Tomas Bata University in Zlín
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Relationships between road transport indicators and expenditure of visitors in the context of European countries’ tourism competitiveness
Get PDFResearch background: Transport represents a dynamic element in the tourism system. In recent decades, transport has been a subject of research mainly from the point of view of the sustainability of the economic systems and the environmental aspects.
Purpose of the article: This study aimed to quantify the relationships between the selected indicators of road transport development and the expenditure of tourism visitors in the select-ed European countries in the context of the development of their competitiveness.
Methods: The road transport indicators were applied in the research trajectories: density of road (DNST), hare of road infrastructure investment (SH INF), share of motorways (SH MANY), and indicators of visitor expenditure for business (BTS), leisure (LTS), domestic (DTS) and foreign (VEFS) tourism. In the first phase of the analyses, the countries of the European part of the OECD (N = 27; period of 2010-2018) were divided into two clusters based on the development index (HDI) and the innovation index (GII) through the cluster analysis. The two groups were created - more and less developed countries. The results of the analysis of differ-ences declare that there are differences between these groups in the DNST, SH INF, BTS, LTS, and DTS indicators. The correlation and regression analysis methods were applied to quantify the relationships between the variables.
Findings & value added: The difference between the groups of the countries was also shown in the relationships between the road transport development indicators and visitor spending. In more developed countries, the relationship between the traffic indicators on BTS and DTS was significant. In less developed countries, significant relationships were identified with LST and VEFS. This finding underscores regional disparities and cautions against assuming that what policy guidelines from developed countries will be effective in less developed ones. Therefore, when designing improvement policies, it is vital to consider countries in terms of their level of development
Optimal control of combined heat and power station operation
Get PDFCombined heat and power stations have become one of the most utilized units of district heating systems. These stations usually contain several boilers for burning fossil fuels and renewable resources used for heating up steam, which can be used either for residential and commercial heating or electricity generation. To ensure efficiency, a boiler should either run continuously (for at least a given period) on a power output higher than a given threshold or switch off. The optimal control of the plant operations should combine an efficient setup for the turbine and boilers in operation, reflecting the demand for steam and the price of electricity, and a schedule that describes which boilers should be in operation at a given time. This paper proposes a method for optimal control of combined heat and power station operation for a given time horizon. The method is based on a two-level approach. The lower-level models correspond to finding the optimal setup of the combined heat and power station parameters for an hourly demand for different kinds of steam. The upper-level model corresponds to the optimal schedule of the operations of the individual boilers, which is planned for the entire time horizon. The lower-level model is modeled as a mixed-integer linear programming problem and is solved using parametric programming. A dynamic programming algorithm solves the upper-level model with a rolling horizon. The validity of the proposed method and its computational complexity for different granularity of the time horizon, different ranges of the parameters, varying demand for various kinds of steam, and varying electricity prices are investigated in a case study. The presented approach can be readily applied to other control problems with a similar structure.National Technical Library in Prague; Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TACR, (GA 20-00091Y, SS02030008); Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT, (CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16 026/0008392, FSI-S-20-6538); Grantová Agentura České Republiky, GA ČR; Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, (FSR FORD 5-6/2022-23/FLKŘ/001)Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic; IGA BUT [CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16 026/0008392]; Technology Agency of the Czech Republic [FSI-S-20-6538]; Czech Science Foundation [SS02030008]; Tomas Bata University [GA 20-00091Y]; National Technical Library in Pragu
Technology-oriented innovations and cyber security challenges in the healthcare delivery system: A perspective from a developing economy
Get PDFThere is no dispute about the looming digital transformation of certain sectors within transitional economies, especially in Ghana. In fact, for most developed economies, digitalization has proven to have relevant visible effects. The paradox, however, is the seamless nature of this propagation in contrast to the myriad associated benefits. Suffice it to say that, the main purpose of this study was to identify the perceived impediments against the adoption and continuous acceptance of technology-oriented innovation for healthcare delivery in transitional economies through innovations. Especially, in the current technological dispensation where Africa and other developing countries are striving to bridge the technology gap in service delivery. Though, much research has been conducted within the healthcare sector, factors that hinder technology acceptance and continuous usage have rarely been their primary focus. To address this consequential lacuna, this study takes inspiration from literature through document and theme analysis and proposes a model which could serve as a remedy to the identifiable impediments and inhibitors to the seamless delivery of healthcare services in transitional economies. We emphasize good management and government-based interventions throughout the literature review as well as the document analyzed. We also made suggestions for further research, notably concerning means of increasing technology diffusion and possible remedy to cyber-security threats in the healthcare sector
Modelling and hardware design of double inverted pendulum
No full textThe paper deals with modelling and hardware design of double inverted pendulum. It presents hardware setup as and its components as proposed and realized by the authors. Mathematical model of the pendulum is created and verified.Ministerstvo Průmyslu a Obchodu, MPO, (CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/20_321/0023805
A model of Industry 4.0 and a circular economy for green logistics and a sustainable supply chain
Get PDFThe objective of this study was to investigate a hybrid framework for Industry 4.0 and a circular economy for logistics and supply chains with an environmentally-friendly and sustainable basis. Data were collected from universities, companies, and civil service departments. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling was applied to evaluate and validate hypotheses. Key findings comprise (a) confirmation of a predominant direct relationship between Industry 4.0 and adopting a circular economy for green logistics and a sustainable supply chain, which stimulates strategic change; and (b) deliberation about current strategic awareness and operations occurs, giving rise to the promulgation and implementation of state authority policies, and advancements in modern logistics and supply chain programs at universities. Since the analysis concentrated on logistical and supply chain matters, investigation of other variables would be required for other industrial activities such as manufacturing.Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FaME/2022/005
The competition between self-seeding and specific nucleation in crystallization of long-chain branched polypropylene
Get PDFThe main purpose of this work is to present the effect of long-chain branching and specific α-nucleation on the optical properties, crystallization and supermolecular structure of polypropylene (PP). Commercially available α-nucleating/ clarifying agent 1,3;2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene)sorbitol (Millad 3988) was mixed into linear PP and long-chain branched PP (LCB-PP) in the concentration of 0.2 wt%. For the study of polymorphic composition, crystallinity, and crystallization process under isothermal conditions in the temperature range of 130–150 °C, differential scanning calorimetry and wide-angle X-ray scattering were used. Although the used nucleating/clarifying agent appears to have a slight effect on the optical properties of long-chain branched polypropylene, it does not appear to affect the crystallization kinetics significantly. LCB-PP exhibited self-nucleation, favored over nucleation by a specific nucleating agent.Tomas Bata University in Zlin, TBU, (CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/19_073/0016941)project OP VVV Junior Grants TBU in Zlin [CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/19_073/0016941
Metal-coated building blocks as a tool for creating electromagnetic shielding
No full textElectromagnetic compatibility has become an integral part of the development process of any electronic or electrical product; however, maintaining a balance between radiation and susceptibility is not a simple task. When solving problems with EMC, financial and time costs arise, i.e., undesirable phenomena that EMC Risk-based management tries to prevent. This article focuses on a specific type of 3D shielding that can protect and envelop a product. Creating a shielding enclosure can be complex, especially considering atypical user requirements, such as material transparency and roundness. These requirements lead to unique shapes of electromagnetic enclosures, for which no specific procedures exist. Therefore, an idea was born based on simple cubes that could be assembled into arbitrary shapes with the help of metaheuristic algorithms and thereby help developers in their efforts. The principle is based on simply joining cubes of predefined form into the desired structure. To make the process more efficient, the application of artificial intelligence is expected, which will be able to propose a solution for a user-defined design based on experience and habits
Highly efficient affinity anchoring of gold nanoparticles on chitosan nanofibers via dialdehyde cellulose for reusable catalytic devices
Get PDFPolysaccharides are often utilized as reducing and stabilizing agents and as support in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). However, using approaches like spin coating or dip coating, AuNPs are generally bound to the support only by weak interactions, which can lead to decreased stability of the composite. Here, a two-stage approach for the preparation of composites with covalently anchored AuNPs is proposed. First, 5 nm AuNPs with high catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (TOF = 15.8 min−1) were synthesized and stabilized using fully oxidized and solubilized 2,3-dialdehyde cellulose (DAC). Next, the carbonyl groups in the shell of prepared nanoparticles were used to tether AuNPs to chitosan nanofibers with quantitative efficacy in a process that we termed “affinity anchoring”. Schiff bases formed during this process were subsequently reduced to secondary amines by borohydride, which greatly improved the stability of the composite in the broad pH range from 3 to 9. The catalytic efficacy of the resulting composite is demonstrated using a model catalytic device, showing high stability, fast conversion rates, and direct reusability.DKRVO, (RP/CPS/2022/007); Tomas Bata University in Zlin, TBU, (IGA/CPS/2023/006); Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT; Grantová Agentura České Republiky, GA ČR, (23-07361S); Masarykova Univerzita, MU, (MUNI/A/1298/2022)Czech Science Foundation [23-07361S]; Internal Grant Agency of TBU project [IGA/CPS/2023/006]; Masaryk University [MUNI/A/1298/2022]; Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republic - DKRVO [RP/CPS/2022/007
The impact of social media on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the service-based organizations
No full textSocial media has been an instrumental tool that Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) can benefit from integrating it's into their marketing systems towards their growth and development. The study revealed that SMEs are in the right direction by adopting social media as a game-changer towards their growth and development. Small and medium enterprises would enjoy possible benefits like an increase in customer base, market value, a modern tool for communication, and an increase in profitability. The researchers adopted the quantitative approach towards this study objective. Questionnaires distributed were therefore answered by the managerial staff of service-based organizations in the insurance industry. Out of the 135 questionnaires distributed, 105 returned were dully filled correctly for the data analysis. The approach of PLS-SEM software was used in analyzing the data to established the meaningful results of the findings. The findings of the study are beneficial to practitioners to reflects on their marketing strategies and also contribute to the academic field. © 8th European Conference on Social Media, ECSM 2021.Tomas Bata University in Zlin, TBU: IGA/FaME/2021/00
An optical trap apparatus to study the thermophoretic phenomena
No full textThe work is aimed at the development of the experimental device to study of the motion of different colloidal objects in the combined force field composed of the optical-trapping force originating in the light-intensity gradient and the thermophoretic force caused by the temperature gradient in aqueous solvents. Polystyrene microscopic beads of submicrometer diameters are used as a simple model of the optical tweezers calibration. The methods of generating temperature gradient are under development. A dual optical trap is used as a tool for the investigation of the thermophoretic force acting on the observed particles. Also, the generated optical trap's force constant is calculated by various methods, including Fast Fourier Transform, and the influence of differences in the sample environment and light intensity is compared. Results of these experiments should contribute to the theory of the optical trapping effect, so far not understood in detail, and should open a way for developing novel methods of the investigation of thermophoretic phenomena in a water environment.CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/19_073/001694