Homing is the process that stem cells move to their own stem cell niches under the influence of chemokines like stromal-derived factor-1&alpha / (SDF-1&alpha / ) upon bone marrow transplantation (BMT). There is a need for increasing homing efficiency after BMT since only 10-15% of the transplanted cells can home to their own niches and a limited amount of donor marrow can be transplanted. In this study, we aimed to develop and characterize bone marrow targeted liposomal SDF-1&alpha / delivery system prepared by extrusion method. Alendronate conjugation was chosen to target the liposomes to bone marrow microenvironment, particularly the endosteal niche. Optimization studies were conducted with the model protein (

The effects of low doses of ionizing radiation on living things is a continually evolving area of research. Importantly, low dose effects were historically overlooked and not properly accounted for the assessment of risk to human health, as is the case with the contentious linear no-threshold model. These low dose effects are now known to be relevant to human health in both accidental and intentional exposures, including doses relevant to medical diagnostics and therapeutics. Furthermore, there is a relative dearth of information on low dose effects in non-human species, which necessitates further investigation and evaluation of radiosensitivity. Radiation-induced bystander effects occur in organisms due to the receipt of signals from directly irradiated cells, which act to communicate radiation damage to surrounding cells. Recent research has identified one type of bystander signal which is carried by photons of biological origin, however the effects produced in bystander cells receiving these photons has not been extensively investigated. It was suspected, based on previous research, that reactive oxygen species participate in the manifestation of this bystander effect. Three mammalian cell lines were assessed for their ability to produce bystander photons upon direct irradiation; subsequently, radiologically unexposed cells were exposed to the resulting photons and assayed for biological effects. The human cell lines used exhibited significant photon emissions and oxidative stress, clonogenic cell death, reduced cellular metabolism, and compromised mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation following exposure to these photons. The use of a melanocyte cell line indicated that these effects are attenuated by melanin, and this is suspected to occur through photoabsorption or antioxidant mechanisms. Additionally, the same assays were conducted following cell exposure to hydrogen peroxide at low concentrations to assess responses to oxidative stress relevant to bystander responses, indicating less overall sensitivity in the examined melanocytes. These findings are significant because they contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms behind low dose biological effects, because they further challenge the linear no-threshold model and other models based on target theory, because they provide evidence for differential responses to the physical bystander signal in non-human species, and because secondary photon emissions are likely relevant to the medical radiation sciences. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Low doses of ionizing radiation interact with living things differently than high doses. Low dose effects are now known to be relevant to human health and protection of the environment. Radiation-induced bystander effects occur in cells due to the receipt of signals from irradiated cells which act to communicate radiation damage to surrounding cells. One type of bystander signal is carried by photons emitted from directly irradiated cells, however the effects produced in bystander cells receiving these photons has not been extensively investigated. This thesis investigates the cellular effects of these “biophotons”, including cell survival, oxidative stress, and metabolism.

Pastaraisiais dešimtmečiais kovą su terorizmu pradėta vykdyti ne tik pasitelkiant nacionaliniuose baudžiamojo proceso įstatymuose ar tarptautinėse sutartyse, skirtose kovai su terorizmu, numatytas priemones, tačiau ir naudojant karines pajėgas bei atliekant karinius veiksmus. Taigi disertacijoje iškeliamas tikslas nustatyti, kada ir kokiu mastu taikoma tarptautinė humanitarinė teisė (toliau – THT) kovoje su terorizmu, tai yra, ištirti, kokiais atvejais kova su terorizmu laikytina ginkluotu konfliktu, koks yra teroristų, dalyvaujančių ginkluotame konflikte, statusas pagal THT ir atsižvelgiant į THT normas įvertinti specifines kovos priemones, naudojamas kovojant su teroristais. Pirmiausiai disertacijoje analizuojamas terorizmo apibrėžimo klausimas ir pateikiamas galimas terorizmo apibrėžimas. Toliau disertacijoje vertinama, kuriais atvejais kovojant su terorizmu bus taikomos THT normos, tai yra, kada kova su terorizmu prilygsta ginkluotam konfliktui, tiriami ginkluoto konflikto intensyvumo ir organizuotumo kriterijai ir jų taikymas kovos su terorizmu situacijose. Disertacijoje taip pat tiriama, koks yra teroristų, dalyvaujančių ginkluotame konflikte, statusas pagal THT, išskiriant tarptautiniuose ir netarptautiniuose ginkluotuose konfliktuose dalyvaujančius asmenis, taip pat išsamiai išanalizuojant asmenų tiesioginio dalyvavimo ginkluotame konflikte kriterijus. Galiausiai disertacijoje tiriama specifinė kovos su terorizmu priemonė – tikslinių nužudymų, ypač naudojant... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / In the last decade the fight against terrorism was carried out not only by measures indicated in national criminal procedure laws or international treaties outlining measures in the fight against terrorism, but also using military forces and carrying out military measures. Thus the dissertation aims to establish when and to what extent is the international humanitarian law (hereinafter – IHL) applied in the fight against terrorism, that is, to analyze in what cases the fight against terrorism amounts to armed conflict, what is the status of terrorists taking part in the armed conflict according to IHL, and to evaluate in the light of IHL principles and rules the specific measures taken against terrorists. Firstly the dissertation analyses the question of the definition of terrorism and proposes a possible definition of this phenomenon. Further on the dissertation analyzes the instances when the IHL rules are applied in the fight against terrorism, that is, when such situation amounts to an armed conflict, and evaluates the main criteria of armed conflict – intensity and organization – and their application in the fight against terrorism. The dissertation also explores the questions of the status of terrorists taking part in an armed conflict, distinguishing those taking part in international and non-international armed conflicts, and exploring the criteria for the direct participation in hostilities for such persons. Finally, the dissertation analyzes the specific measure of... [to full text]