Flexible recruitment of cortical networks in visual and auditory attention

Our senses, while limited, shape our perception of the world and contribute to the functional architecture of the brain. This dissertation investigates the role of sensory modality and task demands in the cortical organization of healthy human adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This research provides evidence for sensory modality bias in frontal cortical regions by directly contrasting auditory and visual sustained attention. This contrast revealed two distinct visual-biased regions in lateral frontal cortex - superior and inferior precentral sulcus (sPCS, iPCS) - anatomically interleaved with two auditory-biased regions - transverse gyrus intersecting precentral sulcus (tgPCS) and caudal inferior frontal sulcus (cIFS). Intrinsic (resting-state) functional connectivity analysis demonstrated that sPCS and iPCS fall within a broad visual-attention network, while tgPCS and cIFS fall within a broad auditory-attention network. Unisensory (auditory or visual) short-term memory (STM) tasks assessed the flexible recruitment of these sensory-biased cortical regions by varying information domain demands (e.g., spatial, temporal). While both modalities provide spatial and temporal information, vision has greater spatial resolution than audition, and audition has excellent temporal precision relative to vision. A visual temporal, but not a spatial, STM task flexibly recruited frontal auditory-biased regions; conversely, an auditory spatial task more strongly recruited frontal visual-biased regions compared to an auditory temporal task. This flexible recruitment extended to an auditory-biased superior temporal lobe region and to a subset of visual-biased parietal regions. A demanding auditory spatial STM task recruited anterior/superior visuotopic maps (IPS2-4, SPL1) along the intraparietal sulcus, but neither spatial nor temporal auditory tasks recruited posterior/interior maps. Finally, a comparison of visual spatial attention and STM under varied cognitive load demands attempted to further elucidate the organization of posterior parietal cortex. Parietal visuotopic maps were recruited for both visual spatial attention and working memory but demonstrated a graded response to task demands. Posterior/inferior maps (IPS0-1) demonstrated a linear relationship with the number of items attended to or remembered in the visual spatial tasks. Anterior/superior maps (IPS2-4, SPL1) demonstrated a general recruitment in visual spatial cognitive tasks, with a stronger response for visual spatial attention compared to STM

Water Flow Measurement in Pipeline of Large Diameter

Bakalářská práce se zabývá možnostmi měření průtoků vody v potrubích velkých průměrů. Náplní první části práce je popis využití velkých průměrů potrubí v energetice, dále pak zorientovat se v metodách měření průtoků, které jsou aplikovatelné pro potrubí o velkých průměrech, popsat jejich principy, uvést výhody a nevýhody a porovnat parametry jednotlivých metod z různých hledisek. Náplní druhé části práce je provést vlastní návrh měření průtoku vody v potrubí o průměru 1000 mm.The bachelor thesis is dealing with possibilities of water flow measurement in pipelines of large diameter. The objective of the first part of the thesis is to describe the usabillity of large diameter pipes in energy engineering, then to understand the methods of flow measurement that are usable for pipes of large diameter, describe their principles, state advantages and disadvantages and to compare the parameters of each flow measurement method from different points of view. The objective of the second part of the thesis is to realize a proposal of water flow measurement in pipeline of 1000 mm diameter.361 - Katedra energetikyvelmi dobř

Steam Heat Exchanger in Energy Unit with Electricity Accumulation

Tato diplomová práce pojednává o problematice akumulace elektrické energie. Teoretická část je věnována možnostem akumulace elektřiny se zaměřením na EC CAES. Je zde popsána funkce zařízení pro využití kompresního tepla k výrobě elektrické energie, dále jsou jde popsány a porovnány různé typy výměníků tepla. Praktická část práce se zabývá návrhem ohříváku páry včetně způsobu regulace teploty páry pro daný systém EC CAES. Součástí práce je také schéma zapojení a technický výkres navrženého ohříváku páry.This master’s thesis concerns the problematic of electric energy accumulation. The theoretical part of the thesis is devoted to the possibilities of electricity accumulation with the focus on EC CAES. The function of the system for compression heat usage for electricity generation is described, different types of heat exchangers are described and compared. The practical part of this thesis concerns a steam heater design precedure including the regulation of steam teamperature in the EC CAES system. The scheme of the whole system and the drawing of the steam heater is included.361 - Katedra energetikyvýborn

OPTIMIZATION OF SUGAR CONSUMPTION IN THE FERMENTATION OF TEMULOSE FOR ETHANOL PRODUCTION

Temulose is a wastewater stream created in the production of medium-density fiberboard. It has a high sugar content, and therefore cannot be released into standard wastewater systems. Current methods for disposal of the wastewater stream involve concentrating it in an energy-intensive process and selling it as a cattle feed supplement, but with energy prices rising there is an incentive to find higher-value uses. The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of using Temulose as a substrate for industrial ethanol production, using sugar consumption rates to determine the success of a fermentation. Three organisms were studied: Zymomonas mobilis, NRRL B-806; Candida shehatae, NRRL Y-12858; and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Shake-flask fermentations for Z. mobilis and C. shehatae were performed in triplicate for unamended, pH adjusted, and yeast extract amended Temulose at a sugar concentration of 20%. Fermentations with unamended Temulose showed little or no sugar consumption whatsoever, although the high sugar concentration of the Temulose may have affected the performance of the organisms. Fermentations with pH adjustment from 4.5 to 5.5 showed higher sugar consumption rates than yeast extract amended fermentations (1.16 mg/ml compared to 0.390 mg/ml for the first two days of fermentation). Additionally, Z. mobilis was shown to have higher rates of sugar consumption for both amended fermentations (1.02 mg/ml compared to 0.75 mg/ml for the first day). Fermentations using S. cerevisiae were performed with varying loading rates for yeast (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%, w/v). Sugar consumption could not be determined, but ethanol concentrations up to 4% were observed after the first day of fermentation

Trends in General Aviation Safety in the Czech Republic Based on Aircraft´s Accidents and Incidents Investigations

Import 26/06/2013Bakalářská práce se zabývá statistikami a rozbory leteckých nehod na území České republiky v rozmezí let 2003 – 2011. V práci je popsán trend nehodovosti jak u sportovních létacích zařízení a ultralehkých letounů, tak u letadel s MTOW do 2 250 kg. Cílem této práce je zjištění a určení vývoje leteckých nehod a incidentů ve všeobecném civilním letectví na území České republiky.This bachelor thesis covered statistics and analyses of aircraft accidents occured in Czech Republic between year 2003 - 2011. The bachelor thesis discourse about trend of aircraft accidents which occured to sport flying equipment, ultra light aircrafts and aircrafts with MTOW up to 2 250kg. Bachelor thesis goal is to detect and identified future trend of aircraft accidents in general aviation in the Czech republic.342 - Institut dopravyvelmi dobř