Laboratory measurements of the air permeability of building components

Tato diplomová práce se zabývá především měřením vzduchotěsnosti a vodotěsnosti stavebních dílců a prvků v laboratorních podmínkách. V úvodní části práce seznamuje obecně s problematikou měření vzduchotěsnosti a vodotěsnosti v laboratorních podmínkách, včetně zkušebních metod a následné klasifikace prvků podle technických norem. Dále se zabývá sestavením a zprovozněním zkušebního zařízení pro měření vzduchotěsnosti a vodotěsnosti prvků obvodových plášťů. Zařízení se skládá ze vzduchotěsné zkušební komory, ventilátoru, zařízení pro měření průtoku vzduchu a tlakových rozdílů. Slouží k měření vzduchotěsnosti a vodotěsnosti zkušebních vzorků do maximálního rozměru 3x3 m v Univerzitním centru energeticky efektivních budov v Buštěhradě. Následuje srovnávací měření s různými typy přístrojů pro měření průtoku vzduchu. Dále porovnává měřící metody v laboratoři s metodou pomocné tlakové komory, která se v praxi používá např. pro měření průvzdušnosti oken in-situ. V závěru je vytvořen návod pro používání tohoto zkušebního zařízení.The master's thesis deals with the measurement of the airtightness and watertightness of building components in laboratory conditions. In the introductory part the issue of airtightness and watertightness is presented, including the test methods and the subsequent classification of elements according to technical standards. It also deals with assembling and commissioning of test facility for measuring airtightness and watertightness of building elements. It consists of airtightness test chamber, pressurisation equipment fan, airflow and pressure differences measure devices. It alows for measuments of airtightness and watertightness of specimen to a maximum dimension of 3x3 m in the University center for energy efficient buildings in Buštěhrad. Comparative measurements with different types of air flow meters are followed. Furthermore, the comparison of the measurement method in the laboratory with the auxiliary pressure chamber method, which in practice is used, for example, to measure airtightness of the windows in-situ. At the end, instructions for using this test device are created

A simple method for determination of kinetics of radial, tangential and surface swelling of wood

The aim of this paper is to introduce an objective method for monitoring the swelling rates and the final values of swelling of hard and soft woods in the polar media. As can be concluded from the presented kinetic plots of sound and biodegraded beech wood and of mature and juvenile spruce wood, the method provides a possibility of recording the dimensional alterations of wood specimens from the first instant of their contact with polar media. The method provides the possibility of monitoring the swelling kinetics of wood within temperatures ranging between 20 and 60 oC. The data obtained by the presented method may be used for the assessment of wood behaviour in the environment with changing humidity and temperature, or in a direct contact with polar media

A simple method for determination of kinetics of radial, tangential and surface swelling of wood

The aim of this paper is to introduce an objective method for monitoring the swelling rates and the final values of swelling of hard and soft woods in the polar media. As can be concluded from the presented kinetic plots of sound and biodegraded beech wood and of mature and juvenile spruce wood, the method provides a possibility of recording the dimensional alterations of wood specimens from the first instant of their contact with polar media. The method provides the possibility of monitoring the swelling kinetics of wood within temperatures ranging between 20 and 60 oC. The data obtained by the presented method may be used for the assessment of wood behaviour in the environment with changing humidity and temperature, or in a direct contact with polar media

HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT FOR MEDICAL DEVICES

Health Technology Assessment (HTA) methods have become a standard part of decision-making processes in healthcare service. Although it is routinely applied in drugs and surgery, HTA in medical devices is still quite challenging. The reason is that the main objective of HTA studies for devices is not optimization of the costeffectiveness ratio, but rather decisions about procurement and/or incorporation of the device. The clinical benefit is not expressed in terms of quality of life, but in the rate of diagnostic yield, and in the extent to which the technology makes the therapy shorter and/or more patient-friendly. Utilization of multiple-criteria decision-making methods for evaluation of the aggregated clinical, technical and user´s effect (outcome) is recommended as the input to costeffectiveness analyses. Different methods are derived for strategic and/or operational assessment of new technology. Other studied problems are identification of requirements for medical device selection and purchase, composition of expert panels, and assessment of medical device maintenance demandingness

Meloxicam Elevates Serum Concentration of Erythropoietin and Numbers of Bone Marrow Erythroid Progenitor Cells in Sublethally Gamma-Irradiated Mice

Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug selectively inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2, has been found to enhance the regeneration of erythroid progenitor cells (BFU-E) in the femoral bone marrow of mice when administered after sublethal irradiation (4 Gy gamma-rays). In mice treated with meloxicam once daily on days 3, 4, 5, and 6 after irradiation, the values of BFU-E per femur in meloxicam-treated mice were on days 7 and 14 after irradiation at the levels of 156 % and 191 %, respectively, related to those in irradiated saline-treated controls (P P P < 0.05). These findings may have practical implications in the treatment of myelosuppression

TACSTD2 upregulation is an early reaction to lung infection.

TACSTD2 encodes a transmembrane glycoprotein Trop2 commonly overexpressed in carcinomas. While the Trop2 protein was discovered already in 1981 and first antibody-drug conjugate targeting Trop2 were recently approved for cancer therapy, the physiological role of Trop2 is still not fully understood. In this article, we show that TACSTD2/Trop2 expression is evolutionarily conserved in lungs of various vertebrates. By analysis of publicly available transcriptomic data we demonstrate that TACSTD2 level consistently increases in lungs infected with miscellaneous, but mainly viral pathogens. Single cell and subpopulation based transcriptomic data revealed that the major source of TACSTD2 transcript are lung epithelial cells and their progenitors and that TACSTD2 is induced directly in lung epithelial cells following infection. Increase in TACSTD2 expression may represent a mechanism to maintain/restore epithelial barrier function and contribute to regeneration process in infected/damaged lungs

Semisynthetic flavonoid 7-O-galloylquercetin activates Nrf2 and induces Nrf2-dependent gene expression in RAW264.7 and Hepa1c1c7 cells

The natural flavonoid quercetin is known to activate the transcription factor Nrf2, which regulates the expression of cytoprotective enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). In this study, a novel semisynthetic flavonoid 7-O-galloylquercetin (or quercetin-7-gallate, 3) was prepared by direct galloylation of quercetin, and its effect on the Nrf2 pathway was examined. A luciferase reporter assay showed that 7-O-galloylquercetin, like quercetin, significantly activated transcription via the antioxidant response element in a stably transfected human AREc32 reporter cell line. In addition, 7-O-galloylquercetin caused the accumulation of Nrf2 and induced the expression of HO-1 at both the mRNA and protein levels in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells. The induction of HO-1 by 7-O-galloylquercetin was significantly suppressed by N-acetyl-l-cysteine and SB203580, indicating the involvement of reactive oxygen species and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity, respectively. HPLC/MS analyses also showed that 7-O-galloylquercetin was not degalloylated to quercetin, but it was conjugated with glucuronic acid and/or methylated in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, 7-O-galloylquercetin was found to increase the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1, and also the activity of NQO1 in murine hepatoma Hepa1c1c7 cells. Taken together, we conclude that 7-O-galloylquercetin increases Nrf2 activity and induces Nrf2-dependent gene expression in RAW264.7 and Hepa1c1c7 cells

European contribution to the study of ROS: A summary of the findings and prospects for the future from the COST action BM1203 (EU-ROS).

The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) provides an ideal framework to establish multi-disciplinary research networks. COST Action BM1203 (EU-ROS) represents a consortium of researchers from different disciplines who are dedicated to providing new insights and tools for better understanding redox biology and medicine and, in the long run, to finding new therapeutic strategies to target dysregulated redox processes in various diseases. This report highlights the major achievements of EU-ROS as well as research updates and new perspectives arising from its members. The EU-ROS consortium comprised more than 140 active members who worked together for four years on the topics briefly described below. The formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) is an established hallmark of our aerobic environment and metabolism but RONS also act as messengers via redox regulation of essential cellular processes. The fact that many diseases have been found to be associated with oxidative stress established the theory of oxidative stress as a trigger of diseases that can be corrected by antioxidant therapy. However, while experimental studies support this thesis, clinical studies still generate controversial results, due to complex pathophysiology of oxidative stress in humans. For future improvement of antioxidant therapy and better understanding of redox-associated disease progression detailed knowledge on the sources and targets of RONS formation and discrimination of their detrimental or beneficial roles is required. In order to advance this important area of biology and medicine, highly synergistic approaches combining a variety of diverse and contrasting disciplines are needed.The EU-ROS consortium (COST Action BM1203) was supported by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST). The present overview represents the final Action dissemination summarizing the major achievements of COST Action BM1203 (EU-ROS) as well as research news and personal views of its members. Some authors were also supported by COST Actions BM1005 (ENOG) and BM1307 (PROTEOSTASIS), as well as funding from the European Commission FP7 and H2020 programmes, and several national funding agencies

Textile Electrodes for Vital Function Monitoring

Tato diplomová práce je zaměřena na měření EKG signálu za pomoci navržených extilních elektrod. Teoretická část popisuje textilní elektrody v rámci chytrých textilií, způsoby jejich výroby, obsahuje fakta o elektrické aktivitě srdce a jejím snímání. Praktická část práce popisuje postup měření a rozbor získaných průběhů elektrokardiogramu.Katedra technologií a měřeníObhájenoThis diploma thesis is focused on measurement of ECG signal with help of the proposed textile electrodes. Theoretical part describes textile electrodes through smart textiles, methods of their production, contains facts about electrical activity of heart and its sensing. Practical part of this work describes measurement steps and evaluation of obtained electrocardiogram waveforms

Analysis and strategy of the comapany IceWarp on the Czech and foreign markets

The thesis aims to analyze the recent activity of the IceWarp company on the Czech and foreign market and then to propose new strategy for Great Britain. The introduction presents the groupware solution and the product IceWarp Server. The next part contains information about the Czech branch and describes the processes of customer acquisition, customer care department and technical support department. Then it is made the comparison with British branch which has the same structure. Based on the indentified shortage the new strategy is proposed in two version differing in financial cost.Diplomová práce si klade za cíl analyzovat působení společnosti IceWarp na českém a zahraničním trhu a následně navrhnout novou strategii pro Velkou Británii. V úvodu práce je představen trh groupware řešení a produkt IceWarp Server. Další část obsahuje informace o české distribuční pobočce. Jsou zde popsány procesy získávání zákazníků, péče o stávající zákazníky a technická podpora. Následně je provedeno srovnání s britskou pobočkou, která má stejnou strukturu. Na základě zjištěných nedostatků je pro tento trh navržena nová strategie zohledňující dva přístupy lišící se ve finanční náročnosti navrhovaných opatření