|
Míry podobnosti pro nominální data v hierarchickém shlukování
Šulc, Zdeněk ; Řezanková, Hana (advisor) ; Šimůnek, Milan (referee) ; Žambochová, Marta (referee)
This dissertation thesis deals with similarity measures for nominal data in hierarchical clustering, which can cope with variables with more than two categories, and which aspire to replace the simple matching approach standardly used in this area. These similarity measures take into account additional characteristics of a dataset, such as frequency distribution of categories or number of categories of a given variable. The thesis recognizes three main aims. The first one is an examination and clustering performance evaluation of selected similarity measures for nominal data in hierarchical clustering of objects and variables. To achieve this goal, four experiments dealing both with the object and variable clustering were performed. They examine the clustering quality of the examined similarity measures for nominal data in comparison with the commonly used similarity measures using a binary transformation, and moreover, with several alternative methods for nominal data clustering. The comparison and evaluation are performed on real and generated datasets. Outputs of these experiments lead to knowledge, which similarity measures can generally be used, which ones perform well in a particular situation, and which ones are not recommended to use for an object or variable clustering. The second aim is to propose a theory-based similarity measure, evaluate its properties, and compare it with the other examined similarity measures. Based on this aim, two novel similarity measures, Variable Entropy and Variable Mutability are proposed; especially, the former one performs very well in datasets with a lower number of variables. The third aim of this thesis is to provide a convenient software implementation based on the examined similarity measures for nominal data, which covers the whole clustering process from a computation of a proximity matrix to evaluation of resulting clusters. This goal was also achieved by creating the nomclust package for the software R, which covers this issue, and which is freely available.
|
|
Use of Interest Rate Models for Interest Rate Risk Management in the Czech Financial Market Environment
Cíchová Králová, Dana ; Arlt, Josef (advisor) ; Cipra, Tomáš (referee) ; Witzany, Jiří (referee)
The main goal of this thesis is to suggest an appropriate approach to interest rate risk modeling in the Czech financial market environment in various situations. Three distinct periods are analyzed. These periods, which are the period before the global financial crisis, period during the financial crisis and in the aftermath of the global financial crisis and calming subsequent debt crisis in the eurozone, are characterized by different evaluation of liquidity and credit risk, different relationship between financial variables and market participants and different degree of market regulations. Within this goal, an application of the BGM model in the Czech financial market environment is crucial. Use of the BGM model for the purpose of predicting a dynamics of a yield curve is not very common. This is firstly due to the fact that primary use of this model is a valuation of interest rate derivatives while ensuring the absence of arbitrage and secondly its application is relatively difficult. Nevertheless, I apply the BGM model to obtain predictions of the probability distributions of interest rates in the Czech and eurozone market environment, because its complexity, direct modeling of a yield curve based on market rates and especially a possibility of parameter estimation based on current swaptions volatilities quotations may lead to a significant improvement of predictions. This improvement was also confirmed in this thesis. Use of swaptions volatilities market quotations is especially useful in the period of unprecedented mone- tary easing and increased number of central banks and other regulators interventions into financial markets that occur after the financial crisis, because it reflects current market expectations which also include future interventions. As a consequence of underdevelopment of the Czech financial market there are no market quotations of Czech koruna denominated swaptions volatilities. I suggest their approximations based on quotations of euro denominated swaptions volatilities and also using volatilities of koruna and euro forward rates. Use of this approach ensures that predictions of the Czech yield curve dynamics contain current market expectations. To my knowledge, any other author has not presented similar application of the BGM model in the Czech financial market environment. In this thesis I further predict a Czech and Euro area money market yield curve dynamics using the CIR and the GP models as representatives of various types of interest rates models to compare these predictions with BGM predictions. I suggest a comprehensive system of three criteria, based on comparison of predicti- ons with reality, to describe a predictive power of selected models and an appropria- teness of their use in the Czech market environment during different situations in the market. This analysis shows that predictions of the Czech money market yield curve dynamics based on the BGM model demonstrate high predictive power and the best 8 quality in comparison with other models. GP model also produces relatively good qua- lity predictions. Conversely, predictions based on the CIR model as a representative of short rate model family completely failed when describing reality. In a situation when the economy allows negative rates and there is simultaneously a significant likelihood of their implementation, I recommend to obtain predictions of Czech money market yield curve dynamics using GP model which allows existence of negative interest rates. This analysis also contains a statistical test for validating the predictive power of each model and information on other tests. Berkowitz test rejects a hypothesis of accurate predictions for each model. However, this fact is common in real data testing even when using relatively good model. This fact is especially caused by difficult fulfilment of test conditions in real world. To my knowledge, such an analysis of the predictive power of selected interest rate models moreover in the Czech financial market environment has not been published yet. The last goal of this thesis is to suggest an appropriate approach to obtaining pre- dictions of Czech government bonds risk premium dynamics. I define this risk premium as a difference between government bond yields and fixed rate of CZK IRS with the same length. I apply the GP model to describe the dynamics of this indicator of the Czech Republic credit risk. In order to obtain a time series of the risk premium which are necessary for estimation of GP model parameters I firstly estimate yield curves of Czech government bonds using Svensson model for each trading day since 2005. Resulting si- mulations of risk premium show that the GP model predicts the real development of risk premiums of all maturities relatively well. Hence, the proposed approach is suitable for modeling of Czech Republic credit risk based on the use of information extracted from financial markets. I have not registered proposed approach to risk premium modeling moreover in the Czech financial market environment in other publications.
|
|
Differences between men and women in the Czech labour market
Stroukal, Dominik ; Kadeřábková, Božena (advisor) ; Pavelka, Tomáš (referee) ; Němec, Otakar (referee)
This thesis consists of five articles that apply current world research on labor economics at the Czech Republic and confirms the significant differences between men and women in this market. It shows that gender has a significant influence on the preference on the labor market and, consequently, on employment and health. First, the thesis shows that preferences are relevant determinant of career and then we study the difference in preference of salary for men and women. Subsequently it shows that gender plays a significant role in explaining the relationship between homeownership, and unemployment, as well as unemployment and health. The first chapter was able to demonstrate that the preference for a career has a positive influence on the choice of career. The influence of higher education on prioritizing career proved to be positive and significant. Probability of a career choice is reduced by the presence of children, however, is not dependent on their number, which is contrary to the theory of preferences. The second chapter shows that Czech women prefer more non-monetary rewards than men. It has also been shown that people with university education are same in the preferences of non-monetary rewards regardless of the gender of the respondents, however, compared to the world's research, the Czech higher education increases this preference. It turned out that women prefer risk less than men. The third chapter demonstrates that although the housing market undermines labor mobility and employment in the Czech Republic at the regional level, therefore, that in regions with a higher rate of home ownership is higher unemployment, at the individual level, the owners of housing are unemployed are less likely. The estimates are significantly different for men and women. Men living in owner-occupied housing have a higher likelihood of employment than women. At regional level, however, this thesis shows that the high rate of home ownership increases unemployment for both men and women, in the long run only to women. The fourth chapter showed that men transition to homeownership reduces the likelihood of unemployment next year. For women, this relationship has proved to be insignificant. In addition, as insignificant showed the opposite relationship, the transition from unemployment to the newly acquired home ownership. The last chapter shows that the change in the working status to unemployment will increase in the future probability of worse health. Influence in less than two years, however, proved to be significant. An important conclusion is that men have a significantly stronger relationship between health and unemployment than women.
|
|
The capacity of the European Union to form a common foreign policy: The approach towards Russia during the crisis in Ukraine
Grycová, Adéla ; Rolenc, Jan Martin (advisor) ; Cibulková, Petra (referee)
The thesis deals with the issues of framing and europeanization of the foreign policy of the European Union in the context of an actorness of the EU. These two theoretical concepts are applied on the case of an approach of the Czech Republic and European Union towards Russian Federation during the crisis in Ukraine. The aim of this thesis is to find out if the European Union is capabble of affecting the behaviour of a member state in order to create unified and operational foreign policy. The first chapter deals with teoretical definition of the two concepts and detailed description of the stances of Czech Republic and European Union follows in the second one. On the basis of these chapters the assessment is conducted. The last part firstly concludes if any attempt of influecing is present and secondly the success rate of the attempt is evaluated.
|
|
The role of nurse in the care of child patient with hemangiom.
ŠESTÁKOVÁ, Růžena
One of the most important areas of society-wide tasks influencing the health of the whole population is child care. It includes care of children with a hemangioma. Hemangiomas are the most common benign (not malignant) vascular tumours of a child age. This benign tumour may be present as early as at birth or appear in the first weeks of life. It is usually located on or under the skin surface but may also affect internal organs. Although a hemangioma may affect any body part, it is mostly located on the head and neck. A hemangioma is diagnosed in a tenth of new-born children. Hemangiomas typically appear at neonatal age or infancy. The objectives of the diploma thesis "Nurse's Roles in Care of a Child Patient with a Hemangioma" are to examine the roles of nurses in care of a child patient with a hemangioma, as seen by parents (mothers) of the children, and to identify which of the roles is the most important for the parents (mothers). It has also been ascertained whether nurses deal with any problems while providing this care and whether occurrence of a hemangioma in a child has any influence on the child's family. It has also been ascertained whether any complications are encountered in the treatment of children with a hemangioma. A qualitative research was used for data processing. Several methods of data collection were used. The researcher used a case history according to the model of Virginia Henderson, semi-structured interview with mothers of patients, data content analysis and secret participant observation during outpatient checks. The last method used was a survey aimed at nurses who took care of children with a hemangioma, asking them whether they dealt with any problems and complications in such children. The first research set consisted of ten child patients who were selected on purpose on the basis of pre-set criteria. The first criterion was presence of a hemangioma; five patients were hospitalised with a hemangioma and underwent a treatment with propranolol, while the other five patients with a hemangioma underwent only a conservative treatment. Last but the most important criterion was that mothers of patients with a hemangioma granted their consent to the research. These mothers formed the second research set and underwent a semi-structured interview focused on their personal experience with a hemangioma and on the work of nurses as seen by mothers. The last research set consisted of ten nurses who were also selected on purpose on the basis of a very important criterion, which was care of child patients with a hemangioma. This thesis may be of a benefit not only for professionals who are in contact with children with a hemangioma but may also serve to deepen general knowledge of other healthcare professionals who may encounter this disease either in their professional or private life. Based on the information acquired for the diploma thesis, was prepared for nurses and will be presented at professional workshops.
|
|
Possibilities of Big Data use for Competitive Intelligence
Verníček, Marek ; Molnár, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Šperková, Lucie (referee)
The main purpose of this thesis is to investigate the use of Big Data for the methods and procedures of Competitive Intelligence. Among the goals of the work is a toolkit for small and large businesses which is supposed to support their work with the whole process of Big Data work. Another goal is to design an effective solution of processing Big Data to gain a competitive advantage in business. The theoretical part of the work processes available scientific literature in the Czech Republic and abroad as well as describes the current state of Competitive Intelligence, and Big Data as one of its possible sources. Subsequently, the work deals with the characteristics of Big Data, the differences from working with common data, the need for a thorough preparation and Big Data applicability for the methods of Competitive Intelligence. The practical part is focused on analysis of Big Data tools available in the market with regard to the whole process from data collection to the analysis report preparation and integration of the entire solution into an automated state. The outcome of this part is the Big Data software toolkit for small and large businesses based on their budget. The final part of the work is devoted to the classification of the most promising business areas, which can benefit from the use of Big Data the most in order to gain competitive advantages and proposes the most effective solution of working with Big Data. Among other benefits of this work are expansion of the range of resources for Competitive Intelligence and in-depth analysis of possibilities of Big Data usage, designed to help professionals make use of this hitherto untapped potential to improve market position, gain new customers and strengthen the existing user base.
|
|
A neuroprotective effect of the 3α5β-pregnanolon glutamate in the animal model of ischemic brain injury
Kletečková, Lenka ; Valeš, Karel (advisor) ; Zach, Petr (referee)
The neuroactive steroid 3α5β-pregnanolon glutamate (3α5βP-Glu) is the synthetic analogue of a naturally-occurring 3α5β-pregnanolon sulfate. Both agents inhibit preferentially tonically activated NMDA receptors by a use-dependent mechanism. The aplication of 3α5βP-Glu could reduce the excitotoxic injury of the brain during ischemic conditions, in which plays role the excessive activation of NMDA receptors. The objectives of this study are to determine the effect of systemic aplication of 3α5βP-Glu on an oxygen saturation and a regional cerebral blood flow in the brain of laboratory rat. Subsequently to establish and critically evaluate the animal model of a global ischemic brain injury. Finally to test the neuroprotective potential of 3α5βP-Glu on cognitive funtions in this model. The oxygen saturation and regional cerebral blood flow were measured in the area of dorsal hippocampus. Both observed parametres were significantly increased after the application of3α5βP-Glu. These findings confirm the assumption that 3α5βP-Glu has a neuroprotective effect. The bilateral occlusions of arteriae carotis communis following placement of the rat into a hypoxic box has been utilized as a model of global ischemic brain injury. The aplication of 3α5βP-Glu increased significantly the rats survival. However,...
|
|
The model of adaptive behavior for the development of Czech assessment scales for children
Chadimová, L. ; Urbánek, Tomáš ; Seifert, M. ; Ivanková, K.
We introduce results of cluster analysis conducted during the development of Czech assessment scales of adaptive behavior in children and adolescents. Within the frame of National Institute of Education we organized the group of experts on the topic of adaptive behavior, both from the academical and practical areas. Every member of the expert group obtained 300 items inspired by local or foreign methods of adaptive behavior assessment. The experts were instrued to cathegorize the items, which they found meaningful with regard to the construct of adaptive behavior and its manifestation on the Czech background. Based on results we compiled consequent model of adaptive behavior, that becomes the base structure for newly developed assessment scales. We compare this structure with the model of adaptive behavior used by DSM-V.\n
|
|
Awareness of vegetarians about deficit of certain nutritions in vegetarian diet and about ways to compensate them
VORLÍČKOVÁ, Markéta
This thesis deals with vegetarians' awareness of the lack of specific nutritional substances in the vegetarian diet and their compensation. The aim is to explore whether vegetarians have sufficient information about the nutritional composition of their diet, whether they are interested in researching this information and whether the information is available and sufficient. I also looked at whether people with this eating preference are preventing potential nutritional deficits and subsequent health problems. There were designated the following three research questions: "How often and where do most vegetarians get information about a meatless diet?", "How can you achieve a full fledged vegetarian diet?" and "What is vegan awareness on the potential deficiencies in their diet, and how do they try avoid these?". In the theoretical part I deal with vegetarianism as a lifestyle, vegetarianism and its subgroups, the reasons for going to this way of life, the composition of a vegetarian diet with a focus on nutrients that may be deficient, vegetarianism and its impact on the body at different stages of development and ultimately the impact of a meatless diet on human health. The practical section is an elaborated form of qualitative research, specifically I chose semi-structured interviews. I collected the data from the interviews. The interview contained fourteen or fifteen questions, and women were also questioned about the pregnancy period. I asked questions regarding the issue of vegetarianism, veganism or raw foodism. I was interested in individual eating habits, nutrition knowledge and personal experience of the respondents. The data was collected between January 2014 and March 2014. The research group consisted of 6 respondents. The group was made up of women and men in the age range from 20 to 30 years. Among respondents there were vegetarians, vegans and raw foodists and the period of time in which they have been eating this way is different for every person. All respondents were familiar with the purpose of providing an interview and agreed to the publication. The interviews I conducted in person and were recorded on a dictaphone mobile phone. The results of my work show that most respondents do research about a meatless diet. They logically state that most intensive research took place while they were switching their eating habits, but now they still keep finding out new information. The most commonly used way was the Internet, specifically through websites such as www.soucitne.cz or www.vegan-fighter.com. Other sources used are books, articles, studies, and information received from friends or family members. The respondents argue that because the information was obtained this way, their diet is balanced. They are often trying to maintain diversity in their diet, for example, consume legumes and combine various foods such as legumes with cereals. Raw foodists state that they often consume sprouts, seeds, nuts, and of course a large amount of raw vegetables and fruits. All Vegans and Raw foodists know about the possible lack of vitamin B12, and some for this reason, use supplements. Also mentioned are supplements or protein complex supplements designed specifically for vegans.
|
|
Giuseppe Verdi: "Don Carlos" - opera complex scenographic project
Heřmánková, Lucie ; DAVID, Milan (advisor) ; TEMPÍR, Nikola (referee)
This bachelor’s thesis aims to find complex scenographic solution of Don Carlos opera composed by Italian author Giuseppe Verdi. Apart from my own creative solution I also present theoretical chapters of authors biography, relation to his work and I compare several Don Carlos productions by Josef Jelínek who designed six unique costume variations.
During process of making the set design I came up with lots of topics to think about. I chose freedom as main topic by studying past productions, libretto and musical part. This topic is one of the key elements of the creative solution and therefore I defined it further in part of this thesis. I am also looking for artistic ways that would be the most suitable and adequate for the opera, musical-dramatic genre, in which music could be more important than libretto. I am trying to find connections to contemporary society and keep the story up to date.
|
guest ::
