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NK cells and their receptors in immune regulation - possible targets for immunomodulation
Svoboda, Jan ; Fišerová, Anna (advisor) ; Pěknicová, Jana (referee) ; Kročová, Zuzana (referee)
(english) Natural Killers - NK cells play an important role in immune surveilance and regulation either by direct cytotoxicity towards infected, transformed or otherwise damaged cells, or by production of cytokines and chemokines. The resulting response of NK cells is given by the sum of stimulating and inhibiting signals, tranduced by a wide array of receptors. Killer Ig-like receptors KIR2DL4 and LILRB1, which recognize self HLA-G molecules in pregnancy, as well as NKR-P1 receptors, which differ in the number of isotypes, are species-dependent and reduced during phylogenesis. NKG2D, reacting to stress-inducible proteins, and adenosine receptors (AR), which supress the inflamatory reaction, remain evolutionary conserved. The aim of this work was to study the involvement of NK cells and their receptors in several immune disorders and in various species, to provide new insights into their function and posisible immune modulation. We have shown here, that the choice of species in the study of NK cell effector functions may be crucial in some cases. The reaction to glycans, using synthetic GlcNAc-terminated glycomimetics GN8P, exerted opposing effects on NK cell function in humans and C57Bl/6 mice. In humans, the glycomimetic decreased cytotoxic activity of high NKR-P1A expressing NK cells, while in...
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Mitsuko Coudenhove-Kalergi and the Origin of Pan-Europa
Noshirová, Vlasta ; Sýkora, Jan (advisor) ; Král, Oldřich (referee) ; Soukup, Jaromír (referee)
Cílem práce je rekonstruovat skutečný životní příběh Japonky Mitsuko Aoyama, provdané do šlechtické rodiny hraběte Heinricha Coudenhove-Kalergi se sídlem v českých Poběžovicích na přelomu 19. a 20. století, a zařadit jej do kontextu moderních kulturních dějin a vývoje mezinárodních vztahů, kde není plně ukotven. Historická část práce začíná od rekapitulace bádání o této Japonce od poloviny 70. let 20. století a končí literárně pojatou rekonstrukcí celého jejího životního příběhu. Mitsuko se odvážila jako jedna z prvních Japonek uzavřít sňatek v roce 1895 v Tokiu s cizincem a rakousko-uherským diplomatem hrabětem Heinrichem Coudenhove-Kalergi, v době po restauraci císařské moci Meidži (1868), kdy byla zrušena po více než dvou stech letech izolace Japonska od světa. Konvertovala z buddhismu na katolickou víru manžela a odjela s ním do Evropy, kde musela cele změnit svou osobní identitu. Rekonstrukce příběhu zahrnuje sociální zařazení rodiny Aoyama v soudobé japonské společnosti, s objasněním dobových okolností mezinárodních sňatků, jež plnily významnou roli v mezinárodní diplomacii a ve vývoji moderních dějin. Zahrnuje i výklad sociálně- historického zázemí rodiny Coudenhove-Kalergi, včetně jejich postavení v Čechách, se správou panství v okolí Domažlic. Jsou popsány i výrazné osobnosti a život sedmi...
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Structural Graph Theory
Zamora, José ; Loebl, Martin (advisor) ; Sereni, Jean Sébastien (referee) ; Fiala, Jiří (referee)
In this thesis we consider four different problems in structural graph theory: We start studying the structure of graphs having a nowhere-zero 5-flow. We give a cha- racterization of the graphs that have a nowhere-zero 5-flow in terms of the existence of a (1, 2)-factor. For the second problem we introduce a new type of labeling of graphs that we call additive coloring. This coloring is a variation of the injective coloring. Indeed, it is an injective colo- ring with arithmetic restrictions determined by the graph. We study the properties and the structure of graphs admitting this type of labeling. Moreover, we study the computational complexity of the problem of computing this labeling for a graph with a fixed number of colors. In the third problem we study how the structure of caterpillars is encoded by the chromatic symmetric function or, equivalently, the U-polynomial. Stanley conjectured that the symme- tric chromatic polynomial distinguishes non-isomorphic trees. In this thesis we prove that the conjecture is true for proper caterpillars (caterpillars without vertices of degree 2). Finally, we study the structure of infinite graphs having a complete graph as a minor or as a topological minor. It is known that bounds on the degree of the vertices is not enough to ensure the existence of a complete...
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Digital Images Production and Quality Control
Vychodil, Bedřich ; Souček, Jiří (advisor) ; Sklenák, Vilém (referee) ; Nič, Miloslav (referee)
(EN) This dissertation provides a broad understanding of fundamental terminology and an inside view of the digitization workflow and quality control processes. The main foci are on quality assurance during and outside the digitization processes and identification of the most suitable format for access, long term preservation, rendering and reformatting issues. An analysis of selected digitization centers is also included. An application called DIFFER (Determinator of Image File Format propERties) and subsequently The Image Data Validator - DIFFER has been developed using results from previously conducted research. The application utilizes new methods and technologies to help accelerate the whole processing and quality control. The goal was to develop a quality control application for a select group of relevant still image file formats capable of performing identification, characterization, validation and visual/mathematical comparison integrated into an operational digital preservation framework. This application comes with a well-structured graphic user interface, which helps the end user to understand the relationships between various file format properties, detect visual and non visual errors and simplify decision-making. Additional comprehensive annexes, describing the most crucial still image...
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Investigation of magnetron sputtered Pt-CeO2 thin film catalyst for fuel cell applications
Vorokhta, Mykhailo ; Matolín, Vladimír (advisor) ; Lykhach, Yaroslava (referee) ; Jiříček, Petr (referee)
Title: Investigation of magnetron sputtered Pt-CeO2 thin film catalyst for fuel cell applications. Author: Mgr. Mykhailo Vorokhta Department: Department of Surface and Plasma Science Supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Vladimír Matolín, DrSc. matolin@mbox.troja.mff.cuni.cz Abstract: This doctoral thesis focuses on magnetron sputtered Pt-doped CeO2 thin films that were found to be very active catalysts in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The films were prepared on different substrates (silicon wafers, carbon nanotubes and flat carbon substrates) and investigated mainly by means of Hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES). The HAXPES method showed that deposition of the Pt doped cerium oxide catalyst layers on carbon nanotubes and flat carbon substrates by magnetron sputtering leads to growth of a highly porous "Pt-Ce-O" solid solution film, where platinum is mostly in ionic states, Pt2+ , Pt4+ . The results obtained showed that the mechanism of film growth is strongly influenced by interaction of the Ce atoms with the substrate and their oxidation by oxygen containing RF plasma. The formation of Ptn+ states together with the porous character of the catalyst films are used to explain the high activity of Pt-CeO2 catalyst in PEMFCs. Keywords: magnetron sputtering, cerium oxide, Pt, XPS, SRPES.
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Evolutionary Algorithms for Multiobjective Optimization
Pilát, Martin ; Neruda, Roman (advisor) ; Schoenauer, Marc (referee) ; Pošík, Petr (referee)
Multi-objective evolutionary algorithms have gained a lot of atten- tion in the recent years. They have proven to be among the best multi-objective optimizers and have been used in many industrial ap- plications. However, their usability is hindered by the large number of evaluations of the objective functions they require. These can be expensive when solving practical tasks. In order to reduce the num- ber of objective function evaluations, surrogate models can be used. These are a simple and fast approximations of the real objectives. In this work we present the results of research made between the years 2009 and 2013. We present a multi-objective evolutionary algo- rithm with aggregate surrogate model, its newer version, which also uses a surrogate model for the pre-selection of individuals. In the next part we discuss the problem of selection of a particular type of model. We show which characteristics of the various models are im- portant and desirable and provide a framework which combines sur- rogate modeling with meta-learning. Finally, in the last part, we ap- ply multi-objective optimization to the problem of hyper-parameters tuning. We show that additional objectives can make finding of good parameters for classifiers faster. 1
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Preparation and Characterization of Novel Oxide Catalysts for Fuel Cell Applications
Khalakhan, Ivan ; Matolín, Vladimír (advisor) ; Bourgeois, Sylvie (referee) ; Strýhal, Zdeněk (referee)
V Title: Preparation and Characterization of Novel Oxide Catalysts for Fuel Cell Applications Author: Mgr. Ivan Khalakhan Department/Institute: Department of Surface and Plasma Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University Supervisor of the doctoral thesis: Prof. RNDr. Vladimír Matolín, DrSc., Department of Surface and Plasma Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University Abstract: Present doctoral thesis focuses mainly on the morphological investigation of novel oxide catalysts prepared by magnetron sputtering deposition for fuel cell applications. Surface characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), were used in this work. In the first chapter, the influences of different preparation parameters on the morphology of CeO2, Au doped CeO2 and Pt doped CeO2 sputtered films were investigated. It was found that morphology and stoichiometry of the catalyst film is strongly dependent on the deposition parameters and the type of substrate. We have also shown that catalyst films prepared by magnetron co-sputtering of platinum and cerium oxide exhibit high catalytic activity as anode in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). High surface area, low platinum loading and excellent...
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Between Asimilation and Emigration. Social-economic Movement in the Jewish Community in Teplice 1938 - 1960
Burgerová, Lenka ; Kubů, Eduard (advisor) ; Jančík, Drahomír (referee) ; Pavelčíková, Nina (referee)
Identifikační záznam: VYCHODIL, Bedřich. Produkce digitálních obrazových dat a jejich kontrola [Digital Images Production and Quality Control]. Praha, 2013. 324 s. Disertační práce. Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Filozofická fakulta, Ústav informačních studií a knihovnictví. Vedoucí disertační práce doc. RNDr. Jiří Souček, DrSc. Abstrakt (CZ) Tato disertační práce předkládá širokou základnu oborové terminologie, pomocí které jsou do hloubky analyzovány procesy digitalizace a kontroly kvality. Hlavní důraz je kladen na kontrolu kvality digitalizace a volbu vhodného grafického formátu pro zpřístupnění, dlouhodobé uchování, renderování a formátové migrace. Je také představena analýza vybraných digitalizačních center. Na základě výsledků výzkumu byla vytvořena ověřující aplikace DIFFER (Determinator of Image File Format propERties), na jejímž základě vzniká aplikace The NDK Data Image Validator - DIFFER. Aplikace implementuje nové postupy a technologie k celkovému urychlení procesů zpracování a kontroly kvality. Cílem bylo vyvinout aplikaci pro vymezenou množinu relevantních grafických formátů, u kterých bude prováděna identifikace, charakterizace, validace a matematicko-vizuální porovnání integrovatelné do provozního workflow zpracování a dlouhodobého uložení digitálních reprezentací. Tato aplikace je vybavena...
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DNA methylation changes in ovarian cancer patients
Chmelařová, Marcela ; Palička, Vladimír (advisor) ; Vávrová, Jiřina (referee) ; Bouda, Jiří (referee)
DNA methylation changes in ovarian cancer patients. In our work we studied DNA methylation changes in ovarian cancer. Due to the aggressive nature of this disease, it is very important to obtain detailed mapping of molecular parameters including epigenetics. These parameters could potentially be used in the diagnostics and treatment of ovarian cancer. To begin with, we focused on establishing and optimizing techniques which are suitable for methylation analysis of DNA isolated from paraffin blocks. The next step was to analyze selected CpG loci primarily of tumor suppressor genes. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples from both ovarian adenocarcinomas and normal ovarian tissue were obtained from 109 women (69 patients with ovarian cancer, 40 patients with normal ovarium) treated at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Hradec Kralove. The samples of normal ovary were obtained from patients surgically treated for non-malignant diagnosis. DNA was extracted using a Qiagen DNA extraction kit. We established and optimized two techniques - MSP (Methylation specific PCR) and MS-MLPA (Methylation Specific Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification). We discovered that for methylation analysis of poor quality DNA isolated from paraffin blocks MS-MLPA is more...
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The synthesis of stable O-acetyl-adenosine diphosphoribose analogs and inhibitors of sirtuins
Dvořáková, Marcela ; Vaněk, Tomáš (advisor) ; Jindřich, Jindřich (referee) ; Krečmerová, Marcela (referee)
Acetylated adenosine diphosphoribose (OAADPR) is a product of protein deacetylation catalysed by class III of histone deacetylases called sirtuins. Sirtuins deacetylate histones and other proteins by unique mechanism coupled with consumption of stoichiometric amount of NAD+ . Sirtuins and OAADPR are implicated in the regulation of gene transcription, signalling and metabolic pathways and lifespan extension, thus preventing the development of age-related diseases. Even though, sirtuins are well studied, the exact biological role of OAADPR remains mainly unknown. Its further exploration is restricted by OAADPR's proneness to enzymatic hydrolysis. Therefore, non-hydrolysable analogues of OAADPR are needed to establish its biological function. These analogues are also expected to be competitive inhibitors of sirtuins, which may reveal their potential as therapeutic agents. A series of OAADPR analogues in which the acetate moiety was replaced with alkylcarbonate functionality has been synthesized. The studies of alkylcarbonate migration on furanoside scaffold have established the stability of alkylcarbonate vs. acetate under various conditions. Generally, alkylcarbonates are more stable than acetate under acidic or neutral conditions whereas under basic conditions they seem to be less stable....
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