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Selecting Criteria for the assessment of the disproportionate costs associated with the implementation and objectives of The Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC
Škodová, Ivana ; Vojáček, Ondřej (advisor) ; Slavíková, Lenka (referee)
This paper tries to answer the question related to the implementation of one of Europe's most influential EU-directives, the Water Framework Directive. The Directive requires Member States to achieve good ecological potential and good surface water chemical status for bodies of water until year 2015. If the states cannot achieve those objectives within this period, then there may be grounds for exemptions from the requirement to prevent further deterioration of to achieve good status under specific conditions. One of those conditions could be that, the completing the improvements within the timescale would be disproportionately expensive. Question which is examined in this paper is, what criteria would be most appropriate for determining the disproportionate costs. Based on the review of most WFD-related studies and EU legislation are selected criteria, which should be used for the assessment of the disproportionate costs.
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Conscience of the ecological crisis and its reflection in lifestyle
Mlynář, Jakub ; Suša, Oleg (advisor) ; Sládek, Jan (referee)
In this paper author makes an attempt to describe the development of the man - nature relationship in the Western thought and also the reflections of this problem, using the "domination of man over nature" metaphor. He concludes the problem of "culture versus nature" duality on the example of philosophical and historical research on the cultural basis of ecological crisis. He follows describing the birth of early conservationist movement (H. Thoreau, J. Muir), ecological ethic (A. Schweitzer) and transformation of this concepts into various fields: ecofeminism, social ecology (M. Bookchin) and deep ecology (A. Naess). Author reflects the position of environmental issues in the academic discussion as well as the incorporation of the ecological concepts into sociological theory (environmental sociology). In the final part of the paper the issue of individual life-style reflection of the environmental problems is opened, using the conception of "voluntary simplicity" (D. Elgin) or "postmaterial values" (R. Inglehart). The paper is finished with critical views on the "voluntary simplicity" phenomenon, the issue of "privatization of the ecological crisis" and commercionalization of the ecological lifestyle.
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Nurse-specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation.
NEPRAŠOVÁ, Eva
Introduction: Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia. The quality of atrial fibrillation treatment in clinical practice varies between hospitals and doctors. Due to the increasing prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the more elderly population, it might be difficult in the future to refer patients to a limited number of heart specialists. At the same time, a new generation of University educated nurses is growing, but, unfortunately, their competencies are as low as their colleagues' with high-school education. However, in some areas, such as diabetology or gastroenterology, specialist nurses, whose aim is to supplement medical doctors to some extent, are gradually occurring. In the Czech Republic, there are no specialist nurses in cardiology, even though they are quite common abroad. Our aim is to assess the feasibility of a specialist nurse for diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation. Methods: Main inclusion criterion for our study was a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation made on one of the non-internal medicine wards or in the general practitioners' practice. An exclusion criterion was previous examination by one of the heart specialists either internal medicine doctor or a cardiologist. During the first interview, I checked previous investigations for the atrial fibrillation and the arrhythmia treatment. The questionnaire contained questions on demographic parameters and patients' knowledge about their disease and possible complications. Subsequently, I recorded my recommendations regarding further investigations and therapeutic possibilites. All patients were sent to a cardiologist as required by our national guidelines. The second interview was made over the phone 2 months later and comparison of the doctor's recommendations with my suggestions was made. During this interview, an assessment of the concept of a nurse specialist in atrial fibrillation was performed. Results: Forty patients with atrial fibrillation documented on an ECG were recruited. At a time of the first interview, only 10 patients (25%) had their echocardiogram performed and only 23 (57,5%) patients had their thyroid gland hormones checked. 26 (65%) patients were on anticoagulation medicine while CHADS2-Vasc score of 2 and more was documented in 34 (85%) patients. There was an agreement between doctor's and nurse's recommendations regarding missing investigations and anticoagulation treatment. However, no agreement was achieved in the area of arrhythmia treatment, which means that this should remain a doctor's responsibility. Patients were informed about possible complications in only 11 (27,5%) cases and about all therapeutic options in 2 (5%) cases. 29 (72,5%) patients would be interested in consulting a specialist nurse in the future, whereas 11 (27,5%) patients would prefer a doctor. Results: We managed to confirm that the novel concept of a specialist nurse for the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation is feasible. The specialist nurse is able to confirm the diagnosis, check the completeness of the investigations, educate patients and assess the risk of the thromboembolic disease. Competencies of the nurses should be extended, so this concept could be introduced into the clinical practice.
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Greenery of public spaces in new residential areas (residential areas on the outskirts of the cities)
Horká, Julie ; Kyselka, Mojmír (referee) ; Otruba, Ivan (referee) ; Urbášková, Hana (referee) ; Wittmann, Maxmilian (advisor)
In the current post-industrial society, with increasing requirement of sustainability, greenery significantly participates in the spatial, operational and functional organization of the urban environment. The first part of the thesis introduces relationship between formation and structure of greenery in an urban environment from the historical point of view. Elements of greenery in an urban environment and on its margins filled a variety of functions: from productional and aesthetical to the recreational and ecological. Green areas have also gradually become an important public space. In the current urban environment, areas of vegetation arise mainly in the form of recultivation of post-industrial areas, adjusted smaller parks, greenery of business and entertainment centers, or greenery of residential units. The thesis is focusing on the last mentioned type, which should be in the closest coexistence with residential environment and on the possibilities of creating eco-residential units, which can become a substitute /or at least one of the possible options/ to mono-functional residential zones emerging on the outskirts of our cities and in the open countryside and act against the ongoing suburbanization and its negative effects. The text of doctoral thesis is trying to find qualitative aspects of greenery which supports the creation of living, attractive and sustainable public spaces. Comparison and evaluation of selected examples from abroad /Austria, Germany, Holland/ and also from the Czech Republic brings us the definition of the necessary and optimum qualitative properties of greenery in public, but also semi-public spaces of residential complexes. These examples of good practice may be used - as a whole or in parts – as inspiration for the development of residential projects in the Czech Republic, either in preferred brownfields areas or in carefully selected areas of new development. The final chapter emphasizes the inseparability of the creation of public spaces and greenery in residential areas from the sustainable development of the area in terms of a penetrable and compact city.
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Modelling Impacts of the Ecological Tax Reform and Possible Ways of its Further Progress
Koderová, Alena ; Kubátová, Květa (advisor) ; Vítek, Leoš (referee) ; Široký, Jan (referee)
The main objective of the thesis is to identify appropriate approach to evaluation of impacts of the first phase of the ecological tax reform in the Czech Republic, its consequent adaption and application for the particular purpose. The input-output analysis has been found as the most convenient solution for such a sort of analysis. The analysis has been used for the evaluation of impacts on final production prices of each NACE sector resulting from introduction of new taxes on electricity, solid fuels, natural gas and some other kinds of gases in the Czech Republic. Because of unavailability of information about the final impact of taxes on particular objects in the economy, the analysis is conducted on the basis of five incidence assumptions about the impact of taxes on distributors and customers. While the aforementioned analysis is the essential chapter of the thesis, the work starts with a theoretical introduction related to optimal tax theories and theories about possible positive effects of environmental tax implementation. Additionally, energy tax implementation in the Czech Republic and in the European Union is mentioned. Furthermore, an important starting point in finding the most convenient model was to summarize various approaches to modelling energy tax impacts on the economy. Therefore, theoretical description of particular models is provided when history of the models, type of equations and dependences in the model are described. Moreover database requirements and possibilities to use the model for another purpose are discussed. The thesis also comprises of the analysis of pros and cons and additional important characteristics of relevant models together with the summary for which purpose was the particular model used in the Czech Republic. The introduction of energy tax in the Czech republic on the final production prices was proved to be unimportant and with only exceptions (namely the sector of production and distribution of electricity, natural gas and water) an increase in final production prices does not exceed 0,2 % and for a half of all the sectors the increase does not exceed 0,1 %.
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Plants of transformations: Using of plant hallucinogens by mexican indians in Oaxaca and by mestices in Peru
Horák, Miroslav ; Halbich, Marek (advisor) ; Komárek, Stanislav (referee)
This diploma thesis compares the use of natural hallucinogens by native groups of Mexican and Peruvian inhabitants from the cultural-ecological point of view. The basis of the thesis is an ethno-botanical analysis of the particular plant species containing this type of psychoactive substances, an anthropological interpretation of shamanism and a description of the particular rituals focusing especially on their curative function. Attention is also paid to artistic displays of shamans and healers. In the end of the thesis the ritualised way of using hallucinogens is confronted with the attitude to drugs of the present society.
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Ecological audit and its effectiveness
Vávrová, Adéla ; Hadrabová, Alena (advisor) ; Dvořák, Antonín (referee)
This thesis focuses on the analysis of environmental audit instruments in economic terms. It is primarily aimed at assessing the effectiveness of this tool for entrepreneurs. The first stage of work is focused on the concept and definition of environmental audit and its history. This study then reports an analysis of benefits and costs of the environmental management system which is a prerequisite for setting auditing ISO 14001 and EMAS. The practical part of this thesis contains two case studies of specific examples of audits based on ISO certification.
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Energy evaluation of office building.
Lysková, Markéta ; Horák, Petr (referee) ; Adam, Pavel (advisor)
This diploma thesis is dealing with energy audit of industrial building with administration part, situated in Blansko, South Moravia region. The theoretical part is focused to windows from the energy balance point of view, because one of the energy saving measures is the change of current insufficient window filling. The main objective of this diploma thesis is to find the most energy saving variant which is going to be evaluated from the both, ecological and economical, aspect. The third part is dedicated to usage of computer technology as software for 3D model creating of assessed building or energy consumption simulation for particular systems as heating in relation to characters of different kinds of windows.
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Design of Wheel Flange Lubrication Experimental Apparatus
Nepovím, Radovan ; Dzimko, Marián (referee) ; Hartl, Martin (advisor)
The diploma thesis deals with construction design and practical realisation of experimental apparatus for investigation of wheel flange track vehicle lubrication. Experimental apparatus in full-scale uses optical interferometry for investigation of lubrication behaviour in wheel flange contact. It is an innovative approach which has not been used for such experiments so far. The aim of the following measurement with this apparatus is to determine the minimal amount of ecological lubrication in wheel flange contact under certain conditions when there is no lubrication film interruption. The apparatus enables to measure real rail wear. This work contains the apparatus description for the study of wheel flange lubrication, wheel flange contact specifications, the description of its influence on wear and acoustic emission, and a detailed description of the experimental apparatus.
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