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Nutritional analysis and optimization of breeding of selected species of edible insects under conditions of the Czech Republic with regard to human health
Adámková, Anna ; Kouřimská, Lenka (advisor)
All over the world, the edible insects are considered a highly nutritious food with high protein and fat content. However, the nutritional value of insect is not constant. It can be affected by species, developmental stage, rearing technology or nutrition.
Therefore, this thesis was aimed at obtaining the selected nutritional value of edible insects. Analyses were focused on the determination of the crude protein content, fat content, fatty acid profile and sterols in selected species of edible insects, which can be commonly reared in the Czech Republic. At the same time we also analysed samples of insects reared on the island of Sumatra to evaluate the influence of the climate on the nutritional value. The main aim of the thesis was the determination of optimal breeding conditions, developmental stages and feed rations for obtaining good production of insects with nutritional properties suitable for human nutrition. The analyses showed a high nutritional value of selected insect species, but also confirmed the significant differences in the content of individual nutrients between different species depending on the climate conditions and developmental stage. Comparing the fat and crude protein content in edible insects and other conventional sources of meat it has been found, that the examined insect is similar to beef concerning the fat and crude protein content. The results obtained are the basis for determining the appropriate rearing conditions and developmental stages for obtaining insect with the desired nutritional properties for human nutrition.
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Population genetic analysis of Old Kladruber horse
Vostrá Vydrová, Hana ; Majzlík, Ivan (advisor) ; Karel, Karel (referee)
The Old Kladruber horse, along with the Lipizzaner horse, Andalusian horse and Lusitano horse, is of the original Italo-Spanish type. The Old Kladruber horse is kept in two colour varieties (grey and black). Because the population is closed, there is a concern about the loss of genetic variation. The genetic diversity and population structure were analysed in the Old Kladruber horse breed based on the pedigree information of animals that were registered in the Studbook to identify factors that may have affected the genetic variability of the breed. Pedigree records collected from 1729 to 2013 contained information on 7971 animals that were used in the analyses. The pedigree depth was up to 33 generations, with an average of 15.1 complete generations. The effective number of founders and ancestors contributing to the current genetic pool was 92.69 and 17.16, respectively. The average values of the inbreeding coefficient were as follows: 13% (with a maximum value of 29%) for the reference population (individuals that can currently take part in reproduction, n=612), 11% for the grey variety (with a maximum value of 25%) and 15% for the black variety (with a maximum value of 29%). The proportion of inbred animals was high (99%). The average rate of inbreeding in the reference population was 1%: 0.8% for the grey variety and 1.1% for the black variety, and the respective estimates of the effective population sizes were 52 for the reference population, 62 for the grey variety and 45 for the black variety. The estimated percentage of genetic diversity lost due to non-random mating within subpopulations and the reference population was 1.0, 1.0 and 1.2%, respectively. The total loss of genetic diversity in the reference population, in the grey variety and in the black variety was 11%, 13% and 17%, respectively.
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Information content in vocalization of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus): individual distinction and recognition of predators
Baklová, Aneta ; Baranyiová, Eva (advisor) ; František, František (referee)
Guinea pigs represent domesticated precocious rodents which became common pets. From the first day after birth they are fully vocal. This thesis was devoted
to the vocalization of pups. The aim of the thesis was to 1) determine the age when the vocal individuality in whistle sound is demonstrable; 2) test possible ultrasonic signals emitted by young guinea pigs; 3) study the antipredator reactions and alarm calls to aerial (bird of prey) and terrestrial (dog) predators and human (control test).
A total of 16 guinea pig pups were tested for vocal individuality, 28 pups
for ultrasonic vocalization and 27 adolescents for predator recognition. When testing vocal ontogeny during the first 9 days after birth, I observed changes in temporal, frequency and parameter of intensity . When I test vocal individuality by cross-validated discriminant function analysis (DFA) based on ten acoustic parameters, calls were classified to correct animals with following success: day 1 = 71.9%, day 3 = 58.8%, day 5 = 53.10%, day 7 = 50.60% and day 9 = 63.10%. The highest frequency in whistle was 30.03 kHz. In predator discrimination reactions as freezing, fleeing and vigilance were observed. In the presence of dog, guinea pigs reacted for the longest time and most frequently by freezing. When confronted with a bird of prey, I observed for a longest time and most often fleeing and then freezing. When exposed to a human, guinea pigs showed mostly vigilance. Almost no vocalization was observed except for two events
of alarm calls - drrr as in the presence of dog and chirrup as reaction to bird of prey.
The following conclusions can be drawn from the presented results: 1) vocal individuality of guinea pigs is demonstrable immediately after birth and the rate
of individually different vocal parameters changes with age; 2) guinea pigs are able
to produce sound up to 30 kHz, i.e. within the ultrasound range, but signals of high frequencies are not crucial for their communication; 3) guinea pigs discriminate between terrestrial and aerial predators, but they emit alarm calls rather rarely.
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Antioxidant, anti-proliferative and immunomodulatory effect of fruits, vegetables and mushrooms in vitro
Doskočil, Ivo ; Havlík, Jaroslav (advisor) ; Orsák, Matyáš (referee)
Recently there has been an increasing interest in discovering of new species of plants and mushrooms which have antioxidant or anti proliferative activity. The interest is caused by the fact that these species have medicinal and food utilization. These properties of plants and mushrooms can be used when dealing with many diseases which may be connected with oxidative stress (inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and tumour disease, etc.).
The thesis propounds characteristics of in vitro antioxidant and anti proliferative activity of 19 types of juices and 28 methanol extracts of fruits and vegetables, which are common parts of a diet. In the thesis there are also characteristics of 13 ethanol extracts of edible mushrooms of the order of Polypore (Popyporales). Antioxidant activity was quantifie by 2, 2 diphenyl 1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production. Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT (3 (4,5 dimethylthiazol 2 yl) 2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide. Immunomodulatory activity was determined by an assay of phagocytic activity of human neutrophil granulocytes. Further a total phenolic content (TPC) and total beta glucan content were investigated; these are considered to be the potentially active constituents participating in mentioned activities.
From the obtained results it is evident that juices (TPC = 1603.2 mg GAE/L; ORAC = 438.5 umol TE/g)
and a bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) fruit extract (ORAC 836.6 umol TE/g; DPPH = 404.6 umol TE/g) showed
the highest antioxidant activity of all tested samples of fruits and vegetables. Capsicum (Capsicum L.)
juices (TPC = 642.1 mg GAE/L; ORAC = 127.9 umol TE/g) and a radish (Raphanus sativus L.) extract
(ORAC 724.5 umol TE/g; DPPH = 52.2 umol TE/g) also proved to have the high values of antioxidant activity. From the tested fruits and vegetables the following inhibited to produce a nitric oxide: onion (Allium cepa L) juices (lowered the NO production by 57%), tangerine juices (Citrus reticulata Blanco)(by 52%), broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis italic) extract (by 21%), and orange (Citrus sinensis Pers.) extract (by 10%). Concerning edible
mushrooms, Lentinus tigrinus (Bull.) Fr. (TPC = 216.2 umol GAE/g of extract), Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Kras (TPC = 257.9 umol GAE/g of extract), and Royoporus badius (Pers.) A.B. De (TPC = 257.8 umol GAE/g of extract) presented the highest phenolic content. Sparassis crispa (Wulfen) Fr. (117.4 mg/g of extract) had the highest content of beta glucan. Substantial effect on phagocytic activity of granulocytes was noticed in connection with Neolentinus lepideus (Fr.) Redhead & Ginns, Polyporus squamosus (Huds.) Fr., and S. crispa. In connection with the latter of mentioned mushrooms, a moderate inhibitory effect towards HT 29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line
(IC50 = 107 ug/ml of extract) was noticed.
The results indicate that the tested plants and mushrooms can be beneficial when reducing the negative effects of oxidative stress. The oxidative stress has been recognized as a contributing factor to a whole range of diseases and the reduction of the oxidative stress may lead to the decrease in the possibility of the diseases´ progression. The results show the possible favourable effects on the human health. When evaluating the results, the following fact should be taken into consideration; the in vitro tests and screenings are considered to be the first phase of systematic research of the effects and serve for the choice of respondents for further detailed studies.
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The use of biomass ash
Ochecová, Pavla ; Tlustoš, Pavel (advisor) ; Radim, Radim (referee)
One of the most frequently used sources of renewable energy is biomass, mainly wood biomass. Incineration is the most common technology utilizing the energy from biomass to produce heat. A byproduct of these technologies is ash, whose composition depends on the feedstock composition and the incineration technologies. Due to the high content of valuable nutrients in ash, one of the suitable option for ash utilization seems to be application into agricultural or forestry land. Therefore, it is necessary to test response of soils and plants and look for the most suitable combination of soil additive (biomass ash), and plants. Experimental part of PhD thesis was divided into the incubation experiment and the vegetation pot experiments. The incubation experiment: The efficiency of ash addition at two application rates was tested for nutrients enrichment in different soils within period of 56 days. The vegetation pot experiments: The two plants Triticum aestivum L: (three-year experiment) and Lolium perenne L. (one-year experiment) were planted in the 5L pots. Soils were treated with ash or ash combinated by superphoshate and flue gas desulfurization gypsum. For both plants, we evaluated the plant growth, biomass production and content of macro, micro and toxic elements in the biomass and in the soils.
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Cooperation of high schools with external contractors in preparing school educational programs
Tulach, David ; Lačev, Alek (advisor) ; Hochel, Matej (referee)
This thesis, Cooperation of high schools with external contractors in preparing school educational programs, deals with the question whether it would be possible and beneficial for high schools to cooperate with companies on the preparation or modification of their educational programs, with the goal of improving the quality of education. After initial contributions from experts who provided negative replies to this question, the view was focused on the root of the issue - what are the historical pillars of public schools and pedagogy, what does science say about learning and teaching, how pedagogy reacts to the crisis of science. After comparing literal sources and results from interview with the experts, in combination with a trace and activity analysis, a theory was established that public education is reaching a point of crisis, has not changed in its essence since its beginning and that the best solution might be the establishment of alternative educational institutions.
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Predicting asp and pikeperch recruitment in a riverine redervoir.
BLABOLIL, Petr
Recruitment of two species, asp (Leuciscus aspius) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca), in a riverine reservoir was studied using a novel statistical approach. Both species are piscivorous and are stocked into reservoirs for biomanipulative purposes to reduce planktivore species. Long-term data series were used, but the number of potential predictors was high. Therefore, a novel informative statistical approach based on dimension reduction methods was applied. Quality of outputs was driven by sampling methods. Main factors affecting asp recruitment were zooplankton abundance, predator density and temperature. In terms of pikeperch fry measured with seine and trawls, the number of predators was the only important factor. Gillnets underestimate small fish and the data were unsuitable for statistical modelling.
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Single particle analysis of size-segregated aerosol in Prague city center
Marvanová, S. ; Skoupý, Radim ; Kulich, P. ; Bendl, J. ; Hovorka, J. ; Machala, M.
Particulate matter (PM) is omnipresent pollutant in the ambient air known to cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases (WHO 2004). Recently, outdoor air pollution and particulate matter in outdoor air pollution were classified as carcinogenic to humans, Group 1 (IARC 2015). Especially, ambient PM of aerodynamic diameter < 100 nm, ultrafine particles, appears to be of great importance due to its high specific surface area and high number concentration (Hughes et al. 1998). Ultrafine particles also easily enter and are being transferred in organisms, and interact with cells and subcellular components (Oberdorster et al. 2005). As the evidence of ultrafine PM significance increased, size-fractionated PMs sampled by various cascade impactors have been employed into the toxicological studies on cell cultures or isolated cells, using the organic extracts of size-fractionated PMs (Topinka et al. 2013, Topinka et al. 2015) or directly the size-fractionated particles (Becker et al. 2003, Ramgolam et al. 2009, Reibman et al. 2002, Loxham et al. 2013, Jalava et al. 2006, Thomson et al. 2015, Jalava et al. 2015). The aim of this study was to evaluate shape and composition of size-segregated aerosol particles, sampled by high volume cascade impactor, using electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).
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Diamond coated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors - effect of deposition process on gate electrode
Vanko, G. ; Ižák, Tibor ; Babchenko, O. ; Kromka, Alexander
We studied the influence of the diamond deposition on the degradation of Schottky gate electrodes (i.e. Ir or IrO2) and on the electrical characteristics of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). In present study, the diamond films were selectively deposited on the AlGaN/GaN circular HEMT by focused (ellispoidal cavity reactor) and linear antenna (surface wave) microwave plasma at different temperatures from 400°C to 1100°C. The preliminary results on electrical measurements on the diamond-coated c-HEMTs showed degraded electrical properties comparing to c-HEMTs before deposition process, which was attributed to degradation of the Ir gate electrodes even at temperatures as low as 400°C. On the other hand, metal oxide gate electrode layer (IrO2) can withstand diamond CVD process even at high temperatures (~900°C) which make it suitable for fabrication of all-in-diamond c-HEMT devices for high-power applications.
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(100) substrate processing optimization for fabrication of smooth boron doped epitaxial diamond layer by PE CVD
Mortet, Vincent ; Fekete, Ladislav ; Ashcheulov, Petr ; Taylor, Andrew ; Hubík, Pavel ; Trémouilles, D. ; Bedel-Pereira, E.
Boron doped diamond layers were grown in an SEKI AX5010 microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition system. Effect of surface preparation, i.e. polishing and O2/H2 plasma etching on epitaxial growth on type Ib (100) HPHT synthetic diamonds were investigated. Using optimized substrate preparation, smooth (RRMS ~ 1 nm) boron doped diamond layers with metallic conduction and free of un-epitaxial crystallites were grown with a relatively high growth rate of 3.7 μm/h. Diamond were characterized by optical microscopy, optical profilometry, atomic force microscopy and Hall effect.
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