|
|
Graphene oxide (GO) and its ability to detect and capture bacteria and viruses
Roupcová, Petra ; Klouda, Karel ; Kleinová, Sabina
In recent years, advances in nanomaterials research have led to an increase in their various applications in almost every conceivable field, from electrodes to membranes to sports equipment and clothing. Graphene, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) are becoming increasingly popular, mainly due to their extraordinary properties and structure. This paper summarizes the potential use of graphene oxide for trapping bacteria and viruses and other potential applications, especially in light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Fulltext:  PDF
|
|
|
Analytical Evaluation of Drugs and Drug Candidates from the Group of Iron Chelating Agents
Stariat, Ján ; Klimeš, Jiří (advisor) ; Šatínský, Dalibor (referee) ; Šišpera, Luděk (referee)
Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Control Candidate Mgr. Ján Stariat Supervisor Prof. RNDr. Jiří Klimeš, CSc. Title of Doctoral Thesis Analytical evaluation of drugs and drug candidates from the group of iron chelating agents High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) ranks among the most important analytical techniques in the field of pharmaceutical analysis thanks to its robustness and the ability to separate and qualitatively and quantitatively analyse the compounds presented in various samples. The ongoing progress in the development of novel stationary phases and detection techniques allows rapid analysis and to get comprehensive characterization of the analytes presented in the complex samples even at very low concentrations. Cancer still remains a leading cause of death, thus the need for novel, efficient treatment strategies is of crucial importance. The mechanism based on iron chelation (Fe) inside the tumour cells represents one of the most promising strategy which could enhance the prognosis of patients suffering from cancer resistant to standard chemotherapy. Thiosemicarbazone iron chelators are currently under intensive development as novel anticancer drugs. Their strong antiproliferative...
|
|
|
Study of physiological functions of betaine homocysteine S-methyltransferase and betaine homocysteine S-methyltransferase 2
Mládková, Jana ; Jiráček, Jiří (advisor) ; Šulc, Miroslav (referee) ; Kožich, Viktor (referee)
Betaine homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) and betaine homocysteine S-methyltransferase 2 (BHMT-2) are mammalian cytosolic metalloenzymes. They both participate in the metabolism of homocysteine (Hcy), specifically Hcy remethylation, mainly in liver and kidney cells. BHMT catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from betaine to L-Hcy, yielding L-methionine and dimethylglycine (DMG). BHMT-2 catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-methylmethionine (SMM) to L-Hcy as well, yielding two molecules of L-methionine. Disorders in Hcy metabolism could lead to the so called hyper- homocysteinemia and homocystinuria, which can be connected with several pathological conditions. BHMT is already relatively well characterized enzyme. Its crystal structure and reaction mechanism have been described and a series of BHMT inhibitors have been prepared. The specific inhibitors enabled further in vivo studies and, recently, Bhmt-/- mice model has been successfully developed. In contrast, the research of BHMT-2 is still at the beginning and physiological functions of the enzyme are unknown so far. The reason is that BHMT-2 is a highly unstable enzyme and also there is a lack of selective BHMT-2 inhibitors. BHMT and BHMT-2 are very similar enzymes which have 73% amino acid identity. This thesis provides new...
|
|
|
The Effectiveness of Cognitive Training in Patients after Traumatic Brain Injury or Stroke
Kozáková, Eva ; Kulišťák, Petr (advisor) ; Stehlík, Luděk (referee)
Recently, the literature concerned with the possibilities and limitations of working memory training has been growing rapidly. Nonetheless, there are still no clear answers about the principles of its effectiveness or transfer effect. The main questions we ask are about effectiveness of cognitive training in patients after stroke or TBI. To our knowledge this group hasn't been studied in this context yet. To do this, we compare two types of cognitive training - extensively studied N-back training (n=11) and still more popular group cognitive therapy (n=9) with a placebo control group (n=5) who recieves "training" in a simple computer game. The placebo control group then continues in N-back training. Our hypothesis is that after 3 weeks the two trainings should lead to significantly higher gains in cognitive tests scores than the placebo condition. Also, we expected N-back to be more effective than group cognitive training in domains more closely related to executive control. We tested attention, fluid intelligence, short-term and working memory. We also recorded participants well-being. Following training, there were no significant differences between N-back and group training. N-back group scored significantly higer on Trail Making Test A than control group (p=0,026). Although our study doesn't...
|
|
|
Archeozoology of the Czech Eneolithic
Kyselý, René ; Horáček, Ivan (advisor) ; Beneš, Jaromír (referee) ; Mlíkovský, Jiří (referee)
This dissertation is a contribution to the understanding of animal history and the relationship between man and animal during the Eneolithic, i.e. spanning the period ca 4500 - 2200 BC. The Eneolithic period differs from the Neolithic in more respects. Traditionally the development of metallurgy (copper) is considered as the primary cause of social economic changes; however Sherratt's theory of a "secondary products revolution" points at the fundamental relevance of a rapid change from the use of primary animal products (meat, skin etc.) to the use of secondary products (milk, wool, labour, mainly yoke) precisely in the period corresponding with the Bohemian Eneolithic. Nevertheless this theory is still being discussed and criticised and, considering possible mosaic nature of the palaeoeconomic situation, it should first be verified at local and regional levels. The author of this thesis analysed in detail ca. 49 500 osteological finds from archaeological settlements in Bohemia, from which ca 13 500 could be zoologically closely determined. Further data were adopted from publications of Czech and Moravian sites (ca. 22 000 finds, from which 11 000 were determinable). This material was subjected to detailed archaeozoological analysis with a unified methodology and techniques covering taphonomy,...
|
|
|
Figure portrayal in Czech painting of the second third of the 19 century in European context
Řezáč, Jan ; Prahl, Roman (advisor) ; Petrasová, Taťána (referee) ; Machalíková, Pavla (referee)
In my Ph.D. thesis I suggest methodological approach to the figural painting of the middle of the 19 century, creation of the Czech painter Josef Manes in particular. In this period figural artists still learned to copy historic models in both academic and non-academic institutions. But the figure starts to be also presented as identifying element of the society, newly establishing nations in particular. Also emancipation of artists and their effort for conceptual expression (self-representation) is reflected in the presented figural form. Painting of the late romanticism is characterised by adoptions of Michelangelo's and manieristic way of portrayal of human body. Thus there is a remarkable shift from so far popular classical Raffaelo's renaissance figure. For Josef Manes, usually only graphic patterns were available. In this thesis I also analyse Manes's anthropomorfisations and his tendencies to deform anatomic proportions of depicted figures. I show that these features of Manes's art have social, mental and formal background. I aimed to find interpretations of Manes' artistic approach, probably influenced by ideas from Munich, Dresden, Vienna and Düsseldorf. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
|
|
|
The concept of regional identity in the research of socially constructed regions: a multiscale perspective
Nikischer, Richard ; Chromý, Pavel (advisor) ; Siwek, Tadeusz (referee) ; Daněk, Petr (referee)
It has been approximately three decades since "new" approaches to studying regions began to appear in the context of socio-cultural turn in geography. From the perspective of the so-called new regional geography, the region does not represent a naturally given spatial unit nor a semantically empty construction of the analysis of the society's spatial organization. The "new" regional geographer perceives regions as dynamic social structures linked to a collective consciousness. In this respect, the research of regions represents a study of the social organization of space. While research of the spatial (geographic) organization of society in Czech geography has a rather long tradition, a similar statement cannot be made regarding the research into the social organization of space (the other side of the relationship between space and society). Despite the fact that even in Czechia the number of academics interested in the process of the institutionalization of regions is gradually growing, i.e. about how and why regions are constructed/deconstructed as a part of social life, domestic research of the social organization of space is still only in its early stages. The present doctoral dissertation represents a relevant contribution to the current debate regarding the issues of the social organization...
|
|
|
Potential contrast agents for MRI based on manganese(II) complexes
Drahoš, Bohuslav ; Lukeš, Ivan (advisor) ; Geraldes, Carlos F. G. C. (referee) ; Toth, Imre (referee)
The thesis is focused on the synthesis and characterization of novel Mn2+ complexes as alternative to Gd3+ chelates which are wide-spread contrast agents in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In the perspective to find suitable chelators of Mn2+ , three groups of pentadentate ligands with different size of macrocylic cavity, different donor atoms and number of pendant arms containing various functional groups have been investigated. Coordination numbers of 6 or 7 were found in the crystal structure of the Mn2+ complexes enabling binding of one or two water molecules in the first coordination sphere. The direct water coordination causes a decrease in the complex stability and thus, the thermodynamic stability of investigated chelates is lower than that of polyaminocarboxylate complexes and their dissociation is very fast in comparison to [Mn(nota)] and [Mn(dota)]2- . The studied Mn2+ complexes do not undergo oxidation in air except for complexes with 12-membered ligands which are oxidized to Mn3+ species. The proton relaxivities of the bishydrated complexes are two times higher than those for monohydrated complexes and are comparable to those of commercial contrast agents based on Gd3+ complexes. Variable-temperature 17 O NMR data revealed that the water exchange varies from slow to intermediate or...
|
|
|
Recognition - psychological context and impact of ethnicity of offenders
Trojanová, Hana ; Boukalová, Hedvika (advisor) ; Šípek, Jiří (referee)
One of the problems in eyewitness recognition of offenders is their different ethnicity from the persons identifying them. This has been the subject of several scientific papers worldwide. Although the number of other ethnic groups in the Czech Republic grows, research into this area remains insufficient. Therefore, the present thesis focuses on ethnicity of offenders in the recognition process. Using video footage of an assault with Czech and Vietnamese offenders and subsequent mugshot facial recognition, the present thesis seeks to highlight the problem of a higher number of false identifications with persons having different ethnicity. Based on previous international research, the offenders' ethnicity is expected to have a negative impact on the ability to correctly identify perpetrators in the Czech Republic alike. The research showed a higher rate of false identifications of offenders with foreign nationality, but at the same time, nevertheless, found no relationship between correct identification of perpetrators with our and with foreign ethnicity. Keywords: recognition, eyewitness, testimony of witnesses, offender ethnicity, quantitative research.
|
|
|
Play behaviour of Hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus)
Petrů, Milada ; Špinka, Marek (advisor) ; Sedláček, František (referee) ; Nekovářová, Tereza (referee)
2 Summary Play is very interesting part of behaviour. Despite of broad interest it still remains insufficiently well-researched. Researchers try to describe play behaviour and explain the ontogenesis and answer one of the most important questions about function of play behaviour. These are the main topics that I deal with in my Ph.D. thesis, specifically with detail analysis of play behaviour based on data obtained from own video-recording of play behaviour of free- ranging Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) in Bhangarh locality in northwest India. Goal of the Ph.D. thesis is to analyze several aspects of play behaviour. First goal was characteristic of play behaviour and its categories and compiling of play ethogram. Self- handicapping is in the centre of interest of my study of play behaviour. This behaviour is typical and unique for play and has not been satisfactorily explained. In first paper included in my Ph.D. thesis I analysed patterns of ethogram of play behaviour of Hanuman langurs and other monkey species. Results showed that self-handicapping patterns and pattern dissimilar to "serious" behaviour can constitute a major part of play repertoire. Play behaviour is very variable and different parts may have different function. In second publication we analyzed in detail performance and...
|
guest ::
