Analysis of selected biologically active substances in cereal products

Předložená diplomová práce se zabývala studiem biologicky aktivních látek, a to zejména různých typů sacharidů v cereálních výrobcích. V rámci experimentální části bylo použito celkem 29 různých reálných vzorků obilných materiálů, odpadních potravinářských produktů i reálných přírodních matric (mikrobiální polysacharid, med, pivo). Součástí práce bylo zavedení a optimalizace analytických metod vhodných ke stanovení jednoduchých cukrů, polysacharidů a glykosidů. Ve vzorcích byly analyzovány redukující a celkové sacharidy spektrofotometricky a individuální sacharidy pomocí chromatografických metod. V rámci optimalizace byla navržena vhodná mobilní fáze a chromatografické podmínky HPLC/RI pro separaci mono- a disacharidů (acetonitril:voda 75:25, 1 ml/min, kolona C18-NH2) rovněž pro separaci směsi oligosacharidů. Dále byla optimalizována separace sacharidů metodou TLC. Poté byly zavedené metody aplikovány na analýzu reálných vzorků. Jako modelový sacharid k ověření metod byl použit přírodní mikrobiální polysacharid pullulan. V cereálních výrobcích a potravinářských matricích byly analyzovány celkové a redukující sacharidy a dále produkty kyselé a enzymové hydrolýzy. Zavedené metody byly využity také k podrobnějšímu stanovení obsahu sacharidů přítomných v glykosidech. Jako nejvhodnější metoda pro kvalitativní i kvantitativní analýzu sacharidů přítomných v cereálních materiálech se osvědčila metoda HPLC/RI. K detailní identifikaci maltooligosacharidů byla testována i tandemová metoda LC/MS/MS s využitím derivatizace 1-fenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolonem.Presented diploma thesis was focused on study of biologically active compounds, especially some sugars in cereal products. In experimental part the total of 29 different cereal materials, food industry waste products and natural complex matrixes (microbial polysaccharide, honey, beer) were used. As a part of this work optimization of analytical methods suitable for analysis of simple sugars, oligo- and polysaccharides was done. In cereal samples reduced and neutral sugars were analyzed spectrophotometrically and individual sugars were detected by chromatography. For HPLC/RI analysis optimal mobile phase composition and chromatography conditions were proposed. For mono- a oligosaccharides C18-NH2 sorbent, mixture acetonitril:water 75:25 as mobile phase and flow 1 ml/min were verified as suitable separation parameters. Thin layer chromatography of mono- and oligosaccharides was optimized too. Introduced chromatography and spectrophotometry methods were then applied to analysis of cereal samples. As a model sugar natural microbial polysaccharide pullulan was used to analytical method testing. In cereal products and food matrixes total neutral and reduced sugars as well as products of their acid and enzyme hydrolysis were measured. Detailed analysis of some glycoside composition was tested too. As the most usable method for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of cereal sugars HPLC/RI method was found. To detailed identification of malto-oligosacharides tandem LC/MS/MS technique using derivatization by 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolon was tested too.

Monovision-based vehicle detection, distance and relative speed measurement in urban traffic

This study presents a monovision-based system for on-road vehicle detection and computation of distance and relative speed in urban traffic. Many works have dealt with monovision vehicle detection, but only a few of them provide the distance to the vehicle which is essential for the control of an intelligent transportation system. The system proposed integrates a single camera reducing the monetary cost of stereovision and RADAR-based technologies. The algorithm is divided in three major stages. For vehicle detection, the authors use a combination of two features: the shadow underneath the vehicle and horizontal edges. They propose a new method for shadow thresholding based on the grey-scale histogram assessment of a region of interest on the road. In the second and third stages, the vehicle hypothesis verification and the distance are obtained by means of its number plate whose dimensions and shape are standardised in each country. The analysis of consecutive frames is employed to calculate the relative speed of the vehicle detected. Experimental results showed excellent performance in both vehicle and number plate detections and in the distance measurement, in terms of accuracy and robustness in complex traffic scenarios and under different lighting conditions

BMP-2 Dependent Increase of Soft Tissue Density in Arthrofibrotic TKA

Arthrofibrosis after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is difficult to treat, as its aetiology remains unclear. In a previous study, we established a connection between the BMP-2 concentration in the synovial fluid and arthrofibrosis after TKA. The hypothesis of the present study was, therefore, that the limited range of motion in arthrofibrosis is caused by BMP-2 induced heterotopic ossifications, the quantity of which is dependent on the BMP-2 concentration in the synovial fluid

Deciphering the pathogenesis of tendinopathy: a three-stages process

Our understanding of the pathogenesis of "tendinopathy" is based on fragmented evidences like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. We propose a "failed healing theory" to knit these fragments together, which can explain previous observations. We also propose that albeit "overuse injury" and other insidious "micro trauma" may well be primary triggers of the process, "tendinopathy" is not an "overuse injury" per se. The typical clinical, histological and biochemical presentation relates to a localized chronic pain condition which may lead to tendon rupture, the latter attributed to mechanical weakness. Characterization of pathological "tendinotic" tissues revealed coexistence of collagenolytic injuries and an active healing process, focal hypervascularity and tissue metaplasia. These observations suggest a failed healing process as response to a triggering injury. The pathogenesis of tendinopathy can be described as a three stage process: injury, failed healing and clinical presentation. It is likely that some of these "initial injuries" heal well and we speculate that predisposing intrinsic or extrinsic factors may be involved. The injury stage involves a progressive collagenolytic tendon injury. The failed healing stage mainly refers to prolonged activation and failed resolution of the normal healing process. Finally, the matrix disturbances, increased focal vascularity and abnormal cytokine profiles contribute to the clinical presentations of chronic tendon pain or rupture. With this integrative pathogenesis theory, we can relate the known manifestations of tendinopathy and point to the "missing links". This model may guide future research on tendinopathy, until we could ultimately decipher the complete pathogenesis process and provide better treatments

Role of biomechanics in the understanding of normal, injured, and healing ligaments and tendons

Ligaments and tendons are soft connective tissues which serve essential roles for biomechanical function of the musculoskeletal system by stabilizing and guiding the motion of diarthrodial joints. Nevertheless, these tissues are frequently injured due to repetition and overuse as well as quick cutting motions that involve acceleration and deceleration. These injuries often upset this balance between mobility and stability of the joint which causes damage to other soft tissues manifested as pain and other morbidity, such as osteoarthritis

Ein PreCrash-System auf Basis multisensorieller Umgebungserfassung

Die Dissertation beschreibt Verfahren zur Fusion von Sensordaten am Beispiel eines PreCrash-Systems für Kraftfahrzeuge. Ein PreCrash-System erkennt mit Hilfe von Sensoren, die das Fahrzeugumfeld überwachen, (unvermeidliche) Unfälle wenige hundert Millisekunden vor Beginn des Zusammenstoßes und stellt verschiedene Informationen zur Verfügung, die bei der Aktivierung von Sicherheitseinrichtungen wie Gurtstraffer oder Airbags hilfreich sind. Neben guten Erkennungsleistungen spielt bei einem solchen System vor allem die Eignung für den Einsatz im automobilen Umfeld mit all seinen Anforderungen eine große Rolle. Dies bedeutet zum Beispiel Robustheit gegenüber schwierigen Wetterbedingungen, geringe Anforderungen an die Rechenleistung und auch die Erkennung eines Sensorausfalls. Ebenso stellt die Vielfalt möglicher Objekte mit ihren unterschiedlichen Reflexionseigenschaften und teilweise sehr hohen Relativgeschwindigkeiten eine besondere Herausforderung für ein umfelderkennendes System dar. Nach einführenden Betrachtungen zum Stand der Technik und der Zielstellung, unterschiedliche Sensorik zur Verbesserung der Detektionsleistungen und damit der Robustheit des Gesamtsystems zu fusionieren, beinhaltet die Arbeit eine Beschreibung der Funktionalität "PreCrash", Angaben zu Voraussetzungen und speziellen Umgebungsbedingungen im Fahrzeugbereich, die Einfluss auf die Verfahrensauswahl ausüben und eine Beschreibung der verwendeten Sensorik. Signalverarbeitungsverfahren zur Realisierung eines PreCrash-Systems sind sowohl auf Basis eines Einzelsensorsystems als auch auf Grundlage eines Multisensorsystems ausführlich dokumentiert. Ansätze zur Sensordatenfusion werden gesondert dargestellt und auch Nebenaspekte wie die Erkennung von Sensorausfällen berücksichtigt. Die Arbeit enthält Ergebnisse, die die Erkennungsleistungen mehrerer implementierter Verfahren aufzeigen und die auf realen, mit Hilfe eines Versuchsfahrzeuges aufgenommener Daten basieren

Preliminary Investigations of Sandhill Crane Feather Analysis

Primary feathers from captive sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) were subjected to quantitative chemical analysis (atomic absorption and flame emission) to determine if plumage mineralization could be used to identify the natal areas of these birds. The experiment was designed to test whether chemical differences existed between the plumage of males and females, juveniles and adults, and among the primary feathers 1, 5, and 10. The mineral elements Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, K, Na, and Zn were used as variables. Feathers from Japanese (G. japonensis), sarus (G. antigone), common (Q. grus), and crowned (Balearica spp.) cranes were also analysed to test for interspecies mineral differences. Mineral differences (P<0.05) occurred between sexes for copper (primary-1) and zinc (primary-5) and for nearly all mineral elements in the primary-1 and -5 analysis between juvenile (one year old) and adult birds. Age and sex related mineral differences did not occur in the primary-10 analysis. Differences among primaries-1, -5, and -10 occurred for all variables except copper and sodium. The analysis of element ratios showed age and sex differences in the primary-1 and -5 analysis but no differences (P>0.05) in the primary-10 analysis. The variables Ca, Cu, and Mg showed the largest between­ species differences with Ca exhibiting the greatest variation (P<0.01). Ca and Mg values ranged from high to low in the crowned, common, sarus, sandhill, and Japanese cranes respectively. The Ca concentration in the crowned crane feathers was almost twice that of the other species. The analyses indicate that interspecies feather mineral differences do exist, however, the causes underlying these differences were not identified. Feathers collected from wild sandhill cranes in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Canada showed that feather mineral patterns reflected the geochemical environments of the respective natal areas. Small sample sizes precluded the use of statistical testing, however, characteristic mineral patterns could be seen in the ionic diagrams from each natal area. Feather mineral variation between sexes, age classes, and primary feathers indicates the need for a standardization scheme. A standard cohort, e.g., adult breeder, and a standard primary, e.g., number 10 from birds of both known (reference) and unknown natal areas should be used.UW-SP Faculty Research Gran