Tomas Bata University in Zlín
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Strategy for reducing rubber wear emissions: The prospect of using calcium lignosulfonate
No full textThis study explores the transformative potential of calcium lignosulfonate (CaL) as a sustainable additive in rubber composites based on nitrile rubber (NBR) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). Through comprehensive mechanical testing, fatigue crack growth (FCG) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we evaluated the tensile strength, elongation at break, surface morphology, and crack growth behavior of these innovative composites. By incorporating CaL into carbon black-reinforced rubber compounds (RUB/CB) based on nitrile rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber, we achieved good dispersion of both components as well as satisfactory morphology, resulting in tensile strengths of 16.3 and 12.7 MPa, respectively. While the CB/CaL hybrid did not significantly influence the intrinsic strength of the rubber samples, the ultimate strength of these compounds increased drastically – over five-fold compared to RUB/CB – indicating great potential for real-life applications. This study underscores the promise of lignin-based additives in the development of eco-friendly, high-performance rubber materials.Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT; Agentúra na Podporu Výskumu a Vývoja, APVV, (APVV-22-0011); Agentúra na Podporu Výskumu a Vývoja, APVV; DKRVO, (RP_CPS_2024_28_006)Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava [23-04-12-A]; Slovak Research and Development Agency [APVV-22-0011]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic-DKRVO [RP_CPS_2024_28_006
The growth-adjusted impact factors of Physics of Fluids
No full textFrom Phan-Thien and Giacomin [“Growth-adjusted impact factor,” Phys. Fluids 36, 050402 (2024)], we learn that journal growth decreases impact factor (all else being held equal). In this Editorial, we apply the teachings of Phan-Thien and Giacomin [“Growth-adjusted impact factor,” Phys. Fluids 36, 050402 (2024)] to growth-adjust the impact factors of the journal Physics of Fluids. We do so for the years for which the data are available, 2001-2023. We find that, over the course of its history, the growth of Physics of Fluids often suppressed its impact factor
Novel eco-friendly and easily recoverable bismuth-based materials for capturing and removing polyphenols from water
Get PDFOlive oil production is one of the most developed Europe's sectors, producing olive oil and undesirable by-products, such as olive mill wastewater (OMWW) and organic waste. OMWW, containing large amounts of compounds (mainly polyphenols, phenols, and tannins), represents a problem. In fact, polyphenols have dual nature: i) antioxidant beneficial properties, useful in many industrial fields, ii) biorefractory character making them harmful in high concentrations. If not properly treated, polyphenols can harm biodiversity, disrupt ecological balance, and degrade water quality, posing risks to both environment and human health. From a circular economy viewpoint, capturing large quantities of polyphenols to reuse and removing their residuals from water is an open challenge. This study proposes, for the first time, a new path beyond the state-of-the-art, combining adsorption and degradation technologies by novel, eco-friendly and easily recoverable bismuth-based materials to capture large amounts of two model polyphenols (gallic acid and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid), which are difficult to remove by traditional processes, and photodegrade them under solar light. The coupled process gave rise to collect 98% polyphenols, and to rapidly and effectively photodegrade the remaining portion from water.Dipartimento di Chimica; Velux Stiftung Foundation, (1381); Università degli Studi di Milano, UniMi, (2022); Università degli Studi di Milano, UniMiVelux Stiftung Foundation [1381]; Dipartimento di Chimica, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Italy (Piano Sostegno alla Ricerca, PSR
The influence of audio marketing on fashion stores among generation Z: Case study in the highly competitive environment of the V4 group
Get PDFThis paper investigates the influence of audio marketing strategies on Generation Z within the context of fashion stores. The mentioned area, The Influence of Audio Marketing on Fashion Stores, has not yet been explored in the post-COVID era on the European market. The European fashion retail market has recently encountered numerous challenges and the previously mentioned issues. Given the stiff competition faced by fashion retailers in Central Europe, understanding how to enhance the shopping experience for this emerging consumer group is crucial. We conducted a quantitative case study using a research sample collected through online forms at V4 Economics (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary). Our five hypotheses were rigorously tested using statistical tools by One Mean Wilcoxon Test. It was found that there is an influence of audio marketing on increasing the time spent and encouraging higher spending in stores. Another significant finding is the impact of audio marketing on impulsive buying behavior, store satisfaction, and customer intentions. Additionally, our research examines suitable musical genres for Generation Z in fashion stores, with pop music emerging as the most suitable choice based on the results. This paper provides valuable insights for marketers considering the implementation of audio marketing strategies in fashion stores and guides them on selecting the appropriate musical genre to enhance the overall shopping experience for customers.Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FaME/2023/009]Tomas Bata University in Zlín, TB
Adapting to change: The COVID-19 pandemic’s influence on business and economic landscapes
Get PDFThis paper critically examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on business performance and the adoption of remote working practices, focusing on 267 Czech companies across various sectors and sizes. The research, conducted in 2021, utilized descriptive statistical analysis to assess changes in profitability, turnover, receivable collection, and home-office adoption. Findings reveal that large, service-oriented companies experienced the most significant revenue declines (up to 55%), while micro and medium enterprises displayed greater resilience. The study highlights a major shift toward remote work, particularly in medium and large organizations, suggesting lasting changes in work culture and the need for technological readiness. By comparing results with existing studies, this research emphasizes the differential impacts of the pandemic across industries, contributing new insights into organizational adaptability, financial resilience, and strategic management during crises. It also underscores the importance of agile management, cash flow stability, and digital transformation in mitigating disruptions. The findings have practical implications for policymakers and business leaders, offering guidance for targeted support policies and enhanced crisis preparedness. Despite its valuable contributions, the study is limited by its regional scope and sample size, highlighting the need for cross-country and longitudinal studies. These directions could further explore the long-term effects of the pandemic and inform strategies for fostering resilience in a rapidly changing global business environment.Tomas Bata University in Zlin [RO/FaME/2024/05
Prediction of potential occurrence of historical objects with defensive function in Slovakia using machine learning approach
Get PDFIn this article, we aim at the prediction of possible locations of already defunct historical objects with a defensive function (HODFs) in Slovakia, which have not been found and documented so far, using three machine learning methods. Specifically, we used the support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, and random forest algorithms, which were trained based on the following five factors influencing the possible occurrence of HODFs: elevation, distance from a river, distance from a settlement, lithological rock type, and type of representative geoecosystems. Training and testing datasets were based on a database of already documented 605 HODFs, which were divided into 70% of training samples and 30% of testing samples. All of the three models reached the AUC-ROC value over 0.74 based on the testing dataset. The best performance was recorded by the random forest predictive model with the AUC-ROC value equal to 0.79. The results of the random forest model were also validated with the recently documented HODFs via the archeological research.KEGA agency, (033UKF-4/2023)Kultrna a Edukacn Grantov Agentra MScaron;VVaScaron; SR [033UKF-4/2023]; KEGA agenc
Simulation and experimental study on enhancing dimensional accuracy of polycarbonate light guides
Get PDFThis research investigates the adaptation of conventional injection-molding techniques for producing thick-walled polycarbonate optical components, specifically targeting their application in automotive light guides. With the automotive industry’s growing demand for reliable yet cost-efficient optical products, the study examines how traditional injection-molding processes can be refined to enhance dimensional accuracy and reduce defects. Simulations and experimental trials were conducted to evaluate the impact of critical process parameters, such as melt temperature, mold temperature, injection pressure, and gate design, on the overall quality of the final components. The results show that by carefully optimizing these parameters, it is possible to significantly reduce common defects like warpage, surface imperfections, and dimensional instability. This research highlights the potential of existing molding techniques to meet high industry standards while maintaining cost-effectiveness, offering valuable guidance for manufacturers aiming to produce high-quality optical components for demanding applications like automotive lighting.Internal Grant Agency of Tomas Bata University in Zlin, (IGA/FT/2024/003
Impact of regional disparities in social capital and its components on quality of life
Get PDFAccording to the prevailing opinion, social capital is one of the most robust indicators of quality of life (QoL). We ask whether this insight applies to Slovakia, as well, on the basis of understanding social capital not as one holistic concept but as a set of interrelated components, which are trust, networks, and norms. The paper has two goals, the first of which is to determine the amount of social capital, its components, and QoL, as well as its spatial disparities, at a district level. In this case, the goal is to determine the quantity of the investigated variables. The data source is the World Value Survey, Round 7, in which Slovakia also participated. The second goal is to find out how social capital and its components affect the QoL in individual districts. In other words, we would like to determine the quality of the impact of social capital and its components on the QoL. The result is the knowledge that social capital as a whole reaches significantly lower values than the QoL and is not a predictor of the QoL in Slovakia. At the same time, however, disparities in the impact of social capital and its components on the QoL have high values. This knowledge challenges the understanding of holistic social capital as a robust indicator of QoL.Ministerstvo školstva, vedy, výskumu a športu Slovenskej republiky; Slovenská Akadémia Vied, SAV; Vedecká Grantová Agentúra MŠVVaŠ SR a SAV, VEGA, (1/0578/24); Vedecká Grantová Agentúra MŠVVaŠ SR a SAV, VEGAScientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research; Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic [VEGA 1/0578/24]; Slovak Academy of Science
Enhancing software effort estimation through influencers-based project similarity measurement
No full textThis paper introduces a novel methodology for enhancing software effort estimation accuracy by incorporating observed ratings into measuring project similarity. Unlike traditional methods that rely only on historical project data, the proposed method leverages observed ratings to identify influencers within the dataset. These influencers serve as critical references that guide the estimation process, transforming project representations into a fully specified space where the similarity between projects can be accurately calculated. The significance of our method is that it overcomes the limitations of existing effort estimation methods by incorporating additional contextual information provided by observed ratings, thereby improving effort estimation accuracy. Experimental results on the ISBSG dataset show that our approach achieved better Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) results than other neighbor-based effort estimation methods. Our approach offers a promising avenue for more accurate and data-driven effort estimation, enabling informed decision-making in software project management.Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Faculty of Applied Informatics, (RVO/FAI/2021/002, IGA/ CebiaTech/2022/001
Digital transformation adoption and its influence on performance: An empirical study of creative companies in Vietnam
Get PDFThe purpose of the study clarifies the digital transformation adoption and how it impacts on the performance of creative companies in Vietnam. This investigation applied the technology–organization–environment framework and the structural equation modeling approach. The data was collected from 674 survey participants who are middle and senior managers or owners of creative companies in Vietnam, mainly located in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The structural equation modeling analysis indicates a positive relationship between technological, organizational, and environmental factors, and digital transformation adoption; the digital transformation adoption positively affects a company performance. These findings substantially contribute to the knowledge of digital technologies, digital transformation, company performance, and creative industries in the context of technology, organization, and environment. This research also provides insights for policymakers, readers, scientific communities, and management levels of creative industries to understand more about the environment of Vietnam’s creative industries