The aim of the thesis was the comparison of two DNA microextraction methods with the use of magnetic beads from food of plant origin. Samples had disparate and complex matrices and were either raw (broccoli) or processed (strawberry jam). The first method uses a magnetic separator for the manipulation of magnetic beads and was used as a standart for the comparison. The second method uses a paramagnetic needle, the advantage of which should be the possibility to isolate DNA of higher quality without a significant contamination by polyphenolic compounds or proteins. The former method was validated by statistic analysis of results obtained from both methods. DNA quality was judged by testing the amplificability of isolated DNA via PCR. The amplified products were visualised on an agarose gel with electrophoresis.

The aim of this work deals with the design and manufacture of a device for mixing of magnetic beads in solution by magnetic field. It is based on my previous bachelor thesis, where the device was created for one microtube (one sample). In this following work, the three improved variants for mixing and separation of 96 samples at one time were designed. The first variant of device, derived from functional prototype from bachelor thesis, was manufactured. First, the magnetic circuit and power converter were designed. Subsequently, the device was manufactured just for one microtube due to functionality testing. The third variant was realized only experimentally, the construction was designed in CAD program, and individual parts were created using 3D printer. As an alternative solution, which should be the compromise among electromagnetic and mechanical stirring, additional prototype was manufactured using 3D printer and CNC instrument. This prototype utilizes neodymium magnets and a stepper motor. The capability of magnetic beads mixing in solution was verified.

This master´s thesis deals with the formulation of a business plan with aim to establish a retail shop and e-shop in the sphere of hobby shop focused on bead assortment. Special attention this assembled business plan is devoted to detailed analysis of surroundings and market, where the founded company would enter. The assembled financial plan, which is component of this thesis, corroborates viability of this project.

This master’s thesis is engaged with composition a business plan for the development of retail stores with online store with beads and other equipment for beading. An important part of the work constitutes mainly a thorough analysis of the enterprise market, the company will enter. Further work is part of the marketing plan and last but not least, the financial plan.

The presented thesis aims establishment of a competitive business on a basis of a well-prepared, viable business plan. The range of offered products includes beads and beads components as well as creative classes for children and adults. Porter Five Forces Analysis, PEST analysis, SWOT analysis and a questionnaire survey were employed. Pivotal chapter - Custom design solutions – was structured in accordance with the business plan. According to the results the potential customers are interested in the products and the business would be prosperous in today´s competitive environment.

DNA detection has an increasing importance in our everyday lives, with applications ranging from microbial diagnostics to forensic analysis. Currently, as the associated costs decrease, DNA diagnostic techniques are routinely used not only in research laboratories, but also in clinical and forensic practice. The present thesis aims to unravel the potential of cellulose filter paper to be a viable candidate for DNA array support. There are two papers in this study. In Paper I, we studied the method of functionalizing the surface of filter paper and the possibility to detect DNA on acitve paper using fluorescence. In Paper II, we investigated visualization and throughput of DNA detection with magnetic beads on active filter papers, an assay which requires no instrumentation (scanner). The findings in Paper I show that XG-NH2 and PDITC can functionalize the cellulose filter paper and that the activated filter papers can covalently bind oligonucleotides modified with amino groups to detect DNA. The detection limit of the assay is approximately 0.2 pmol. In Paper II, visualization of DNA detection on active paper is achieved without instrumentation, based on the natural color of magnetic beads. Furthermore, successful multiplex detection supports the potential to increase the throughput of DNA detection on active papers. In summary, these studies show that active cellulose filter paper is a good DNA array support candidate as it provides a user-friendly and cost-efficient DNA detection assay. The methods described in Paper I and II are possible sources of development to a point-of-care device for on-site analysis of DNA contents in a sample. / <p>QC 20131111</p>

I have statistically worked up a material from 228 graves from the late Iron Age in the area of Mälardalen. In my material I have gathered the incidence of combs, knifes, beads, weapons whetstones and torshammarsrings. I have found that beads are overrepresented in graves of women and whetstones in graves of men. I only found weapons in graves from male. I found no indication from my statistic hypothesis (Z-test) that a grave that contains more than three beads should define the grave of a woman. A grave that contains a lot of beads, more than 20, consider I as a female gender. Combs, knifes and torshammarsring are considered as gender neutral.

Coral bleaching is a worldwide result of climate change that is affecting the marine ecosystems greatly. Methods to help solve the issue have been previously explored and Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMCs) have been proven to help mitigate coral bleaching in laboratory trials. In their efforts to test its effectiveness on the field, scientists have found that it would be beneficial to have a constant, biocompatible, source of BMCs. We have tested Calcium Alginate microspheres, what we call Alginate Beads, in terms of release rate and cell viability to determine if they are fit to be used as vectors for the BMC consortia. By placing the Beads in two different temperatures representing winter and summer temperatures in the Red Sea in agitation we were able to understand their dynamics more clearly. By using Flow Cytometry, Colony Forming Units, and microscopy techniques we were able to see that Alginate Beads incorporate bacteria into their matrix and keep them viable for up to two weeks. We also observed that the Beads release more bacterial cells at higher temperatures compared to lower temperatures. This suggests that when used in the field, Alginate Beads are able to sustain the bacteria for a prolonged time period and it will release bacteria at a higher rate in warmer temperatures potentially either season or region-wise. Hence, we believe that Alginate Beads could be suitable as vectors for field research and should be explored further.

No description available.

<p>The human interactome presents a goldmine of potentially powerful therapeutic targets, yet very few small molecule modulators of protein-protein interactions (PPI) have been identified. PPI pose a particular challenge for drug discovery, and one of the major obstacles to fully exploiting these interactions is a lack of appropriate technologies to screen for modulating compounds. This thesis aims to address the need for function- based approaches that target PPI by using magnetic beads (MB) and mass spectrometry (MS) to develop efficient assays to monitor these interactions and their modulation by small molecules. The work begins with the validation of a novel magnetic “fishing” assay, which uses affinity-capture MB to isolate intact complexes of a “bait” protein from solution. By monitoring the recovery of the secondary binding partner, this assay was used to functionally screen a library of 1000 compounds for small molecule modulators of a calmodulin/melittin (CaM/Mel) model system. The versatility of magnetic “fishing” is clearly demonstrated during a study of a more relevant CaM-based system, which uncovered a novel mode of interaction for the CaM-binding domain of transcription factor SOX9. In addition to the MB-based approach, a simple MS-based competitive displacement assay is developed to identify minimal inhibitory fragments of a target complex as indicators of potential ‘hot-spots’. The assay was used to probe a DNA repair complex of XRCC4/ligaseIV, and identified a short helix that can be used as a more defined target surface for future high-throughput screening and rational drug design. The functional MS-based assays herein are highly adaptable tools to monitor PPI, and will facilitate the study of these and other important biomolecular interactions.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)