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Extreme environment of the Atacama Desert: Geology, Extremophiles, and its connection to Exobiology
Jíra, Stanislav ; Culka, Adam (advisor) ; Vítek, Petr (referee)
Because of the position in the subtropical climate belt, high altitudes, cold Humboldt Current, Andean rain-shadow, and a few other factors, the Atacama Desert is known for its hyper-arid conditions which are persisting here for a few tens of millions of years. That is why this place is called the driest non-polar place in the world. Aridity is present here since Mesozoic. Because of these conditions, Atacama was thought to be completely inhabitable and inappropriate for any life forms. Despite all the limiting factors, microbial life here exists. Microorganisms have created adaptations in the forms of specialized metabolisms, proteins, and most importantly in form of photoprotective pigments. Except for the structural mechanisms, extremophiles can choose a strategy of living evaporitic minerals, which are quite common in Atacama. For understanding these forms of life many scientific methods are used, for example Raman spectroscopy. Methods that are used here are often used also in extraterrestrial conditions, mainly on the planet Mars, which shares with Atacama few similarities (e.g., some evaporitic minerals). The study of adaptations and capabilities of extremophilic microorganisms can help to broaden the knowledge and understanding of how incredibly resilient life is. Keywords: The Atacama...
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Biochemical Aspects of Artwork Restoring
Boledovičová, Petra ; Hudeček, Jiří (advisor) ; Kubíčková, Božena (referee)
The following bachelor thesis is focussed on findings on the field of art restoring in connection with its biochemical aspects. In itroduction is resumed brief history of art restoring and generally defined terms of preservation, restoring, art and paint. For better understanding basic paint techniques (aquarelle, gouache, tempera and oil painting), strata sequence and instruments and materials commonly used for art work are mentioned. Most frequently used organic and inorganic pigments are briefly mentioned, however this thesis is mainly focussed on applied organic compounds - lipids, proteins, polysacharides and terpenoids - its composition, characteristics, usagea nd possible interactions. The following thesis is written in czech. Key words: restoring, art work, paint, organic binders, lipids, proteins, polysacharides, terpenoids
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Raman spectrometry of pigments of cyanobacteria, algae and lichens in the astrobiology context
Kovács, Michal ; Jehlička, Jan (advisor) ; Osterrothová, Kateřina (referee)
This work deals with the possibility of Raman spectroscopical identification of selected biomarkers of extremophile species. It focuses mainly on selected cyanobacteria, algae and lichens with an emphasis on the ability to detect carotenoids. These pigments exhibit three characteristic bands of Raman spectra which represent stretching vibrations C=C; C-C and bending vibration C-CH3 in molecules of carotenoids. Raman spectra were measured not only by laboratory microspectrometers (λ - 514 nm and 532 nm), but also by portable and handheld spectrometers (λ - 532 nm, 785 nm and 700 - 1100 nm). In the case of cyanobacteria, the spectroscopical analysis was performed also on the fractions obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This work critically evaluates the possibilities of Raman spectroscopy to identify the carotenoids of cyanobacteria, algae and lichens. Besides the signal of carotenoids, interpretation of other bands in the Raman spectra corresponding to the presence of other biomarkers is given here for selected samples. The obtained Raman spectra of carotenoids should be interpreted with great caution, because of the ifluence of several factors, which potentially cause unsystematic shifts in the positions of Raman bands (carotenoids bond in biological tissue, interactions with...
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Identification of milk and collagenous binders used in colour layers in art works
Kofroňová, Pavla ; Hrdličková Kučková, Štěpánka (advisor) ; Čapek Adamec, Martin (referee)
The task of this diploma thesis was to investigate the influence of inorganic pigments on the identification of casein oil and animal glue tempera by mass spectrometry MALDI- -TOF MS (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation - Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry). First, it was necessary to prepare a set of model colour layers containing casein and animal glue tempera together with ten inorganic pigments. Consequently, the method of peptide mass fingerprinting was used to obtain mass spectra of the samples. Finally, it was possible to compare and determine the characteristic peptide fragments for both proteinaceous binders and find pigments that most affected the identification of casein and rabbit glue temperas. The obtained values of m/z casein oil tempera and animal glue tempera were used to improve and complete reference database of protein binders that is used to identify protein binders in works of art at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague.
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Development of cementitious screeds of higher use properties
Kardošová, Romana ; Přikryl, Jan (referee) ; Hela, Rudolf (advisor)
The aim of this paper is to summarize and evaluate properties of polymers modified modified mortar, their durability and the possibility of surface treatment. Recently, the requirements for additional surface treatment of architectonal concrete are increased and the application of polymer-modified mortar can accelerate and simplify the realization of visible concrete. Polymer-modified mortar with the addition of powder photocatalysts can significantly reduce and thus increase the availability of photoactive concrete structures. The experimental part deals with the addition of photocatalyst to the polymer-modified mortar and the subsequent assessment of the photocatalytic properties, the possibility of modification cement mortars with anorganic pigments and the application of transparent coatings for the enhancement of color saturation and resistance.
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Raman spectrometry of pigments of cyanobacteria, algae and lichens in the astrobiology context
Kovács, Michal ; Jehlička, Jan (advisor) ; Osterrothová, Kateřina (referee)
This work deals with the possibility of Raman spectroscopical identification of selected biomarkers of extremophile species. It focuses mainly on selected cyanobacteria, algae and lichens with an emphasis on the ability to detect carotenoids. These pigments exhibit three characteristic bands of Raman spectra which represent stretching vibrations C=C; C-C and bending vibration C-CH3 in molecules of carotenoids. Raman spectra were measured not only by laboratory microspectrometers (λ - 514 nm and 532 nm), but also by portable and handheld spectrometers (λ - 532 nm, 785 nm and 700 - 1100 nm). In the case of cyanobacteria, the spectroscopical analysis was performed also on the fractions obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This work critically evaluates the possibilities of Raman spectroscopy to identify the carotenoids of cyanobacteria, algae and lichens. Besides the signal of carotenoids, interpretation of other bands in the Raman spectra corresponding to the presence of other biomarkers is given here for selected samples. The obtained Raman spectra of carotenoids should be interpreted with great caution, because of the ifluence of several factors, which potentially cause unsystematic shifts in the positions of Raman bands (carotenoids bond in biological tissue, interactions with...
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Factors affecting deposition of selected antimicrobial substances into the egg structures
Pokorná, Monika ; Javůrková, Veronika (advisor) ; Svobodová, Jana (referee)
Both during the ovogenesis and immediately after the laying is a bird egg exposed to strong pressure from the microorganisms which are able to penetrate the egg through eggshell pores and infect its inner structures. With regard to the proved negative effects on hatchability, viability and phenotype of offspring, a cascade of obstacles has evolved which are able to minimize the risk of bacterial infection. The deposition of antimicrobial components into the eggshell and the egg white is considered to be one of them. A whole group of egg white proteins belong to them, among which lysozyme and ovotransferrin, which are also partially deposited into the eggshell and cuticular layer of the eggshell, dominate with their antimicrobial effect. The implication of the newest studies is that the microbial protection of the egg can be also performed by the eggshell pigments - biliverdin and protoporphyrin, which protect the egg from being colonized by microorganisms with an increased UV light and regulation of conductivity and water vapour condensation on the egg surface. Even though the presence of these antimicrobial components in different structures of the egg has been proved, there is no known comparative study which addresses the relation between deposition of selected antimicrobial components into...
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