Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry Pavla Audrlická Supervisor: prof. PharmDr. Kateřina Vávrová, Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: Study of cholesterol depletion in human skin barrier Barrier function of human skin barrier dwells in intercellular lipid membranes of the uppermost skin layer, the stratum corneum (SC), composed of equimolar mixture of ceramides (Cer), free fatty acids (FFA) and cholesterol (Chol).1 Chol is required for proper lipid organization of SC, however, it stays unclear, why is it present in an amount so high that it separates from other lipids.2 Experiments using synthetic model membranes with decreased Chol content suggested that molar ratio of Cer:FFA:Chol 1:1:0,4 is sufficient for lipid barrier formation and its complex functionality.3 The aim of this work was to manipulate Chol content directly in human SC and to study the effects of decreased Chol content on the SC permeability and microstructure. Ex vivo SC obtained from healthy donors was extracted by methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MCD) to reduce natural Chol content. The extracted SC did not show significant changes in Cer or FFA whilst the amount of Chol was lowered to 78 %. SC barrier properties were evaluated by measurements of transepidermal water loss...

Geothermal energy consumption is projected to increase along with other renewable energy in the future. Therefore, it is important to have a better understanding on the evolution of geothermal systems to optimize the exploitation of such resources. Generally, numerical models are used as a fundamental tool to study a potential geothermal field. However, current modeling practices tend to focus on the shallow area around the heat source, while ignoring the deeper part below the heat source. The purpose of this project is to observe the influence of lower boundary at the bottom of intrusion towards the evolution of geothermal system, while changing the permeability and topography of host rock systematically, using a software from USGS called HYDROTHERM. Simulations differed in three main aspects: 1) having a layer below, or having the bottom boundary directly below intrusion, 2) different topographies with volcanic significance, and 3) varying permeabilities of the host rock. The study is based on a fossil geothermal system, the Cerro Bayo laccolith in Chachahuén volcanic complex (Neuquén Basin), Argentina. The input parameters were obtained in several ways. ILMAT Geothermometry analysis provide the temperature value related to the intrusion. The whole rock data is used to determined density of the intrusion by calculating partial molar volume of the oxides. The other parameters, e.g. densities of the host rock and the impermeable layer, permeability, porosity, and thermal conductivity were obtained from literature. The result from numerical modeling shows that the bottom boundary below intrusion strongly affect the entire system evolution. The added layer (with constant permeability) has strong influence on the life-span of the system. Additionally, while taking into account on the variation of topography and permeabilities, the models show two temperature anomalies: 1) A caldera volcano’s geometry “traps” heat below the caldera, whereas shield and strato-volcano geometries “push” heat away from below the volcanic edifice, and 2) a low temperature anomaly develops beneath the intrusion in all high permeability models with an added layer. Finally, this assessment could prove to be useful as prior knowledge for optimizing the extraction of heat from a given geothermal field, as well as future investigations towards geological applicability of numerical models of geothermal systems, hydrothermal alteration, and ore formation processes.

El presente trabajo tiene como base la investigación de los criterios y pautas que se van a tomar en el desarrollo del proyecto profesional de un Centro de Desarrollo Comunitario en el distrito de Comas, en el cual se logre la interacción con su ciudad por medio una arquitectura permeable. Se parte del análisis de las necesidades en la ciudad, la cual en la actualidad posee una disgregación en el acceso de los servicios en sectores donde existen mayores niveles de pobreza, generando de esta manera una variedad de problemáticas tales como la inseguridad o la pérdida del tejido social en la población afectada. A partir de los problemas presentados, se plantearon espacios para lograr una mejora en la calidad de vida de las personas en una comunidad; sin embargo, el diseño presentado no logra el vínculo con los habitantes del lugar generando el desinterés y poca afluencia en los Centros. Por medio del análisis de referenciales tanto al nivel nacional e internacional de la tipología y en énfasis del proyecto, se propone una a infraestructura que logre las funciones básicas de los Centros Comunitarios y, a su vez, permite por medios formales y espaciales logre la interacción con el usuario. / The present work is based on the investigation of the criteria and guidelines to be taken in the development of the professional project of a Community Development Center in the Comas district, in which interaction with your city is achieved through an architecture permeable. It starts from the analysis of the needs in the city, which currently has a disaggregation in the access of services in sectors where there are higher levels of poverty, thus generating a variety of problems such as insecurity or loss of social fabric in the affected population. Based on the problems presented, spaces were proposed to achieve an improvement in the quality of life of people in a community; However, the design presented does not achieve the link with the inhabitants of the place, generating disinterest and little influx in the Centers. Through the analysis of benchmarks both at the national and international level of the typology and in emphasis of the project, an infrastructure is proposed that achieves the basic functions of the Community Centers and, in turn, allows for formal and spatial means to achieve interaction with the user. / Trabajo de investigación

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Bibliography: leaves 121-123. / by Gary E.B. Choot. / M.S.

Thesis (Civ.E)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1982 / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Bibliography: leaves 585-594. / by Imad Botros Ghantous. / Civ.E

The present kinetic study of the permeability of rabbit erythrocytes has established that carrier systems are involved in the penetration of certain non-electrolytes. Saturation, competitive inhibition, and butanol inhibition kinetics were used to demonstrate the presence of carrier systems and the values of half-saturation constants (ø) were determined for the following water soluble non-electrolytes: glycerol, ethylene glycol, urea, and thiourea. These non-electrolytes are commonly used in permeability studies because they are relatively non-toxic and their small sizes allow penetration of the erythrocyte membrane within a reasonable length of time.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第20922号 / 理博第4374号 / 新制||理||1628(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科地球惑星科学専攻 / (主査)教授 James Mori, 教授 中西 一郎, 准教授 久家 慶子 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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Studies completed recently have shown that desorption of methane results in a change in the matrix volume of coal thus altering the permeability of, and production rates from, coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs. An accurate estimation of different coal compressibilities is, therefore, critical in CBM operations in order to model and project gas production rates. Furthermore, a comprehensive knowledge of the dynamic permeability helps in understanding the unique feature of CBM production, an initial negative gas decline rate. In this study, different coal compressibility models were developed based on the assumption that the deformation of a depleting coalbed is limited to the vertical direction, that is, the reservoir is under uniaxial strain conditions. Simultaneously, experimental work was carried out replicating these conditions. The results showed that the matrix volumetric strain typically follows the Langmuir-type relationship. The agreement between the experimental results and those obtained using the proposed model was good. The proposed volumetric strain model successfully isolated the sorption-induced strain from the strain resulting from mechanical compression. It, therefore, provides a technique to integrate the sorption-induced strain alone into different analytical permeability models. The permeability variation of coal with a decrease in pore pressure under replicated in situ stress/strain conditions was measured. The results showed that decreasing pore pressure resulted in a significant decrease in horizontal stress and increased permeability. The permeability increased non-linearly with decreasing pore pressure, with a small increase in the high pressure range, increasing progressively as the pressure dropped below a certain value. The experimental results were also used to test the proposed coupled sorption-induced strain model and several analytical permeability models. One of the commonly used models overestimated the permeability increase between 200 and 900 psi. The other two models were able to predict the permeability trend with constant cleat compressibility although the values used for the two models were different. Finally, the coupled strain and permeability models were employed to validate the field observed permeability increase data. The results indicated that the coupled models can predict the permeability trend with accuracy as long as the input parameters used are reasonable. The technique can thus serve as a particularly powerful tool for new CBM regions with limited production data since it only requires the basic adsorption data and mechanical properties and both are typically available. However, the physical meaning of the cleat compressibility term used in the permeability models needs to be clarified to ensure that its effect is not counted twice.