Search Results (116)
New methods for the determination of elemental composition and simple phenolic compounds in atmospheric particulate matter
Air pollution is an inevitable problem that modern society has to face today, with particulate matter (PM) being the most dangerous part of it, threatening human health and the environment. Not all PM particles, however, are equally harmful, since the dangerous potential depends on their size and chemical composition, which …
Advanced glioblastoma models to study tumour microenvironment and to support novel glioblastoma therapeutics
Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common and aggressive primary tumour of the central nervous system. Despite maximal possible surgical resection of the tumours and aggressive treatment regimens with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, patient overall survival is less than 2 years, as patients eventually develop resistance to therapy, resulting in recurrent tumours. …
Nanocomposites as electrocatalysts for the use in fuel cell and electrolyzer reactions
Electrochemical energy conversion devices such as fuel cells (FCs) and water electrolyzers (WE) have attracted attention from the scientific community for their unique ability to store electrical energy in the form of hydrogen and then generate electricity by the reverse process. Unfortunately, those devices rely on a significant amount of …
Predictive exoskeleton control based on probabilistic models
Research and development of exoskeletons for injury prevention and assistance with everyday living has steadily increased in the last decade. With some products already available on the market, a widespread adoption of exoskeletons appears to be within close reach. However, many challenges still remain to be overcome, one of which …
Development and application of molecularly imprinted polymers for selected antidepressants and studies of their environmental fate
This thesis focuses on the fate of chosen antidepressants in the environment. Studied compounds belong to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Reportedly they do not completely mineralize by existing water treatment processes and their residues cause unwanted toxic effects in aquatic organisms. However, to date, insufficient information has …
Synthesis and properties of anodically oxidised films on metal titanium substrate for photocatalytic applications
The link between TiO2 and photocatalysis was recognized a long time ago. However, there was originally no scientific knowledge relating to the process of photocatalysis. Given this, it is impressive that the most significant advances in the properties of TiO2 in photocatalytic processes have been made since the first reports …
Electrochemically synthesised polyaniline for gas and aqueous detection of ammonia
An everyday awareness of the presence of harmful chemicals around us has led to the development of a way to report overexposure through the reactions of these compounds with specifically prepared materials - sensory elements. In this doctoral dissertation we focused on the electrochemical synthesis (electropolymerization) of conductive polymer polyaniline …
Unravelling the molecular mechanisms of plant-pathogen interactions in grapevine and potato through functional analysis
Plants are constantly exposed to various environmental stressors. Pathogen infections causing disease can affect economically important crops and impact global food production. To counter disease development and spread, it is imperative that we acquire a thorough knowledge of its pathogenesis, as well as of the mechanisms underlying plant immune response. …
Study of inconsistencies in health risk assessment: the role of assessment context in decision analysis aimed at their reduction
The area of risk assessment continues to be challenged by foundational issues that limit its potential to inform public health decisions. This doctoral work improves our understanding of the interaction between science and public and environmental health policy by addressing specific challenges in risk assessment within and for decision-making. The …
Annotation of semi-polar organic contaminants by using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and machine learning
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), representing a subgroup of organic compounds of natural or synthetic origin, and their degradation and transformation products (TPs), with potentially harmful effects on humans, biota, and the environment, are the eco-exposome (EE) constituents of utmost importance. Their identification, quantification, and continued investigation into their environmental …