Tomas Bata University in Zlín
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Crystallization nuclei obtained from biowaste enables the production of concrete in accordance with the principles of circular economy
No full textConcrete production is material and energy demanding making it the third largest source of anthropogenic pollution. It was hypothesized that fermentation residues will be (1) dewatered; (2) charred; (3) activated; (4) applied to sorb P from wastewater; and (5) the resulting substrate will be used as a cement substitute. It is firstly reported that the mixture of phosphates captured on the char tends to form crystallization nuclei that tend to increase the strength characteristics of concrete (compressive strength + 9 %; modulus of rupture + 13% and modulus of elasticity +16%), while at the same time making it lighter and less costly. Despite this mutual valorization of waste between each other has proven technologically feasible and fully in accordance with the concept of circular economy, it should be noted that there are no established buyer-supplier chains for this technology. © 2022 University of Split, FESB.Jihočeská Univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, US
Small and medium-sized enterprises' approach to design management
Get PDFThis paper focuses on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Design Management, especially the relationship between design management and business prosperity. The study is based on quantitative research conducted in January 2019. The main issues were transformed into research questions, which were further evaluated into several hypotheses; these were statistically tested. The results suggest that (as expected) there is a correlation between well-managed design management and business prosperity. The results were analyzed across company size with regard to B2B/B2C/B2G. The limitation of the research results lies mainly in a limited number of samples only from the Czech economy. The research did not examine the term "business prosperity" in depth. Sometimes prosperity is seen as increasing profits, sales, market share, or brand value. The originality of the paper lies in the uniqueness of the research and the possibility of utilization of its results for other economies similar to that of the Czech Republic. © 2022 Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos. All rights reserved.Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TACR: TL0200025
Influence of metal oxide nanoparticles as antimicrobial additives embedded in waterborne coating binders based on self-crosslinking acrylic latex
Get PDFThis article deals with the simple preparation of environmentally friendly acrylic latex binders, which are functionalized with nanoparticles of metal oxides, namely MgO, ZnO, La2O3 and combinations of MgO and ZnO, serving as functional components to achieve antimicrobial properties, but also to improve physical-mechanical properties and chemical resilience. The incorporation of uncoated powder nanoparticles was performed during the synthesis, using the two-stage semi-continuous emulsion radical polymerization technique, to obtain latexes containing 0.5%-1.3% nanoparticles relative to the polymer content. Changes in latex performance due to nanoparticles were compared from the point of view of the type and concentration of metal oxide nanoparticles in latex. The results of the tests showed that all types of nanoparticles showed very promising properties, while with increasing concentration of nanoparticles there was an improvement in properties. The nanoparticles in latex provided interfacially crosslinked transparent smooth coating films with high gloss and good physical-mechanical properties. Latexes containing the highest concentration of nanoparticles provided coatings with significant antimicrobial activity against all tested bacterial and fungal strains, but also in-can preservative stability of liquid latex. Furthermore, the coatings were resistant to solvents, and in addition, latexes with MgO nanoparticles showed a significant decrease in the minimum film-forming temperature, and latex with a concentration of about 1.3% MgO did not show any flash corrosion under the coating film cast on a steel substrate. The latexes containing MgO and La2O3 nanoparticles provided coatings that were very resistant to water bleaching.RP/CPS/2022/001; Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT: LM2018103Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic [LM2018103]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic-DKRVO [RP/CPS/2022/001
Wizualizacja struktury materiału z brązu w wirtualnej rzeczywistości
No full textTato experimentální studie si klade za cíl navrhnout a aplikovat postupy pro vizualizaci reálného objektu v prostředí virtuální reality. 3D rekonstrukce objektu fotogrammetrií je základem pro další postupy práce s 3D modelem. Pozornost je zaměřena především na práci s bronzovým materiálem a strukturou předmětu. Experiment si klade za cíl dosáhnout vysoké úrovně kvality obrazu ve virtuální realitě. V textu jsou popsány charakteristické vlastnosti materiálu a struktury, která je předmětem samostatného zpracování obrazu v digitálním 3D modelu. Dále jsou navrženy a aplikovány postupy pro další zpracování 3D modelu a úpravy jeho atributů pro export a import mezi jednotlivými software použitými v tomto experimentu. Metody 2D a 3D grafiky jsou využívány pro finální vizuální podobu objektu ve virtuální realitě a nástroje pro vytvoření originálního materiálu reálného objektu.This experimental study aims to design and apply procedures for visualizing a real object in a virtual reality environment. 3D reconstruction of the object by photogrammetry is the basis for further procedures of working with the 3D model. Attention is focused primarily on working with the bronze material and structure of the object. The experiment aims to achieve a high level of image quality in virtual reality. The text describes the characteristic properties of the material and structure, which is the subject of separate image processing in a digital 3D model. Furthermore, procedures for further processing the 3D model and modification of its attributes for export and import between the individual software used in this experiment are designed and applied. The 2D and 3D graphics methods are used for the final visual appearance of the object in virtual reality and tools for creating the original material of the real object.To eksperymentalne badanie ma na celu zaprojektowanie i zastosowanie procedur wizualizacji rzeczywistego obiektu w środowisku wirtualnej rzeczywistości. Rekonstrukcja obiektu 3D metodą fotogrametrii jest podstawą do dalszych procedur pracy z modelem 3D. Uwaga skupiona jest przede wszystkim na pracy z brązem i strukturą przedmiotu. Eksperyment ma na celu osiągnięcie wysokiego poziomu jakości obrazu w wirtualnej rzeczywistości. Tekst opisuje charakterystyczne właściwości materiału i struktury, która jest przedmiotem odrębnej obróbki obrazu w cyfrowym modelu 3D. Ponadto opracowano i zastosowano procedury dalszego przetwarzania modelu 3D i modyfikacji jego atrybutów w celu eksportu i importu pomiędzy poszczególnymi programami używanymi w tym eksperymencie. Metody graficzne 2D i 3D służą do ostatecznego wyglądu wizualnego obiektu w wirtualnej rzeczywistości oraz narzędzia do tworzenia oryginalnego materiału obiektu rzeczywistego.IGA/CebiaTech/2022/004International Grand Agency of Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/CebiaTech/2022/004]; Department of Security Engineering, Faculty of Applied Informatic
Chemical composition assessment of structural parts (seeds, peel, pulp) of physalis alkekengi l. fruits
Get PDFIn recent years there has been an extensive search for nature-based products with functional potential. All structural parts of Physalis alkekengi (bladder cherry), including fruits, pulp, and less-explored parts, such as seeds and peel, can be considered sources of functional macro- and micronutrients, bioactive compounds, such as vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and dietetic fiber. The chemical composition of all fruit structural parts (seeds, peel, and pulp) of two phenotypes of P. alkekengi were studied. The seeds were found to be a rich source of oil, yielding 14-17%, with abundant amounts of unsaturated fatty acids (over 88%) and tocopherols, or vitamin E (up to 5378 mg/kg dw; dry weight). The predominant fatty acid in the seed oils was linoleic acid, followed by oleic acid. The seeds contained most of the fruit's protein (16-19% dw) and fiber (6-8% dw). The peel oil differed significantly from the seed oil in fatty acid and tocopherol composition. Seed cakes, the waste after oil extraction, contained arginine and aspartic acid as the main amino acids; valine, phenylalanine, threonine, and isoleucine were present in slightly higher amounts than the other essential amino acids. They were also rich in key minerals, such as K, Mg, Fe, and Zn. From the peel and pulp fractions were extracted fruit concretes, aromatic products with specific fragrance profiles, of which volatile compositions (GC-MS) were identified. The major volatiles in peel and pulp concretes were beta-linalool, alpha-pinene, and gamma-terpinene. The results from the investigation substantiated the potential of all the studied fruit structures as new sources of bioactive compounds that could be used as prospective sources in human and animal nutrition, while the aroma-active compounds in the concretes supported the plant's potential in perfumery and cosmetics.IGA FT 2022/004Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Faculty of Technology [IGA FT 2022/004
Green HRM pursuit of social sustainability in the hotels: AMO theoretical perspective
Get PDFThis study empirically examines green HRM practices within social sustainability. Employee green behaviour and green self-efficacy as a micro-level perspective towards social sustainability is under-researched and lacking aspect in the existing literature on human resource management therefore the study addresses this research gap. Drawing from the ability motivation opportunity (AMO) theoretical perspective, it is hypothesized that employee green behaviour and green self-efficacy serve as moderators and mediators between green HRM and social sustainability in organizations. This study used a survey design method and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was run for the data analysis. We collected data from 142 employees working in the hotels located in the metropolitan city of Karachi (Pakistan) by using a purposive sampling technique. The significance and novelty of this study lay in multiple outcomes such as employee green behavior mediates a positive relationship between green HRM practices and organizational social sustainability meanwhile green HRM practices showed an insignificant direct relationship with organizational social sustainability. Furthermore, the moderating impact of green self-efficacy on green HRM practices and organizational social sustainability was insignificant in the current study. Based on these findings, hotels need to foster the green attitudes and behaviors among employees related with corporate green priorities in order to foster organizational social sustainability. Hotels have to incorporate green policies into their HRM to remind and facilitate green attitudes and behaviors.Internal Grant Agency of FaME TBU; [IGA/FaME/2021/009
Fuzzy multiset finite automata with output
Get PDFFuzzy multiset finite automata with output represent fuzzy version of finite automata (with output) working over multisets. This paper introduces Mealy-like, Moore-like, and compact fuzzy multiset finite automata. Their mutual transformations are described to prove their equivalent behaviours. Furthermore, various variants of reduced fuzzy multiset finite automata are studied where the reductions are directed to decrease the number of fuzzy components (like fuzzy initial distribution, fuzzy transition relation, or fuzzy output relation) of the fuzzy automata. The research confirmed that all fuzzy multiset finite automata with output can be reduced without change of their behaviours
Social inclusion into mainstream classes: Voices of high school students with congenital physical disabilities
Get PDFThis qualitative study examines obstacles hindering social inclusion into mainstream classes from the perspective of Czech high school students with congenital physical disabilities. Data obtained from in-depth interviews were subjected to a situational analysis, with results indicating that the participants (N=10) perceived as challenging their social inclusion into mainstream classes, which took place in four phases. The study participants reported three elements which can be seen as barriers to their social inclusion: (1) their classmates’ lack of information regarding special educational needs, even not being informed that a such a student would be joining the class; (2) the presence of an assistant in the classroom; and (3) the lack of out-of-school interactions of the participants with their classmates. To avoid these challenges and to facilitate the social inclusion of students with disabilities into the class, it is recommended to concentrate on anticipative psychosocial class preparation as well as on strengthening social interactions based on cooperative learning and disability awareness techniques
Images of the profession of pre-primary teacher in the drawings of Czech female student teachers
Get PDFA deeper understanding of the pre-primary teacher's profession is made possible by the use of pictures in pedagogical research, i.e. the hermeneutic analysis of symbols visually representing this profession. The study seeks comprehension through quantification of the thematic motifs in the students' pictures (n = 132) as well as a detailed qualitative analysis of selected artefacts (n = 8). An interesting tension arises from the juxtaposition of the authors' descriptions and the expert team's interpretations. Thus, aspects of the profession that are at first glance absent from the research, such as spirituality, love, atmosphere, colour, airiness and horizon, emerge
Enhancing SME contribution to economic development: A perspective from an emerging economy
Get PDFSmall-medium enterprises (SMEs) have a huge and not fully maximized potential to address the socio-economic challenges that emerging economies are facing. This study assessed the contributions of SMEs in an emerging economy, using ADANCO version 2.0 of the partial least square structural equation model (PLS-SEM). A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 375 employees of SMEs in the fashion, microfinance, and hospitality sectors in four major business regions in Ghana, namely the Greater Accra, Central, Western and Ashanti Regions. The results reveal that SMEs continue to provide maximum support and contributions to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as well as employ about 70 percent of the entire working population. The study recommends that SMEs should receive greater attention from the government. © Foundation of International Studies, 2022.Tomas Bata University in Zlin, TBU: IGA/FAME/2021/00