At present there is uncertainty over the response of neotropical ecosystems to the climatic changes of the Quaternary. The majority of vegetation reconstructions from the region are derived from fossil pollen records extracted from lake sediments. However, the interpretation of these records is restricted by limited knowledge of the contemporary relationships between the vegetation and pollen rain of neotropical ecosystems, especially for more open vegetation such as savanna and dry forest. This research aims to improve the interpretation of these records by investigating the relationship between the vegetation and modern pollen rain of different savanna and seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) ecosystems in Bolivia using artificial pollen traps and surface lake sediments to analyse the modern pollen rain. Vegetation data is used to identify taxa that are floristically important within the different ecosystems and to allow modern pollen/vegetation ratios to be calculated. The modern pollen rain from the upland savanna is dominated by Moraceae/Urticaceae (35.1%), Poaceae (29.6%), Alchornea (6.1%) and Cecropia (4.1%), whilst the seasonally-inundated savanna sites are dominated by Moraceae/Urticaceae (30.7%), Poaceae (19.5%), Cyperaceae (14.0%) and Cecropia (7.9%). These two different savanna ecosystems are only slightly differentiated by their modern pollen rain. The main taxa in the modern pollen rain of the upland SDTF are Moraceae/Urticaceae (25.8%), Cecropia (10.5%), Acalypha (7.6%) and Combretaceae/Melastomataceae (6.7%). Seasonally-inundated SDTF is dominated by Cecropia pollen to the extent that it was removed from the pollen sum and the main non-Cecropia pollen types are Moraceae/Urticaceae (39.0%), unknown type df 61 (6.4%), Asteraceae (6.3%), Celtis (6.0%) and Physocalymma scaberrimum (4.9%). These two SDTF ecosystems are well differentiated by their modern pollen rain, implying that they may be defined in fossil pollen records. The modern pollen rain obtained from the surface lake samples is generally complementary to that obtained from the artificial pollen traps for a given ecosystem. All sites have a high Moraceae/Urticaceae pollen signal due to effective dispersal of this pollen type from areas of evergreen forest in close proximity to the study sites. The savanna sites show lower Poaceae percentages than have been previously reported in the literature by some authors and this raises the possibility than the extent of this ecosystem in the past may have been underestimated. Modern pollen/vegetation ratios show that many key vegetation types are absent/under-represented within the modern pollen rain.

Effects of a short 40-d dry period with only a close-up diet (SHORT) and a conventional 60-d dry period with a 39-d far-off and a 21-d close-up diet (CONV) on milk production, feed intake, blood and rumen parameters, liver gene expression and rumen microbiota profile were compared in 11 second-parity and 15 third and later parity cows. Milk production was recorded daily during the first 16 wks of lactation. Differential liver gene expression was assessed by affymetrix microarray analysis and DNA extracted from rumen samples was subjected to Illumina sequencing for exploring the microbiome profile. The SHORT treatment reduced milk yield and DMI after calving in third and later parity cows, but not in second-parity cows when compared to the CONV treatment. Cows on the SHORT treatment had higher concentrations of NEFA in blood plasma and tended to have higher liver TAG immediately after calving. These effects tended to be greater in third- and later parity cows compared to second-parity cows. Expression patterns of genes involved in β-oxidation at the first week of lactation compared to those at three weeks before calving showed lower hepatic β-oxidation capacity in cows on the SHORT treatment compared to those on the CONV treatment. During this period, the expression of DGAT, a key gene in the triglyceride synthesis, increased in SHORT-treatment cows while it remained unchanged in CONV-treatment cows. The expression patterns of genes involved in gluconeogenesis showed a higher capacity at first week after calving in cows on the SHORT compared to those on the CONV treatment. Our study also showed that the SHORT treatment increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes compared to the CONV treatment and reduced the shifting of rumen microbiota from before to after calving. Results also demonstrated that the rumen microbiota was more stable in the SHORT treatment during the transition period. Based on these results, a 40-d dry period management with only a close-up diet might be beneficial for second parity cows. However, this treatment may be detrimental for older cows as excessive energy intake and fat deposition during the dry period in these animals result in lower milk production and higher mobilization of NEFA and accumulation of fat in the liver. / February 2016

Lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are major health burdens on the global population. To treat diseases of the lung, topical therapies using dry powder inhalers (DPIs) have been employed. However, a relatively small amount of dose (5.5 - 28 %) reaches the lung during DPI therapy leading to high inter-patient variability in therapy response and oropharyngeal deposition. Strategies were assessed to take patient variability in inhalation performance into account when developing devices to reduce throat deposition and to mitigate flow rate dependency of the emitted aerosol. A cyclone-spacer was manufactured and evaluated with marketed and in-house manufactured formulations. An in vivo study showed that a high resistance inhaler would produce longer inhalation times in lung disease patients and that a spacer with high resistance may prove a suitable approach to address inter-patient variability. Two spacer prototypes were evaluated with cohesively- and adhesively-balanced particle blends. The data suggested that the throat deposition dramatically decreased for the emitted particles when the spacers were used with the inhalers (e.g. 18.44 ± 2.79% for salbutamol sulphate, SS 4 kPa) due to high retention of the formulation within the spacer (87.61 ± 2.96%). Moreover, variation in fine particle fraction and dose was mitigated when increasing the flow rate (82.75 ± 7.34 %, 92.2 ± 7.7 % % and 77.0 ± 10.1 % at 30, 45 and 60 Lmin-1, respectively). The latter was an improvement over previous proposed DPI spacers, where variability in emitted dose due to airflow rate was a major issue. Due to the different physicochemical properties of the active pharmaceutical ingredients used in the formulation, throat deposition and respirable fraction for adhesively-balanced particles (e.g. SS) were double that of the cohesively- balanced particles (salmeterol xinafoate, SX) (e.g. 65.83 ± 8.99 % vs. 45.83 ± 5.04 % for SS:Coarse Lactose (CL) and SX:CL, respectively). Scanning electron microscopy revealed that surface-bound agglomerates were more freely removed from the carrier, but subject to decreased impaction-type deagglomeration forces in the spacer than for carrier-bound drug. An ex vivo study using breath profiles from healthy volunteers identified the minimization of differences between adhesively- and cohesively-balanced blends when full breath profiles were studied compared to square-wave airflow. Therefore the use of constant flow for in vitro testing should not be the sole flow regime to study aerosolization when developing new inhalation devices and formulations.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / Donghai Wang / Sweet sorghum accumulates high concentrations of fermentable sugars in the stem, produces significant amount of starch in the grain (panicle) and has shown to be a promising energy feedstock. Sweet sorghum has a short growing season so adding it to the sugar cane system would be good. The overall goal of this dissertation is to enhance the attractiveness of biofuel production from sweet sorghum to fully utilize fermentable sugars in the juice, starch in the panicle and structural carbohydrates in the stalk for high efficiency and low-cost ethanol production. Sweet sorghum juice was incorporated into the dry-grind process which increased ethanol yield by 28% increase of ethanol yield compared to the conventional ethanol method and decreased enzymatic hydrolysis time by 30 minutes. A very high gravity fermentation technique was applied using sweet sorghum juice and sorghum grain yielded 20.25% (v/v) of ethanol and 96% fermentation efficiency. Response surface methodology was applied in order to optimize diffusion conditions and to explore effects of diffusion time, diffusion temperature, and ratio of sweet sorghum biomass to grain on starch-to-sugar efficiency and total sugar recovery from sweet sorghum. Starch hydrolysis efficiency and sugar recovery efficiency of 96 and 98.5% were achieved, respectively, at an optimized diffusion condition of 115 minutes, 95 °C, and 22% grain loading. Extraction kinetics based on the optimized diffusion parameters were developed to describe the mass transfer of sugars in sweet sorghum biomass during the diffusion process. Ethanol obtained from fermented extracted sugars treated with granular starch hydrolyzing enzyme and those with traditional enzymes were comparable (14.5 – 14.6% v/v). Ethanol efficiencies also ranged from 88.92 –92.02%.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / Donghai Wang / Sweet sorghum accumulates high concentrations of fermentable sugars in the stem, produces significant amount of starch in the grain (panicle) and has shown to be a promising energy feedstock. Sweet sorghum has a short growing season so adding it to the sugar cane system would be good. The overall goal of this dissertation is to enhance the attractiveness of biofuel production from sweet sorghum to fully utilize fermentable sugars in the juice, starch in the panicle and structural carbohydrates in the stalk for high efficiency and low-cost ethanol production. Sweet sorghum juice was incorporated into the dry-grind process which achieved 28% increase of ethanol yield compared to the conventional ethanol method and decreased enzymatic hydrolysis time by 30 minutes. A very high gravity fermentation technique was applied using sweet sorghum juice and sorghum grain yielded 20.25% (v/v) of ethanol and 96% fermentation efficiency. Response surface methodology was applied in order to optimize diffusion conditions and to explore effects of diffusion time, diffusion temperature, and ratio of sweet sorghum biomass to grain on starch-to-sugar efficiency and total sugar recovery from sweet sorghum. Starch hydrolysis efficiency and sugar recovery efficiency of 96 and 98.5% were achieved, respectively, at an optimized diffusion condition of 115 minutes, 95 °C, and 22% grain loading. Extraction kinetics based on the optimized diffusion parameters were developed to describe the mass transfer of sugars in sweet sorghum biomass during the diffusion process. Ethanol obtained from fermented extracted sugars treated with granular starch hydrolyzing enzyme and those with traditional enzymes were comparable (14.5 – 14.6% v/v). Ethanol efficiencies also ranged from 88.92 –92.02%.

Le coproduit de fabrication de jambon sec est issu de l'opération de désossage de la cuisse de porc parée, salée, séchée et affinée. Il est constitué à plus de 85 % d'os et de tissus associés (cartilages, ligaments, tendons). Le concassage au broyeur à marteau permet d'homogénéiser le coproduit en morceaux de taille inférieure à 8 cm (> 90 % compris entre 40 et 80 mm). La composition chimique de la matière sèche du mélange (77 ± 3 % de MS) est de 33 ± 5 % en protéines (89 % de collagène, 14 % de protéines hydrosolubles, 6 % d'acide aminés libres), 31 ± 3 % en lipides (triglycérides : 70 % ; diglycérides : 3,5 % ; acides gras libres : 11 % ; saturé/insaturé : 0,87 ; 24 % C16 :0 ; 13 % C18 :0 ; 2 % C16 :1 ; 38 % C18 :1 ; 4 % C18 :2) et 26 ± 4 % de matière minérale (phosphate de calcium 88 % ; NaCl 9 %). L'extraction aqueuse des lipides et des protéines du coproduit est étudiée en contacteur agité. Le raffinat solide est séparé par filtration à chaud sous forme de granulat et la matière grasse entraînée est séparée par décantation à froid. L'étude de l'influence des principaux facteurs de l'extraction liquide/solide (temps de contact : 30 à 90 min, température : 40 à 90°C ; ratio eau/coproduit : 4 à 10) grâce à la réalisation d'un plan d'expérience met en évidence les effets de la solubilisation et la coagulation des protéines sur l'entraînement des lipides et leur décantation sous forme de matière grasse. Mis en oeuvre à l'échelle pilote (64 kg de coproduit de jambon sec concassé, 207 kg d'eau, 30 min à 90°C en contacteur agité), le procédé de fractionnement aqueux conduit par filtration centrifuge et séchage à un granulat stable (rendement : 59 % ; matière minérale : 41 % ; protéines : 43 % ; lipides : 16 %), source de phosphate de calcium (95 % de la matière minérale) et de gélatine ou de colle d'os (88 % de protéines de nature collagénique). La fraction matière grasse décantée (rendement : 24 % ; lipides : 93 % ; triglycérides : 75 % ; diglycérides : 4 % ; acides gras libres : 7 % ; saturé/insaturé : 0,82 % ; 37 % C16 :0 ; 15 % C18 :0 ; 2 % C16 :1 ; 44 % C18 :1 ; 8 % C18 :2) présente les mêmes caractéristiques physicochimiques que le saindoux, avec une odeur proche de celle du jambon sec (19 COV aromatiques identifiés présents dans les arômes majoritaires de jambon). La fraction protéines solubilisées, obtenue sous forme de lyophilisat après concentration de la phase aqueuse (rendement : 8 % ; protéines : 52 % dont 29 % d'acides aminés libres ; matière minérale : 29 % dont 90 % NaCl, lipides : 3 %), contient aussi des glucosaminoglycanes sulfatés (GAGs : 3,4 %). Ces caractéristiques de composition, associées à ses propriétés épaississantes et gélifiantes, adhésives et stabilisantes d'émulsion, font de cette fraction minoritaire du procédé de fractionnement aqueux du coproduit de jambon sec, un extrait aux multiples applications à forte valeur ajoutée (source de peptones pour la culture de champignons et de levures, adhésif et liant naturel, ingrédient de formulation alimentaire nutracétique et cosmétique). / The ham production by-product comes from the deboning of dressed, salted, dried and refined pork leg. It consists of more than 85% of bone and associated tissues (cartilage, ligaments, tendons). Hammer mill crushing allows homogenizing the by-product into pieces smaller than 8 cm (> 90% between 40 and 80 mm).Dry matter chemical composition of the blend; (77 ± 3% DM) is 33 ± 5% protein (89% collagen, 14% of watersoluble proteins, 6% free amino acid), 31 ± 3% lipids (triglycerides: 70% diglycerides: 3.5%; free fatty acids: 11%; saturated / unsaturated: 0.87; 24% C16: 0; 13% C18: 0; 2% C16: 1; 38% C18: 1; 4% C18: 2) and 26 ± 4% mineral matter (calcium phosphate 88%, 9% NaCl). Lipids and proteins aqueous extraction of the by-product is studied in an agitated contactor reactor. The solid raffinate was separated by hot filtration to an aggregate and the fat is separated by cold decantation.The study of the influence of main factors of the liquid / solid extraction (contact time: 30 to 90 min, temperature: 40 to 90 °C; ratio water / by-product: 4 to 10) through the implementation of an experimental design, highlights the effects of proteins dissolution and coagulation on lipid output and decantation as fat matter.By pilot scale implementation (64 kg of crushed by-product of dry-cured ham, 207 kg of water, 30 min at 90 ° C in agitated contactor), the aqueous fractionation process leads, by centrifugal filtration and drying, to a stable aggregate (yield: 59%; mineral matter: 41%; protein 43%; lipids: 16%), source of calcium phosphate (95% of the mineral) and gelatin or bone glue (88% collagenous protein).The decanted fat fraction (yield: 24%; lipids: 93%; triglycerides: 75%; diglycerides: 4% free fatty acids: 7%; saturated / unsaturated: 0.82%; 37% C16: 0; 15% C18: 0; 2% C16: 1; 44% C18: 1; 8% C18: 2) has the same physicochemical characteristics as lard, with an odor similar to that of dry-cured ham (19 identified aromatic VOC part of ham main flavors). The solubilized protein fraction, obtained as a lyophilized extract after concentration of the aqueous phase (yield: 8%; protein: 52% with 29% of free amino acids; mineral matter: 29%, with 90% NaCl, lipids: 3%), also contains sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs: 3.4%). These composition characteristics, associated with its thickening and gelling properties, adhesive and stabilizing for emulsion, transforms this minor fraction of the aqueous fractionation process of the dry-cured ham byproduct, in an high added value multiple applications extract (source of peptones for culture for fungi and yeasts, a natural and binding adhesive, ingredient for food nutraceutic and cosmetic formulation).

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmaceutical Technology Student: Šárka Hávová Supervisor: PharmDr. Jitka Mužíková, Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: A study of compaction process and properties of tablets with hypromellose and α-lactose monohydrate Thesis studied the co-processed dry binder RetaLac® from the aspect of his compressibility and dissolution of the active ingredient from tablets. RetaLac® contains α-lactose monohydrate and hypromellose in the identical proportion. The same parameters were tested in the corresponding physical mixtures of FlowLac® 100 with various types of hypromellose (Metolose® 100 SR, Metolose® 4000 SR, Metolose® 100 000 SR) and compared with the substance RetaLac® . Compressibility was evaluated by means of the energy profile of compression and tensile strength of tablets. Salicylic acid was used as the model active ingredient. Dissolution testing was performed using the method of the rotating basket.

Master's thesis topic: Objectification of selected rehabilitation techniques used to influence the muscle tone Author: Bc. Zuzana Pavelková Branch of study: TVS_B Disertation Tutor: PhDr. Petr Šifta, Ph.D. Year of Defense: 2012 Abstract: The aim of this study was to discover, whether four selected rehabillitation techniques (dry-needling application, cryotherapy, stretching and kinesiotaping) influence the muscle tone of musculus gastrocnemius and musculus soleus. It was assumed, that above mentioned methods decrease the muscle tone of selected muscles, that was increased by previous running performance or owing to acute or chronic problems with Achilles tendon. The muscle tone was measured by myotonometer in Kinesiology laboratory, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Charles University in Prague; muscle tone of twelve students of thisfaculty was measured. Data were displayed by using an analog- digital convertor and consequently evaluated. The results of this study indicate, that four selected rehabillitation methods influence the muscle tone of musculus gastrocnemius and musculus soleus. The muscle tone was best influenced by application of dry-needling and by kinesiotaping; results of muscle tone measurement after dry-needling application and kinesiotaping confirmed above stated...

Electrostatic properties of formulation component materials and blends play an important role in dry powder inhalation (DPI) products, and that valid measurement of charge distribution will lead to more precise control of powder behavior in DPI manufacturing processes. Ultra-fine powders are known to be bipolarly charged, have non-spherical shapes and tend to be highly cohesive. Real time, non-invasive techniques need to be developed to obtain a precise and accurate time-history characteristic of electrically charged powders as they aerosolize from a DPI product, and how this measure relates to materials behavior throughout the various steps of a manufacturing process i.e. from drug micronisation, blending with lactose, through to filling dose units. A novel non-invasive technique for simultaneous measurement of size and charge of pharmaceutical powders is considered which employs the Phase Doppler Anemometry (PDA) system. Previous research demonstrated the advantages of this technique in measuring the bipolar charge distribution on a population of particles. These findings led to significant improvements in understanding performance of dry powder formulations, manufacturing processes and development of new platforms for inhaled drug delivery. The main aim of this research is to perform an investigation of electrostatic propertiesof pharmaceutical dry aerosols using the PDA system. The PDA technique was used to track the motion of charged particles in the presence of an electric field. The magnitude as well as the polarity of the particle charge can be obtained by solving the equation of particle motion in DC and AC fields combined with the simultaneous measurement of its size and velocity. The results show the capability of the technique to allow real-time size and charge distribution in the control of dry powder attributes that are critical to fully understanding manufacturing design space. The data obtained from initial investigations of electrical properties of pharmaceutical powders and bipolar charge measurements was used to perform an in-depth study of electrostatic properties of pharmaceutical aerosols dispensed by dry powder inhaler (DPI) devices. The delivery of a drug to the lungs can only be achieved by a combination of inhaler device and drug formulation which is capable of producing an aerosol of an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 5 μm and of appropriate charge. The aerosols generated by these devices are often bipolarly charged and can influence specific site deposition in human lung. By controlling the electrostatic charge generated by tribielectrification, it may be possible to achieve the desired drug deposition in the airways. Bipolary charged dispensed ultrafine particles are inhaled through the extrathoracic and tracheobronchial airways down into the alveolar region. Anatomically realistic respiratory airways and computation fluid dynamics (CFD) models have been created to study airflow structures and predict aerosol deposition within the human respiratory system using visible human data sets, human casts and morphometric data. Many theoretical studies of charged aerosol deposition in human respiratory systems have been developed, however getting real time, non-intrusive data of bipolar charge levels on aerosols dispensed from DPI’s within the human respiratory system represents a challenging issue. This research project presents a simplified human upper airway model which combined with the modified Phase Doppler Anemometry (PDA) system is able to provide real time bipolar charge distributions of aerosols delivered from several commercially available DPI devices. A three dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the upper respiratory system was performed from two dimensional (2D) images obtained from computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cryosectioned images available from Visible Human Server data set (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne). The resulting dimensions of the model were consistent with morphometric data from the literature from which the simplified upper airway model consisting of two connected segments, i.e., the oral airways from the mouth to trachea (Generation G0), was created. The findings of this study provided a better understanding of the interaction between specific active ingredients and DPI devices. These results may be used in designing future generation DPI devices and a better understanding of aerosol transport and deposition efficiency within the human airways.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Entomology / Thomas W. Phillips / Robert "Jeff" J. Whitworth / Dry-cured ham is protected from infestations of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) with the fumigant methyl bromide. Developing feasible alternatives to methyl bromide is necessary due to the phase out of methyl bromide. The effectiveness of food-safe compounds for preventing infestations of T. putrescentiae on dry-cured hams was evaluated by dipping ham pieces in solutions of various food additives. Propylene glycol (1, 2-propanediol), lard, ethoxyquin and butylated hydroxytoluene prevented or significantly reduced mite population growth. A combination of carrageenan + propylene glycol alginate + 40% propylene glycol was effective in reducing mite numbers on treated whole-aged hams compared with untreated hams. Dose/response tests with twelve registered residual insecticides were conducted to assess contact toxicity to T. putrescentiae. Three of these insecticides were evaluated for persistence over a 2-month period on different surfaces. Commercial formulations of deltamethrin plus chlorpyrifos-methyl, chlorfenapyr, and malathion showed promising results for contact toxicity against T. putriscentiae. Chlorfenapyr applied to metal, concrete, and wood resulted in 100% mortality of treated ham mites for up to 8 weeks. The effect of high and low temperatures on mortality of T. putrescentiae was studied in the laboratory. Groups of 10 eggs and groups of a mixture of 40 adults and nymphs were separately exposed to several high and low temperatures, ranging from +35 to 45°C and from −20 to +5°C, for several time periods. Eggs were found to be more tolerant to both high and low temperatures compared with adults and nymphs. Results showed that high temperatures from 40-45°C killed all T. putrescentiae eggs, adults, and nymphs within 4-1 d, while −10°C or lower killed all the same stages in less than 1 d. Combinations of the fumigant sulfuryl fluoride (SF) applied under high temperatures ranging from 25-40ºC, were studied to determine the highest temperature, shortest exposure time, and the lowest value of a concentration-by-time product (CTP) of SF against T. putrescentiae. Results showed that complete control of all life stages of T. putrescentiae was achieved at 40ºC with SF. More than one day of exposure was required to kill adults and nymphs and eggs at 40ºC at a CTP close to the EPA labeled rate of 1500 gh.m⁻³. Results indicated that adults and nymphs were more susceptible to SF compared to eggs. This study focused on investigating different control methods for T. putrescentiae in dry-cured ham facilities and most of examined techniques are preventive, although some of them can be applied as remedial methods after mite infestations are noticed.