Sammanfattning Syfte och frågeställningar Syftet med studien var att få en inblick i hur omfattande smartphoneanvändning var bland människor och hur denna användning samvarierade med den mentala hälsan. En annan del av syftet var att se om ett beteendemönster kunde ändras hos smartphoneanvändarna och på så vis ändra den mentala hälsan. För att uppnå syftet ställdes två frågeställningar: (1) Finns det något samband mellan grad av smartphoneberoende och upplevd psykisk hälsa? (2) Kan en kortare tids intervention där man begränsar användandet av smartphone hos deltagarna påverka deras subjektiva psykiska välmående? Metod För att få en inblick i hur utbrett smartphoneberoendet är i dagsläget och om det påverkar den subjektiva psykiska hälsan valdes enkät som metod eftersom det var tidseffektivt och gav ett brett urval. För att kunna skapa en beteendeförändring så behövdes en aktiv interaktion med respondenterna, därför kom beslutet att utföra en intervention. Interventionen gick ut på att deltagarna under sex dagar skulle reducera sitt mobilanvändande i största mån möjligt för att se om deras mentala hälsa kunde påverkas. Urvalet bestod av 76 kvinnor och 56 män med en medelålder på 25 år. Resultat Enligt korrelationsanalysen fanns ett svagt samband r = - 0,218 mellan mental hälsa och smartphoneberoende som var statistiskt signifikant (p = 0.013). Analys av enkätdata visade en stor grupp som klassades som smartphoneberoende = 48.2% och 51.8% som ej smartphoneberoende. Detta visade att fler personer är mobilberoende i detta urval än vad andra studier hittat. Interventionen bortgick på grund av ett stort bortfall. Slutsats Resultatet visade på ett svagt negativt samband mellan mental hälsa och smartphoneberoende. Kausalitetssamband klargjordes inte och vidare forskning krävs på ämnet för att i framtiden kunna urskilja om en mental ohälsa leder till mer smartphoneanvändande eller om mycket smartphoneanvändning leder till mental ohälsa i sig. / Abstract Purpose and objective The purpose of this study was to survey the use of mobile phones amongst people and how it coincides with mental health. We also wanted to investigate whether or not we could create a behavioral change amongst the mobile phone users and thereby see if it affected their mental health. To achieve this objective we emanated from two questions: (1) Is there a relationship between Smartphone addiction and subjective mental health? (2) Can a short intervention, where you decrease the time spent on smartphones amongst users improve their subjective well-being? Method To get an insight in how widespread the use of mobile phones is and if it affects subjective well-being we chose to collect data through surveys because it was time effective and gave a wide group of people. To be able to create a behavioral change we concluded we had to actively interact with the respondents, so we chose to perform an intervention. During the intervention the participants would reduce their mobile phone usage to the greatest extent possible to see if their mental health could be improved. Result According to the correlation analysis, there is a weak relationship r = - 0,218 between mental health and smartphone addiction which is statistically significant (p=0.013). Analysis of survey data showed a large group classified as smartphone addicted = 48.2% and 51.8% as non-smartphone addicted. This shows that more people are smartphone addicted in this study than other studies have found. The intervention failed due to many dropouts. Conclusions The result showed a weak negative correlation between mental health and smartphone addiction. Causal correlation was not clarified and further research is required on the subject in order to determine whether mental health issues leads to more smartphone usage or if a lot of smartphone usage leads to mental health issues by itself.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious and fatal disease that ranks as the second leading killer worldwide. It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) which is an obligate intracellular parasite that colonizes the alveolar macrophages of the immune system. The major health concern associated with TB is its co-infection with HIV and the development of strains with multi-drug resistance. The elimination of TB has been hindered due to the lack of understanding of the survival strategies used by this pathogen. Thus, research towards discovering new effective antibacterial drugs is necessary and a group of Mtb kinase enzymes were targeted in this study because these enzymes are crucial for metabolism, pathogenesis and, hence, the survival of Mtb. Kinases are a group of structurally distinct and diverse proteins that catalyze the transfer of the phosphate group from high energy donor molecules such as ATP (or GTP) to a substrate. The phosphorylation of proteins modifies the activity of specific proteins which is subsequently used to control complex cellular processes within Mtb. The starting point of this research targeted eight specific Mtb kinases namely; Nucleoside diphosphokinase, Homoserine kinase, Acetate kinase, Glycerol kinase, Thiamine monophosphate kinase, Ribokinase, Aspartokinase and Shikimate kinase. The aim of this project was to subclone the gene sequences for these eight recombinant Mtb kinases and express them in Escherichia coli, to purify the proteins and determine their activity. In the effort to find new lead compounds, the final stage of this study focused on the basic screening of the TB kinases against an extract prepared from Pelargonium sidoides, a medicinal plant, to identify any inhibitory effects. Although this traditional medicinal plant has been broadly researched and extensively used to treat TB, there is still a lack of understanding of this plant’s scientific curative effect. Various molecular and biochemical methods were used to achieve the aims of this project. The putative gene sequence was obtained from the annotated genome of H37Rv, deposited at NCBI as NC_000962.2. The genes encoding the kinases were successfully PCR-amplified from genomic DNA, cloned into an expression vector in-frame with a C- or N-terminal 6-histidine-tag and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The purification of the protein was complex, but various different methods and techniques were explored to obtain sufficient amounts of protein. The functional characterization of the kinases involved an HPLC enzyme assay that showed that the recombinant kinases were active. These enzymes were then screened against the potential inhibitory compounds in P. sidoides using enzyme assays to generate dose-response curves. This allowed an effective comparison not only of the Mtb kinases’ activity under normal conditions but also the kinases’ activity in the presence of a potential inhibitor. Overall, the inhibition of the enzymes required the presence of higher concentrations of the P. sidoides extract. However, the SK enzyme results presented a significantly higher inhibition and the lowest IC50 value, in comparison to the other kinases, which makes this kinase an attractive potential drug target against TB. In summation, cloning and purification of SK was successful, resulting in a concentration of 2030 μg/ml of purified enzyme and its activity analysis demonstrated enzyme functionality. This activity was reduced to zero in the presence of 1 x 102 mg/ml dilution of P. sidoides plant extract. This research conducted has extended the quality of information available in this field of study. These interesting results, proposing and identifying SK as a suitable potential target can be a starting point to significantly contribute and progress in this field of research, with the eventual goal of developing a drug to combat this fatal disease. / Life Sciences / M. Sc. (Life Sciences)

The thesis deals with plumbing in a residential building in Brno. The theoretical part is devoted to the development of residential bathroom units over time. The experimental part is focused on versions of such core units. The work also focuses on possible options and requested specifics. The project part solves sanitary equipment and installation of a residential building in the selected case. It is a multi-storey building which is intended for long-term living.

This diploma thesis deals with the processing of project documentation of student housing in the city of Olomouc. The building is located near the university dormitory accommodation of Palacky University. It is designed to complement the missing type of accommodation. Building is a L-shaped five-storey, without a basement and with a flat roof. Structural system is mostly brick, only part of first floor is solved by columns. The building is divided into three building complexes. Two wings for the accommodation have 4 floors. The connector block has five floors, where the 5th floor is only the engine room. Foundation structures are concrete strips and foundation pads. South side of the building is protected from the sun by sunscreens, on which in a future could be installed photovoltaics. The building is divided into three parts in terms of functionality. 1.NP consists of commercial premises in the southern block and private rooms for accommodated in the eastern block. 2nd-4th floor forms spaces designed to accommodate students. Accommodation capacity is 105 people.

With the aim of designing tools, processes and means to support secondary school teachers in maintaining a sense of presence, closeness and immediacy when interacting with their pupils remotely in rapidly appropriated digital learning environments due to Covid-19, this thesis examined the meaning, importance and possibilities of creating a sense of presence, closeness and immediacy in remote digital teaching.The process was based on research for design, encompassing literature study, field research and methods of interaction design to reach conclusions on meaningful tools, processes and means of supporting secondary-school teachers in remote digital teaching.Main findings unveiled a sense of presence as a prerequisite for closeness and immediacy and real-time video lessons as the main approach to remote digital teaching, potentially creating an illusion of presence, closeness and immediacy due to pupils’ choice of black screens and muted microphones.Potentially meaningful approaches to achieving a sense of presence, closeness and immediacy identified in this thesis include the use of digital representations, representational correspondence and the concept of testimony in designing for a sense of presence, closeness and immediacy in remote digital environments.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] El control de ruido ambiental es una preocupación de primera magnitud para las sociedades avanzadas, debido a los problemas derivados que ocasionan en la salud de los ciudadanos. Una de las soluciones más extendidas para el control del ruido en su fase de transmisión en la utilización de pantallas acústicas. La aparición de nuevos materiales formados por redes de dispersores acústicos aislados, denominados cristales de sonido, está revolucionando el campo del apantallamiento acústico, posibilitando el avance tecnológico de esta área. Así, en los últimos años, las pantallas acústicas basadas en cristales de sonido se han posicionado como una alternativa viable a las pantallas acústicas tradicionales, puesto que ofrecen múltiples ventajas frente a las soluciones actuales. En el presente trabajo se muestra primeramente una recopilación de los avances realizados en el campo del apantallamiento acústico mediante esta tipología de pantallas. No obstante, aún existen líneas de investigación abiertas en esta área, que es necesario abordar para conseguir el objetivo de aplicar esta tecnología como atenuadores de sonido en las infraestructuras de transporte. Durante el periodo de formación de la doctoranda, se ha trabajado en algunas de las líneas de investigación activas en este campo del apantallamiento acústico. Una de estas investigaciones condujo al descubrimiento de interferencias entre los efectos de la resonancia y la dispersión múltiple de los cristales de sonido cuando estos efectos se producen en rangos de frecuencia cercanos. También hemos diseñado un nuevo dispositivo de reducción de ruido basado en cristales de sonido, utilizando herramientas de optimización multiobjetivo, que permitan apantallar y reflejar de forma difusa el ruido. El empleo de esta nueva herramienta de diseño identificó la necesidad de realizar un estudio comparativo de los métodos de simulación más utilizados para estimar el rendimiento de los dispositivos basados en cristales de sonido. Por último, hemos realizado un estudio psicoacústico para determinar la percepción de la reducción de molestia que proporcionan las pantallas acústicas basadas en cristales sonido y las barreras tradicionales, determinando si los parámetros objetivos que evalúan su rendimiento coinciden con la respuesta subjetiva de los usuarios. / [CA] El control de soroll ambiental és una preocupació de primera magnitud per a les societats avançades, a causa dels problemes derivats que ocasionen en la salut dels ciutadans. Una de les solucions més esteses per al control del soroll en la seua fase de transmissió en la utilització de pantalles acústiques. L'aparició de nous materials formats per xarxes de dispersors acústics aïllats, denominats cristals de so, està revolucionant el camp de l'apantallament acústic, possibilitant l'avanç tecnològic d'esta àrea. Així, en els últims anys, les pantalles acústiques basades en cristals de so s'han posicionat com una alternativa viable a les pantalles acústiques tradicionals, ja que oferixen múltiples avantatges enfront de les solucions actuals. En el present treball es mostra primerament una recopilació dels avanços realitzats en el camp de l'apantallament acústic per mitjà d'esta tipologia de pantalles. No obstant això, encara hi ha línies d'investigació obertes en esta àrea, que és necessari abordar per a aconseguir l'objectiu d'aplicar esta tecnologia com a atenuadors de so en les infraestructures de transport. Durant el període de formació de la doctoranda, s'ha treballat en algunes de les línies d'investigació actives en este camp de l'apantallament acústic. Una d'estes investigacions va conduir al descobriment d'interferències entre els efectes de la ressonància i la dispersió múltiple dels cristals de so quan estos efectes es produïxen en rangs de freqüència pròxims. També hem dissenyat un nou dispositiu de reducció de soroll basat en cristals de so, utilitzant ferramentes d'optimització multiobjectiu, que permeten apantallar i reflectir de forma difusa el soroll. L'ús d'esta nova ferramenta de disseny va identificar la necessitat de realitzar un estudi comparatiu dels mètodes de simulació més utilitzats per a estimar el rendiment dels dispositius basats en cristals de so. Finalment, hem realitzat un estudi psicoacústic per a determinar la percepció de la reducció de molèstia que proporcionen les pantalles acústiques basades en cristals so i les barreres tradicionals, determinant si els paràmetres objectius que avaluen el seu rendiment coincidixen amb la resposta subjectiva dels usuaris. / [EN] Control of environmental noise is a major concern for advanced societies because of the resulting problems for citizens' health. One of the most widespread solutions for controlling noise in its transmission phase is the use of acoustic screens. The emergence of new materials made up of arrays of isolated acoustic scatterers, called sonic crystals, is revolutionizing the field of acoustic screening. In recent years, acoustic screens based on sonic crystals have positioned themselves as a viable alternative to traditional acoustic screens, as they offer multiple advantages over current traditional solutions. This Doctoral dissertation compiles the advances in the field of acoustic screening using this type of sonic crystals. However, there is still active research in this area which needs to be addressed and studied in order to apply this technology as noise reduction devices in transport infrastructures. Therefore, during the PhD student's training period, we have researched the acoustic phenomena produced by isolated scatterers in order to better understand the physical phenomena behind the lasts designs of this type of screen. One of these researches led to the discovery of interferences between the effects of resonance and multiple scattering of sonic crystals when occurring in nearby frequency ranges. Also we have designed a new noise reduction device based on sonic crystals, using multi-objective optimization tools, which would block and diffuse the noise. This new designing tool identified the need for a comparative study of the most commonly used simulation methods to estimate the performance of devices based on sonic crystals. Finally, we have carried out a psychoacoustic study that determined the perception of the annoyance reduction provided by acoustic screens based on sonic crystals and traditional barriers, determining whether the objective parameters that evaluate their performance match to the subjective response of the users. / Agradezco al Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación por la ayuda concedida dentro del programa Doctores Industriales. Asimismo, a mi tutor en empresa Dr. Juan José Martín Pino, por posibilitar la realización de esta investigación dentro de la empresa BECSA. Al Departamento de Física Aplicada de la Universitat Politècnica de València, a la Comisión Académica del Programa de Doctorado de Matemáticas y al Centro de Tecnologías Físicas: Acústica, Materiales y Astrofísica. / Peiró Torres, MDP. (2021). Research of the acoustic phenomenon produced by isolated scatterers and its applicability as a noise reducing device in transport infrastructures. Search for an optimised and sustainable design [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/164903 / Compendio