Low winter precipitation, but not warm autumns and springs, threatens mountain butterflies in middle-high mountains.

Low-elevation mountains represent unique model systems to study species endangered by climate warming, such as subalpine and alpine species of butterflies. We aimed to test the effect of climate variables experienced by butterflies during their development on adult abundances and phenology, targeting the key climate factors determining the population dynamics of mountain insects. We analysed data from a long-term monitoring of adults of two subalpine and alpine butterfly species, and (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) in the Jeseník Mts and Krkonoše Mts (Czech Republic).

Treatment of non-healing leg ulcers with honeydew honey.

Background: Honey is used as a traditional medicine for centuries by different cultures for the treatment of various disorders. However, not all honeys exhibit equal antimicrobial potency and only a few meet the criteria for clinical usage.

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine clinical efficacy of sterilised honeydew honey in the treatment of the lower leg ulcers in 25 patients.

Photoacoustic beam profiling of pulsed lasers.

We introduce a beam profiler of pulsed lasers based on the photoacoustic technique. The method assumes that the initial pressure distribution inside the acoustic cell follows the laser intensity pattern if absorbed energy relaxes rapidly. This initial pressure condition can be described as a superposition of acoustic modes of different amplitudes and phases.

[Short bowel syndrome and limits of small intestinal resections].

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a malabsorption syndrome resulting from anatomical or functional loss of a significantly long small intestinal segment. A loss over 80% of the small intestinal length is associated with increased urgency for supportive parenteral nutrition and results in reduced overall survival of the patients. The ileocaecal valve (valvula Bauhini) loss results in bacterial contamination of the small intestine, affecting tolerability of the oral, ev.

Novel optical method for background reduction in resonant photoacoustics.

We report a new way of reducing the background originated by window absorption in resonant photoacoustics. The technique employs a secondary light source that is absorbed by the window but not by the gas sample. This auxiliary source is modulated 180 degrees apart from the one used to probe the gas.