Tomas Bata University in Zlín
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Enzyme modifications of red deer fat to adjust physicochemical properties for advanced applications
Get PDFRed deer fat makes up approximately 7–10% of the animal’s weight and is not currently used. Regarding sustainability in the food industry, it is desirable to look for opportunities for its processing and use, not only in the food industry. The aim of this study is the enzymatic modification of red deer fat, leading to modification of its physicochemical properties, and the study of changes in phase transitions of modified fat, its structure, color, and texture. Hydrolysis was performed using sn-1,3-specific lipase at different water concentrations (10–30%) and reaction times (2–6 h). The results showed that there was a significant decrease in melting and crystallization temperatures with an increasing degree of hydrolysis, which was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry. FTIR spectra revealed a decrease in the intensity of the ester bonds, indicating cleavage of triacylglycerols. Texture analysis of the modified fats confirmed a decrease in hardness of up to 50% and an increase in spreadability. The color parameter values remained within an acceptable range. The results show that enzymatic modification is an effective tool for targeted modification of red deer fat properties, and this expands the possibilities of its application in cosmetic matrices and food applications as functional lipids.This research was funded by the Internal Grant Agency No. IGA/FT/2025/007 of the Faculty of Technology of Tomas Bata University in Zl\u00EDn.Internal Grant Agency of the Faculty of Technology of Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FT/2025/007
Rehabilitation and motion symmetry analysis with a TACX smart cycling trainer using computational intelligence
Get PDFMotion analysis provides important information in rehabilitation, performance evaluation, and movement symmetry assessment, with applications including neurology, biomedicine, surgery, and sports monitoring. The integration of virtual reality, wearable sensors, and signal processing forms a robust interdisciplinary platform for such analysis. Specific methods are based on monitoring physiological and motion responses during controlled exercises that simulate real-world motion scenarios. This study focuses on processing of signals from wearable sensors collected from smart indoor trainers, enabling motion monitoring under predefined load conditions. The acquired datasets include heart rate (HR), motion accelerometric and gyrometric signals, and fitness parameters (cycling speed). The research objectives include analysis of motion patterns, evaluation of motion symmetry under varying loads, and examination of heart rate responses to load variations. Signal processing is conducted using advanced methods that include computational intelligence, digital signal processing, and artificial intelligence tools for data classification. Results point to the mean delay of the HR drop to 97% of the HR range in 15s after the change from the cycling on the slope of 8% to the rest period and the following drop to 5% in next 54s. The classification of spectral features evaluated separately for the left and right legs pointed the classification accuracy of 94.5% for accelerometric data and 99.1% for gyrometric data estimated by the use of the two layer neural network and the symmetry coefficient of 1.05 for the slope of 8%. In general, the paper presents selected processing methods and experimental results pointing to the effectiveness of computational intelligence in motion analysis.This work was supported in part by European Union (EU) through the Project ROBOPROX in the Area of Machine Learning under GrantCZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004590; and in part by the Operational Programme Johannes Amos Comenius financed by European Structuraland Investment Funds and the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports under Project SENDISO-CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004596.This work involved human subjects or animals in its research. Approval of all ethical and experimental procedures and protocols wasgranted by the Ethics Committee of the Neurological Center at Rychnov n. Kn., Czech Republic. Thanks belong to Assoc. Prof. MD Oldrich Vysata fromthe Neurological Department of the Faculty of Medicineand to Dr. Daniela Janakova from the Department of SportsMedicine of the Charles University in Prague for a veryefficient collaboration.European Union (EU) [CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004590]; Operational Programme Johannes Amos Comenius - European Structural and Investment Funds; Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports [SENDISO-CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004596
The Bata Company's eastern Mediterranean business operations 1918–1938: a structuration perspective
No full textThis paper presents a comparative historical-sociological analysis of the Bata Company's business operations in the eastern Mediterranean between the two world wars. Focusing on countries such as Egypt, Palestine and Syria, the study explores how the region's unique political transitions, colonial legacies and evolving socio-economic structures shaped and constrained foreign commercial ventures. The central aim of the research is to examine the structuration processes underlying Bata's business activities–specifically, the dynamic feedback loops between entrepreneurial decision-making and the structural environment shaped by institutions, social groups and regional power dynamics. Drawing on structuration theory, the analysis reveals how Bata navigated a complex (post)colonial terrain by implementing a flexible organisational culture, including a proactive approach to local markets, innovation in production and distribution, and continuous adaptation based on feedback. However, the findings suggest that despite these strategic efforts, the company's success in achieving its economic goals remained limited due to the region's fragmented political authority, volatile institutional arrangements and socio-cultural diversity
Self-assembled mumio-stabilized bioactive gel systems for topical therapeutics of rheumatoid arthritis: structural, rheological, cytocompatibility, and antimicrobial properties
No full textThis study presents the development of salicylate polyacrylic copolymer gel systems incorporating mumio particulates as a bioactive agent for the topical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Using an experimental design, formulations were optimized based on mumio, salicylic acid, and polyacrylate copolymer ratios. Rheological behavior was assessed through frequency, temperature, and time sweep tests to evaluate shear response, stability, and application suitability. Spectral and morphological analyses confirmed the uniformity and surface characteristics of the gels. Antimicrobial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. Results showed over 60% microbial inhibition after 24 hours and maintained cell viability above 70% at both 24 and 48 hours, indicating good biocompatibility. The gels also exhibited smooth texture, consistent bioactive dispersion, and non-irritating properties. Overall, these findings support the potential of mumio-loaded salicylate-polyacrylic gels as stable, biocompatible, and effective topical therapeutics for rheumatoid arthritis.Tomas Bata University in Zlin; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic [DKRVO RP/CPS/2024/005
Adapting to the new normal: Post-pandemic transformations in coworking spaces
No full textThe transformation of workplaces that has occurred since the COVID-19 epidemic, particularly the increased use of telework, has resulted in the emergence of new challenges as well as opportunities. The purpose of this paper is to investigate these trends, using the example of early post-pandemic coworking spaces, flexible workspaces that offer a professional environment, and the conveniences of working from a third place that is neither home nor a typical office. This research uses questionnaires and in-depth interviews with users, managers, and owners of coworking spaces. A hierarchical line-by-line approach qualitatively evaluated the interviews. The surveys were examined using descriptive statistics due to the exploratory nature of the research. According to the findings, the majority of owners and managers of coworking spaces observed a decrease in membership either during or after the COVID-19 epidemic, which caused disruptions in the operations of their spaces, leading to temporary and even permanent closures. They believed that the initial effect was detrimental to activities that took place in person while simultaneously enhancing those that took place in a virtual environment. It was not casual gatherings but rather professional events that were the driving force behind the increase in online connections with people who use coworking spaces. The results of the latter survey, which centred on the perceptions of people who utilise coworking spaces, indicated that the coworking spaces had been steadily recovering from the pandemic disruption. The vast majority of coworkers have stated that they have resumed using these places at a level that is equivalent to what it was before the pandemic, and some of them have even increased the frequency of their visits. As individuals and organisations adjust to the new normal that has emerged in the wake of the pandemic, these data demonstrate that coworking spaces have experienced a resurgence. The popularity of virtual communication and the events that continue to be a part of the new normal for coworking spaces, however, are examples of the pandemic's long-lasting effects
Advances in electrospun nanofibrous yarns: Improved functionality and emerging applications
No full textElectrospinning is a breakthrough technique in materials science that enables the fabrication of polymer yarns with extraordinary nanoscale precision previously unattainable. Nanofiber-based yarns produced by the electrospinning process show unique structural and functional properties differing from traditional materials, such as an incredibly high surface area, mechanical properties leading to significantly increased durability, and architectures that can be designed according to specific requirements. This review details the transformative influence of electrospinning on yarn technology, emphasizing its incredible potential to go beyond the conventional constraints that have previously limited this field and thus fuel innovation in a vast range of applications across many industries. Thanks to innovative nanotechnology applications and high-end materials engineering, electrospun nanofibrous yarns have seriously redefined standards in many important areas, such as environmental sustainability, energy solutions, wearable technology, and biomedicine. However, significant challenges persist, requiring further scale-up and process optimization. This review emphasizes advancements made so far in the art of the electrospinning process for yarn development in pivotal positions for next-generation progress. The future of nanofiber-based yarns and their integration underscores the importance of such yarns in solving current global challenges.This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic\u2014DKRVO (RP/CPS/2024-28/005).Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic-DKRVO [RP/CPS/2024-28/005
Polymer bionanocomposites based on a P3BH/polyurethane matrix with organomodified montmorillonite-mechanical and thermal properties, biodegradability, and cytotoxicity
Get PDFIn the present work, hybrid nanobiocomposites based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), P3HB, with the use of aromatic linear polyurethane as modifier and organic nanoclay, Cloisite 30B, as a nanofiller were produced. The aromatic linear polyurethane (PU) was synthesized in a reaction of diphenylmethane 4,4 '-diisocyanate and polyethylene glycol with a molecular mass of 1000 g/mole. The obtained nanobiocomposites were characterized by the small-angle X-ray scattering technique, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry, and moreover, their selected mechanical properties, biodegradability, and cytotoxicity were tested. The effect of the organomodified montmorillonite presence in the biocomposites on their properties was investigated and compared to those of the native P3HB and the P3HB-PU composition. The obtained hybrid nanobiocomposites have an exfoliated structure. The presence and content of Cloisite 30B influence the P3HB-PU composition's properties, and 2 wt.% Cloisite 30B leads to the best improvement in the aforementioned properties. The obtained results indicate that the thermal stability and mechanical properties of P3HB were improved, particularly in terms of increasing the degradation temperature, reducing hardness, and increasing impact strength, which were also confirmed by the morphological analysis of these bionanocomposites. However, the presence of organomodified montmorillonite in the obtained polymer biocomposites decreased their biodegradability slightly. The produced hybrid polymer nanobiocomposites have tailored mechanical and thermal properties and processing conditions for their expected application in the production of biodegradable, short-lived products for agriculture. Moreover, in vitro studies on human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes showed their satisfactory biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity, which make them safe when in contact with the human body, for instance, in biomedical applications.Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland [RID/SP/0032/2024/01, RP CPS/2024_28_002]; Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland within the program "Regional Excellence Initiative"; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republi
Photo-responsive systems based on anisotropic composites of poly(N-vinyl formamide) and active fillers using directional freezing combined with gamma irradiation crosslinking
No full textThis study deals with the fabrication of smart anisotropic composite systems capable of reacting to light stimulus and reversibly providing significant change in the length. Surface-modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and poly(pyrrole) (PPy) nanotubes were used as photoactive fillers. Anisotropic composites containing these fillers and poly(N-vinyl formamide) (PNVF) matrix were fabricated using a directional freezing technique with freezable monomer, N-vinyl formamide (NVF), as structure guiding medium and subsequent gamma irradiation polymerization and crosslinking technique. The dielectric properties showed that there is the presence of both relaxation processes alpha and beta, which are significantly influenced by the presence of photoactive filler. The anisotropic distribution of fillers in samples was confirmed using microscopical, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties analysis. Finally, the photoactuation capabilities were investigated and showed enhanced photoactive response for the anisotropic system in the change in the length up to 54 mu m after irradiation at 627 nm with a very low light intensity of 6 mW cm(-2) in a fully reversible and repeatable manner. The simple, affordable, and industrially scalable fabrication technique opens an avenue for smart anisotropic photoactive composite systems.Qatar University [IRCC-2024-429]; Ministerstvo Skolstvi, Mladeze a Telovychovy [RP/CPS/2024-28/003]; Slovenska Akademia Vied [VEGA 2/0137/23]; Qatar National Research Fund [NPRP13S-0202-200228
Harnessing the power of LLMs for service quality assessment from user-generated content
Get PDFAdopting Large Language Models (LLMs) creates opportunities for organizations to increase efficiency, particularly in sentiment analysis and information extraction tasks. This study explores the efficiency of LLMs in real-world applications, focusing on sentiment analysis and service quality dimension extraction from user-generated content (UGC). For this purpose, we compare the performance of two LLMs (ChatGPT 3.5 and Claude 3) and three traditional NLP methods using two datasets of customer reviews (one in English and one in Persian). The results indicate that LLMs can achieve notable accuracy in information extraction (76% accuracy for ChatGPT and 68% for Claude 3) and sentiment analysis (substantial agreement with human raters for ChatGPT and moderate agreement with human raters for Claude 3), demonstrating an improvement compared to other AI models. However, challenges persist, including discrepancies between model predictions and human judgments and limitations in extracting specific dimensions from unstructured text. Whereas LLMs can streamline the SQ assessment process, human supervision remains essential to ensure reliability.Christian Doppler Research Association, Josef Ressel Centre for Predictive Value Network Intelligence (JRC PREVAIL)Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft, CD
Optimizing the position of a robotic arm using statistical methods
Get PDFRobotics plays a key role in industry, and its use continues to grow. Robots are used in many sectors to increase the efficiency, productivity, and safety of work processes. This manuscript focuses on the spatial calibration of collaborative robot arms using appropriate statistical tools. Nowadays, there are many dedicated programming languages, simulations or virtual reality (VR), which in most cases perform calibration using matrix relations. The mathematical-statistical solution is not often addressed, and the use of linear relationships is valid only in certain parts of the workspace of the collaborative robot. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how to find a suitable statistical method that would respect the wear of the arm mechanism in predefined positions based on the requirements of ISO 230–2:2015. Based on these measurements, it is possible to assume that optimal solutions can be obtained using a polynomial regression function. This optimization method will be explored using the Newton and Markwartel methods.Operational Programme Integrated Infrastructure [313011W442]; European Regional Development Fund [313011W442]; European Union [IGA/FT/2024/002, MVP01_2024]; Internal Grant Scheme of the Alexander Dubcek University of Trencin; [09I03-03-V05-00010]internalgrantofTBU in Zlin; Tomas Bata University in Zlín, TBU, (IGA/FT/2024/002