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Emission of nanoparticles in the nanotextile industry
Nechvátal, Marek ; Klouda, Karel ; Kubátová, Hana ; Roupcová, Petra ; Bátrlová, Kateřina
We encounter smoke quite regularly in our lives. Smoke consists of gaseous, liquid and solid components that are produced by the combustion/oxidation of fuel. The chemical composition of smoke depends not only on the fuel used but also on a number of other parameters (operation, technology, atmospheric effects). The chemical composition of smoke is therefore variable and cannot be easily characterised. The combustion of wood releases into the atmosphere not only unconsumed air but also wood particles, CO2, methane, volatile organic compounds, trace elements and ultrafine particles. Measurements are published on this topic for a given type of combustion technology with a specific fuel type. The procedure for measuring the concentration of nanoparticles (10-700 nm) in wood smoke and their mean diameters can be called "field". The aim of these measurements in real situations was to find and describe sources of elevated nanoparticle concentrations. Substantial quantitative information on the occurrence of nanoparticles in wood combustion in different types of wood burners was obtained in the field under real climatic conditions, typical of the winter season in Central Europe, when most domestic heating takes place. Thus, wood burning in households in predominantly agricultural areas of the Czech Republic can be considered as a major source of outdoor air pollution, but can also have a significant impact on the deterioration of indoor air quality. At the same time, it can be assumed that the negative impact of nanoparticles on human health in areas polluted by wood smoke is weaker than the impact elsewhere - in industrial, more polluted areas.
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"We drag the cart of capitalism on and on": Ethnography of factory production
Virtová, Tereza ; Stöckelová, Tereza (advisor) ; Abu Ghosh, Yasar (referee)
This thesis presents the main results of a five-month ethnographic research project in a global factory in the Czech Republic. It is focused on three topics. Due to a number of ethical dilemmas that accompanied the research, the first part examines ethics in anthropology, both the instruments of the institutionalization of professional ethics and "ethics in practice". As a strategy for dealing with ethical dilemmas the thesis aims at a reflexive approach, as proposed by Guillemin and Gillam (2004) not only to ensure rigor in research methodology, but also as a form of "morally adequate research work". The second research focus is the production line. The line makes sense - that is, produces stuff - only when people and machines interconnect. Symmetrical analysis juxtaposes humans and machines and explores the dynamics of agency as it shifts the borders between people and machines and the characteristics that each takes from the other. The last part of the thesis presents the factory as an actor in the labor market. Through the analysis of economic and organizational factors as well as workers" stories and interpretations and regional authorities" accounts, the final part tries to explain the perception of the factory as a stable and relatively solid employer. Keywords: global factory, ethics,...
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Social Themes in Projects of Contemporary Czech Conceptual and Action Art (from the Late 1980s to the present Day)
Váchová, Lucie ; Lahoda, Vojtěch (advisor) ; Morganová, Pavlína (referee) ; Štefková, Zuzana (referee)
The dissertation thesis gives a real picture of Czech artistic works from late 1980s to the present day that use the language of Conceptual and Action art for a reflection of current problems in our society. The study is to encompass socially-oriented art or tendencies that want to communicate with the inartistic context and its focus is on the social-political aspect of contemporary art. The first part of the text is focused on basic concepts, moreover, it describes the most important exhibitions, theoretical contexts or considerations associated with the concepts of political or engaged art and it includes a brief reference to examples of older socially oriented art of the 20th century. The thesis strives to give a picture of the main themes through which artists reflect on humanity within a current societal system with its various old or new phenomena. The topics and the particular relevant artworks are described in four main chapters that should reveal the working methods or the development of the artists approach or strategies of artistic groups that have simultaneously reflected changes in the Czech art scene for the past 25 years. The prime motives are classical or newborn topics like reflection on motherhood, transformation of the present-day family, attitudes to the phenomenon of age,...
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Guardians of the Public Interest: Frame Delimiting of watchdog Activism in the Context of Social scientific Discourse and in the Perspective of its Representatives
Beránková, Petra Alexandra ; Frič, Pavol (advisor) ; Kotlas, Petr (referee)
The work deals with the phenomenon of so called watchdog organizations. The increasing number and influence of these organizations indicates a creation of new social movement. The authoress defines them as a type of public benefit nongovernmental organizations focused on the controlling of the public sphere or advocating and asserting a "public interest" in relation to the democratization of society. The authoress target is to understand this type of action, so she asks herself the question: Which frameworks are used by watchdog activists for the interpretation of their acting? At first there is briefly presented the concept of watchdog in the context of wider reflections of contemporary society, mainly in the context of reflexive modernity, monitory and participatory democracy and information society. Secondly there is introduced Goffman's framework analysis and the related conceptualization of framework of social movements by Benford and Snow. The authoress highlights a definition of frames as the principles of selection, emphasis and presentation about what happens, and what matters. In the next part of this work, there are presented the methodology and results of the qualitative research based on semi-structured interviews with watchdog activists. The research is settled in the area of...
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Cello Concertos by Josef Antonín Gurecky
Hamouz, Petr ; Maňourová, Lucie (advisor) ; Kapsa, Václav (referee)
The subject of concerts for cello composed by Josef Antonín Gurecký represents much unknown - for instance, circumstances under which the seven cello concerts were created (order, dedication), reasons to file and keep them in the archive of Wiesentheid, or dates of their creation; reasons for Gurecký's trips to Germany, and namely Dresden (where the Sonata for violin and a violin concert with a difficult violin part, probably dedicated to Johann Georg Pisendel, have been retained), and Wisentheid (cello concerts). I concentrate on all these issues in different chapters of my thesis in the extent which is proportional to the material found about Josef Antonín Gurecký. The material, however, do not seem to be numerous at this moment. The main focus (or focuses) of my thesis lies in the work with concert manuscripts, their processing and transcription into the contemporary notation, potential corrections of mistakes in manuscripts, and all issues that may contribute to using of this reprocessed music for the present concert performance.
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Effects of chemopreventive compounds on cytochrome P450s
Křížková, Jitka ; Hodek, Petr (advisor) ; Helia, Otto (referee) ; Václavíková, Radka (referee)
CHARLES UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE Faculty of Science Department of Biochemistry Effects of chemopreventive compounds on cytochrome P450s Summary of Ph.D. Thesis RNDr. Jitka Křížková Supervisor: prof. RNDr. Petr Hodek, CSc. Prague 2010 Introduction 1 Introduction According to the World Health Organization statistics, cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the human population worldwide for more than 50 years. Moreover, colorectal and gastrointestinal tract cancers are one of the main types of cancer leading to overall cancer mortality. Prevention consisting in a healthy lifestyle and a natural diet is suggested to be one of the main approaches to reduce cancer risk. In recent years, the consumption and use of dietary supplements containing concentrated chemopreventive phytochemicals increased dramatically. Flavonoids, as the most popular representatives of chemopreventive compounds, present in foods (fruits, vegetables, herbs, beverages) and dietary supplements have the potential to modulate the activity of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes [Hodek et al., 2002]. Among proteins interacting with flavonoids, cytochrome P450s (CYPs), monooxygenases metabolizing xenobiotics (e.g. drugs, carcinogens), play the most prominent role. The two members of CYP1A subfamily, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, are involved in the...
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Spatial variability and diversity of phytobenthos and metaphyton
Černá, Kateřina ; Neustupa, Jiří (advisor) ; Schagerl, Michael (referee) ; Poulíčková, Aloisie (referee)
Spatial variability and ecology of phytobenthic algal assemblages in peat bogs Abstract The thesis concerns two main issues: spatial distribution of microalgal assemblages in the environment of temperate peat bogs, and determination of morphological plasticity of selected desmid species (Euastrum binale, Staurastrum hirsutum) under different pH-levels using geometric morphometrics. The principal aims can be summarized as follows: (1) to evaluate seasonal and spatial patterns of the distribution of algal assemblages in a temperate lowland peat bog; (2) to describe the small-scale spatial patterns of the distribution of algal assemblages in two different microhabitats of a raised bog; (3) to investigate the range of morphological plasticity of selected desmid species under different pH-levels; (4) to evaluate species diversity and disparity of desmids in peat bogs using methods of geometric morphometrics and their relation to environmental conditions. The spatial pattern of the distribution of algal assemblages was studied along a linear transect in the homogenous environment of a lowland peat bog within one year on different spatial scales (10cm, 1m, 10m). The seasonal dynamics were exhibited by an increase in diversity, and a decrease in dominance from May to October, with significant differences in species...
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Visual Poetry in the Network of the International Communication. Terms, Categories, Typology
Krátká, Eva ; Lahoda, Vojtěch (advisor) ; Langerová, Marie (referee) ; Pomajzlová, Alena (referee)
The doctoral thesis is concerned diachronically with the term "visual poetry". The focus is on its progress during the period after the Second World War in the context of the extensively advanced movement, as substantially defined in international expert discussion. The use of the term, which is supported by the arguments of many theoreticians and artists of the period, is studied in the thesis from the viewpoint of the inspirational sources and specific contacts between art and literature. The focus is on the specific positions and strategies of visual perception. Visual poetry is studied - considering the different contexts of the European avant-garde movements and through the analysis of contemporaneous theories which defined three main lines of thought - as an incoherent art stream manifesting itself in the eclectic use of artistic media. In conclusion, the thesis looks at the project of Czech author poetics typology which grew from purely Czech examples based on formal language of the visual poetry works. The thesis seeks to point out the original aspects of the internal discussion of visual poetry, and to place it in the international context.
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The psychosocial factors of perinatal care in relations with the patients' satisfaction, the conduct of delivery and the onset of lactation
Takács, Lea ; Šulová, Lenka (advisor) ; Dittrichová, Jaroslava (referee)
The aim of this study is to explore the psychosocial aspects of care provided in maternity hospitals. The study is divided into three parts: i) the psychosocial aspects of care for parturients, ii) the psychosocial aspects of care for the newborn, and iii) the psychosomatic issues in obstetrics. Each part includes a review of the relevant literature and a presentation of the specific research carried out for the purpose of this thesis. The first part discusses the psychosocial competences of healthcare providers (social support, communication, providing of information, etc.), while subsequent research focuses on the psychosocial factors that influence parturients' satisfaction with perinatal care. The second part is devoted to psychological importance of birth experience for the newborn and early mother-child contact, psychosocial needs of the health-risk newborn and initiation of breastfeeding, with the research section containing the inquiry into the factors that may influence the start of breastfeeding. The last part of this study concentrates on the effects of psychological variables on the perception of pain and the course of labour. The review of the relevant literature is followed by presenting the research results that show the impact of psychosocial factors of perinatal care on selected...
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Contaminant binding to colloids in water from a mining/smelting area
Walter, Dominik ; Ettler, Vojtěch (advisor) ; Faimon, Jiří (referee)
This study deals with the association of trace elements with colloids and particles in surface waters and groundwaters of mining and smelting district of Příbram. Colloids were studied using combination of cascade filtration a tangential flow ultrafiltration method to separate individual colloid fractions. Colloids were separated by filtration membranes with nominal pore size 0,8 μm, 0,45 μm, 0,1 μm, 100 kDa, and 5 kDa. Water samples were analyzed using ICP-OES, ICP-MS and HPLC. The data were used for thermodynamic modeling using PHREEQC-2 programme. The results show that major and trace elements can be divided into several groups, based on their abundance in individual size fractions. Most elements dominate in fraction of truly dissolved matter as dissociated ions (< 5 kDa), maximum concentration in colloid fraction is 5-20 % and almost exclusively in fraction 5 kDa - 100 kDa. Gradual decrease of concentration in all fractions at low ionic strength (1,2 mmol/l) was observed in case of elements such as As, Co, Cr, Si, Sb and U. Gradual decrease of concentration in several samples was observed for Cd, Fe, Pb, Mn and Zn. Dominant binding to colloids and particles in surface waters was observed for Fe and Pb, where these fractions accounted for over 90 %. The main factor influencing colloid...
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