Serum Metallothioneins in Childhood Tumours—A Potential Prognostic Marker

Metallothioneins (MT) are low molecular weight, cysteine-rich proteins maintaining metal ions homeostasis. They play a role in carcinogenesis and may also cause chemoresistance. The aim of the study was to explore the importance of MT serum levels in children suffering from malignant tumours. This prospective study involves examination of 865 samples from 172 patients with malignant tumours treated from 2008 to 2011 at University Hospital Motol. MT serum levels were determined using differential pulse voltammetry–Brdicka reaction. Mean MT level was 2.7 ± 0.5 μM. There was no statistically significant difference between MT levels in different tumours. We also did not find any correlation between MT levels and response to therapy or clinical stages. However, we found a positive correlation between MT levels and age (p = 0.009) and a negative correlation with absolute lymphocyte number (p = 0.001). The fact that patients who had early disease recurrence had lower MT levels during the treatment (complete remission 2.67 vs. recurring 2.34, p = 0.001) seems to be important for clinical practice. Accordingly we believe that there is benefit in further studies of serum MT levels in tumours.     

Novel Approach to Switched Controller Design for Linear Continuous‐Time Systems

In this paper, we study a novel approach to the design of an output feedback switched controller with an arbitrary switching algorithm for continuous‐time invariant systems that is described by a novel plant model as a gain‐scheduled plant using the multiple quadratic stability and quadratic stability approaches. In the proposed design procedure, there is no need to use the notion of the "dwell time". The obtained results are in the form of bilinear matrix inequalities (BMI). Numerical examples show that, in the proposed method, the design procedure is less conservative and gives more possibilities than that described in the papers published previously.     

A roadmap to understand battery performance in electric and hybrid vehicle operation

This work attempts to bridge laboratory and real-life battery testing data with a comprehensive analysis to provide a coherent approach for a realistic model to simulate battery performance, including life prediction. From electric vehicle field-testing results, we explain how to handle real-life data through driving cycle analysis to establish a scheme of “building blocks” that can be validated by test results obtained in the laboratory. We also show that a simple battery model can be built upon laboratory test data and validated by real-life duty cycles, therefore deriving a more realistic understanding and prediction of battery performance.     

A paradigm change in assembling OH functionalities on metal centers

The synthesis of terminal hydroxide containing Group 13 and 14 metals [LAl(OH)(2)], LAlMeOH, [{LAl(OH)}(2)(mu-O)], LAl(OH)-O-AlLL', LGeOH, and [TsiSn(O)OH](3) [Tsi = (Me(3)Si)(3)C] has been accomplished using innovative synthetic methodologies. All of these compounds have been structurally characterized, both in solution as well as in the solid state. The utility of such metal hydroxides [{LAl(OH)}(2)(mu-O)] and LAlMeOH [L = HC{(CMe)(2,6-i-Pr(2)C(6)H(3)N)}(2)] in the preparation of homo- and heterometallic compounds has been demonstrated. It has also been possible to prepare unusual terminal SH- and SeH-containing compounds LAl(SH)(2), LAl(SeH)(2), and LAl(SeH)-Se-Al(SeH)L using dihydride LAlH(2) as a starting material. The synthesis, structure, and potential utility of these compounds is discussed.     

Quantitative Analyse der Heterogenität des Bruchvorganges von kohlenstoffarmem Stahl bei Kerbschlagbiegeversuchen

Aufnahme von Kerbschlagzähigkeit-Temperatur-Kurven eines unberuhigten Stahles mit 0,04% C für drei Zustände mit unterschiedlicher Korngröße. Elektronenfraktographische Analyse der Bruchflächen. Abhängigkeit der kennzeichnenden Bruchgefügearten von der Temperatur. Möglichkeiten der fraktographischen Analyse für die Beschreibung des Bruchverhaltens.     

Study of Linkage between Glutathione Pathway and the Antibiotic Resistance of Escherichia coli from Patients’ Swabs

In this work, we focused on the differences between bacterial cultures of E. coli obtained from swabs of infectious wounds of patients compared to laboratory E. coli. In addition, blocking of the protein responsible for the synthesis of glutathione (γ-glutamylcysteine synthase—GCL) using 10 mM buthionine sulfoximine was investigated. Each E. coli showed significant differences in resistance to antibiotics. According to the determined resistance, E. coli were divided into experimental groups based on a statistical evaluation of their properties as more resistant and more sensitive. These groups were also used for finding the differences in a dependence of the glutathione pathway on resistance to antibiotics. More sensitive E. coli showed the same kinetics of glutathione synthesis while blocking GCL (K_m 0.1 µM), as compared to non-blocking. In addition, the most frequent mutations in genes of glutathione synthetase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were observed in this group compared to laboratory E.coli. The group of “more resistant” E. coli exhibited differences in K_m between 0.3 and 0.8 µM. The number of mutations compared to the laboratory E. coli was substantially lower compared to the other group.