Bridging Nano and Micro-scale X-ray Tomography for Battery Research by Leveraging Artificial Intelligence

X-ray Computed Tomography (X-ray CT) is a well-known non-destructive imaging technique where contrast originates from the materials' absorption coefficients. Novel battery characterization studies on increasingly challenging samples have been enabled by the rapid development of both synchrotron and laboratory-scale imaging systems as well as innovative analysis techniques. Furthermore, the recent development of laboratory nano-scale CT (NanoCT) systems has pushed the limits of battery material imaging towards voxel sizes previously achievable only using synchrotron facilities. Such systems are now able to reach spatial resolutions down to 50 nm. Given the non-destructive nature of CT, in-situ and operando studies have emerged as powerful methods to quantify morphological parameters, such as tortuosity factor, porosity, surface area, and volume expansion during battery operation or cycling. Combined with powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) analysis techniques, extracted 3D tomograms and battery-specific morphological parameters enable the development of predictive physics-based models that can provide valuable insights for battery engineering. These models can predict the impact of the electrode microstructure on cell performances or analyze the influence of material heterogeneities on electrochemical responses. In this work, we review the increasing role of X-ray CT experimentation in the battery field, discuss the incorporation of AI/ML in analysis, and provide a perspective on how the combination of multi-scale CT imaging techniques can expand the development of predictive multiscale battery behavioral models.Comment: 33 pages, 5 figure

Cultural monument status and its influence on the price of real estate

Diplomová práce se věnuje tématu památkové péče a jejímu vlivu na realitní trh. Cílem je zjistit, jestli má památková ochrana přímý vliv na cenu nemovitosti. Památkově chráněné objekty byly vyhledávány v databázi realitní inzerce a následně byly jejich ceny porovnány s cenami běžných objektů statistickým testem. Takto bylo porovnáno 948 nechráněných a 460 chráněných objektů. Po ověření normality dat byl použit neparametrický statistický test, který nezjistil významný vliv památkové ochrany. Byla ale zjištěna některá specifika skupiny památkových objektů, jako nižší průměrná cena nebo horší stav v porovnání se skupinou bez statusu památky.The Master’s thesis focuses on the topic of heritage management and its influence on the real estate market. The aim is to find out whether heritage protection can directly affect property prices. A database of real estate advertising was used to search for heritage-listed buildings and their prices were then compared to the prices of non-listed buildings using statistical methods. The final sample consisted of 948 non-listed and 460 heritage-listed buildings. After the normality verification of the used data, a non-parametric test was used. It did not show statistical significance of the cultural heritage factor. The heritage-listed buildings however showed specific characteristics like lower average price or worse condition compared to the non-listed buildings

Cooperation emergency medical services with mountain rescue service in Šumava

Bakalářská práce se zabývá spoluprací zdravotnické záchranné služby a horské služby v oblasti Šumavy. Teoretická část je rozdělena na dvě oblasti, přičemž v první části pojednává o historii od vzniku až po současnost, organizačním členění, hlavních úkolech a technických prostředcích horské služby. Druhá část popisuje historii zdravotnické záchranné služby a dále se jí věnuje v kontextu zákona č. 374/2011 Sb., o zdravotnické záchranné službě. Praktická část má za úkol podat ucelený obraz spolupráce těchto dvou organizací.ObhájenoThis bachelor diploma work is about colaboration between Emergency Medical Service and Mountain Rescue Service on area of Šumava. The theoretical part is separated into two parts. The first part si history from the beginning to the present, organizational structure, main tasks, technical tools of the Mountain Rescue Service. The second part describes the history of the Emergency Medical Service and deals with it in the context of the Law n. 374/2011 of legal code what is about the Emergency Medical Service. The practical part has the task of presenting a coherent picture of the cooperation between these two organizations

Delta Cell Hyperplasia in Adult Goto-Kakizaki (GK/MolTac) Diabetic Rats

Reduced beta cell mass in pancreatic islets (PI) of Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats is frequently observed in this diabetic model, but knowledge on delta cells is scarce. Aiming to compare delta cell physiology/pathology of GK to Wistar rats, we found that delta cell number increased over time as did somatostatin mRNA and delta cells distribution in PI is different in GK rats. Subtle changes in 6-week-old GK rats were found. With maturation and aging of GK rats, disturbed cytoarchitecture occurred with irregular beta cells accompanied by delta cell hyperplasia and loss of pancreatic polypeptide (PPY) positivity. Unlike the constant glucose-stimulation index for insulin PI release in Wistar rats, this index declined with GK age, whereas for somatostatin it increased with age. A decrease of GK rat PPY serum levels was found. GK rat body weight decreased with increasing hyperglycemia. Somatostatin analog octreotide completely blocked insulin secretion, impaired proliferation at low autocrine insulin, and decreased PPY secretion and mitochondrial DNA in INS-1E cells. In conclusion, in GK rats PI, significant local delta cell hyperplasia and suspected paracrine effect of somatostatin diminish beta cell viability and contribute to the deterioration of beta cell mass. Altered PPY-secreting cells distribution amends another component of GK PI’s pathophysiology

The nanoscaled metal-organic framework ICR-2 as a carrier of porphyrins for photodynamic therapy

Nanosized porphyrin-containing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) attract considerable attention as solid-state photosensitizers for biological applications. In this study, we have for the first time synthesised and characterised phosphinate-based MOF nanoparticles, nanoICR-2 (Inorganic Chemistry Rez). We demonstrate that nanoICR-2 can be decorated with anionic 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-R-phosphinatophenyl)porphyrins (R = methyl, isopropyl, phenyl) by utilizing unsaturated metal sites on the nanoparticle surface. The use of these porphyrins allows for superior loading of the nanoparticles when compared with commonly used 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin. The nanoICR-2/porphyrin composites retain part of the free porphyrins photophysical properties, while the photodynamic efficacy is strongly affected by the R substituent at the porphyrin phosphinate groups. Thus, phosphinatophenylporphyrin with phenyl substituents has the strongest photodynamic efficacy due to the most efficient cellular uptake