Tomas Bata University in Zlín
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Potassium-based emulsifying salts in processed cheese: A rheological, textural, tribological, and thermal approach
Get PDFThe aim of the study was to investigate the effect of potassium-based emulsifying salts (ES; 2% wt/wt concentration) with different phosphate chain lengths (dipotassium hydrogenphosphate [K2HPO4; DKP], tetrapotassium diphosphate [K4P2O7; KTPP], pentapotassium triphosphate [K5P3O10; TKPP]) on the physicochemical, viscoelastic, textural, tribological, thermal, and sensory properties of processed cheese (PC; 40% wt/wt DM, 50% wt/wt fat in DM) during a 60d storage period (6 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C). On the whole, the hardness of all PC samples increased with the increasing chain length of ES (DKP G ''; tan delta < 1). The type of potassium-based ES affected the binding of water into the structure of the PC. Furthermore, the study confirmed that the manufactured PC received optimal sensory scores, without any excessive bitterness. It could be concluded that the type of applied ES and storage length affected the functional properties of PC. Finally, the information provided in this study could serve as a tool for the dairy industry to help appropriately select potassium-based ES for PC manufacture with desired properties.Internal Grant Agency of the Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FT/2024/005, IGA/CebiaTech/2024/002]Tomas Bata University in Zlín, TBU, (IGA/FT/2024/005, IGA/CebiaTech/2024/002
Insight into structure-property correlations in plasticized sodium carboxymethyl cellulose/pectin blend-based polymer electrolyte for EDLC application
No full textThis work focuses on the development of plasticized solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) for electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) application. The developed material, consisting of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC), pectin (PC), glycerol, and lithium perchlorate (LiClO4), 4 ) , was prepared using the solution casting method. To assess the performance of the prepared plasticized SPEs, several methods were employed, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), dielectric properties, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). FTIR confirmed the successful interaction between the functional groups of the plasticized polymer blend and the cations (Li+) + ) of the salt. Similarly, EIS revealed that the sample containing the highest salt concentration (25 wt%) showed the highest ionic conductivity measured at 3.55 x 10-4-4 S cm-- 1 . According to LSV analysis, this sample demonstrated the capability to operate safely within a voltage limit of 3.3 V. The fabricated EDLC cell exhibited a nearly rectangular curve in cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis and a triangular pattern in galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) tests. These curves confirm the capacitive behaviour of the EDLC cell. Finally, the electrochemical parameters of the EDLC cell including the specific discharge capacitance (Cspc), C spc ), energy density (Ed), d ), and power density (Pd) d ) were determined to be (4.2 F g-1),-1 ), (0.5 Wh kg-1 ), and (14 W kg-1 ) respectively.Internal Grant Agency of TBU in Zlin [IGA/CPS/2024/003]; Ministry of Education Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic- DKRVO [RP/CPS/2022/002]; Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, Theta program [TK03030157]Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT; TBU in Zlin, (IGA/CPS/2024/003); DKRVO, (RP/CPS/2022/002); Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TACR, (TK03030157
Release of contaminants from polymer surfaces under condition of organized fluid flows
Get PDFThe use of polymers for water storage or distribution is closely monitored, especially with regard to the possible contamination with substances coming from the material's surfaces. Different standards are practiced across countries according to type of applied materials and such test methods are prevalently based on constant temperature conditions. However, these polymers systems could be located in diverse environment which does not necessarily provide constant conditions. Experimental findings show that exposure of liquid inside polymeric materials to specific temperature gradients, and consequently to emerging organized flows, can result in an accelerated leaching of undesirable substances from the solid surface. In presented work model steady-state and organized flow conditions are used to compare release of contaminates from polyethylene by measuring of surface tension, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy and elemental analysis of polymer surfaces and water leachates. The pilot study shows that convective flow generated via temperature gradient significantly affects contaminant release in comparison to a steady state and mixing flow conditions.Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic; Bayerisch-Tschechische Hochschulagentur BTHA/BAYHOST [LTAB19019]; Czech Science Foundation [22-33307S]Bayerisch-Tschechische Hochschulagentur BTHA; Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT; BAYHOST, (LTAB19019); Grantová Agentura České Republiky, GAČR, (22-33307S
Surface treatments' influence on the interfacial bonding between glass fibre reinforced Elium® composite and polybutylene terephthalate
Get PDFThis study examines the process of using injection moulding to join two different materials to manufacture bi-component moulded products with improved performance characteristics. The two-component process, which combines the advantages of two different technologies—the high efficiency of the injection moulding process and the excellent mechanical properties of long glass fibre composites produced by resin transfer moulding (RTM) technology—offers a particular advantage and improved applicability of the prepared lightweight products in both the automotive and aerospace sectors. The composite studied here consists of Elium® thermoplastic resin (30%) reinforced with unwoven glass fibre fabric (70%) using the RTM process. The Elium® composite sample is consequently used as an insert overmoulded with polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) homopolymer reinforced with 20% w/w of short glass fibre through injection moulding. The influence of different mould temperatures and surface treatments on the adhesion between the materials used is investigated by evaluating the mechanical performance using tensile shear strength tests. It was found that while an increase in mould temperature from 40 °C to 120 °C resulted in a doubling of the initial average bond strength between untreated Elium® RTM inserts and overmoulded PBT parts (0.9 MPa), sandblasting the inserts ensured a further tripling of the bond strength of the composites to a value of 5.4 MPa.Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic DKRVO [RP/CPS/2024-28/003]; Internal grant agency of Tomas Bata University [IGA/FT/2023/005]Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic DKRVO, (RP/CPS/2024-28/003); Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, UTB, (IGA/FT/2023/005
To speak up or not to speak up, organisational and individual antecedents that undergird this behaviour in resource constrained region
Get PDFAim: To examine the organisational (i.e., perceived organisational support and psychologically safe environment) and individual (i.e., value, belief and norm) antecedents that strengthen healthcare workers' speaking-up behaviour in a developing economy.
Design: The study uses a cross-sectional design to gather the same data from healthcare workers within the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
Methods: The data collection happened between 15 June and 30 August 2023. A sample of 380 healthcare workers was selected from 20 facilities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. A configurational approach, a fussy-set qualitative comparative analysis, was used to identify the configurations that caused high and low speaking-up behaviour among the study sample. Results: The study results reveal that whereas four configurations generate high speaking-up behaviour, three configurations, by contrast, produce low speaking-up behaviour among healthcare workers.
Conclusion: Results suggest that in so far as organisational support systems which take the form of a psychologically safe environment and perceived organisational support are vital in relaxing the hierarchical boundaries in a healthcare setting to improve healthcare workers' speaking-up behaviour, the individual value-based factors that take the form of values, beliefs and norms are indispensable as it provides the healthcare workers with the necessary inner drive to regard speaking-up behaviour on patient safety and care as a moral duty.
Impact: Healthcare workers' speaking-up behaviour is better achieved when organisational support systems complement the individual norms, values and beliefs of the individual.
Reporting Method: Adhered to Strengthening Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution.Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FaME/2023/006]Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, UTB, (IGA/FaME/2023/006); Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, UT
Do investment incentives affect the performance of domestic and foreign firms differently? Evidence from Czech manufacturing firms
Get PDFThis study evaluates the effectiveness of public incentives in improving firm competitiveness, with a focus on the nationality of firm ownership as a distinguishing factor. Using panel data of incentivized and non-incentivized manufacturing firms in the Czech Republic from 2005 to 2019, we investigate the impact of the Czech investment incentives scheme on domestic and foreign firms' productivity, outputs, profitability, investment, and employment level. The analysis, which is based on a combination of propensity score matching with a difference-indifference technique estimator, reveals the presence of a substantial difference in the impact of the investment incentives between domestic and foreign firms. We find that access to the incentives has a negative effect on the output and employment of domestic beneficiary firms. In contrast, the results suggest that foreign recipient firms have a higher output and employ more physical capital and labor after receiving the incentives. Nonetheless, the results show that the incentives have no statistically significant effects on the profitability and productivity of both domestic and foreign firms. These findings are not sensitive to the matching methods employed.Technology Agency of the Czech Republic [TL03000319]; Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Faculty of Management and Economics [RO/2023/01]Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TACR, (TL03000319); Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, UTB, (RO/2023/01
Joint degrees - a competitive advantage of Czech higher education institutions (?)
Get PDFUniversities nowadays engage in fierce competitive battles, both for students and funding. Among the competitive advantages addressing both people and money counts potent internationalization, opening possibilities to study abroad or work with foreign specialists. Providing joint degrees with foreign partner universities has emerged as a viable path to a higher attractiveness of university study options. Nevertheless, after almost two decades of joint degree offers in the European higher education area, the joint degree popularity seems to be stagnating at best. Based on an overview of Czech universities, this study seeks to answer whether universities providing joint degrees rank better in international assessments and whether individual faculties running joint degrees at Czech universities rank better in the national Czech Universities Ranking. As a mixed-method study, it applies the methods of content and correlation analyses to analyze and compare the national and international quality ranking of higher education institutions in the Czech Republic in relation to providing joint or double degree programmes. While no statistically significant relationship has been found between the Czech national ranking of individual faculties and their offer of double degrees, the findings suggest a statistically significant relationship between the joint degree offer and international university ranking. Nevertheless, the direction of the relationship remains obscure.French Embassy; Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, DAA
Relation between residual tumor volume after surgery and overall survival in patients with glioblastoma - a single neuro-oncology center study
No full textAim: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of volumetric assessment of residual tumor volume and to evaluate the eff ect of a precisely defi ned residual tumor volume on overall survival (OS) in patients with glioblastoma (GBM) . Materials and methods: Adult patients who underwent surgical resection for GBM in the University Hospital Olomouc from 2012 to 2016 were selected retrospectively. Patients attended regular clinical and MRI follow-up every three months. Early postoperative MRI scans were used in the study. In each patient, tumor segmentation was performed followed by creating a 3D model of tumor volume, which allowed the calculation of its volume both before and after surgery . Results: Results of 50 patients were available for a retrospective analysis. Our study showed a significant prolongation of OS only in the group with no contrastenhancing residue (median OS = 16.1 vs. 6.3 months) Patients with a combination of radical resection and oncological treatment with the Stupp protocol achieved further prolongation of OS with a mean of 19.6 months and a median of 14 months . Conclusion: Our paper describes the process of calculating the volume of the postoperative residual component of GBM using easily available software. According to the study findings, significantly better therapy results were achieved in patients with complete removal of the contrast -enhancing GBM component, supplemented by the most possible radical resection of the contrast non -enhancing components of the tumor
From intention to action: Understanding bank credit access through the lens of the theory of planned behavior
Get PDFResearch background:Bank credit access plays a determining role in enterprises’ financial growth, competitiveness, and internationalization. However, most entrepreneurs are afraid of being rejected from their credit applications due to financial disadvantages that reduce their probability of receiving credits. To minimize credit access concerns, their entrepreneurial behaviors that are included in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), such as personal attitude (PA), perceived behavioral control (PBC), and subjective norm (SN), might be a good solution. However, depending on cultural differences, their attitudes regarding these factors might change, which also causes changes in firms’ probability of receiving credit.
Purpose of the article: This research aims to examine whether the impact of PA, PBC, and SN on credit access of enterprises differ depending on the countries where they do their business.
Methods: The researchers investigate 1367 enterprises from different countries. These firms are selected using a purposive sampling method, and then an online questionnaire is sent to the survey respondents. Binary Logistic Regression analyses are performed for analysis purposes.
Findings & value added: The results indicate that while the impact of PA on bank credit access does not differ depending on the countries where firms are located, international differences exist in the impacts of PBC and SN on the credit access of enterprises. This paper finds international differences in the impact of RBV’s intangible assets (PA, PBC, SN) on a tangible asset of RBV (financial capability) and explains these results with the factors (economic, political, legal systems) included in Institution-based View, and brings all components of both theories RBV and Institution-based View in a unique research. Financial and educational support from governments and universities for fresh graduate individuals can stimulate entrepreneurial attitudes and financing abilities of prospective entrepreneurs to overcome credit access obstacles.International Visegrad Fund withing the project: "Application of Principles of Inclusion in Tourism in the V4 Countries" [22220127]International Visegrad Fund, IVF, (22220127
Effects of air as transmission medium on wave propagation and possibility of generalization
No full textThis paper presents an experiment comparing specific frequencies and atmospheric variables to investigate possible relations. The secondary result is the probability function of the strength of the signal at that frequency. The proposed experiment is a stepping stone for further development in using probability functions in computational tasks such as simulations that would otherwise rely on ideal values. Increased computational power cannot solve this considerable inconsistency between reality and simulation. The signal was recorded using an FM radio tower near the measurement site, which allowed for tracking stable and strong electromagnetic radiation over a long period and occasional measurement near the transmitter. Atmospheric variables, such as air pollutants and humidity, were tracked to cross-compare them during the analysis. Conclusions were drawn based on several procedural analyses, which consisted of the time domain of the observed signal, probability function of signal strength, and cross-comparison time domains of signal and atmospheric variables.Internal Grant Agency of Tomas Bata University [IGA/CebiaTech/2024/003]Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, UTB, (IGA/CebiaTech/2024/003); Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, UT