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X-ray Observation of the Loaded Silicate Composite
Vavřík, Daniel ; Fíla, Tomáš ; Jandejsek, Ivan ; Veselý, V.
An intensive internal material damage evolution precedes a failure in quasi-brittle materials. Not only the existence of damage but also its quantification and the geometry of the Fracture Process Zone have to be identified in order to validate approaches on both numerical modelling of quasi-brittle behaviour and experimental determination of fracture properties. Radiographic techniques and Digital Image Correlation method are very appropriate for analysing of the Fracture Process Zone evolution during specimen loading.
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Clustering and regression analysis of micro panel data
Sobíšek, Lukáš ; Pecáková, Iva (advisor) ; Komárek, Arnošt (referee) ; Brabec, Marek (referee)
The main purpose of panel studies is to analyze changes in values of studied variables over time. In micro panel research, a large number of elements are periodically observed within the relatively short time period of just a few years. Moreover, the number of repeated measurements is small. This dissertation deals with contemporary approaches to the regression and the clustering analysis of micro panel data. One of the approaches to the micro panel analysis is to use multivariate statistical models originally designed for crosssectional data and modify them in order to take into account the within-subject correlation. The thesis summarizes available tools for the regression analysis of micro panel data. The known and currently used linear mixed effects models for a normally distributed dependent variable are recapitulated. Besides that, new approaches for analysis of a response variable with other than normal distribution are presented. These approaches include the generalized marginal linear model, the generalized linear mixed effects model and the Bayesian modelling approach. In addition to describing the aforementioned models, the paper also includes a brief overview of their implementation in the R software. The difficulty with the regression models adjusted for micro panel data is the ambiguity of their parameters estimation. This thesis proposes a way to improve the estimations through the cluster analysis. For this reason, the thesis also contains a description of methods of the cluster analysis of micro panel data. Because supply of the methods is limited, the main goal of this paper is to devise its own two-step approach for clustering micro panel data. In the first step, the panel data are transformed into a static form using a set of proposed characteristics of dynamics. These characteristics represent different features of time course of the observed variables. In the second step, the elements are clustered by conventional spatial clustering techniques (agglomerative clustering and the C-means partitioning). The clustering is based on a dissimilarity matrix of the values of clustering variables calculated in the first step. Another goal of this paper is to find out whether the suggested procedure leads to an improvement in quality of the regression models for this type of data. By means of a simulation study, the procedure drafted herein is compared to the procedure applied in the kml package of the R software, as well as to the clustering characteristics proposed by Urso (2004). The simulation study demonstrated better results of the proposed combination of clustering variables as compared to the other combinations currently used. A corresponding script written in the R-language represents another benefit of this paper. It is available on the attached CD and it can be used for analyses of readers own micro panel data.
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Evaluation of Efect Mechanicle a Nitrifying Biological Filters in Recirculating Aquacultere Systeme with Intensive Fish Farming.
OLBERT, Karel
Aim of my work is influence of high level breeding of Euroasian perch on quality of water and operation of mechanicle drum filter and fluized bed biofilter. Euroasian perch is reared in recirculating aquaculture systeme. Fish were devide into six groups in dependence on their body weight. Groups of fish with avarage start weight (g) {$\pm$} SD; biomass (kg) 232,9 {$\pm$} 10,0; 15,14 (I), 196,4 {$\pm$} 8,1; 15,32 (II), 139,8 {$\pm$} 6,1; 15,10 (III), 102,4 {$\pm$} 5,5; 15,06 (IV), 59,4 {$\pm$} 5,5; 15,04 (V), 37,7 {$\pm$} 7,5; 15,00 (VI) were put into plastic tank (600l). Three measurement was with fed fish and three measurement with food-deprived fish. Fed day was organised like feeding period (light phase) 12 hours and 12 hours non-feeding period (dark phase). First part of my project was about impact mechanicle filtration to remove solids from water. Mechanical filter can keep the water quality on perfect level for fish farming. Second part was about evaluation of nitrifying biologickle filters. Biologicle filtration was did her function well, because levels of amonia, nitrite and nitrate were keep on optimum values. Third part of my project was about measurement of oxygen consumption and amonia excretion. Was observed significant diurnal changes of oxygen consumption and amonia excretion for fed fish. For food-deprived fish was observed significant diurnal changes of oxygen consuption. Changes of amonia excretion were not significant.
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ELECTRON BEAM REMELTING OF PLASMA SPRAYED ALUMINA COATINGS
Matějíček, Jiří ; Veverka, J. ; Čížek, J. ; Kouřil, J.
Plasma sprayed alumina coatings find numerous applications in various fields, where they enhance the properties of the base material. Examples include thermal barriers, wear resistance, electrical insulation, and diffusion and corrosion barriers. A typical structure of plasma sprayed coatings, containing a multitude of voids and imperfectly bonded interfaces, gives them unique properties - particularly low thermal conductivity, high strain tolerance, etc. However, for certain applications such as permeation barriers or wear resistance, these voids may be detrimental.\nThis paper reports on the first experiments with remelting of plasma sprayed alumina coatings by electron beam technology, with the purpose of densifying the coatings and thereby eliminating the voids. Throughout the study, several parameters of the e-beam device were varied - beam current, traverse velocity and number of passes. The treated coatings were observed by light and electron microscopy and the thickness, structure and surface morphology of the remelted layer were determined and correlated with the process parameters. Based on the first series of experiments, the e-beam settings leading to dense and smooth remelted layer of sufficient thickness were obtained. In this layer, a change of phase composition and a marked increase in hardness were observed.\n
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Arctic tundra dendrochronology
Lehejček, Jiří ; Svoboda, Miroslav (advisor) ; Monika, Monika (referee)
Historically unprecedented environmental change in the Arctic ecosystems is often given into the context of its past and possible future development. In the region where instrumental meteorological observations are scarce archives need to be investigated in order to address this issues. The comprehensive synthesis one of the archives: long-live circumpolar evergreen Juniperus communis L. shrub is presented here. 20 individuals from southwest Greenland were investigated at the cell anatomy level to understand the ecology of the species and unhide its potential for environmental and climate reconstructions. The findings are as follows:
i) Stop of exponential cross-sectional conduit-lumen widening with increasing age is in contrast with conduit-lumen nature of trees. This indicates that shrubs do not need to saturate their water and nutrient demands via traits of classical hydraulic conductivity law but rather developed different mechanisms. Extreme weather conditions result in prostrate growth form. However, different weather factors probably influence shrub growth differently: While snow and wind act mechanically (a), temperature influences the form of growth physiologically (b). a) So long as the young shrub stem has high resilience to bend back to an upright position after snow melt and so long as it can withstand the wind during the vegetation season it most likely grows upright and the conduit-lumens widen. b) Temperature, resp. freeze-thaw events are responsible for the shrubs preference of safety (finite size of conduit-lumens) over hydraulic efficiency, thus not allowing for more primary growth. All of these (and other) factors are apparently working together and the transition of vertical to more horizontal growth is gradual. As a consequence, the conduit-lumen sizes may not have to be further increased (due to ecophysiological restrictions possibly also must not) because water is no longer transported against gravity.
ii) Observed age/growth trend has to be taken into consideration for further employment of the wood anatomical parameter in paleoenvironmental studies. That is, shrub cell parameters can only be used for this purposes if correctly detrended. This allows for more accurate as well as longer reconstructions because youth trend was often neglected in reconstructions based on shrub annual-rings.
iii) The south-western Greenland Ice-Sheet (GrIS) melt rates reconstruction is presented for the whole 20th century. This part of GrIS is considered as the most active. According to the presented reconstruction current GrIS melt rates are not uncommon for the last century being comparable to first decades of 20th century. This finding is particularly important contribution to the debate on Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). Too high fresh water inputs into the Northern Atlantic from GrIS melting may slow down or even stop the AMOC which would result in more continental climate in Europe. Presented results indicate that this threshold lies higher than observed current melt rates of GrIS.
Fascinating Juniperus comunnis species has shown to be able to address many ecological as well as environmental open questions and due to its longevity and abundant distribution has a great potential to become an important player in the Arctic research.
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Possibilities in monitoring of laser welding process
Horník, Petr ; Mrňa, Libor
With increasing demands on the quality of the welds, it is usual to apply automated machine welding with monitoring of the welding process. The resulting quality of the weld is largely affected by the behavior of keyhole. However, its direct observation during the welding process is practically impossible and it is necessary to use indirect methods. At ISI we develop optical methods of monitoring the process based on analysis of radiation of laser-induced plasma using Fourier and autocorrelation analysis. Observation of keyhole inlet opening is partially possible through a coaxial camera mounted on the welding head and the subsequent image processing. A high-speed rear camera to understand the dynamics of the plasma plume. Through optical spectroscopy of the plume, we can study the excitation of elements in a material. Shielding gas flow can be visualized using schlieren method.
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Navigation of mobile robots
Rozman, Jaroslav ; Matoušek,, Václav (referee) ; Šolc, František (referee) ; Zbořil, František (advisor)
Mobile robotics has been very discussed and wide spread topic recently. This due to the development in the computer technology that allows us to create better and more sophisticated robots. The goal of this effort is to create robots that will be able to autonomously move in the chosen environment. To achieve this goal, it is necessary for the robot to create the map of its environment, where the motion planning will occur. Nowadays, the probabilistic algorithms based on the SLAM algorithm are considered standard in the mapping in these times. This Phd. thesis deals with the proposal of the motion planning of the robot with stereocamera placed on the pan-and-tilt unit. The motion planning is designed with regard to the use of algorithms, which will look for the significant features in the pair of the images. With the use of the triangulation the map, or a model will be created. The benefits of this work can be divided into three parts. In the first one the way of marking the free area, where the robot will plan its motion, is described. The second part describes the motion planning of the robot in this free area. It takes into account the properties of the SLAM algorithm and it tries to plan the exploration in order to create the most precise map. The motion of the pan-and-tilt unit is described in the third part. It takes advantage of the fact that the robot can observe places that are in the different directions than the robot moves. This allows us to observe much bigger space without losing the information about the precision of the movements.
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Antimicrobial activity of cobalt bis(dicarbollide) aminoderivatives
Kvasničková, E. ; Masák, J. ; Šícha, Václav
We carried out experiments focused on the determination of the antimicrobial acitivity of selected representatives of cobalt bis{dicarbollide) aminoderivates. lt was proved, that studied yeast strain C. parapsilosis DBM 2165 is not sensitive to the cobalt bis{dicarbollide) or its aminoderivatives. Gram-negative bacteria P. aeruginosa B-59188 is weakly susceptive to cobalt bis(dicarbollide), but no significant inhibition of growth by cobalt bis(dicarbollide) aminoderivatives was observed. The highest effect on inhibition of microbial growth was confirmed in the case of gram-positive bacteria 5. aureus. This observation demonstrates the real possibility of using these substances in the treatment of infection caused by gram-positive bacterial strains.
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Fluorescent analysis of the differential protein expression in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic sperm samples
Děd, Lukáš ; Čapková, Jana ; Kubátová, Alena ; Teplá, O. ; Pěknicová, Jana
Asthenozoospermia is one of the main seminal pathologies underlying male infertility. Previous proteomic studies have demonstrated the significant differences in the protein profiles between normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic sperm samples. Since these studies were primarily focused on the identification of differentially expressed proteins by mass spectrometry, we aimed to evaluate the ability of our diagnostic antibodies to detect the differential expression of selected protein markers by fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry techniques. Therefore, we analyzed sperm samples from 30 men with normal and 30 men with astheno spermiograms, average by the panel of our diagnostic anti-human sperm (Hs) antibodies. Fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry analysis revealed quantitative differences in the protein abundances between normo and astheno sperm samples, namely, in GAPDHs, evaluated with Hs-8 MoAb, VCP, evaluated with Hs-14 MoAb, and ATP synthase, evaluated with MoAb Hs-36. From the methodological point of view, we observed very high correlation between the data obtained by fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry techniques and therefore both methods are useful for evaluation of protein differences associated with asthenozoospermia. From the clinical point of view, we observed the strong association of the low sperm motility in the sample with the expression of proteins, playing an important role in sperm energy metabolism (expected), but also with the expression of all tested intra-acrosomal proteins. These findings further demonstrate asthenozoospermia as a complex semen disorder frequently associated with other semen pathologies, which are not diagnosed by basic semen analysis, and the possibility to use monoclonal antibodies as a tool for diagnosis of protein associated sperm pathologies in the semen with the low sperm motility.
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Dance as a means of integration adults with intellectual disability
KRAUMANNOVÁ, Eva
The goal of the bachelor thesis called Dance as a means of integration adults with intellectual disability was to create, implement and evaluate a dance course focused on the development of social competences in adults with intellectual disability. The thesis deals with adults with intellectual disability and with a leisure activity focused on dancing. There is some space for the development of social competences in adults´ leisure time. In response to the current situation of leisure activities proposition for adults with intellectual disability. I found it beneficial to found a dance group of adults with intellectual disability, and at the same time a group of individuals intact in places unfamiliar to them. Based on an activity which may be implemented amusingly it is possible to develop an individual´s personality as well as his or her social competences, which become a presumption of a successful integration, universally. The bachelor thesis consists of four chapters.The first chapter defines the term ´intellectual disability´. Further on the attention is paid to the characteristics of the target group, i.e. adults suffering from a slight and medium mental retardation. Further on, the disability´s impact onto the human psyche as well as social area is described. In the second chapter the term ´dance´is defined and then the description of its usefulness within the leisure, artistic and therapeutic areas is given. In the third chapter the presumptions for a successful integration are described. In the conclusion of the theoretical part there is an interconnection made between the target group and the activity for developing social competences. The theoretical part of the bachelor thesis is continued with a practical part, the fourth chapter. It is a programme of a six-month course which I have set together based on the analysis of expert literature and my experience gained during the leadership of dance lessons and working with adults with intellectual disability. The programme will include work methods and an evaluation of partial activities. The six-month course was held in the school year of 2015/2016 and 6 intellectually disabled adults took part in it. Students of the University of South Bohemia joined the course. Partial goals were set for individual dance lessons and the activities were set so that they would develop social competences in participants non-violently and in the greatest extent possible. The course was implemented in the IN Civic Association facilities. To evaluate the activity and find out the progress within the area of the participants´ social competences, several development fields have been set. Several chosen social competences were divided into evaluation scales. The participants were evaluated at the beginning of the course and then again, six months later. The evaluation method chosen was my own observation. I focused on the evaluation of my own working, on group evaluation and the evaluation of each individual. Evaluation was also done on the part of each course participant, too. Dance lessons and activities connected have proven to be a suitable means for developing social competences in intellectually disabled adults. In five participants the values have risen in 5 10 out of 17 competences observed. A recourse occured in a participant who was going through a difficult life situation during the last two months of the course. Values have risen dramatically and in all participants in the area of group cooperation. Five participants made a progress in establishing and keeping eye contact and in starting a conversation. One participant has made a progress in the area of group performance, another one has made a progress in the area of independence and another one started to call the other participants by their names, as opposed to the beginning of the course. In general, the members of the group became more self-confident.
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