Tomas Bata University in Zlín
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Asymmetric system model parameters identification framework via relay feedback
Get PDFThis paper proposes an innovative framework of a parameter estimation procedure based on the well-established relay-feedback experiment paradigm. The novelty consists in consideration of asymmetric dynamics and non-equal static gains of the identified system. A different system behavior after changing the input variable polarity near the operating point is rarely considered or even omitted within relay-based parameter identification tests, in contrast to the common use of asymmetry in the nonlinear relay element. The thing is that many existing relay-based identification techniques in the frequency domain use integrations, assuming that the system output operating point coincides with the setpoint value (i.e., the offset between them is zero). However, this is not true for asymmetric dynamic systems, which yields considerably erroneous parameter estimation as the integration result is highly sensitive to the baseline value. The resulting iterative numerical optimization-based algorithm is built-up using a chain of natural assumptions and step-by-step thought experiments. The proposed framework is applied to the well-established exponential decaying method in this paper. Some computation aspects of the algorithm are discussed. A comparative numerical study illustrates the efficacy of the proposed strategy, where several frequency-fitting-based and descriptive-function-based competitive approaches are considered
Educational strategies leading to labeling the gifted pupil
Get PDFLabeling of gifted pupils can negatively affect the life path of gifted individuals. The study explores whether and how a teacher can label gifted pupils when applying educational strategies based on internal differentiation. We focused on formally identified intellectually gifted pupils (age 7-12) educated in (mainstream) elementary schools in the Czech Republic (Central Europe). Qualitative data were collected through classroom observations and teacher interviews. We observed 24 gifted pupils and 15 teachers from 12 schools. We identified five main types of educational strategies leading to inappropriate labeling, such as Tasks for Quick-witted, Challenges, Boffins Goes to Competition, Teacher's Assistant, and Individual Projects. The "inappropriateness" of these strategies consisted of the significant preference and presentation of gifted pupils, in the useless and overused selection of gifted pupils, and the rigidity of the applied strategies. The paper seeks to highlight the existence of a paradoxical phenomenon whereby, when teachers are maximally interested in promoting giftedness, the stagnation of gifted pupils and other pupils in the class occurs. The study concludes with recommendations for eliminating inappropriate labeling of gifted pupils
Predicting nurses' safety compliance behaviour in a developing economy, using the theory of planned behaviour: A configurational approach
Get PDFAim: The study's main objective was to use a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to identify the configuration of recipes that predict nurses' safety compliance behaviour. Design: A cross-sectional design. Methods: A survey was used where questionnaires were collected from 285 nurses across four primary healthcare hospitals within the Ashanti Region, Ghana. The data collection happened between June 1 to August 2, 2022. A fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis was used to identify the recipes of psychological factors that determine nurses' safety compliance behaviour.
Results: Results from the study suggest that the necessary configurations that explained nurses' safety compliance behaviour came from the presence of subjective norm, attitude, perceived behavioural control, perceived organizational support and negation of intention. The result highlights the need for safety protocols to be conscious of the interplay between nurses' assessment of self, social clues and perception of management care and support since such psychological factors must be considered concurrently to achieve the optimal safety compliance behaviour among nurses.
Conclusion: A health and safety protocol that fails to recognize the importance of psychological antecedents on subordinates' safety compliance behaviour could limit the safety policy's usefulness in bringing the appropriate behavioural change in nurses.
Impact: To date, no study has combined the antecedents of theory planned behaviour with perceived organizational support and cue to action to assess how they collectively predict nurses' safety compliance behaviour. Findings from the study suggest that nurses in primary health facilities inform their safety compliance behaviour by assessing self-capabilities, social signals from superiors and colleagues and perception of management support. Hospital administrators and nursing managers in sub-Saharan Africa may rely on these psychological forces to persuade nurses to develop positive safety compliance behaviour at the health facility.
Patient or Public Contribution: No Patient or Public Contribution.Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FaME/2023/006
Design and fabrication of electrospun PLA-based silica-modified composite nanofibers with antibacterial properties for perspective wound treatment
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to develop a novel amikacin (AMI) delivery system with prolonged release based on composite electrospun nanofibers of PLA supplemented with AMI-loaded Si nanoparticles of different morphology. The resultant materials were characterized in terms of their physical properties (scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, water contact angle). High-Performance Liquid Chromatography was used to determine the AMI content in the liquid fractions obtained from the release study. The results show that nanofibers of fumed silica exhibited an aggregated, highly porous structure, whereas nanofibers of mesoporous silica had a spherical morphology. Both silica nanoparticles had a significant effect on the hydrophilic properties of PLA nanofiber surfaces. The liquid fractions were investigated to gauge the encapsulation efficiency (EE) and loading efficiency (LE) of AMI, demonstrating 66% EE and 52% LE for nanofibers of fumed silica compared to nanofibers of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (52% EE and 12.7% LE). The antibacterial activity of the AMI-loaded nanofibers was determined by the Kirby-Bauer Method. These results demonstrated that the PLA-based silica nanofibers effectively enhanced the antibacterial properties against the Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.TBU in Zlin, (IGA/CPS/2023/002); Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT, (RP/CPS/2022/002, RP/CPS/2022/007)Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic [RP/CPS/2022/002, RP/CPS/2022/007]; Internal Grant Agency of TBU in Zlin [IGA/CPS/2023/002
Software cost estimation using neural networks
No full textSoftware Cost Estimation (SCE) is one of the most vital parts when starting a new software engineering project; it helps with allocating resources, managing risks, making informed decisions, and stands in correlation with the success or the failure of a project. Because Software Cost Estimation (SCE) is prone to human bias, solutions started being researched with the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). This paper will investigate the importance of Software Cost Estimation (SCE). Further, the existing taxonomies and methodologies regarding using neural networks with Software Cost estimation will be compared (COCOMO, GEHO-ANN, OLCE, and -ANN-NEAT). This will be done using evaluation metrics such as RMSE, MMRE, PRED, MAE, etc. After, further research is proposed on why using Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) could be very beneficial for developing Software Cost Prediction Models. This technique combines Deep Learning (DL) and Machine Learning (ML) and can solve complex tasks with many variables and a rapidly developing environment
Interpretation of mathematical tasks misunderstanding in the context of disciplinary literacy of university students
Get PDFIn the article, we focus on the investigation of the disciplinary literacy of technical university students with an emphasis on understanding the mathematical language and symbolism in the tasks assignment. As part of the pedagogical research, we were looking for an answer to the research question "How do students interpret the misunderstanding of the assignment?". In the first phase of the research, the students solved a test that contained four pairs of mathematical tasks: a standard task and its equivalent, which required the mastery of mathematical symbolic language at a higher level. In the second phase of the research, students filled out a questionnaire that contained possible causes of failure in solving tasks in the test. Based on the research findings, we can state that the teachers and students agreed on only one item of the questionnaire, namely that the primary cause of the students' failure was a misunderstanding of the assignment. Teachers and students differed statistically significantly in their responses to the other items of the questionnaire. Based on the students' statements, we conclude that their understanding of the assignment of the task corresponds with the ability to assign the learned calculation procedure to the task, that is, with procedural knowledge. Teachers attributed the causes of student failure in the test to insufficient knowledge of the mathematical language
Pickering emulsions as an effective route for the preparation of bioactive composites: A study of nanocellulose/polyaniline particles with immunomodulatory effect
No full textSeveral studies have reported on application of cellulose particles for stabilizing Pickering emulsions (PE). Here we employ an original approach that involves using these particles as a part of advanced composite colloids made of conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) or nanofibrils (CNF). PANI/cellulose particles were prepared using oxidative polymerization of aniline in situ in the presence of CNC or CNF. The type and amount of celluloses (CNC vs CNF) and concentration of precursors (aniline monomer and oxidant) used in the reaction determined properties of the colloidal particles, such as size, morphology and content of PANI. The particles demonstrated intriguing biological characteristics, including no cytotoxicity, antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, antioxidant activity and related immunomodulatory activity. For the first time, such composites were used to successfully stabilize oil-in-water PE with undecane or capric/caprylic triglyceride oils. The properties of the emulsions were determined by the PANI/cellulose particles and oil used. The key finding of the study is the demonstrated ability of PANI/cellulose particles to stabilize PE, as well as the excellent antioxidant activity and ROS scavenging action originating from PANI presence, indicating potential of such systems for use in biomedicine, particularly for wound healing.DKRVO, (RP/CPS/2022/001); TBU in Zlín, (IGA/CPS/2023/001); Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT; Grantová Agentura České Republiky, GA ČR, (23-07425S)Czech Science Foundation [23-07425S]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic - DKRVO [RP/CPS/2022/001]; TBU in Zlin [IGA/CPS/2023/001
Working capital management efficiency: A study of certified firms from the EFQM excellence model
Get PDFWorking capital management (WCM) plays an important role in a firm's value, financial risk, and firm profitability. WCM requires continuous management to maintain a certain level of the numerous components of working capital (WC). The main aim of this study is to estimate the efficiency of WCM of certified firms from the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model. The study also tests the speed to attain each firm's target level of efficiency using industry norms as the target level of efficiency. The financial data of the Czech certified firms from the manufacturing sector was derived from the CRIBIS database from 2015 to 2020. The efficiency of WCM is measured by utilization index (UI), performance index (PI), and efficiency index (EI). The findings revealed that Gerresheimer Horsovsky Tyn Spol., Miele Technika, and Koyo Bearings Ceska Republika efficiently managed WC, as their indexes are greater than 1. The number of efficient firms was the lowest in 2020 based on the year-wise comparison which means that the efficiency of WCM of the firms was severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). All the beta values are lower than one, which signifies that none of the selected firms outperform the manufacturing industry as a whole. The findings of the current research are useful to the management of the firms and recommends that they give importance to the different indexes of WCM and efficiently use the current assets to generate sales.Internal Grant Agency (IGA) in Tomas Bata University in Zlin; Czech Republic [IGA/FAME/2021/008
Prediction of business cycle of Poland
Get PDFThe paper is focused on the construction of a new composite indicator intended to predict the economic cycle of Poland and its comparison with the existing CLI used by international institutions such as OECD and Eurostat. In part, this research is also dedicated to monitoring the partial advance cyclical indicators that make up the CLI components and their changes over time. The paper explores 62 qualitative and quantitative economic indicators of Poland and their relationship to the development of monthly GDP at constant prices in three different time periods: 2005 to 2021, 2010 to 2021, and 2016 to 2021. A modified OECD method is used to select the cyclical component of time series using the Hodrick-Prescott filter and subsequently employ cross-correlation of the variables with the cyclical component of GDP. The constructed CLI can predict the evolution of the CLI one month ahead with a cross-correlation level of 0.879 under equal weights and 0.877 under different weights. Research has shown that there is no significant change in the composition of the CLI for the prediction of the economic cycle of Poland when using the established methodology. © 2022, Centre of Sociological Research. All rights reserved.Tomas Bata University in Zlin, TBU: RVO/202
Iron-sepiolite high-performance magnetorheological polishing fluid with reduced sedimentation
Get PDFA sedimentation-stable magnetorheological (MR) polishing slurry on the basis of ferrofluid, iron particles, Al2O3, and clay nanofiller in the form of sepiolite intended for MR polishing has been designed, prepared, and its polishing efficiency verified. Added clay substantially improved sedimentation stability of the slurry, decreasing its sedimentation rate to a quarter of its original value (1.8 to 0.45 mg s−1) while otherwise maintaining its good abrasive properties. The magnetisation curve measurement proved that designed slurry is soft magnetic material with no hysteresis, and its further suitability for MR polishing was confirmed by its magnetorheology namely in the quadratically increased yield stress due to the effect of applied magnetic field (0 to 600 kA m−1). The efficiency of the MR polishing process was tested on the flat samples of injection-moulded polyamide and verified by surface roughness/3D texture measurement. The resulting new composition of the MR polishing slurry exhibits a long-term stable system with a wide application window in the MR polishing process. © 2022 by the authors.Internal Grant Agency of Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FT/2022/007]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic [RP/CPS/2022/007]IGA/FT/2022/007, RP/CPS/2022/007; Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠM