Abstract : The objectives of this work were to prepare and characterize films of benzylic amide macrocycles and rotaxanes obtained by functionalisation of an acidterminated self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on gold, and thus to probe the aptitude of these surfaces for applications in the field of the nanotechnologies. We initially studied the self-assembled monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid and focused on its composition, structure and organization. We show that the molecules of alcanethiol are oriented with the acid group pointing out from the surface. The film is highly ordered with defect density below 0.2%. We investigated the functionalisation process with the covalently bound Mac-OH macrocycle, with the physisorbed Mac-pyridine macrocycle and with the naphtalimide rotaxane. The latter is also anchored to the SAM through a non-covalent interaction. We focused on the comprehension of both quantitative as qualitative characteristics of the films, such as the degree of functionalisation, their stability with respect to external constraints, their order and homogeneity, their structure and their orientation. By combining techniques such as X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, electrochemical and contact angle measurements, we demonstrated that the films of macrocycles reach a high degree of functionalisation. The layers are homogeneous and a preferential orientation of the macrocycle molecules with the plan of the ring tilted with respect to the surface and with the alkyl chains pointing-out from the films is observed. In addition, we studied the possibility of using the macrocycle films for molecular recognition, employing the Fc-Gly-Gly molecule as a model target. Through similar experiments and analysis, films of naphtalimide rotaxane were proven to give a good functionalisation of SAM. The molecule adsorbs with a preferential orientation of the linear axis parallel to the surface and the macrocycle unit normal to it. We characterized the fluorescent properties of the molecule due to the naphtalimide group and showed that when adsorbed on a gold substrate the presence of the self-assembled monolayer prevents total quenching. <br> Résumé : Les objectifs de ce travail étaient de caractériser des films de macrocycles et de rotaxanes de type amide benzylique obtenus par la fonctionnalisation de monocouches auto-assemblées d'alcanethiols, ayant un groupe acide terminal, sur une surface d'or, et ainsi de mettre en évidence certaines des potentialités de ces surfaces en vue d'applications éventuelles dans le domaine des nanotechnologies. Nous avons d'abord étudié la monocouche auto-assemblée de l'acide 11-mercaptoundecanoïque et particulièrement les aspects tels que la composition, la structure et l'organisation du film et nous avons mis en évidence que les molécules d'alcanethiol sont orientées dans le film avec le groupe acide vers l'extérieur de la surface, de façon à pouvoir interagir avec les molécules à greffer, et que le degré d'ordre de la monocouche est très élevé, en montrant celle-ci une fraction de défauts inférieure au 0.2% de l'aire totale du film. L'étude de la fonctionnalisation successive avec le macrocycle Mac-OH, lié de façon covalente, et le macrocycle Mac-pyridine ainsi que la rotaxane naphtalimide, ancrés à travers une interaction non-covalente à la monocouche auto-assemblée, a porté une attention particulière à la compréhension d'aspects tels que le degré de recouvrement de la surface, la stabilité vis-à-vis de contraintes externes, l'ordre et l'homogénéité, ainsi que la structure des films et l'orientation des molécules. Grâce à la combinaison de techniques telles que l'XPS, l'IRAS, les techniques électrochimiques, les mesures d'angle de contact et l'AFM, nous avons mis en évidence que les films de macrocycle atteignent un recouvrement élevé et homogène de la monocouche autoassemblée et qu'une orientation des molécules de macrocycle, avec une inclinaison du plan de l'anneau par rapport à la surface et pointant leurs chaînes alkyles vers l'extérieure du film, est observée. Ensuite, nous avons abordé la possibilité d'impliquer les films de macrocycle en tant que récepteurs moléculaires d'une molécule modèle, la Fc-Gly-Gly. Par une caractérisation similaire, les films de la rotaxane naphtalimide ont montré d'atteindre un recouvrement élevé de la surface de la monocouche avec une orientation privilégiée des molécules avec l'axe parallèle et le macrocycle perpendiculaire à la surface pour pouvoir interagir, à travers les fonctions pyridine du macrocycle, avec la monocouche. De plus, nous avons caractérisé les propriétés fluorescentes de la molécule, résidantes dans son groupe naphtalimide, lorsqu'elle est adsorbée sur un substrat métallique, l'or, affectées par la présence de la monocouche auto-assemblée.

Work process knowledge (WPK) is a concept for systems-level knowledge of the workplace and has been shown to be most important in organisations requiring multi-functional working. Most of the previous body of knowledge on WPK has focussed mainly on manufacturing industries; there has been less investigation of WPK in the service sector and none in the visitor attraction (VA) industry, an important employer in Scotland. The VA industry is extremely dynamic and many businesses are rapidly moving towards multi-functional team working, driven by an urgent need to develop quality, customer-focussed strategies to survive in an over-supplied and very competitive market. This study identifies the nature of WPK in Scottish VAs, what relationship WPK has to customer service, how WPK in this service sector differs from selected published studies in manufacturing and other service sector contexts and what factors affect the development of WPK in VAs. Following recruitment of a number of VAs using an online questionnaire and subsequent site visits, six sites were selected for case study, on the basis that they demonstrated most evidence of multi-functional working and staff with developed WPK. The research design was comparative case studies of the work processes and knowledge within these six VAs, based on a social constructivist framework, using the methods of key informant interviews and shadowing. Although these six sites represent a cross-spread of attractions in terms of types, location and size, they nonetheless show strong similarities in their basic business structure. The data show that WPK is an essential element of workers’ roles and a vital requirement in providing good customer service. Although VA managers do not use the term ‘work process knowledge’, they nonetheless recognise the importance of having staff with a wider view of their business and are actively encouraging its rapid development. Multi-functionality and job rotation are main ways of developing WPK but sites also use key workers with job roles that help develop high levels of WPK, who are then used as a staff resource. The main factor contributing to the development of WPK is communication, especially of systems-level information. Cultural information-sharing is an essential pre-condition for the development of WPK in this context. Other determining factors are flexibility, employee biographies, seasonality issues, how weddings and functions are handled on-site and the size and complexity of the site. WPK is the foundation on which good customer service is based and elements of it deliver customer service. It is the closely integrated nature of the employee-customer relationship that has such a profound effect on WPK development in this service sector industry and is essentially what differentiates it from previously published studies. The identification of the customer as a hitherto unrecognised key driver of WPK is the most important contribution to knowledge made by this work.

Materials with appropriate combinations of multifunctional properties (strength, toughness, electrical conductivity and piezoelectricity) together with desired biocompatibility are promising candidates for biomedical applications. Apart from these material properties, recent studies have shown the efficacy of electric field in altering cell functionality in order to elicit various cell responses, like proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis (programmed cell death) on conducting substrates in vitro. In the above perspective, the current work demonstrates how CaTiO3 (CT) addition to Hydroxyapatite (HA) can be utilised to obtain an attractive combination of long crack fracture toughness (up to 1.7 MPa.m1/2 measured using single edge V-notch beam technique) and a flexural strength of 155 MPa in addition to moderate electrical conductivity. The enhancement of fracture toughness in HA-CT composites has been explained based on the extensive characterization of twinned microstructure in CT along with the use of theoretical models for predicting the enhancement of toughening through crack tip tilt and twist mechanisms. Subsequent in vitro studies on HA-CT composites with human Mesenchymal Stem cells (hMSCs) in the presence of electric field has shown enhanced differentiation towards bone like cells (osteogenic lineage) as evaluated by ALP activity, Collagen content and gene expression analyses through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) at the end of two weeks. he extracellular matrix mineralization analysis at the end of 4 weeks of hMSC culture further substantiated the efficacy of electric field as a biochemical cue that can influence the stem cell fate processes on conducting substrates. The electric field stimulation strategy was also implemented in in vitro studies with C2C12 mouse myoblast (muscle) cells on elastically compliant poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF)-multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) composite substrates. PVDF is a piezoelectric polymer and the addition of MWNTs makes the composite electrically conducting. Upon, electric field stimulation of C2C12 mouse myoblast cells on these composites, has been observed that in a narrow window of electric field parameters, the cell viability was enhanced along with excellent cell alignment and cell-cell contact indicating a potential application of PVDF-based materials in the muscle cell regeneration. In an effort to rationalise such experimental observations, a theoretical model is proposed to explain the development of bioelectric stress field induced cell shape stability and deformation. A single cell is modelled as a double layered membrane separating the culture medium and the cytoplasm with different dielectric properties. This system is linearized by invoking Debye-Huckel approximation of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. With appropriate boundary conditions, the system is solved to obtain intracellular and extracellular Maxwell stress as a function of multiple parameters like cell size, intracellular and extracellular permittivity and electric field strength. Based on the stresses, we predict shape changes of cell membrane by approximating the deformation amplitude under the influence of electric field. Apart from this, the shear stress on the membrane has been used to determine the critical electric field required to induce membrane breakdown. The analysis is conducted for a cell in suspension/on a conducting substrate and on an insulating substrate to illustrate the effect of substrate properties on cell response under the influence of external electric field.

The locality is situated in the city quarter Brno-Židenice in close proximity of the railway line connecting Brno and Česká Třebová. The area is delimited by the Bubeníčkova Street from the South, the Koperníkova Street from the East, by Lazaretní Street from the North and by a road copying the railway line from the West. The elemental form of the projected compound is divided into three blocks by pass-through axes. The blocks are interconnected with a common basement where underground car park is located. The blocks have up to six floors above ground. On the first floor, there is a variety of commercial spaces for shops and restaurants and in the middle there is a supermarket. In the northern object, there are situated different types of amenities (kinder-garden, leisure activities for children, spa) on the second and higher floors. On the top floor of this object we can find the flats as well as in the middle building from the second floor. The commercial areas, offices and library are situated in the southern block.

The theme of my disseration is an architecture study of multifunctional building which is surrounded by the streets Křenová, Rumiště, Mlýnská a Štěpánská. The main aim of the work is to create structure wich would offer different functions. These would fill the missing services and offer new opportunities. The result of my design is the construction which is characterized by its public terraces placed on top of the covered parking lots on the first floor. The whole complex is formed by three connected blocks. One of the important parts of the design is to uncover river Ponávka. That would make this area more attractive. The building has 2 underground floors and up to 6 floors. In the first two stories there are different public services - shops, café, restaurant, kindergarten, fitness, art gallery and other. In the third and fourth floor there are offices and apartements. Fifth and six floor are just for living. The construction of the building is from monolithic reinforced concrete frame, horizontal structure consists of beamless slabs.

The theme of my disseration is an architecture study of multifunctional building which is surrounded by the streets Vranovská, Cejl and Jana Svobody and by the embankment of the river Svitava. Objective of the study was to design a building that would utilized the space of the plot effectively. The result of design is the construction which is characterized for its inner semi-public atrium space with link to the bank of Svitava and street Jana Svobody. It is five-storey house. In the first two stories there are different feature amenities (kindergarden, office building, restaurant, café, media library, gallery and other shops), and senior house. In the third floor and above there are designed flats for living. The part of the living area was also creating of new kind of housing called co-housing. The building has a basement, which is mostly for parking. The construction of the building is from monolithic reinforced concrete frame, horizontal structure consists of beamless slabs. Due to the huge area of the building, the facade is designed from the different kinds of materials: white plaster, light gray sheet metal, anthracite metail mesh and glass fiber.

In my work, I dealt with the development of building technology project for multi-functional building in Olomouc Tabulový Vrch. The goal is to select and develop appropriate design of the building in terms of financial, time and technical requirements based on the technical documentation provided by the designer. Building technology project includes a study of implementation of main technological stages, object, time and financial plan, drawings site equipment, site equipment technical report, technical regulations, inspection and test plan, financial budget for the construction of the technological steps, the schedule, the draft report and not machine prescription number for safety in the implementation of reinforced concrete monolithic skeleton including security risks.

The final thesis deals with structural and technological background for the construction of multi-functional building in Brno-Štýřice. The aim is the optimal design of contruction progress and necessary resources. This thesis contains construction-technological report, technological instruction, construction site layout, machinery and lifting configuration, design of transport and supply routes, safety work organization, measures to protect environment, building costs, time schedule and inspectional-test plan.

The topic of my thesis is an architectural study of a multifunctional residental building located at Svitava river bank which is surrounded by streets named Masna, Krenova and Hladikova. The objective of the study is to design a building that would utilize the space effectively and restore its function. As a result of the study, my project is divided into three compounds with the inner being a semi-public space, linked to its sruroundings by many passages and two main boulevards. The three combounds are composed of one administration block which is four storeys and the other two compounds are five storeys high, with the ground and first floors being different facilities e.g. kindergarden, restaurant, bank ,café, clinics, library, gallery, shops and a senior center. From the third to the fifth floor there are designated housing apartments comprising of small economic flats. The building has a two-floor basement, with a supermarket, technical facilities and parking. The construction of the building is from monolithic reinforced concrete frame, with the horizontal structure composed of beamless slabs. The facade is designed by using a combination of two materials i.e. white plaster and timber cladding as horizontal panels.

This diploma thesis ‘multi-functional‘ building is elaborated in form of a project documentation fulfilling all requirements in accordance with valid directives. The project refers to a detached multi-functional new-build placed on a moderate slope in Kralupy nad Vltavou. The building includes a basement and four floors overground. This multi-functional house will be used as an apartement building with a café, containing eleven housing units – apartments. One of units on the first floor is designed as handicapped-accessible. Café with facilities and a separate entrance for public will be located in basement. Overground, outer and interior bearing walls are meant to be made of Porotherm system. The underground wil be made of concrete blocks ‘Best’. Ceiling construction will be fabricated from prestressed ceiling concrete panels ‘Spiroll‘. Roofing is maded of two parts, both are pent roofs with angle of 7°. The roof is designed as a double wall, where for the outer shell is used a wooden construction coated with concrete roofing panels ‘Bramac’. The inner shell is composed of a suspended ceiling with insulation. Part of the project is a construction of paved areas aside the building and fencing.