Tomas Bata University in Zlín
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Introduction to the Nanoscale and Nanoscale Advances joint themed collection: Synthesis, physical properties and applications of advanced nanocrystalline materials
No full textDie lip buildup and polymer rotarance theory
No full textDie drool is the unwanted accumulation of material spilling onto the open faces of an extrusion die. In this paper, we explore the intriguing roles of subtle batch to batch variations in nonlinear viscoelasticity and molecular structure on the dimensionless buildup. Specifically, we view the behaviors of high and low dimensionless buildup resin batches through the lens of sudden inception of steady shear flow, both measured and predicted by rigid bead-rod theory. We find that the high drool rate high-density polyethylene film resin exhibits higher shear stress upon sudden inception of steady shear flow than its low drool counterpart. We further find that both high-density polyethylene film resins, examined through the lens of rotarance theory, behave as suspensions of multi-bead rods (also called shish kebabs). Both high-density polyethylene film resins exhibit the same longest relaxation time, the same macromolecular moment ratios, and differ only in their Weissenberg numbers, and thus, in their amounts of nonlinear viscoelasticity.JM and MZ wish to acknowledge Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (Grant No. 24-11442S) for the financial support
Hoffman-Lauritzen analysis of crystallization of hydrolyzed poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate)
No full textThis study systematically investigates the impact of hydrolytic degradation on the crystallization kinetics and morphology of poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA). Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) confirmed extensive chain scission, significantly reducing the polymer’s weight-average molecular weight (Mw from ~103,000 to ~16,000 g/mol) and broadening its polydispersity index (PDI from ~2 to 7 after 64 days). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that hydrolytic degradation dramatically accelerated crystallization rates, reducing crystallization time roughly 10-fold (e.g., from ~3000 s to ~300 s), and crystallinity increased from 34% to 63%. Multiple melting peaks suggested the presence of lamellae with varying thicknesses, consistent with the Gibbs–Thomson equation. Isothermal crystallization kinetics were evaluated using the Avrami equation (with n ≈ 3), reciprocal half-time of crystallization, and a novel inflection point slope method, all confirming accelerated crystallization; for instance, the slope increased from 0.00517 to 0.05203. Polarized optical microscopy (POM) revealed evolving spherulite morphologies, including hexagonal and flower-like dendritic spherulites with diamond-shape ends, while wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) showed a crystallization range shift to higher temperatures (e.g., from 72–61 °C to 82–71 °C) and a 14% increase in crystallite diameter, aligning with increased melting point and lamellar thickness and overall increased crystallinity.This research was funded by Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, grant number IGA/FT/2024/008.Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin; [IGA/FT/2024/008
An experimental study on parameter identification and robust control of a heating-cooling loop: A revised solution
No full textThis contribution concisely presents an overview of the laboratory experimental research results when identifying a model and controlling a laboratory heating-cooling loop in a classical robust sense. Revision and extension of previous results are focused. The process in question, albeit simple enough, is characterized by long dead times and internal delays, giving rise to the infinite-dimensional nature of its model. This feature makes related parameter identification and control tasks nontrivial. Moreover, the essential goal is to verify whether a model identified also considering model uncertainties gives better control responses than that for the nominal case. An output algebraic control design satisfying robust stability and robust performance is used. A comparison of the proposed results against previous ones is also provided.This work was supported by the Internal research project of the Faculty of Applied Informatics, TBU in Zl\u00EDn, No. RVO/CEBIA/2024/001.Internal research project of the Faculty of Applied Informatics, TBU in Zlin [RVO/CEBIA/2024/001
The influence of product placement on luxury tourism: An S-O-R model approach
Get PDFProduct placement has developed into a quite successful marketing tool. Product placement helps businesses and locales to seamlessly fit into the storyline; it also helps brands and destinations to mix in visually driven media like movies, thereby producing a naturally applied advertising approach. The product placement in tourism serves as an effective tool for promoting locations, goods, and services. This study examines product placement in the 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians to explore how cinematic portrayals influence destination promotion through the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) Model. This study investigates the impact of product placement in luxury tourism by employing purposive sampling to select participants. Semi-structured interviews with a total of 20 participants and two focus groups collected data to understand the perceptions and travel intentions of affluent consumers. The findings reveal that thematic analysis uncovers key themes of destination in the movie, like emotional engagement, aspirational inspiration, and travel intentions, highlighting the impact of cinematic product placement on luxury travel behavior. Travelers view Singapore as a symbol of wealth, status, and exclusivity through the aspirational lens of Crazy Rich Asians, significantly shaping their destination preferences. This research demonstrates how movie product placement influences luxury travel behavior, thereby enhancing the SOR model in the tourism literature review. The emphasis on how cinematic depictions develop aspirational consumer wants improves the body of research on the influence of media on destination marketing. The study provides media advice to draw luxury visitors; marketing professionals can use product placement in movies to boost local appeal and customer involvement.The authors sincerely thank doc. Ing. Michal Pil\u00EDk, Ph.D. and doc. Ing. Michael Adu Kwarteng for their invaluable guidance and support. This work is supported by the Internal Grant Agency of FaME, Tomas Bata University in Zl\u00EDnno.IGA/FaME/2025/00
Visualization of geographic data in Blender
No full textThis paper describes practical experience with the implementation and visualization of geographic data in Blender. Blender is a very popular open-source program primarily focused on 3D graphics, including a wide range of tools from model preparation and animation to final rendering. Given its popularity, it also implements support for a number of graphic formats from 2D and 3D graphics, as well as very useful add-ons that extend its functionality even further. One of these extensions is the implementation of geographic data that can be loaded from different sources. This contribution describes not only the actual ways of obtaining this data, but also how it is often modified to produce the best possible rendered visualizations.This work was supported by the Faculty of Applied Informatics, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, under the project RO30246061025/2102
Answer an Image
No full textIs it possible to fulfil a (seemingly anachronic) desire for seeking beauty through its "distortion"? Can a wounded body be depicted as victorious? Who is imitated by "a portrait" of a biblical or mythological character? In what way can a subject be reflected in a used, worn-down thing? And, consequently, in what way is a photograph related to a subject and its particular story? Does it conserve it indefinitely or does it give it some extended "life after life"? What is the place of emptiness in a photographic image and what can be retrieved in it? Is it possible to visualize the sacred through the remains of things that a photograph rips from deterioration caused by time? The work of the photographer Ivan Pinkava is full of questions that are simultaneously the beginnings of answers
Investigation of polypyrrole based composite material for lithium sulfur batteries
Get PDFWith the rising demand for electricity storage devices, the performance requirements for such equipment have become increasingly stringent. Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are poised to be among the next generation of energy storage systems. However, before they can be commercially viable, several challenges must be addressed, including low sulfur conductivity and the shuttle effect. Herein, polypyrrole based sulfur composite was prepared by simple method in hydrothermal teflon lined autoclave for Li-S battery. The S/SP/ppy/PVDF electrode exhibited the initial discharge capacity of 662 mAh g− 1 at 0.5 C and 637 mAh g− 1 after 100 cycles. The Coulombic efficiency was 96% all along charge/discharge cycling. Moreover, Li-S coin cells were assembled and tested to demonstrate the potential application and scale-up of the polypyrrole-sulfur composite.Vedecká Grantová Agentúra MŠVVaŠ SR a SAV, VEGA, (1/0095/21); Kultúrna a Edukacná Grantová Agentúra MŠVVaŠ SR, KEGA, (002UPJS-4/2024
Critical Entities Resilience Assessment (CERA) to small-scale disasters
Get PDFSince 2022, there has been a significant increase in the importance of critical entities in terms of critical infrastructure protection. The adoption of the Critical Entities Resilience Directive must in EU member states ensure not only the protection of critical infrastructure, but also a sufficient resilience level of the entities themselves. This directive obliges critical entities to take measures to increase their resilience but does not provide any methodological support. A necessary starting point for fulfilling this obligation is knowledge of the current state of critical entities resilience to small-scale disasters. The results of the resilience assessment will then enable critical entities to identify vulnerabilities on the basis of which adequate technical, security and organisational measures can be defined. Therefore, this article presents an entirely new semi-quantitative method, CERA, which has been developed for the comprehensive assessment of entity and infrastructure resilience of critical entities. At the core of this method is a procedure that allows critical entities to self-assess their internal resilience through individual factors, which are defined in detail in this article. In order to facilitate the assessment process, the authors of the article have created the CERA Support Tool, which is supplementary material to this article. The Results section of the article also includes a presentation of a practical application example of the proposed procedure.Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic [VK01030014]; VSB - Technical University in Ostrava [SP2024/039]Ministerstvo Vnitra České Republiky, (VK01030014, SP2024/039
The art of seeing: From 2D to 3D visualization in situational analysis
Get PDFThis text presents an innovation that expands the methodological possibilities of situational analysis (SA), a framework often used to research complex institutions. Our innovation features the use of 3D visualization, a strategy which makes it easier to analyse the self-organizing processes of institutions. In the introductory part of the article, we describe how and for what reasons the successors of A. Strauss transformed Grounded Theory into SA. Our main focus is on the analytical significance of visualization, a central feature of SA methodology. In the second and third parts, we characterize the role of visualization to enhance the understanding of research phenomena using examples from the development of non-Euclidean geometry as well as the well-known A-not-B error research schema. In the next part, we explain in detail the innovation using an example from a three-year research project of ours during which the innovation was established. At the end, we discuss the importance of our innovation against the background of identifying self-organizing processes as well as reducing the amount of so-called dark data.Tomas Bata University in Zlin [FSR FORD 5-6/2022-23/FHS/001]Tomas Bata University in Zlín, TBU, (FSR FORD 5-6/2022-23/FHS/001); Tomas Bata University in Zlín, TB