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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 …

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 …

We are speeding full throttle towards a climate catastrophe and we have only until 2030 to take action to avoid the most devastating and unimaginable consequences. The lack of political and corporate will to change the status quo of “business as usual” is causing mass protests and civil disobedience globally. …

In the present thesis, the problem of the functionalisation of fluoropolymers was addressed. As chemical methods for the functionalisation of fluoropolymers apply environmentally harmful chemicals, the research was directed to low-pressure non-equilibrium radiofrequency (RF) inductively coupled plasmas of environmentally friendly gasses. The research was focused on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the most …

The potential toxicity of nanoparticles in our environment and consumer products is currently determined by costly and timely animal-based testing, which limits the rate of nanoparticle testing, causing a desperate need for alternative testing strategies. A promising alternative – mechanism-based prediction – employs a set of high-throughput cell-based tests that …

Viruses, satellite viruses, viroids, virusoids, and satellite nucleic acids (herewith, referred to collectively or in part as ‘viruses’) comprise the virosphere and are perhaps the most diverse and abundant, yet still under-sampled, microbes on Earth. They are primarily regarded as pathogens or parasites of their eukaryotic or prokaryotic hosts. In …

Medicine relies on imaging techniques such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance, computed tomography and histopathological image analysis because they provide valuable data needed for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is often used in research and for the advanced diagnosis and …

Innate immune system acts as the first line of defence to protect the host against pathogens. The regulation of immune system and inflammatory response is crucial since dysregulated or sustained inflammation leads to pathological conditions, septic shock and tissue damage. Macrophages are innate immune cells that sense pathogens with pattern …

Managers’ commitment to safety has been recognised as a focal concept that can play an important role as organisations strive to improve safety performance and prevent major accidents (Flin, 2003; Flin & Yule, 2004). When management is committed to safety, this shows employees that safety is an important value to …

One of the most commonly used metal materials for the manufacture of biomedical implants are stainless steel and titanium-based alloys. Due to the specific conditions and complex environment in the human body, different strategies have been employed to protect them and improve their functionality in vivo. In this thesis, a …