The goal of the research reported in this thesis is to establish the feasibility of a novel optical architecture for an optical route & select circuit switch suitable for implementation as a photonic integrated circuit. The proposed architecture combines Optical Phased Array (OPA) switch elements implemented as multimode interference coupler based Generalised Mach-Zehnder Interferometers (GMZI) with a planar Lüneburg lens-based optical transpose interconnection network implemented using graded metamaterial waveguide slabs. The proposed switch is transparent to signal format and, in principle, can have zero excess insertion loss and scale to large port counts. These switches will enable the low-energy consumption high capacity communications network infrastructure needed to provide environmentally-friendly broadband access to all. The thesis first explains the importance of switch structures in optical communications networks and the difficulties of scaling to a large number of switch ports. The thesis then introduces the Talbot effect, i.e. the self-imaging of periodic field distributions in free space. It elaborates on a new approach to finding the phase relations between pairs of Talbot image planes at carefully selected positions. The free space Talbot effect is mapped to the waveguide Talbot effect which is fundamental to the operation of multimode interference couplers (MMI). Knowledge of the phase relation between the MMI ports is necessary to achieve correct operation of the GMZI OPA switch elements. An outline of the design procedures is given that can be applied to optimise the performance of MMI couplers and, as a consequence, the GMZI OPA switch elements. The Lüneburg Optical Transpose Interconnection System (LOTIS) is introduced as a potential solution to the problem of excessive insertion loss and cross-talk caused by the large number of crossovers in a switch fabric. Finally, the thesis explains how a Lüneburg lens may be implemented in a graded ‘metamaterial’, i.e. a composite material consisting of ‘atoms’ arranged on a regular lattice suspended in a host by nano-structuring of silicon waveguide slabs using a single etch-step. Furthermore, the propagation of light in graded almost-periodic structures is discussed. Detailed consideration is given to the calibration of the local homogenised effective index; in terms of the local parameters of the metamaterial microstructure in the plane and the corrections necessary to accommodate slab waveguide confinement in the normal to the plane. The concept and designs were verified by FDTD simulation. A 4×4 LOTIS structure showed correct routing of light with a low insertion loss of -0.25 dB and crosstalk of -24.12 dB. An -0.45 dB excess loss for 2D analysis and an -0.83 dB insertion excess loss for 3D analysis of two side by side metamaterial Lüneburg lenses with diameter of 15 μm was measured, which suggests that the metamaterial implementation produces minimal additional impairments to the switch.

The presented thesis is focused on a set of problems related to managerial decision-making concerning networks (particularly transportation networks), respectively - if we put it more precisely - the thesis focuses on the support of this decision-making by means of quantitative methods. A set of problems related to nets and decision-making concerning their individual parts or elements represents a very complex sphere which has been a subject of research for a number of decades. Out of this sphere, the thesis formulates and elaborates in great detail two problems, which - from the point of view of their practical significance - are important for the decision-making of managers of carriers, or the public sphere, and which have not been published in this form yet. The main point is the problem of how to find a subnet with a limited prolongation of routes between important pairs of vertices. Another problem is a design of a bus route in an area with a low demand. For each of these problems, the thesis offers an exact combinatorial solution method, furthermore a method based on integer linear programming, and - last but not least - also, of course, heuristic methods of solution. All these methods have been tested on a set of networks, which has been created for this purpose in a pseudo-random way in the frame of this thesis. The testing has been focused primarily on the comparison of the results provided by heuristic methods, which are of great importance - with regard to a great computational difficulty of exact methods - for feasible tasks on a larger scale. The tests have proved that the proposed heuristic methods are practically applicable and show results whicheven represent the optimal solution in a number of cases, or are only slightly distant from the optimal solution.

The subject of the thesis is the optimization of one the key processes in a book company, namely warehouse logistics. This problem consist of two parts; first part focuses on route optimization of completion of customers' orders on daily basis, second part focuses on assigning of storage subsystems and their interconnection. The proposed solution uses a traveller salesman problem implemented into intranet application. Second problem was designed as quadratic assignment problem with use of ex post data analysis. On the basis of achieved results, we presented effective procedures for solving both of aforementioned problems and suggested their implementation into the company's enterprise resource planning system. Keywords:

This thesis deals with a comparison of two sections of The Elbe Cycle Path in the Central Region. The whole work is divided into four parts. In the first half of the theoretical part describes cycling as such, explains the basic concepts arising from the topic and parameters that can influence the price of trails. The second half focuses on the approach to Elbe Cycle Route, its history, current status and vision for the future. The practical part describes The Elbe Cycle Route already embedded in the Central Region and the region itself and represents "The Elbe Cycle Route Brandýs nad Labem and in the neighborhood" and "The Cycleway Horní Počaply -- Vliněves -- Zelčín". The final section is devoted to the analysis of cartographic and economic comparison of the above projects. Final comparison shows the effectiveness in the implementation of both projects and highlights their strengths and opportunities and points out the weaknesses and threats that can be an inspiration and a warning to other projects linked to the development of cycling and mountain biking. The added value of this work is the visibility of both projects and communities to come together to be capable of such an important yet very financially demanding projects to implement. It turned out that although the patronage of the way, in terms of cycling, strategic projects assumed by the Central Region, it is fair to make a below average spending.

The main goal of this work is to implement a system, which will be able to optimize routes between warehouses and selected customers and visualize them using maps by the Google Inc. This problem is being analyzed not only on the theoretical, but also, and mainly, on the practical aspects and tries to find a gap in the market with similar applications.

The main objective of this thesis is to introduce the Windows Azure platform, its possibilities and limits, particularly with regard to interaction with mobile clients running on the Windows Phone 7 platform. This is demonstrated by the development of an application designed to ease navigation through difficult terrain. This application is primarily designed to help cyclists and people with handicap restricting their movement. The knowledge acquired through design and implementation of this application is generalized to be useful for other developers using Windows Azure. The application is developed with focus on the usefulness for the defined target groups. This thesis is focused on the server side of the application running on the Windows Azure platform. The client side of the application running on the Windows Phone 7 platform is not covered in this thesis and is described in detail by Bc. Vít Čurda in his thesis Development of map application for tracking in cloud - Client side on Windows Phone 7.

The diploma thesis evaluates the benefits of a section of the Elbe route between the city of Hradec Kralove and the village of Kuks. In the theoretical part, frequently used terms are explained, along with the history of cycle tourism, the Elbe route is introduced, as well as the subjects taking care of it, and the costs and benefits of cycle tourism are described. The practical part is focused on the mentioned section of the route -- it depicts this section and then moves to present and analyze the results of the survey conducted during this study.

Completando 100 anos da descoberta da molestia, a Doenca de Chagas, causada pelo agente etiologico Trypanosoma cruzi, ainda e considerada nas Americas Central e do Sul um problema de saude publica, atingindo mais de 8 milhoes de individuos. Sua transmissao ocorre de distintas maneiras, como por vetores, transfusao sanguinea, transplante de orgaos, acidentes em laboratorios, via oral. O parasita e conhecido por sua heterogeneidade no genotipo e fenotipo, baseado em mutacoes cumulativas em diferentes sub-populacoes do parasita. A cepa CL Brener e uma cepa padrao para pesquisa com diversas peculiaridades interessantes como baixa infectividade em animais, resposta aos tratamentos existentes e seus marcadores geneticos serem estaveis. O clone CL B5 de T. cruzi e originado a partir da cepa CL Brener modificada geneticamente. A cepa possui um gene reporter, o LacZ de Escherichia coli que sintetiza uma enzima, a À-galactose que pode catalisar uma reacao colorimetrica com o substrato vermelho de clorofenol À-galactopiranosideo (CPRG). A atividade enzimatica e diretamente proporcional ao numero de parasita. No presente trabalho propomos a introducao de uma tecnica colorimetrica para caracterizacao de parametros para quantificacao do parasitismo tecidual e comparacao com a tecnica histologica e Real Time-PCR. Camundongos Balb/C machos foram divididos em grupos controle (nao infectado) e experimental variando a via de inoculacao, a saber, intraperitoneal (IP), subcutanea (SC) e oral (OR). As curvas parasitemicas foram realizadas por meio da coleta de sangue da cauda do animal. Apos morte dos mesmos, foram estudados os tecidos cardiaco, hepatico, esplenico, enterico e muscular (musculo esqueletico). Os orgaos foram retirados, divididos em tres porcoes equitativas para analise histologica, enzimatica e molecular. Na atividade enzimatica, comparando os tecidos em suas vias de inoculacao, o figado apresentou resultado significativo no grupo inoculado via IP. Tecido cardiaco apresentou diferenca estatistica (P<0,05) entre as vias de inoculacao OR e SC, apresentando maior atividade enzimatica na primeira, o que esta relacionado a uma maior quantidade de parasita tecidual. Nos cortes histologicos o grupo SC mostrou-se mais infectado com grande numero de ninhos de forma amastigota em praticamente todos os tecidos, enquanto nos demais grupos foram observados ninhos de amastigota em sua maioria no coracao e viii musculo esqueletico. A presenca do parasita nos demais tecidos foi confirmada pela eletroforese em gel de agarose 1,5% apos tecnica de PCR convencional. A Real Time-PCR nao se mostrou satisfatoria no trabalho devido a dificuldade na sua padronizacao. Concluindo, a metodologia enzimatica se mostrou favoravel e adequada na quantificacao parasitaria tecidual, podendo ser aperfeicoada para corroborar sua eficacia. / One hundred years after the discovery of Chagas Disease, an illness caused by blood born protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is still consider a public health problem. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Central and South Americas where more than 8 million individuals are already infected. This illness can be contracted by different forms as vector transmission, blood transfusion, tissue transplant, laboratory accidents and oral route. The parasite has a heterogeneous genotype and phenotype due to accumulating mutation in their sub-populations. CL Brener is considered as a pattern strain due to some intrinsic characteristics as low infectivity, good response to therapy drugs and a stable genetic heritage. The CL B5 clone of T. cruzi was originated by a genetic modification of the CL Brener strain which has a reporter gene LacZ of Escherichia coli, which induces the syntesis of â-galactosidase which is able to catalyze a colorimetric reaction using the substrat Chlorophenol red-â-D-galactopyranoside (CPRG). The enzymatic activity is directly related with the number of the parasites. In this study we proposed a new colorimetric assay to quantify T. cruzi load in different animal tissues by comparing with other methodologies such histological and molecular assay (Real Time-PCR). Male Balb/C mice were separated into control and experimental groups according to the route of infection (IP-intraperitoneal, SC-subcutaneous, OR-oral). Parasitemic curves were made by collecting blood samples from the tail of experimental animals. Fifteen days after, animals were euthanized and their tissues removed (heart, liver, spleen, intestine and skeletal muscles) and divided in three portions for the colorimetric analyses, histopathology and molecular assay. The enzymatic activity was performed comparing the number of parasites in different tissues according to the route of infection. Comparing them, it was observed that heart and liver displayed the highest number of parasites as compared with the other studied tissues. In the liver, IP route triggered the highest number of parasites while in the heart OR and SC routes displayed enhanced parasites. The histopathology analysis revealed that SC group presented the highest number of amastigote nests. For IP and OR groups, nests were mostly observed in heart and skeletal muscles. T. cruzi DNA were detected using electrophoreses 1,5 % agarose gel after conventional PCR technique, displaying characteristic bands of DNA. The Real Time-PCR was not a satisfactory x assay for this study due to difficulties on its patronization. To conclude, the enzymatic methodology was advantageous and appropriated on quantifying tissue parasites. Some further experiments will be needed to improve methodology and its efficacy.

Este trabalho consiste na análise da modificação superficial da liga armazenadora de hidrogênio, MmNi3,4Co0,8Al0,8, através de óxidos de Cobre, Níquel e Cobalto, utilizando-se para tanto o método sol-gel. As técnicas de caracterização usadas para o recobrimento obtido, Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV) e Redução Térmica Programada (RTP), permitiram a observação de uma \"rede\" formada pelos óxidos presentes nos recobrimentos que proporcionam a aglomeração das partículas da liga, sem contudo, impedir a interação de hidrogênio com o material. O estudo do comportamento eletroquímico do recobrimento foi realizado pelas técnicas de Voltametria Cíclica , Ciclos Galvanostáticos de Carga e Descarga e Espectroscopia de Impedância. Foi possível verificar que a camada de óxidos formada pelo recobrimento através do método sol-gel melhora o desempenho da liga: em relação a sua capacidade de descarga que é significativamente aumentada, principalmente no recobrimento por óxido de cobalto e também em relação a proteção contra a pulverização do material, que proporciona maiores números de ciclos de carga e descarga / This work consists in the analysis of the surface modification of the hydrogen storage alloy, MmNi3,4Co0,8Al0,8, threugh Copper, Nickel and Cobalt oxides, using for this the sol-gel method. The characterization techniques used for the obtained surfase modification (SEM and TPR) allowed the observation of a \" net \" formed by the presents oxides in the surface modification that provides the gathering of the alloys particles, without however, to harm the hydrogen interaction with the material. The study of the electrochemical behavior of the surface modification was carried out by the techniques of Cyclic Voltammetry, Charge/Discharge cycles and Electrochemical Impedance. It was possible to verify that the oxides of layer formed by the surface modification for the sol-gel method improves the alloy performance: in relation to its discharge capacity that is significantly increased, mainly in the surface modification by oxide of cobalt, and also in relation to the protection against the deterioration of the material, that provides higher numbers of cycles charge and discharge

Morphological segmentation while reading is essential for new vocabulary learning. The study's aim was to investigate semantic-level morphological segmentation using event-related brain potentials (ERPs) in typical young adult readers. Past research has suggested that, because semantically opaque words prime their stems (e.g., corner/corn) similarly to transparent words (e.g., farmer/farm), readers recognize complex words from their constituent morphemes without regard to semantic information. However, this priming effect may be due to orthographic and phonological overlap between prime and target words. The research presented here addressed this possibility by creating five conditions in which orthographic, phonological, and semantic relationships between prime and target words were manipulated: Condition 1,wherein prime and target shared no relationship (e.g., inn/brother), served as Control. In Condition 2, prime and target were the same (e.g., brother/brother). In Condition 3, prime was the stem of target (e.g., broth/brother). Condition 4, our critical experimental condition, used primes semantically related to the stem of the target word (e.g., soup/brother). Finally, in Condition 5, prime was semantically related to the whole target word (e.g., sibling/brother). Semantically priming the stem (Condition 4) did not modulate the amplitude of the standard N400 ERP component (as did Conditions 2, 3, and 5), but did affect an early N400-like ERP component peaking in amplitude at ~262 ms after target. Other ERPs were observed that responded uniquely to shared orthography (Conditions 2, 3). Results set the stage for investigating morphological processing in adult reading impairments to evaluate whether, and to what extent, these readers semantically process morphological stems during text comprehension.