Scanning probe microscopy studies on the adsorption of selected molecular dyes on titania

Titanium dioxide, or titania, sensitized with organic dyes is a very attractive platform for photovoltaic applications. In this context, the knowledge of properties of the titania–sensitizer junction is essential for designing efficient devices. Consequently, studies on the adsorption of organic dyes on titania surfaces and on the influence of the adsorption geometry on the energy level alignment between the substrate and an organic adsorbate are necessary. The method of choice for investigating the local environment of a single dye molecule is high-resolution scanning probe microscopy. Microscopic results combined with the outcome of common spectroscopic methods provide a better understanding of the mechanism taking place at the titania–sensitizer interface. In the following paper, we review the recent scanning probe microscopic research of a certain group of molecular assemblies on rutile titania surfaces as it pertains to dye-sensitized solar cell applications. We focus on experiments on adsorption of three types of prototypical dye molecules, i.e., perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA), phtalocyanines and porphyrins. Two interesting heteromolecular systems comprising molecules that are aligned with the given review are discussed as well

Inhibition of protein disulfide isomerase induces differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia cells

Acute myeloid leukemia is a malignant disease of immature myeloid cells. Despite significant therapeutic effects of differentiation-inducing agents in some acute myeloid leukemia subtypes, the disease remains incurable in a large fraction of patients. Here we show that SK053, a thioredoxin inhibitor, induces differentiation and cell death of acute myeloid leukemia cells. Considering that thioredoxin knock-down with short hairpin RNA failed to exert antiproliferative effects in one of the acute myeloid leukemia cell lines, we used a biotin affinity probe-labeling approach to identify potential molecular targets for the effects of SK053. Mass spectrometry of proteins precipitated from acute myeloid leukemia cells incubated with biotinylated SK053 used as a bait revealed protein disulfide isomerase as a potential binding partner for the compound. Biochemical, enzymatic and functional assays using fluorescence lifetime imaging confirmed that SK053 binds to and inhibits the activity of protein disulfide isomerase. Protein disulfide isomerase knockdown with short hairpin RNA was associated with inhibition of cell growth, increased CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α levels, and induction of differentiation of HL-60 cells. Molecular dynamics simulation followed by the covalent docking indicated that SK053 binds to the fourth thioredoxin-like domain of protein disulfide isomerase. Differentiation of myeloid precursor cells requires the activity of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α, the function of which is impaired in acute myeloid leukemia cells through various mechanisms, including translational block by protein disulfide isomerase. SK053 increased the levels of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α and upregulated mRNA levels for differentiation-associated genes. Finally, SK053 decreased the survival of blasts and increased the percentage of cells expressing the maturation-associated CD11b marker in primary cells isolated from bone marrow or peripheral blood of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Collectively, these results provide a proof-of-concept that protein disulfide isomerase inhibition has potential as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and for the development of small-molecule inhibitors of protein disulfide isomerase

PLC for sequential control systems

Import 05/08/2014Cíle této bakalářské práce je navrhnout a naprogramovat sekvenčně-logické úlohy v prostředí RSLogix 5000. V práci jsou shrnuty teoretické poznatky programovatelných logických automatů, možnosti jejich programování a teorie způsobu návrhu sekvenčních logických systémů. Praktická část popisuje postup při programování úloh pomocí nástroje sekvenčního programování SFC v prostředí RSLogix 5000. Dále jsou zde navrženy a naprogramovány tři programy pro řízení simulační jednotky mísící technologie.The aim of this thesis is design and developement of a sequential logical tasks in the RSLogix 5000 software. It summarizes theoretical knowledge of programmable logic controllers, the possibilities of their programming and theory for prediction of sequential logic systems. The practical part describes the process of programming tasks using sequential programming tool - SFC in RSLogix 5000. There are also three tasks for control of simulation units for mixing technology designed and programmed.638 - Katedra automatizace a počítačové techniky v metalurgiivýborn

Comparison of accession of Slovakia and Czech Republic to EMU

Bakalárska práca sa zaoberá problematikou prijatia spoločnej európskej meny. Konkrétne sa venujem procesu zavedenia eura na Slovensku a v Českej republike. Slovensko bilancuje dopady zavedenia eura, prijatého takmer pred piatimi rokmi a Česká republika v súčasnej dobe rieši argumenty pre a proti vstupu do eurozóny. Cieľom práce je porovnanie dvoch alternatívnych prístupov k prijatiu eura. A teda rýchle prijatie eura na strane Slovenska a jeho odklad v podaní ČR. Prínos bakalárskej práce vnímam v zhodnotení a porovnaní vývoja ukazovateľov nominálnej a reálnej konvergencie Slovenska a ČR v rámci integračného procesu do menovej únie. A odpoveď na kľúčovou otázkou "Prečo Slovensko prijalo euro skôr ako ČR?" treba hľadať v zrealizovaných resp. nezrealizovaní potrebných reforiem.The thesis deals with an issue of common European currency. In particular, I focus on the process of adopting the euro in Slovakia and Czech Republic. Almost five years after introducing of the euro, Slovakia evaluates its impact and Czech Republic currently addresses arguments for and against joining the Euro area. Main objective of this thesis is to compare two alternative approaches for adoption of the euro. Quick euro adoption in Slovakia, and delayed Czech's adoption. I perceive the contribution of the thesis in evaluation and comparison of the development in nominal and real convergence indicators of Slovakia and Czech Republic in integration process to monetary union. And the answer for the key question "Why has Slovakia adopted euro earlier then Czech Republic?" can be sought in implemented and on the other hand unperformed necessary reforms.Bakalárska práca sa zaoberá problematikou prijatia spoločnej európskej meny. Konkrétne sa venujem procesu zavedenia eura na Slovensku a v Českej republike. Slovensko bilancuje dopady zavedenia eura, prijatého takmer pred piatimi rokmi a Česká republika v súčasnej dobe rieši argumenty pre a proti vstupu do eurozóny. Cieľom práce je porovnanie dvoch alternatívnych prístupov k prijatiu eura. A teda rýchle prijatie eura na strane Slovenska a jeho odklad v podaní ČR. Prínos bakalárskej práce vnímam v zhodnotení a porovnaní vývoja ukazovateľov nominálnej a reálnej konvergencie Slovenska a ČR v rámci integračného procesu do menovej únie. A odpoveď na kľúčovou otázkou "Prečo Slovensko prijalo euro skôr ako ČR?" treba hľadať v zrealizovaných resp. nezrealizovaní potrebných reforiem

Optimization of control of combined systems

Import 02/11/2016Diplomová práce se zaměřuje na problematiku optimalizace a optimálního řízení modelu ohřívače větrů vysoké pece. Teoretická část diplomové práce shrnuje problematiku rozvětvených regulačních obvodů, optimalizace a jejich výpočtů. V praktické části práce je provedeno měření na fyzikálním modelu ohřívače větrů a následná identifikace naměřených dat. Dále je navržen obvod s PID regulátorem a experimentálně provedena optimalizace.Thesis focuses on the topic of optimization and optimal control of hot blast furnaces model. Theoretical part sums up the issue of branched circuits control, optimization and calculation. In the practical part of the thesis measurement on the physical model of winds heaters is carried out, which is followed by subsequent identification of measured data. Also a circuit with PID controller is designed and experimentally optimized.638 - Katedra automatizace a počítačové techniky v metalurgiidobř

Assessment of Ventricular Function in Normal and Failing Hearts Using 4D Flow CMR

Heart failure is a common disorder and a major cause of illness and death in the population, creating an enormous health-care burden. It is a complex condition, representing the end-point of many cardiovascular diseases. In general heart failure progresses slowly over time and once it is diagnosed it has a poor prognosis which is comparable with that of many types of cancer. The heart has an ability to adapt in response to long lasting increases in hemodynamic demand; the heart conforms its shape and size in order to maintain adequate cardiac output. This process is called remodeling and can be triggered by pathologies such as hypertension or valvular disease. When the myocardial remodeling is maintained chronically it becomes maladaptive and is associated with an increased risk of heart failure. In many cases, heart failure is associated with left bundle branch block (LBBB). This electrical disturbance leads to dyssynchronous left ventricular (LV) contraction and relaxation which may contribute to cardiac dysfunction and ultimately heart failure. Mechanical dyssynchrony can be treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, many heart failure patients do not demonstrate clinical improvement despite CRT. Blood flow plays an important role in the normal development of the fetal heart. However, flow-induced forces may also induce changes in the heart cells that could lead to pathological remodeling in the adult heart. Until recently, measurement tools have been inadequate in describing the complex three-dimensional and time-varying characteristics of blood flow within the beating heart. 4D (3D + time) flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) enables acquisition of three-dimensional, three-directional, time-resolved velocity data from which visualization and quantification of the blood flow patterns over a complete cardiac cycle can be performed. In this thesis, novel 4D Flow CMR based methods are used to study the intraventricular blood flow in healthy subjects and heart failure patients with and without ventricular dyssynchrony in order to gain new knowledge of the ventricular function. Different flow components were assessed in normal heart ventricles. It was found that inflowing blood that passes directly to outflow during the same heartbeat (the Direct Flow component) was larger and possessed more kinetic energy (KE) than other flow components. Diastolic flow through the normal heart appears to create favorable conditions for effective systolic ejection. This organized blood flow pattern within the normal LV is altered in heart failure patients and is associated with decreased preservation of KE which might be unfavorable for efficient LV ejection. Inefficient flow of blood through the heart may influence diastolic wall stress, and thus contribute to pathological myocardial remodeling. In dyssynchronous LVs of heart failure patients with LBBB, Direct Flow showed even more reduced preservation of KE compared to similarly remodeled LVs without LBBB. Furthermore, in LBBB patients, LV filling hemodynamic forces, acting on the myocardium, were more orthogonal to the main flow direction compared to patients without LBBB. Deviation of LV flow forces and reduction of KE preservation and may reflect impairment of LV diastolic function and less efficient ensuing ejection related to dyssynchrony in these failing ventricles. Blood flow patterns were also studied with respect to fluctuations of the velocity of the flow (turbulent flow) in normal and failing LVs. In failing hearts, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) was higher during diastole than in healthy subjects. TKE is a cause of energy loss and can thus be seen as a measure of flow inefficiency. Elucidating the transit of multidimensional blood flow through the heart chambers is fundamental in understanding the physiology of the heart and to detect abnormalities in cardiac function. The 4D Flow CMR parameters presented in this thesis can be utilized to detect altered intracardiac blood flow and may be used as markers of deteriorating cardiac function, pathological remodeling and mechanical dyssynchrony in heart failure

Comparison of the pension system of the Czech Republic and Slovakia with emphasis on the analysis of long-term sustainability and adequacy (2020 - 2070)

The thesis deals with an issue of a long-term financial sustainability of pension systems and compares the systems in Czech Republic and Slovakia in terms of their preparedness to face adverse demographic developments in the upcoming five decades. On the basis of drawn up analysis, it can be confirmed that both countries face a substantial challenge in the form of the population crisis, culminating in 2060. Moreover, the current set-up of their pension systems provides a great space to prepare and execute a thorough reform. The main output of this thesis resides in identification of causes of a long-term unsustainability of pension systems, which are population ageing and implementation of a retirement age cap. Demographic developments cannot be controlled nor prevented, on the other hand a setting the pension system is in full control of a government, who have access to suitable tools that would guarantee sustainability. Therefore, I believe that the financial stability of the pension system is not a technical problem, but a political one.Táto práca sa zaoberá problematikou dlhodobej finančnej udržateľnosti dôchodkových systémov a porovnáva systémy Českej republiky a Slovenska z pohľadu ich pripravenosť čeliť nepriaznivému demografickému vývoju v najbližšom polstoročí. Vďaka analýze možno potvrdiť, že obe krajiny čaká naozaj veľká výzva v podobe populačnej krízy, vrcholiacej v roku 2060 a aktuálne nastavenie ich dôchodkových systémov otvára veľký priestor umeniu pripraviť a vykonať dôkladnú reformu. Hlavným výstupom práce je identifikácia príčin dlhodobej neudržateľnosti dôchodkových systémov, ktorými sú starnutie populácie a strop dôchodkového veku. Demografické vplyvy pod kontrolou nemáme a nevieme im predísť, naopak nastavenie dôchodkového systému je plne v rukách vlád, ktoré disponujú overenými a pre dosiahnutie udržateľnosti vhodnými nástrojmi. Preto usudzujem, že finančná stabilita dôchodkového systému nie je problém odborný, ale politický.Tato práce se zabývá problematikou dlouhodobé finanční udržitelnosti důchodových systémů a porovnává systémy České republiky a Slovenska z pohledu jejich připravenost čelit nepříznivému demografickému vývoji v nejbližším půlstoletí. Díky analýze lze potvrdit, že obě země čeká opravdu velká výzva v podobě populační krize, vrcholící v roce 2060 a aktuální nastavení jejich důchodových systémů otevírá velký prostor umění připravit a provést důkladnou reformu. Hlavním výstupem práce je identifikace příčin dlouhodobé neudržitelnosti důchodových systémů, kterými jsou stárnutí populace a strop důchodového věku. Demografické vlivy pod kontrolou nemáme a neumíme jim předejít, naopak nastavení důchodového systému je plně v rukou vlád, které disponují ověřenými a pro dosažení udržitelnosti vhodnými nástroji. Proto usuzuji, že finanční stabilita důchodového systému není problém odborný, ale politický

Changes in Ion Transport across Biological Membranes Exposed to Particulate Matter

The cells of living organisms are surrounded by the biological membranes that form a barrier between the internal and external environment of the cells. Cell membranes serve as barriers and gatekeepers. They protect cells against the entry of undesirable substances and are the first line of interaction with foreign particles. Therefore, it is very important to understand how substances such as particulate matter (PM) interact with cell membranes. To investigate the effect of PM on the electrical properties of biological membranes, a series of experiments using a black lipid membrane (BLM) technique were performed. L-α-Phosphatidylcholine from soybean (azolectin) was used to create lipid bilayers. PM samples of different diameters (cis/trans side). In parallel, the electric membrane capacitance measurements, analysis of the conductance and reversal potential were performed. Our results have shown that PM at concentration range from 10 to 150 μg/mL reduced the basal ionic current at negative potentials while increased it at positive ones, indicating the interaction between lipids forming the membrane and PM. Additionally, PM decreased the gramicidin A channel activity. At the same time, the amplitude of channel openings as well as single channel conductance and reversal potential remained unchanged. Lastly, particulate matter at a concentration of 150 μg/mL did not affect the electric membrane capacity to any significant extent. Understanding the interaction between PM and biological membranes could aid in the search for effective cytoprotective strategies. Perhaps, by the use of an artificial system, we will learn to support the consequences of PM-induced damage

Chronic Ingestion of Bicarbonate-Rich Water Improves Anaerobic Performance in Hypohydrated Elite Judo Athletes: A Pilot Study

In combat sports, anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity determine sport performance and the dominant metabolic pathways. The decline in performance during exercise that is attributed to the cumulative effects of fatigue, including excessive accumulation of metabolites, depletion of energy substrates, and water and electrolyte disturbances, seems to be of greatest significance. In our experiment, we evaluated the effectiveness of three weeks of bicarbonate-rich water ingestion on anaerobic performance in a state of hydration and dehydration in elite judo athletes. Eight male, elite judo athletes participated in two single-blind, repeated-measures trials. They were assigned to two hydration protocols, ingesting low mineralized table water and bicarbonate-rich water. Anaerobic performance was evaluated by two 30 s Wingate tests for lower and upper limbs, respectively, under conditions of hydration as well as exercise-induced dehydration. Resting, post-ingestion, and post-exercise concentrations of bicarbonate (HCO3), urine osmolality (UOSM), urine specific gravity (UGRAV), and lactate (La) were measured. The current investigation assessed two related factors that impair anaerobic performance—hypohydration and buffering capacity. High-bicarbonate water ingestion improved buffering capacity, and we demonstrated the potential role of this mechanism and its phenomenon in masking the adverse effects of dehydration in the context of repeated high-intensity anaerobic exercise (HIAE)