treatment. Next-generation guidelines for the pharmacologic treatment of allergic rhinitis were developed by using existing GRADE-based guidelines for the disease, real-world evidence provided by mobile technology, and additive studies (allergen chamber studies) to refine the MACVIA algorithm.

Infrared and terahertz studies of polar phonons and magnetodielectric effect in multiferroic Bi Fe O 3 ceramics

Abstract: $\mathrm{Bi}\mathrm{Fe}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ ceramics were investigated by means of infrared reflectivity and time domain terahertz transmission spectroscopy at temperatures $20\char21{}950\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, and the magnetodielectric effect was studied at $10\char21{}300\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ with the magnetic field up to $9\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{T}$. Below $175\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, the sum of polar phonon contributions to the permittivity corresponds to the value of measured permittivity below $1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MHz}$. At higher temperatures, a giant low-frequency permittivity was observed, obviously due to the enhanced conductivity and possible Maxwell-Wagner contribution. Above $200\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ the observed magnetodielectric effect is caused essentially through the combination of magnetoresistance and the Maxwell-Wagner effect, as recently predicted by Catalan [Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 102902 (2006)]. Since the magnetodielectric effect does not occur due to a coupling of polarization and magnetization as expected in magnetoferroelectrics, we call it an improper magnetodielectric effect. Below $175\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ the magnetodielectric effect is by several orders of magnitude lower due to the decreased conductivity. Several phonons exhibit gradual softening with increasing temperature, which explains the previously observed high-frequency permittivity increase on heating. The observed noncomplete phonon softening seems to be the consequence of the first-order nature of the ferroelectric transition.