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Microstructure and impact response of high-chromium ODS steels
Hadraba, Hynek ; Fournier, B. ; Stratil, Luděk ; Dlouhý, Ivo
A new class of ODS steels alloyed by Cr and W is developed as a high temperature structural material for prospective power sources, the fission reactors of IV generation and the fusion reactors. The aim of the work was to investigate the influence of microstructure on the fracture properties of ODS (9-18)Cr-W-Ti-Y2O3 steels. It was found that the increasing in the Cr and W content brought to the steels strength at elevated temperatures and increased upper shelf energy level and shifted transition region towards lower temperatures. The increase in the yttria content led to the decreasing the upper shelf energy and shifted the TDBTT towards higher temperatures. The impact energy of rolled ODS sheet depended strongly on the fracture plane orientation regarding to the rolling direction. The splitting edges profile changed according to the sample orientation and thus the energy portion consumed for the shearing was changed.
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Application of art therapy elements for students at high special school (practical)
Koubská, Patricie ; Valešová Malecová, Barbara (advisor) ; Šiška, Jan (referee)
Application of art therapy elements for students at high special school (practical) The theme of this bachelor thesis is the use of art therapy procedure for pupils from practical two-year high school. The aim of this thesis is to consider the possibilities of using elements of group art therapy for the development of self-knowledge, communication, for strengthening of prosocial ties and increasing of a sense of group belonging. In the narrower sense, art therapy is underwood as a fine art therapy. Theoretical basis of the thesis will be the methods of art therapy, their possibilities and procedures, developmental aspects of maturing, specifics of maturing for pupils with handicaps (mental retardation issues, specific disorders of behavior problems of pupils with social and physical handicaps). In the practical part of the thesis there is described the use of these methods in my own art lessons.
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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.
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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.
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Molecular characterization of selected strains of amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba, the potential human parasites.
ŠTAUBEROVÁ, Kamila
The genus Acanthamoeba belongs to a group of organisms generally called "amoebae". These amoebae can cause fatal disease in humans, being able to enter e.g. through skin in bloodstream and then spreading through the body. In the body they further parasitize in various tissues including the brain there they cause a little known disease called "granulomatous amoebic encephalitis". The disease is most prevalent in people previously ill with, e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus. Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis leads especially to a brain inflammation, which evolves in brain tissue necrosis. Most prominent symptoms are headaches, nausea and vomiting, aphasia and ataxia. This work mentions also some other amoebae as Neagleria fowleri, Balamuthia mandrillaris, Sappinia diploidea a Entamoeba histolytica. Neagleria fowleri is known as a causative agent of an illness called primary amoebic encephalitis. First, I had isolated DNA using Genomic Mini Kit from five amoeba strains. The next step was PCR amplification it is a method depending on alternation of high and lower temperatures in thermocycler. It was followed by electrophoresis, where the presence of bands in agarose gel, which I had prepared myself, showed the presence of absence of amoebic DNA fragments. In case of successful amplification (presence of PCR product) the fragment was excised from gel with scalpel and transferred in a test-tube. The DNA was then cleaned via extraction. The extraction was done with Gel/DNA Fragments Extraction Kit. An intermediate step before sequencing, we tried to clone the product it became obvious that this way is not very effective. The sequencing was provided by the company Seqme. Following work with sequences was conducted in programs BioEdit and alignment in ClustalX. Then, phylogenetic trees were computed in the program PAUP and viewed in TreeView. The results were interpreted in the terms of relationships between the amoebae majority of them belonged to the most common genotype, T4, but their relations within the genotype were not so tight. Concerning the clinical samples available to me (both from human eyes), one of them (O1) belonged to T4 genotype, whereas the other one (O2) belonged to the genotype T3. Another result was evaluation of the effectivity of different primers: specific primers AcaJDP1 and AcaJDP2 were much more efficient than originally used "eukaryotic" primers ERIB1 and ERIB10.
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The Issue of Nursing Care in Old People's Homes
MARKOVÁ, Štěpánka
The thesis deals with the issue of nursing care in old people's homes. Given the improving medical and nursing care and also the prevention of diseases, the human life extends. This leads to the aging of population. Therefore, it is essential to understand this issue, its interconnection with nursing care, but also to find the right approach to the elderly in residential facilities providing social services. The theoretical part of the thesis deals with old age and aging, behavioural changes in old age, specifics of communication with the elderly, long-term care for the elderly, care for a man in nursing homes. It deals with the work of nurses in old people's homes and with their education. Five objectives were set within the framework of the research. The first objective was to determine areas of nursing care, in which the nurses working in old people's homes have most problems. The second objective was to find out how the nurses manage physical strain. The third objective was to determine how the nurses manage psychical strain. The fourth objective was to find out what theoretical knowledge and practical skills the nurse must have. The fifth objective was to identify possibilities of further training for nurses working in old people's homes. Qualitative research was applied in the empirical part of the thesis. The method of non - standardized interview was used. The research group consisted of 10 nurses who work in residential facilities for the elderly in old people's homes. To process the interviews, the open coding technique was applied - a paper-and-pencil method. To complement psychical resilience of nurses, S.O.C questionnaire by A. Antonovsky was used. There were 42 questionnaires used in the research. The interviews with the respondents showed that the work of a nurse in homes for the elderly is physically and mentally demanding. And it is obvious that nurses feel the mental strain as more damaging. The physical demands are connected with the state of the client and his diseases but also with the space limitations of homes and night shifts. The mental burden is caused by similar factors and also by the family of the client, specifics of the communication with the elderly, cooperation with the hospital, working atmosphere, responsibility and keeping records. Next important factor that negatively influences mental state of the nurses is a lack of prestige and recognition of their work. Even though the nurses feel both types of stress, most of them cope with it without problems and they try to restore their balance in their leisure time. The conclusions of the thesis also point to the high demands and wide range of expertise and skills required from the nurses when providing care. Even specialized procedures are carried out in homes. Nurses must know how to communicate, handle conflict situations, co-operate with colleagues from different fields. Great emphasis is placed on independence in evaluating the health state of the client while ensuring the nursing care. The nurse must have personal qualities for work with the elderly. Another important component of their work is their knowledge and practical skills in the field of social work theoretically backed by the Act 108/2006 Coll.
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The current state and prospects for sustainable development of tourism in Slovakia.
Libantová, Silvia ; Indrová, Jarmila (advisor) ; Chaloupka, Radek (referee)
Tourism contributes to the prosperity of destinations by bringing financial resources, new jobs, a higher level of services and infrastructure development. However, if tourism does not develop sustainably, it is accompanied by negative factors, as well. Especially, negative impacts on the environment, such as: water and soil contamination, increased noise and overcrowded destination during the high season. As a response to the worsening state of the environment and possible irreversible changes caused by irresponsible human behavior, the idea of sustainable development is becoming more important. The theoretical part describes tourism in the Slovak Republic and highlights plans for sustainable tourism development. In the practical part, the results of the questionnaire, related to the awareness of sustainable tourism in the Slovak Republic, are evaluated. The main objective of this thesis is to evaluate the current situation in the field of sustainable tourism and to make suggestions for its future development.
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Antibodies against sand flies saliva in domestic animals from endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis
Košťálová, Tatiana ; Volf, Petr (advisor) ; Kopecký, Jan (referee)
The main aim of this thesis was to test sera of domestic animals from endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis in north and northwest Ethiopia for antibodies against presumed vector P. orientalis salivary glands and to clarify behavior of the sand fly and the role of domestic animals in transmission of visceral leishmaniasis. Specific IgG antibodies against P. orientalis saliva were tested in dogs, cattle, goats, sheep and donkeys. Above the cut-off value there was 76 % analyzed dogs, 15 % cattle, 26 % goats, 60 % sheep and 45 % donkeys. Dogs, goats and donkeys revealed significantly higher anti-P. orientalis antibodies compared to control animals. In the case of cattle, goats and donkeys cut-off levels were very high and is questionable if observed results are relevant. Canine sera were screened also for anti-P. orientalis IgG2 and 88% of Ethiopean sera revealed significantly higher IgG2 than control sera. The next aim was to detect if canine sera from Ethiopia with anti-P. orientalis antibodies react with other bloodsucking insect saliva by using immunoblotting method. In saliva of sand fly Sergentomyia schwetzi, which is abundant in Ethiopia, canine sera reacted mostly with 36, 37 and 51 kDa proteins. Mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus is cosmopolitan species and canine sera most intensely...
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Changes in structure and phase composition in the surface of tram rail
Švábenská, Eva ; Roupcová, Pavla ; Schneeweiss, Oldřich
We have investigated structure and phase composition of surface layer of tram rails after long time running and the results were compared with those obtained on the original part of material. Changes due to effects of severe plastic deformation together with thermal shocks by friction process were expected. The information about structure and phase composition was obtained by optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-Ray Powder Diffraction, Mössbauer Spectroscopy and Glow Discharge Emission Spectroscopy (GDOES) and this was completed by microhardness measurements. The results show that the surface layer in comparison with the original material exhibits important changes in grain structure, an increase in microhardness and high content of iron oxide and hydrooxides. According to the depth profile of the chemical composition measured by GDOES there is an increase in carbon content in the surface layer which can be effect of up-hill diffusion.
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