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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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Identification and elimination of the risk that can endanger nurses during their professional performance
CHARVÁTOVÁ, Lenka
Theoretical background Employment in the health service brings about a number of risks that are specific of respective health facilities and their departments. Nurses should be informed about all possible risks resulting from their nursing practice, as well as about ways to eliminate these risks because this is the only way they can protect themselves and by suitable means and procedures. Performing their work, nurses are exposed to four main areas of risk factors. These concern especially the effects of mental and physical strain, chemicals and biological factors. Objective of my thesis The objective was to test nurses' knowledge of risks and to test how well they can eliminate these risks. Apart from that, the thesis endeavours to find out whether the risks in nurses' work change in relation to the field of care provided. Hypotheses H1 Nurses know the risks resulting from their nursing practice. H2 Risks in nurses' work vary in relation to the field of care. H3 The most common risk occurring in nurses' occupation is the puncture wound caused by a needle. H 4 Nurses are acquainted with manners to eliminate risks resulting from the performance of their occupation. Methodology To test nurses' knowledge, I compiled a questionnaire focused on surveying the knowledge in the field of risks and elimination of these risks. The questionnaire was arranged in two basic groups. The first group was focused on the knowledge of risks and occurring injury in the performance of the occupation (the puncture wound by a needle). The other group was focused on the area of eliminating the risks. The research was carried out in medical facilities in the Region of South Bohemia. Altogether, 417 nurses were addressed. The following sections were chosen in a haphazard fashion: pulmonary, surgical, internal and a neurological departments, department of subsequent care and the intensive care unit. All the results obtained were statistically processed in the Excel programme from the Microsoft Office software packet. I used a graphic depiction to interpret the outcomes. Outcomes It was found out in the first area of the outcomes that nurses are acquainted with the risks of their occupation (knowledge of risk behaviour, when handling loads, when working with chemicals, when handling oxygen cylinders, treating an aggressive client). The second area of the outcomes was essential for establishing the ways to eliminate risks (the nurses proved knowledge of risks and duties, the duty to participate in creating a safe environment , compulsory preventive medical examinations, knowledge of risk behaviour, using personal protective equipment, observing the work principles and procedures, knowledge of treating contaminated laundry, oxygen cylinders and immobile clients, disinfection of hands, treating an aggressive client). The third area yielded an answer to the question whether puncture wounds caused by needles ranked among the most frequent risks in the occupation of the nurse. The last area was essential to establish the variability of risks depending on the field of care provided. It was found out, that risks varied in relation to the field of care provided, while the nurses viewed the mental and physical strain as the most significant risk in the performance of their work. H1 - Nurses know the risks resulting from their nursing practice - was confirmed, H2 - Risks in nurses' work vary in relation to the field of care provided - was confirmed, H3 - The most common risk occurring in nurses' occupation is the puncture wound by a needle - was confirmed, H4 - Nurses know ways to eliminate risks resulting from the performance of their occupation - was confirmed. Conclusion The outcomes of the research realized will be given to the managements of the above medical facilities, with the aim of increasing the nurses' knowledge of possible risks occurring in the performance of their work, as well as possible ways of eliminating these risks.
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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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Information content in vocalization of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus): individual distinction and recognition of predators
Baklová, Aneta ; Baranyiová, Eva (advisor) ; František, František (referee)
Guinea pigs represent domesticated precocious rodents which became common pets. From the first day after birth they are fully vocal. This thesis was devoted
to the vocalization of pups. The aim of the thesis was to 1) determine the age when the vocal individuality in whistle sound is demonstrable; 2) test possible ultrasonic signals emitted by young guinea pigs; 3) study the antipredator reactions and alarm calls to aerial (bird of prey) and terrestrial (dog) predators and human (control test).
A total of 16 guinea pig pups were tested for vocal individuality, 28 pups
for ultrasonic vocalization and 27 adolescents for predator recognition. When testing vocal ontogeny during the first 9 days after birth, I observed changes in temporal, frequency and parameter of intensity . When I test vocal individuality by cross-validated discriminant function analysis (DFA) based on ten acoustic parameters, calls were classified to correct animals with following success: day 1 = 71.9%, day 3 = 58.8%, day 5 = 53.10%, day 7 = 50.60% and day 9 = 63.10%. The highest frequency in whistle was 30.03 kHz. In predator discrimination reactions as freezing, fleeing and vigilance were observed. In the presence of dog, guinea pigs reacted for the longest time and most frequently by freezing. When confronted with a bird of prey, I observed for a longest time and most often fleeing and then freezing. When exposed to a human, guinea pigs showed mostly vigilance. Almost no vocalization was observed except for two events
of alarm calls - drrr as in the presence of dog and chirrup as reaction to bird of prey.
The following conclusions can be drawn from the presented results: 1) vocal individuality of guinea pigs is demonstrable immediately after birth and the rate
of individually different vocal parameters changes with age; 2) guinea pigs are able
to produce sound up to 30 kHz, i.e. within the ultrasound range, but signals of high frequencies are not crucial for their communication; 3) guinea pigs discriminate between terrestrial and aerial predators, but they emit alarm calls rather rarely.
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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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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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Communication of medics with the parents of a child patient.
ŽÁKOVÁ, Nikola
The theoretical part is divided into eleven chapters. The first chapter deals with the definition of communication. The second chapter describes the kinds of communication, including verbal and nonverbal. The third chapter discusses the communication skills of nurses. In the fourth chapter we expanded on the communication of the nurse with a child patient. The fifth chapter describes the basics of communication between nurses and parents of child patients. The sixth chapter discusses a situation where the nurse communicates with parents of a disabled and dying child. The seventh chapter describes the communication of nurses at the pediatric department. The eighth chapter contains the specifics of the children's department. In the ninth chapter is divided into childage. The tenth chapter discusses communication as a part of nursing care. A final chapter describes the process of hospitalization of children and their parents. The thesis is divided into theoretical and empirical parts. Much of the theory is described above whereas the empirical section describes the results of the research. Objectives and research questions The first objective of this thesis was to investigate how the nurse communicates with the parents of a child patient. The second objective was to determine whether a parent understands the information given by the sister and the final objective was to determine any errors that the nurse makes when they communicate with parents of child patients. Research questions: 1. How the nurse communicates with the parent of a child patient? 2. How does the nurse inform parents of a child patient? 3. How a parent of a child patient assesses the clarity of the information provided by the nurse? 4. What mistakes nurse makes in communication with the parents of a child patient? Methodics For the research a survey was chosen to provide qualitative information, which was obtained via interviews. The second methodology used in this work is called participant observation. Data for the first part of the survey was obtained through semi-structured interviews with the parents of hospitalized children. Interviews were conducted on the basis of questions prepared in advance. If necessary, the interview was supplemented with other issues. The interview was to determine how children were admitted to the children's department, what information reached parents about the examination of the child, and also the overall impression of the nurses on the ward. We asked parents about the verbal and nonverbal communication of sisters. They described the errors they found in the communication and behavior of nurses. The second part of the research was anonymous on the pediatric ward of the hospital where nurses evaluated verbal and nonverbal communication skills. The research group The research set for the first part of the survey consisted of seven mothers of children hospitalized in the pediatric ward. The mothers were in different hospitals in the Czech Republic. The research set for the second part of the investigation, which was carried out by observation technique, consists of six nurses employed at the pediatric ward of a state hospital. Nurses were selected randomly. They are of different ages and they have different length of practice and other training.
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How to prevent the proliferation of Legionella pneumophylis in hot water in the hospital Czech Krumlov
TUREK, Jan
This diploma thesis deals with microbiological quality of hot water in a hospital in Cesky Krumlov as well as hot water piping condition with respect to Legionella. It also deals with arrangements for improving the quality of hot water in this hospital. The subject and target of this thesis are the findings of the mentioned parameters based on own observations, technical documentation and analysis of warm water performed by an accredited laboratory. The hospital in Cesky Krumlov, the construction of which began in 1909, was built in 1911 as the 'Nemocnice Císaře Františka Josefa I.' As the time went by, new buildings were built up. The hospital was renamed to 'Všeobecná veřejná nemocnice' in 1942. In the following years the hospital expanded until the current condition. Water quality and presence of Legionella is a world-wide issue, which we must fight against. The thesis is divided into two parts. First, theoretical part, which includes both general and specific knowledge about Legionella, its health risks, the environment in which it occurs, possibilities of eliminating, suitability of the material for hot water pipes, gained in professional literature and a part of the Czech legislation dealing with public health protection, the law 'No. 258/2004 Coll.' in actual version and quality of drinking water and hot water. In the second, empirical part, I focus on the situation of the hospital in Cesky Krumlov from 2009 till 2015, concerning newly built boiler room and the whole distribution system of hot water regarding Legionella. Particularly I focused on materials used for ecologisation of the gas boiler room and materials used for hot water pipes and actual state of water distribution in individual buildings of this health care facility. I mentioned the analysis of the water samples performed by an accredited laboratory with corresponding technical documentation, which concerns the water distribution system, provided by the medical facility. I used secondary data analysis to evaluate these documents. Regarding the results from 2009 to 2015 the microbiological quality of warm water doesn't meet the limits defined in the Attachment No. 3 of the above mentioned law Order 252/2004 Coll. Limit value for colony forming units of Legionella is set to maximum of 100 CFU. In most of the samples this limit was exceeded by series of units up to hundred thousands of units. The last results in 2015 prove improvement of the unfavorable situation. In that year the analysis was tested three times. First in February, where the CFU units were 'only' in hundreds, with the top value of 550 CFU in the Postacute Care ward. Second analysis was performed in June that same year. Results were acceptable. The highest value was 64 CFU. Last analysis in the hospital was performed in December. Increased concentration of Legionella was again in the Surgery building. There were established of 1400 colony forming units. There were 300 CFU in the Postacute Care ward and the limit value of 100 CFU was in the ward of Internal medicine. The answers to research questions 'How to prevent reproduction of Legionella peumophylis in the water distribution system of the hospital in Cesky Krumlov?' and 'How to ensure a sufficient amount of quality hot water in the medical facility?' are included at the end of the stated recommendations. A risk factor causing the fast reproduction of Legionella is the old water distribution system in most of the buildings and low water temperature of water leaving the boiler, which is 55°C. All mentioned results and evaluations are included in this thesis as well as attached pictures, which show the environment and situation within the Health Care Institutions.
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The use of (nano)oxides for metal and metalloid stabilization in contaminated soils
Michálková, Zuzana ; Komárek, Michael (advisor) ; Luke, Luke (referee)
The main objective of the thesis was to evaluate the potential of selected Mn and Fe (nano)oxides for the stabilization of metals and metalloids in contaminated soils. The research was focused basically on three materials - commercial nanomaghemite (Fe III), nanomagnetite (Fe II,III) and a synthetic amorphous Mn oxide (AMO). The main aim of the work was to provide a complex view on the chosen stabilizing amendments regarding not just their direct influence on contaminants mobility and stabilization mechanisms, but also their stability and alterations in soil conditions together with influence on soil microorganisms and higher plants. Firstly, adsorption properties of the tested materials towards Cd, Cu, Pb and As were investigated. In this context, the most effective material showed to be the AMO reaching one to two orders of magnitude higher adsorption capacities than Fe III and Fe II,III under given experimental conditions. Interestingly, the rate of As(V) adsorption onto AMO was increasing with increasing pH as a result of high pHzpc of the AMO (8.1) and significant dissolution of this phase at lower pH values. As a next step, the influence of (nano)oxides on metal(loid)s mobility and other physico-chemical soil characteristics after application to contaminated soil was examined. Again, the AMO proved to be the most efficient in reducing mobile pools of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and As. On the other hand, Fe III and Fe II,III addition had generally less significant effects on contaminants mobility. AMO application further resulted in an increase of soil pH connected with AMO dissolution and unwanted decomposition of soil organic matter. When (nano)oxides alterations in soil conditions were observed, MnCO3 coatings were identified on AMO surface while no significant changes were recorded for Fe III and Fe II,III. As the MnCO3 formation was connected with increased AMO stability, AMO particles synthetically covered with MnCO3 coating (denoted as SM AMO) were prepared. Although the SM-AMO had a lower mass loss in soil than pure AMO, the stabilizing efficiency was almost the same for both materials. The differences in surface composition of both materials were decreasing with time as MnCO3 naturally precipitated on the AMO surface in soils while the SM AMO coating was gradually dissolving. When investigating the effect on soil microbiota, AMO efficiently promoted soil microbial activity while no significant changes were observed in the case of Fe III and Fe II,III. The AMO was also able to reduce the uptake of Cd, Pb and Zn by sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), eliminate Zn phytotoxicity symptoms and increase biomass yield. On the other hand, toxic levels of Mn released from the AMO in an acidic soil were found in sunflower tissues. AMO application is thus recommended for contaminated neutral or slightly alkaline pH with a higher cation exchange capacity in order to avoid unwanted release of Mn. Finally, various types of AMO-biochar composite sorbents were recently prepared and field experiment focused on stabilization of Cd, Pb, Zn and As using studied materials is currently under preparation. The combined results from the thesis highlight the importance of a complex experimental approach dealing with all parts of the contaminated soil environment in order to obtain complete information about the efficiency and usefulness of any newly developed stabilizing amendment.
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