Tomas Bata University in Zlín
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High-speed shear mixing: Versatile strategy towards the sustainable design of amine-supported CO2 adsorbents
No full textDual asymmetric centrifuge high-speed shear mixing is introduced as a versatile and rapid dry method for physically impregnating solid adsorbents with amine compounds. Unlike wet impregnation, which is the most reported method in literature, the dry process enables impregnating the supporting material by both low (pentaethylenehexamine) and high molecular weight amines (branched polyethyleneimine, Mw ∼ 800 g.mol−1) without using any solvent. High-speed shear mixing yields materials with CO2 adsorption/desorption abilities (simulating direct air capture and flue gas, which includes cycling) comparable to those prepared by wet impregnation, while significantly reducing the preparation time and energy consumption and decreasing the use of toxic substances. Thus, the preparation procedure for CO2 adsorbents can be successfully transformed into a clean, energy-efficient, and solvent-free process that supports sustainable development and mitigates climate change, and also be simultaneously applied to any other class I adsorbents.Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT; DKRVO, (RP/CPS/2024-28/007, RP/CPS/2024-28/002
Optimization of the dark fermentation technique for hydrogen production through supplementation with ascorbic acid and/or l-cysteine by Clostridium butyricum CCDBC 11
Get PDFThis study explores the enhancement of biohydrogen production through the addition of oxygen scavengers, ascorbic acid, and l-cysteine during dark fermentation by Clostridium butyricum strain. The supplementation of these compounds significantly reduced the bacterial lag phase and accelerated cell growth, thereby boosting the hydrogen output. Using saccharified corn scrap as the substrate, a maximum cumulative hydrogen yield of 2.20 mol H2/mol glucose was achieved with 5 mg/L ascorbic acid. This treatment reduced the lag phase by 65.6% and increased the hydrogen yield by 40.9% compared to the control and by 11.4% relative to l-cysteine supplementation alone. Biogas production was quantified via the water displacement method, and hydrogen content was analyzed using gas chromatography. The results indicate that ascorbic acid is a cost-effective and efficient additive for improving the hydrogen yield in dark fermentation processes.European Just Transition Fund; Ministerstvo Životního Prostředí, MZP, (CZ.10.03.01/00/22_003/0000045); Ministerstvo Životního Prostředí, MZP; Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MEYS, (CZ.02.01.01/00/23_021/0009004); Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MEYS; Tomas Bata University in Zlín, TBU, (RP/CPS/2024-28/002); Tomas Bata University in Zlín, TBUMinisterstvo ?kolstv?, Ml?de?e a Telov?chovy [CZ.10.03.01/00/22_003/0000045]; European Just Transition Fund within the Operational Programme: Just Transition under the aegis of the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic [CZ.02.01.01/00/23_021/0009004]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of Czech Republic, Operational Programme Johannes Amos Comenius OP JAC [RP/CPS/2024-28/002]; Tomas Bata University in Zlin; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republi
Measuring artificial intelligence's impact on sustainable energy transition: Empirical insights and policy implications
No full textArtificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology with significant potential for accelerating the transition to sustainable energy systems. This study provides novel empirical insights into the effect of AI on energy efficiency and renewable energy integration. Using econometric techniques, such as cross-sectionally augmented error correction models (CS-ECMs) and pooled mean group (PMG) models, we analyzed data from 30 countries (1995–2020). The results indicate that AI patents reduce energy intensity by 0.84 tons of oil equivalent (toe) per 1000 USD and that AI-related research increases the sustainable energy transition index by 10 points in the long term. AI-driven optimization techniques and predictive maintenance have substantial long-term effects on energy sustainability. This study also discusses the implications of AI-driven innovation on energy policies and sustainable economic growth. These findings fill a critical gap in the literature by providing robust empirical evidence of the long-term impact of AI on sustainable energy transitions and offers valuable insight for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to achieve a future with sustainable energy. These findings underscore the importance of sustained investment in AI technologies and interdisciplinary collaboration in achieving global energy sustainability goals. For now, AI's impact on the scale's energy transition is similar to the total factor productivity (TFP) effect, driving long-term sustainable energy transformation
Nonlinear impact of information technologies on the development of the aviation industry in Vietnam
Get PDFThe aviation industry plays a crucial role in the sustainable development of ASEAN countries; however, its progress is often hindered by the phenomenon of digital inequality. In the context of the internationalization and digitalization of the aviation industry—accompanied by the implementation of projects related to standardization procedures and environmental monitoring—research tasks aimed at examining the impact of IT engineering on key performance indicators of the aviation sector are of particular relevance. The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between the level of digitalization, particularly the development of IT engineering, and the main performance indicators of the aviation industry's growth, using Vietnam as a case study. The research objectives were focused on assessing the impact of digital technology adoption on the growth of passenger and cargo transportation, as well as identifying barriers that hinder the digitalization of the sector. The methodological design of the study was based on the application of correlation analysis and olynomial modeling. Statistical data on passenger traffic, cargo volumes, and IT engineering activity in Vietnam's aviation industry from 2012 to 2020 were utilized. The results confirmed a statistically significant relationship between the development of IT engineering and key indicators such as the number of passengers transported and the volumes of passenger and cargo traffic. The study also identified barriers, such as regulatory constraints in investment policy and a shortage of qualified personnel, which may impede the effective integration of IT engineering and digitalization projects in Vietnam's aviation industry. These barriers highlight the need for additional measures to ensure government support. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential application of the findings for developing national digitalization strategies for the aviation industry. The results may be of interest to the academic community and professionals involved in the development of the aviation sector
Sauerkraut juice fermented with different symbiotic starter cultures: comprehensive assessment of physicochemical, rheological, antioxidant, and microbiological characteristics
Get PDFThe current study investigated the fermentation of sauerkraut juice (SKJ) utilizing various symbiotic starter cultures (specifically kombucha and water kefir starter cultures, respectively). It aimed to assess the physicochemical, rheological, antioxidant, and microbiological properties of the resulting beverages. Black tea kombucha and apple juice water kefir fermented beverages were also analyzed for comparative purposes. Key parameters such as pH values, total acidity, total soluble solids, and total dissolved solids were measured. The initial pH exhibited significant variation, decreasing over the course of fermentation due to organic acid production. As fermentation progressed, total acidity increased, a phenomenon attributed to the activities of acetic and lactic acid bacteria. The flow behavior of the fermented beverages was characterized using the Power-law model, revealing that most samples displayed non-Newtonian behavior, indicating that their viscosity and shear stress changed with shear rate. Specifically, the consistency index declined while the flow behavior index rose. Additionally, seven biogenic amines were detected in the fermented samples, with their low concentrations posing minimal risk to consumer safety, resulting from microbial activity during fermentation. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, revealing that black tea kombucha showed the highest levels of antioxidant activity. The total phenolic content varied between samples and decreased over time, particularly in the water kefir-like beverages. The microbiological analysis indicated a gradual increase in beneficial microorganisms, such as lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, throughout the fermentation process. These findings underscore the potential of SKJ as a promising base for developing functional beverages, providing valuable insights into how different fermentation starter cultures influence the quality and health-promoting properties of fermented beverages. In light of the growing consumer interest in functional, particularly plant-based foods, the fermentation of SKJ presents an opportunity to create probiotic-rich beverages.Tomas Bata University in Zlín, TBU, (IGA/FT/2025/007); Tomas Bata University in Zlín, TBUInternal Grant Agency of the Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FT/2025/007
High-temperature ultrasensitive FET-based CVD graphene Hall probes
Get PDFHall probes play a critical role in industrial applications such as electrical compasses, current sensors, and motion detectors; however, their performance often deteriorates at high temperatures. This study presents a magnetic-field probe with an ultrahigh sensitivity of 880 Ω/T at 150 °C, achieved using a graphene Hall bar integrated into a field-effect transistor (FET) architecture. To attain this exceptional sensitivity at elevated temperatures, careful control of doping, passivation, and manufacturing defects is essential. The doping level is optimized by adjusting the gate voltage to maintain the carrier concentration near the charge neutrality point (CNP). Further improvements in sensor response at high temperatures, as well as nearly a 2-fold increase in sensitivity at room temperature, are realized through polymer passivation of graphene. In contrast, it is demonstrated that patterning graphene into a narrower channel can increase the number of defects, which reduces the Hall probe’s sensitivity. These findings demonstrate the potential of CVD graphene as a durable and high-performance material for Hall probes in challenging environments.We acknowledge the support by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (Grant No. 25-16894S), OP JAK (Project No. CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004594 TERAFIT), MEYS CR (Project No. LQ1601\u2013CEITEC 2020), and CzechNanoLab Research Infrastructure supported by MEYS CR (LM2023051).Ministerstvo ?kolstv?, Ml?de?e a Telov?chovy [25-16894S, CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004594 TERAFIT]; Grant Agency of the Czech Republic [LM2023051]; MEYS CR; CzechNanoLab Research Infrastructur
The physics of journal self-citation
Get PDFPurpose: This study explores the implications of low journal self-citation rate (LJSCR). While some interpret LJSCR as a sign that a journal’s authors do not cite each other’s work, others see it as a mark of prestige, reflecting greater recognition from outside the journal. We argue that these perspectives are not contradictory: low self-citation can be prestigious precisely because it reflects low self-readership.
Design/methodology/approach: We analyze the physics and mathematics of journal self-citation. Our findings show that the self-citation rate (i) increases with journal market share, (ii) approaches a well-defined upper bound, (iii) this upper bound remains significantly below unity, and (iv) without a minimum level of market share, self-citation is virtually absent. Here, market share refers to the proportion of a journal’s publications relative to its Web of Science (WOS) subject category. To test our analysis, we examine 61 journal-years of data from three major hybrid fluid dynamics journals: Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Physical Review Fluids, and Physics of Fluids.
Findings: We identify a consistent relationship between journal self-citation and market share. A striking result is the mathematical analogy we establish between journal self-citation behavior and the concentration of intermediates in consecutive irreversible unimolecular chemical reactions. We also observe that creating specialized subdisciplinary journals (“twigging”) can reduce self-citation rates by narrowing scope.
Research limitations: The study is limited to fluid dynamics journals. Broader validation across disciplines is needed. Practical implications: Editors and publishers can apply these insights to interpret citation metrics and assess the visibility and readership of their journals.
Originality/value: This work redefines LJSCR as a counterintuitive metric—one that may reflect both low author engagement and high external impact. It introduces a novel physics-based model to understand citation behavior across journals
The confidentiality of confession in Czech law in the light of (not only) the concordat agreed with the Holy See
No full textThis paper deals with the relatively overlooked matter of the sacramental seal in the Czech law, which is becoming increasingly relevant especially as a result of the Concordat with the Holy See of October 2024. The article first briefly introduces the seal of confession in the canon law and emphasizes its absolute inviolability, which is not always consistently respected by the secular law. Subsequently, it analyses selected confessional law norms concerning the protection of the sacramental seal under the Czech law, especially § 7(1)(e) of the Churches Act and § 367 and 368 of the Criminal Code, among others in the light of the negotiated concordat. The author points out that if the State has recognised the the sacramental seal in the concordat without reservation and without exception, it has also recognised its inviolability under the national law
Increasing the safety and security of strategic railway terminals through environmental and situational aspects
Get PDFRail transport is a vital sub-sector of critical infrastructure (CI) in public transportation, primarily through high-speed rail for national and international travel. Strategic railway terminals, designed for high-capacity entry/exit of people and cargo, are key elements of CI. However, they are also considered soft targets due to threats like terrorism and criminal activity. Current directives, standards, and procedures are inadequate for protecting these publicly accessible spaces, which are also critical infrastructure elements (CIE). There are no specific security standards for the technical protection of strategic railway or transport terminals. In response, a methodological procedure has been developed to enhance protection levels. This procedure is based on the CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) concept, incorporating international standards for crime and terrorism prevention. It focuses on assessing the environmental and situational security of railway terminals and recommending additional technical measures to address gaps in protection.Technology Agency of the Czech Republic [CK01000015]; Slovak Research and Development Agency [APVV-20-0457]Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TACR, (CK01000015); Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TACR; Agentúra na Podporu Výskumu a Vývoja, APVV, (APVV-20-0457); Agentúra na Podporu Výskumu a Vývoja, APV
Chocolate ganaches: formulation, processing and stability in view of the new production trends
Get PDFThis review aims at the current trends in chocolate ganache production and recipe formulation. Ganache is a blend of chocolate, sugars, dairy, and other ingredients commonly used to fill pralines, pastries, etc. In spite of ganache's popularity in the food industry, a comprehensive review focused on the application of functional substances and ganache processing has not been discussed in the scientific literature. This review addresses the new ways of applying special ingredients, such as vegetable fats and seeds, flavor infusions, oleogels, hemp products, etc., which can be added to the ganache matrix to achieve desirable properties. In particular, the application of sterols and sterol esters as functional substances of oleogels seems to be a very promising method, enhancing the ganache fat profile. The elevated caloric content that is characteristic of ganache can be substantially attenuated through the application of hydrocolloids and/or fruit-based components, thereby offering the potential for caloric reduction without compromising on taste. The various alterations to ganache formulations by the application of natural substances offer a large base for the development of novel ganache variants and relevant food products.Tomas Bata University in Zlin; Palacky University in Olomouc; IGA [PrF-2024-001]; [IGA/FT/2024/005