Tomas Bata University in Zlín
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Utilization of enriched hydrogen blends in the diesel engine with MgO nanoparticles for effective engine performance and emission control
Get PDFThe influence of hydrogen on the diesel engine has been examined in this study. In addition, the impact of MgO nanoparticles was also analysed by conducting a series of tests on samples such as Diesel (100 % diesel), DN (Diesel-50 ppm MgO), H1N (10 % Hydrogen-50 ppm MgO) and H2N (20 % Hydrogen-50 ppm MgO). Hydrogen was injected through intake manifold at the volume of 10 % and 20 %. Nanoparticles were dispersed using the ultrasonication techniques to accrue stable suspension. The experiments were conducted between 6 N-m to 24 N-m loads on a four-stroke single cylinder engine. The parameters such as brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), and heat release rate (HRR) were assessed. In addition to the performance and combustion, the environmental impact of the test blends was also analysed by examining the exhaust with a gas analyser. From the series of tests, it was evident that hydrogen enrichment in the test blends reported lower levels of emissions compared to neat diesel. The formation of the hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen of oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2) was reduced due to the drop in the carbon atoms and enriched oxygen content in the combustion chamber. With regard to the performance, the hydrogen enriched nanoparticle blends reported peak BTE (37 %) and HRR (75 J/deg) than the other test blends. By assessing all the results, the addition of hydrogen is a potential option to reduce the environmental impact created by the fossil fuel without forfeiting the engine efficiency. © 2022 Elsevier LtdKing Saud University, KSU; Chiang Mai University, CMU: RSP-2022/23
Pre-sowing treatment of tilia cordata mill. by seed material fermentation
Get PDFThe aim of the work was to verify whether the fermentation of seed material is a suitable pre-sowing treatment of small-leaved lime. Seed material of two origins was treated for a period of 7, 14 and 21 days using anaerobic fermentation and for 10, 20 and 30 days using aerobic fermentation, the control treatment being the seed after warm–cold stratification. The water content, germination capacity and abscisic acid level of the seed were evaluated, together with the emergence and morphological parameters of annual lime seedlings that had emerged from the tested seeds. It was found that fermented seed had a low abscisic acid level (up to 700 pmol/g), a higher germination capacity (approx. 90%) than mature seed without fermentation and the morphological parameters of the seedlings that had emerged from seed after fermentation reached higher values, compared to those of the seedlings that had emerged from seed after warm–cold stratification. The seed material had to be collected green (e.g., immature seeds) and moistened. A suitable anaerobic fermentation time is 7 days; the aerobic phase can last 10, 20 or 30 days. The fermentation of seed material can shorten the preparation of seed for sowing by 1 year. © 2022 by the authors.QJ1230330; Ministerstvo Zemědělství; Mendelova Univerzita v Brně, MENDELUNAZV [QJ1230330]; Czech Republic Ministry of Agricultur
Services as a determinant of Botswana's economic sustainability
Get PDFIn 2015, the services sector contributed about 58 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which was a significant increase from the 47.6 percent observed in 2005, and a shift from the mining, agriculture, and manufacturing sector. This increase calls to support services as the catalyst for sustained economic development as indicated by the structural transformation and modernization theories. The main objective of this paper was to examine the relationship between and the impact of services on the economic development in Botswana and make recommendations on how Botswana can apply well-directed policies to improve its services sector and diversify its impact on other sectors and GDP, making it less reliant on mining which is vulnerable to price volatilities. The paper applied econometric modeling and results of the Autoregressive-Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds test for cointegration indicate that services and other industries services, agriculture, industry, mining, and investment impact GDP over the short and long run. These variables impacted GDP and converged to equilibrium at the speed of 46.89 percent, with a percent change in services in the short and long run impacting GDP by 0.328 and 0.241 percentages, respectively, and the outcome of the Wald test indicated causality from services to GDP growth. The services sectors have contributed over 40 percent to the country's GDP from 1995 to the present, though the sectors have not gone without challenges with limitations such as limited infrastructure development; poverty and inequality; unemployment of over 20 percent; disease, which has dampened productivity; and lack of proper governance and accountability, which has created a habitat for an increase in cases of corruption in state and private entities. The findings of the study with the lessons learned from other studies with similar findings recommend that the government of Botswana should formulate suitable policies and strategies for services diversification. This is by expanding the market for the sector in areas such as tourism that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating investments by instituting strategies to attract and grow domestic and foreign investments, and improve on management of institutions and resources.Provozně Ekonomická Fakulta, Česká Zemědělská Univerzita v Praze: 2022B0008Internal Grant Agency (IGA) of the Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague [2022B0008
Robust control of air flow speed in laboratory model of hot-air tunnel: Multiplicative uncertainty-based approach
No full textThis contribution deals with the comparison of control simulations and real-world control experiments on a laboratory model of a hot-air tunnel using robustly relatively stabilizing Proportional-Integral(-Derivative) (PI(D)) controllers. The control synthesis takes advantage of the recently published authors'work that has presented amethod for calculation of robustly relatively stabilizing PID controllers for Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) systemswith unstructured uncertainty. Even though controller design uses the plant model with unstructured multiplicative uncertainty, the simulations are based on sampling the uncertain parameters in a corresponding model with parametric uncertainty
Emulsion-based coatings for preservation of meat and related products
Get PDFOne of the biggest challenges faced by the meat industry is maintaining the freshness of meat while extending its shelf life. Advanced packaging systems and food preservation techniques are highly beneficial in this regard. However, the energy crisis and environmental pollution demand an economically feasible and environmentally sustainable preservation method. Emulsion coatings (ECs) are highly trending in the food packaging industry. Efficiently developed coatings can preserve food, increase nutritional composition, and control antioxidants' release simultaneously. However, their construction has many challenges, especially for meat. Therefore, the following review focuses on the essential aspects of developing ECs for meat. The study begins by classifying emulsions based on composition and particle size, followed by a discussion on the physical properties, such as ingredient separation, rheology, and thermal characteristics. Furthermore, it discusses the lipid and protein oxidation and antimicrobial characteristics of ECs, which are necessary for other aspects to be relevant. Lastly, the review presents the limitations of the literature while discussing the future trends. ECs fabricated with antimicrobial/antioxidant properties present promising results in increasing the shelf life of meat while preserving its sensory aspects. In general, ECs are highly sustainable and effective packaging systems for meat industries.Tomas Bata University in Zlin, TBU: IGA/FT/2023/007; Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci: IGA_PrF_2023_024Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FT/2023/007]; Palacky University in Olomouc [IGA_PrF_2023_024
Use of artificial intelligence elements in predictive process management
No full textPredictive process control is a method of regulation suitable for controlling various types of systems, which is based on the idea of using the prediction of future system behavior and its optimization. Normally, a system model is used to predict behavior, and therefore it is necessary for the correct function of predictive control to make its correct selection and determine its parameters so that the controlled system is described as accurately as possible. Another advantage of predictive control is the possibility of including signal restrictions directly in the controller. The result is the application of some elements of artificial intelligence in suitable areas of predictive control, especially the use of simple evolutionary algorithms in optimization and neural networks as nonlinear models. One of the chapters of the article describes the possibilities of using these elements. It is proved that in addition to classical optimization algorithms, it is also possible to use simple evolutionary algorithms for optimization of prediction, while the computational complexity can be comparable depending on the type of solved problem and settings. The article describes a suitable selection of model systems with slow dynamics, their derivation, and the creation of nonlinear models in the form of scalable neural networks. The potential advantage of this approach for the control of systems that are difficult to describe or for the control of systems whose mathematical-physical description is not known. The chapter of the article also deals with the possibility of using the found models on real systems and determining the necessary conditions and requirements for their application.Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně: IGA / FAI / 2022/00
Modeling the acceptance and resistance to use mobile contact tracing apps: a developing nation perspective
Get PDFPurpose: This study proposes and validates an integrated theoretical model involving the theory of planned behavior (TPB), health belief model (HBM), personal norms and information privacy to understand determinants of acceptance and resistance to the use of mobile contact tracing app (MCTA) in a pandemic situation.
Design/methodology/approach: This study draws on online surveys of 194 research respondents and uses partial least squares structural equation modeling (PL-SEM) to test the proposed theoretical model.
Findings: The study establishes that a positive attitude towards MCTA is the most important predictor of individuals' willingness to use MCTA and resistance to use MCTA. Furthermore, barriers to taking action positively influence resistance to the use of MCTA. Personal norms negatively influence resistance to the use of MCTA. Information privacy showed a negative and positive influence on willingness to use MCTA and use the resistance of MCTA, respectively, but neither was statistically significant. The authors found no significant influence of perceived vulnerability, severity, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control on either acceptance or use resistance of MCTA.
Originality/value: The study has been one of the first in the literature to propose an integrated theoretical model in the investigation of the determinants of acceptance and resistance to the use of MCTA in a single study, thereby increasing the scientific understanding of the factors that can facilitate or inhibit individuals from engaging in the use of a protection technology during a pandemic situation.
Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-10-2021-0533.
© 2023, Michael Adu Kwarteng, Alex Ntsiful, Christian Nedu Osakwe and Kwame Simpe Ofori.Horizon Europe (HORIZON) [101071300]; [IGA/FaME/2023/009]; [FSR FORD 5-6/2021-23/FaME/003]; [IGA/FaME/2022/003]; [IGA/FaME/2021/003
Determining approaches to human resource management in start-ups that foster innovation and boost organizational performance
No full textThe aim of this paper is to analyze the main streams of literature pertaining to HR systems development in start-ups or SME-se and to identify the main approaches chosen by entrepreneurs and managers in the early stages of the business development cycle. For the purpose of this study, literature review has been conducted with particular focus on high-quality journals with a proven influence in the HRM and Innovation field. Concerning the research strategy, 23 papers published in Q1 and Q2 ranked journals (SJR) were analyzed, as well as 6 other sources inlcuding books, books proceedings and journals (not ranked in Scopus or WoS databases). Our findings support the development of an integrated approach that not only takes into account early investment into HR systems, but also considers how macroeconomic factors might influence the industry directly, and start-ups indirectly and incongruously. This integrated perspective maintains that human capital acquisition and the implementation of adequate HR policies and practices that support employee engagement and retention early on are significantly more beneficial to company performance and productivity in the longer run; whereas, at the same time exhibiting a high degree of flexibility and adaptability to business-and sector-specific preconditions and requirements. We argue that future research should concentrate on the industry as a factor determining the HR strategy to be adopted by start-ups, as opposed to debating which approach is more appropriate for start-ups without taking into account their operational environment.FaME-TBU project [IGA/FaME/2021/008
Virtualios realybės programų poveikis tvariam turizmui COVID-19 pandemijos metu
No full textThis study aimed to assess the use of virtual reality (VR) as a tool for destination marketing of sustainable tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 249 students, who were shown a video about low-impact tourism in Vietnam using one of the two media types, namely VR and on-screen 2D. A structural model was proposed based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and was estimated using the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach. The results provide evidence for VR to have a positive effect on travel intention through both higher perceived enjoyment and higher environmental involvement. However, these effects were observed to be not as significant when considering travel intention during the pandemic. While stronger telepresence achieved by VR may encourage users to engage in more sustainable behaviour and improve enjoyment from the experience, the avoidance to travel stemming from health and safety concerns amidst the pandemic greatly offset the effectiveness of VR as a marketing tool. The results highlight the importance of considering individual-level preferences in tourism.OP RDE project Junior grants of TBU in Zlin [CZ.02.2.69/0.0/19_073/0016941
Why manufacturers need to engage employees when implementing a smart factory: A case report from the Czech Republic: By focusing on the human element—including communicating the vision and plan to all employees and seeking their thoughts and concerns—manufacturers can make the transition to a smart factory more seamless.
Get PDFOverview: Transformation into a smart factory has a soft side related to people, their motivation, perception, and skills. This study aims to examine staff perceptions about advantages, disadvantages, and barriers that challenge such transformation, and possible supporting measures. Our analysis of a company in a highly competitive manufacturing industry revealed the importance of the human element in the transition to a smart factory. Companies can facilitate the transition by ensuring all employees are aware of and understand the vision and implementation; by engaging with employees to learn about their thoughts and concerns; and by providing opportunities for employees to learn new skills for smart factory jobs. We offer recommendations to help practitioners succeed in transitioning to a smart factory