Selection from the forthcoming books

Tomáš W. Pavlíček, Barbora Kulawiaková (eds.)

Knihu sestavili Tomáš W. Pavlíček a Barbora Kulawiaková. Její jádro tvoří rozhovory, které od roku 2020 s prof. M. Černohorským pravidelně vedl T. W. Pavlíček. S vrozenou brilantností a pečlivostí odpovídá pan profesor na otázky týkající se poválečného studia, vývoje vysokého školství a organizace vědeckého výzkumu v Československu. Jeho osudy v dětství i mládí jsou poutavé a dramatické. Jak je však jeho zvykem, na strasti si nestěžuje a hledá z nich východiska a obecnější poučení. Ve vyprávění přechází ke vzpomínkám na širší společenské souvislosti v daném období. Vychoval mnoho generací studentů, na jejich výuce se podílel až do roku 2021.

To be published in automn 2023.

Jana Šmardová

Multicellular organism is formed by society of various cells developing and acting in correct place and time for maximal benefit of the whole system they belong to. Tumors develop from cells violating the basic rules of coexistence and collaboration. Eleven hallmarks distinguishing tumors from healthy tissues confirm importance of adherence to such rules. Do these hallmarks and rules reflect general principles of correct functioning of complex living systems? Can they serve as inspiration for human society?

From the review by Joseph Lipsick, M.D., Ph.D. (Stanford University).

“This is a very well-written thought-provoking book on an interesting and timely topic. During the past forty years, remarkable scientific progress has been made to arrive at our current understanding of cancer at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organismal levels. The author does an excellent job of explaining where the field currently stands using easily accessible language and very clear illustrations. In brief, multi-cellular organisms depend on the cooperative behavior and carefully orchestrated division of labor among very large numbers of constituent cells (>10E13 in the human body). Cancer arises when an individual cell no longer honors this social contract and instead behaves solely as a self-interested entity. This requires breaking the “rules” that govern cooperative behavior and evading systems that have evolved to prevent this. However, this book goes far beyond a description of what we know about cancer by asking the very interesting question, “What can tumors teach us?” The author alternates chapters discussing the principles of cancer biology with chapters in which these principles are applied by analogy to other fields including sociology, psychology, and political science. These discussions of “overlaps” are wide-ranging and draw interesting and at times compelling analogies between the origins and behaviors (phenotypes) of cancer cells and some of the most pressing current problems confronting people in post-industrial societies. I am reminded of the many unexpected applications of the theory of evolution, originally derived from studies of biological speciation, in a variety of fields including economics, political science, sociology, and artificial intelligence“.

To be published in autumn 2023.

Gabriela Dreslerová

This monograph examines the differences in the quality of animal diets related to the social structure of settlement as well as the economic orientation of society in and around Pohan. Osteological assemblages, often referred to as 'kitchen waste', carry not only important information on the consumption of animal food, but also reflect the nature of livestock rearing. The osteological study area of Pohansko consists of a total of seven sites, three of which are located outside the fortified settlement. The time spectrum of their dating ranges from the Early Medieval period (RS1) to the end of the Great Moravian period (RS4).

To be published in automne 2023.

This year's second issue of the journal Archaeologia historica (AH 48/2023/2) focuses in several contributions on the subject of sanitation in the Middle Ages and the early modern age, mostly in urban conditions (Hradec Králové, Plzeň, Chrudim, Prague), but there are also articles devoted to castle prisons and monastery water management (Nitra). Further studies include research into churches and analysis of mass graves as examples of specific internment of the deceased. Along with fortified settlements, deserted medieval villages and a tar and textile production complex add to the varied collection of articles. A special methodology of modelling routes is applied to the region of the Povážský Inovec, and the issue closes with the unique find of a Venetian jar for theriac, a universal medicine and antidote, from southern Bohemia.

To be published in automne 2023.