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Removal of micropolutants in drinking water treatment
Hambálková, Kateřina ; Vávrová, Milada (referee) ; Dolejš, Petr (advisor)
Intrusion of pharmaceuticals into surface and drinking water is nowadays a problem, that is solved all over the world. This diploma thesis is focused on the removal of pharmaceuticals from water by coagulation. The efficiency of two coagulant agents - chitosan and ferric sulphate was compared. For comparison was used adsorption on a granular-activated-carbon. Efficiency of removal was investigated by UV-VIS spectrophotometer and HPLC.
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Production and characterization of regenerated humic acids
Uhrová, Anna ; Daniela,, Šmejkalová (referee) ; Kučerík, Jiří (advisor)
Jihomoravský lignit pocházející z dolu Mír v Mikulčicích, Lignit s.r.o. byl přesítován a vybraná frakce byla modifikována tzv. mokrou cestou pomocí dvou oxidačních (HNO3, H2O2) a dvou „amfifilních“ (kyselina octová, kyselina citronová) činidel. Alkalickou extrakcí byly získány jak huminové kyseliny z neupraveného tak předupraveného lignitu (tzv. regenerované huminové kyseliny). Na základě výsledku elementární analýzy byly vypočítány C/O a C/H poměry, které společně s FTIR spektry podaly informaci o stupni alifaticity/aromaticity a dále o stupni oxidace organického uhlíku. Pomocí vysokoúčinné vylučovací chromatografie byla stanovena distribuce velikosti huminových agregátů. K objasnění procesů probíhajících v povrchové vrstvě bylo proměřeno povrchové napětí studovaných roztoků vzorků. Získaná data byla proložena Szyszkowského rovnicí a obdržené parametry poukázaly jak na povrchovou aktivitu jednotlivých huminových kyselin tak i na povahu molekul zodpovědných za snižování povrchového napětí. Pro vzájemnou korelaci dat získaných výše zmíněnými metodami byl použit Pearsonův korelační koeficient.
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The applicability of methods that are based on the employment of composite indicators in assessing sustainable development and quality of life
Petkovová, Ludmila ; Fischer, Jakub (advisor) ; Macek, Jan (referee) ; Čadil, Jan (referee)
The main objective of this thesis is to assess the applicability of methods that are based on the employment of composite indicators when evaluating the 'sustainable development' and 'quality of live' indexes. The first issue observed in here is whether the composite indicators as such even represent a suitable tool for assessing the above mentioned area of analysis; if the answer is yes, then, secondly, under which conditions the composite indicators may be applied in the context of our analysis. After answering the questions above, it is crucial to find suitable methods for the particular steps of constructing the composite indicator for the sustainable development and quality of life categories, whereby it is also necessary to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages resulting from the application of the selected composite indicators for the purposes of the respective analysis. Within this thesis, the comparison of individual methods of constructing the indicators was performed by means of applying the individual indicators on the established set of data, as well as a subsequent comparison of results and the assessment of strengths and weaknesses of the individual methods has been done with respect to the factual side of the particular composite indicators (i.e. with respect to the sustainable development and quality of life in our case). Various composite indicators for the quality of life and sustainable development have already been established; the necessity of composing additional composite indicators for the above mentioned categories reflects the problematic nature of finding a suitable tool that would be generally accepted in this case. This thesis provides for relevant conclusions and recommendations that should contribute to establish a suitable approach towards the construction of composite indicators for the sustainable development and quality of life assessment. Furthermore, the thesis provides for the comparison of methods as employed in practical construction of composite indicators in our context with methods based on a professional theory. The professional theory/literature addresses and recommends certain methods for the construction of composite indicators in the relevant context, however, these methods are typically not applied in the practical construction of the most frequently/commonly used composite indicators for measuring the sustainable development and quality of life. The critical aspects that have been observed within comparison of the individual methods are transparency of calculation, interpretability of results, robustness of the composite indicator closely linked to the nature and character of the data, and the level of applicable compensation of the individual parameters within the respective indicator that is allowed by the particular aggregation mechanism employed. The thesis concludes on a rather questionable use of composite indicators in case of assessing the sustainable development, whereby deduces on recommending the application of composite indicators only in case of assessing the quality of life, which may also be understood as a part (sub-item) of the sustainable development and which is easier to be quantitatively expressed. In parallel, the circumstances of the quality of life are better to be compared across various items, e.g. regions. The results indicate that it is not possible to establish a uniform recommendation when selecting the most suitable method; in case of every construction of the particular composite indicator it is necessary to take into account the strengths and weaknesses of all the considered methods. At the same time, the results lead to consideration of relevancy of conclusions resulting from the evaluation of quality of life by means of composite indicators, especially by means of a single number.
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Composite indicators: the construction, usage and interpretation
Hudrlíková, Lenka ; Fischer, Jakub (advisor) ; Čadil, Jan (referee) ; Hužvár, Miroslav (referee)
This thesis brings a comprehensive view on the construction, usage and interpretation of composite indicators. Methods and techniques, which can be used for constructing composite indicators, are introduced. The focus is on their contribution to the transparent solution of the problem of correlation and compensability among underlying indicators. Transparency in construction of composite indicators is a crucial requirement for obtaining reliable results and their correct interpretation. The thesis consists of two main parts. The first part is theoretically oriented. First, the problem of adequacy and subsequently a measurement of the phenomenon by means of statistical indicators are discussed. Different methods for data normalization, setting a weighting scheme and aggregation are introduced and compared. These three steps are considered to be crucial in a process of constructing a composite indicator and thus, they are the core of the thesis. The aim is to investigate an interaction of normalization methods, weight-setting and aggregation methods, since these steps are not separate. The second part of the thesis consists of two comprehensive cases. Theoretical findings are applied and empirically verified in these cases. I investigated a robustness of the composite indicator depending on a combination of selected methods of normalization, setting weights and aggregation on a set of Europe 2020 indicators. Whereas this first case dealt with the comparative analysis of methods, the second case is focused purely on one issue -- university ranking. The proposed method reacts to criticism of currently published university rankings and takes into account specifics of the particular university as well as the exogenous background characteristics. The main added value rests in a contribution to a discussion about the improvement of construction and overall quality of composite indicators including their interpretation. I pointed out the main concerns and difficulties of composite indicators that often remain unnoticed by users and even constructors. The conclusion brings several beneficial findings, which can be used for the construction of a composite indicator and an interpretation of final scores and ranking. This work can also serve as a scientific ground for further research and development of the methodology of constructing composite indicators.
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Evaluation of the Impact of Wind Turbines on a Landscape
Urbášková, Martina ; Melichar, Jan (advisor) ; Kaprová, Kateřina (referee)
The goal of the work is to provide monetary valuation of changes in visual aspects of the landscape as a result of construction of an additional wind turbine in the village Maletín. For a suitable method for achieving the goal is being selected the contingent valuation method. A key element of this method is being considered the carefully compiled questionnaire, on which basis is made the quantification and evaluation of collected data. The representative sample consists of 112 households and the selected payment method is the increase of the monthly bill for electricity. The questionnaire reports that 54.3% of households consider the impact of wind turbines on the landscape Maletín to be positive. With the construction of additional wind turbine agree less than 74.3% of households and the most common reason is to obtain grants for the village and to produce cleaner energy from wind turbines. With the construction of new wind turbine while increasing monthly bill agrees 28.6% of all households living in the village Maletín. Estimation of changes in a welfare, thus improving the quality of the environment, is based on estimated central values, that has been calculated from selected characteristics and nonparametric estimation. The average household's willingness to pay for construction of wind turbine is estimated to be between 77 CZK - 200 CZK per month.
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Aggregations as an antipredator strategy in common toad tadpoles (\kur{Bufo bufo}).
BODNÁR, Tomáš
Tadpoles of many anuran species use a huge number of behavioral modifications to avoid predators. Reduced activity in presence of predators is favorite strategy for common toad tadpoles (Bufo bufo). Responses against predator cues by tadpoles of Bufo bufo in the presence of another cue of larger tadpole aggregation were tested in this study. We observed that these tadpoles responded differently to predator chemical cues than tadpoles in a small group.
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Composite indicators of quality of life
Pelikánová, Radka ; Hudrlíková, Lenka (advisor) ; Petkovová, Ludmila (referee)
Composite indicators have been extended and applied even more in recent years. But what are the reasons for their usage popularity? Can their results be trusted? Can they really measure the correct quality of life? What are the methods of measuring the quality of life? This thesis analyses these and other issues associated with composite indicators. The first part is focused on the theoretical description of indicators and their construction. The next part describes selected indicators, which quantify the discussed quality of life. The third and last part of the thesis focuses on the analysis of selected indicators and their possible correlation with the most popular and up to now the most widely used indicator of living standards, thus with GDP.
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Vliv gradientu rychlosti na morfologické vlastnosti aggregátů
Pivokonský, Martin ; Kysela, Bohuš ; Chára, Zdeněk
This paper summarises the preliminary results concerning an influence of the agitation conditions on the aggregation processes. The properties of formed aggregates affecting the efficiency of separation processes are studied as well. The results show that the applied velocity gradient G, the period of its action T and the distribution of velocity field in an agitated volume of water significantly influence the number of aggregates, their size and shape. Smaller and denser aggregates of a homogeneous size and more resistant to breakage are formed under a higher velocity gradient.
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