Satisfaction of European Tourists – Benchmarking of EU Countries

Petr Š,tumpf,Viktor Vojtko,Barbora Valtrová People&Global Business Association 2018 Global Business and Finance Review Vol.23 No.1

High level of satisfaction of tourists is one of the most common goals of sustainable tourism destinations. The general assumption is that higher level of tourists satisfaction leads to a higher tourists loyalty to destinations. This research looks on this relationship from macro level of European Union (EU) countries. We have used data from Eurobarometer – Preferences of Europeans towards Tourism between 2013 and 2016 – to statistically compare and analyse several satisfaction indicators of European tourists incoming the chosen EU countries. The results show significant differences amongst countries as destinations and could be used to identify strengths and weaknesses of EU countries as tourism destinations. The robust data set enables the benchmarking of EU countries as tourism destinations from the tourists satisfaction point of view. This study shows the ranking of the EU countries in several dimensions of tourists satisfaction.

Predictors of school adjustment in high school students of immigrant origin in Western Catalonia

Hinostroza Castillo Ursula,Lapresta-Rey Cecilio,Petreñas Cristina,Janés Junit 한국다문화교육학회 2023 Multicultural Education Review Vol.15 No.3

This study explores factors influencing school adjustment in immigrant students in Catalonia, Spain. Low school adjustment levels can lead to failure or dropout, particularly among immigrant students. The research analyzes acculturation strategies, intergroup contact, perceived discrimination, and origin's impact on school adjustment. Students from African, Latin American, and European backgrounds completed a questionnaire, revealing four acculturation strategies: marginalization, assimilation to Catalan culture, integration, and assimilation to Catalan and Spanish cultures. A kmeans cluster analysis identified these patterns. Linear regression highlighted intergroup contact, integration vs. marginalization, and integration vs. assimilation to Catalan culture as significant predictors. Higher intergroup contact scores correlated with improved school adjustment, while adopting integration or assimilation to Catalan culture predicted better adjustment compared to marginalization. Understanding and addressing these factors is vital for enhancing immigrant students' educational experiences and reducing the risk of academic challenges.

Impact of altered environment and early postnatal methamphetamine exposure on serotonin levels in the rat hippocampus during adolescence

Barbora Čechová,Jana Jurčovičová,Ivana Petríková,Šimon Vaculín,Štěpán Šandera,Romana Šlamberová 한국실험동물학회 2024 Laboratory Animal Research Vol.40 No.1

Background: Methamphetamine (MA) is a highly abused psychostimulant across all age groups including pregnant women. Because developing brain is vulnerable by the action of drugs, or other noxious stimuli, the aim of our study was to examine the effect of early postnatal administration of MA alone or in combination with enriched environment (EE) and/or stress of separate housing, on the levels of serotonin (5HT) in the hippocampus of male rat pups at three stages of adolescence (postnatal day (PND) 28, 35 and 45). MA (5 mg/kg/ml) was administered subcutaneously (sc) to pups (direct administration), or via mothers' milk between PND1 and PND12 (indirect administration). Controls were exposed saline (SA). Pups were exposed to EE and/or to separation from the weaning till the end of the experiment. Results: On PND 28, in sc-treated series, EE significantly increased the muted 5HT in SA pups after separation and restored the pronounced inhibition of 5HT by MA. No beneficial effect of EE was present in pups exposed to combination of MA and separation. 5HT development declined over time; EE, MA and separation had different effects on 5HT relative to adolescence stage. Conclusions: Present study shows that MA along with environment or housing affect 5HT levels, depending on both the age and the method of application (direct or indirect). These findings extend the knowledge on the effects of MA alone and in combination with different housing conditions on the developing brain and highlight the increased sensitivity to MA during the first few months after birth.

Application of Acoustical Method to Characterize Nonwoven Material

Tao Yang,Xiaoman Xiong,Yuanfeng Wang,Rajesh Mishra,Michal Petrů,Jiří Militký 한국섬유공학회 2021 Fibers and polymers Vol.22 No.3

Some structural parameters, such as tortuosity, viscous and thermal characteristic lengths, are difficult to obtainthrough direct measurements. Existing indirect methods, i.e. acoustical method, make it possible to estimate theseparameters. This paper presents an application of acoustical inversion methods for estimating structural parameters ofpolyester nonwoven materials. A four-microphone impedance tube was used to measure sound reflection and transmissioncoefficients. The inversion methods used in this research are least square and Bayesian approaches. The least square methodwas achieved via Nelder-Mead algorithm. The Bayesian inversion process was conducted with Metropolis-Hastingsalgorithm and maximum a posteriori. Inversed parameters from two methods as well as front and back sides of nonwovenfabric were compared. Moreover, inversed porosity and airflow resistivity were compared with measured values. The resultsshow that the least square and Bayesian methods has a good agreement. Estimated parameters from Bayesian method wereselected for further analysis. A sizable differences on thermal characteristic length were found by comparing the values fromtwo sides, while the differences are relatively small for other parameters. It is also found that the inversed porosity, tortuosityare reasonable. The results suggest that the acoustical inversion methods can be used to accurately characterize polyesterfibrous materials.

Polystyrene/multi-wall carbon nanotube composites prepared by suspension polymerization and their electrorheological behavior

Petr Slobodian,Vladimír Pavlínek,Aneźka Lengálová,Petr Sáha 한국물리학회 2009 Current Applied Physics Vol.9 No.1

Polystyrene and polystyrene/multi-wall carbon nanotube composites, PS/MWNT, with MWNT content up to 1 wt.% were prepared in the form of microspheres through in situ suspension polymerization. The morphology of the fraction of 32–64 lm was examined by SEM and TEM microscopy. On the surface of the spheres the presence of MWNT was not observed. The microspheres intersections showed the structure of aggregates of sintered beads a few micrometers in size with heterogeneous interface. No MWNT material was observed inside the beads; it seemed to be situated in the heterogeneous phase of microspheres. Suspensions of PS/MWNT in silicone oil show electrorheological effect, whose intensity strongly depends on MWNT content in composite microspheres. Polystyrene and polystyrene/multi-wall carbon nanotube composites, PS/MWNT, with MWNT content up to 1 wt.% were prepared in the form of microspheres through in situ suspension polymerization. The morphology of the fraction of 32–64 lm was examined by SEM and TEM microscopy. On the surface of the spheres the presence of MWNT was not observed. The microspheres intersections showed the structure of aggregates of sintered beads a few micrometers in size with heterogeneous interface. No MWNT material was observed inside the beads; it seemed to be situated in the heterogeneous phase of microspheres. Suspensions of PS/MWNT in silicone oil show electrorheological effect, whose intensity strongly depends on MWNT content in composite microspheres.

Evaluation of constitutive relations for concrete modeling based on an incremental theory of elastic strain-hardening plasticity

Petr Král,Petr Hradil,Jiří Kala 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2018 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.22 No.2

Today, the modeling of concrete as a material within finite element simulations is predominantly done through nonlinear material models of concrete. In current sophisticated computational systems, there are a number of complex concrete material models which are based on theory of plasticity, damage mechanics, linear or nonlinear fracture mechanics or combinations of those theories. These models often include very complex constitutive relations which are suitable for the modeling of practically any continuum mechanics tasks. However, the usability of these models is very often limited by their parameters, whose values must be defined for the proper realization of appropriate constitutive relations. Determination of the material parameter values is very complicated in most material models. This is mainly due to the non-physical nature of most parameters, and also the large number of them that are frequently involved. In such cases, the designer cannot make practical use of the models without having to employ the complex inverse parameter identification process. In continuum mechanics, however, there are also constitutive relations that require the definition of a relatively small number of parameters which are predominantly of a physical nature and which describe the behavior of concrete very well within a particular task. This paper presents an example of such constitutive relations which have the potential for implementation and application in finite element systems. Specifically, constitutive relations for modeling the plane stress state of concrete are presented and subsequently tested and evaluated in this paper. The relations are based on the incremental theory of elastic strain-hardening plasticity in which a non-associated flow rule is used. The calculation result for the case of concrete under uniaxial compression is compared with the experimental data for the purpose of the validation of the constitutive relations used.

Approaches and Devices for Laparoscopic Liver Resections

( Toman Daniel ),( Vavra Petr ),( Ihnat Petr ),( Nowakova Jana ),( Jelinek Petr ),( Hasal Martin ),( Peteja Matus ) 대한간학회 2017 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2017 No.1

Aims: In the last decades, laparoscopic liver surgery underwent a major evolution. Laparoscopic liver resections are now being performed more frequently, even for larger, malignant tumors located in challenging locations. Minimally invasive operations are associated with lower perioperative morbidity with the same oncologic outcomes. Ultrasound guidance is an important tool in the laparoscopic approach, enabling surgeons to target lesions anywhere within the liver, identify size and shape of the lesions. Methods: Minimally invasive approaches include pure laparoscopic, hand-assisted laparoscopic, and a laparoscopicassisted open hybrid approach. For a transection of liver parenchyma there are many possibilities of devices that can be used - CUSA - Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator, Ligasure, Staplers, Harmonic scalpel, Water Jet, Radiofrequency ablation or Bipolar coagulation. Results: Operative blood loss, postoperative morbidity and mortality also like the operative time show comperable results to open resections. Use of the hand-assisted technique may minimise the rate of conversion to open surgery. The benefit of smaller incisions, less pain and scarring is obvious. Conclusions: Laparoscopic liver resection is gaining popularity due to the availability of new laparoscopic instruments for liver transection and it looks as favourable due to fact that no reconstruction is demanded for resection. In the hands of surgical team experts in hepatobiliary and laparoscopic surgery in well selected patients laparoscopic liver resection appears to be safe and to achieve acceptable oncologic outcomes.

Using ILS Mathematical Model and Measurements for Detailed Evaluating Results of Thermal Response Tests

Petr Vojcinak,Radovan Hajovsky,Jiri Koziorek 제어로봇시스템학회 2012 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2012 No.10

Robust Control of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor

Petr Blaha,Pavel Vaclavek 제어로봇시스템학회 2012 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2012 No.10

The aim of this paper is to present design of robust current controller, its validation in the environment of Matlab Simulink and its verification on a real motor using rapid prototyping system dSpace 1103. The worst case scenario in current generating part of permanent magnet synchronous motor is considered for controller synthesis. The current controller is designed using μ synthesis so as to reach defined degree of robust performance for defined variations of motor parameters. The controller design takes into account time delays caused with discretization and with finite computational time of the control algorithm. The designed controller was checked if it meets proposed requirements in the whole speed operating range. Paper also shows dependency of controller reduced order on sensitivity function template from the perspective of reached control performance.

DOProC-based reliability analysis of structures

Petr Janas,Martin Krejsa,Jiri Sejnoha,Vlastimil Krejsa 국제구조공학회 2017 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.64 No.4

Probabilistic methods are used in engineering where a computational model contains random variables. The proposed method under development: Direct Optimized Probabilistic Calculation (DOProC) is highly efficient in terms of computation time and solution accuracy and is mostly faster than in case of other standard probabilistic methods. The novelty of the DOProC lies in an optimized numerical integration that easily handles both correlated and statistically independent random variables and does not require any simulation or approximation technique. DOProC is demonstrated by a collection of deliberately selected simple examples (i) to illustrate the efficiency of individual optimization levels and (ii) to verify it against other highly regarded probabilistic methods (e.g., Monte Carlo). Efficiency and other benefits of the proposed method are grounded on a comparative case study carried out using both the DOProC and MC techniques. The algorithm has been implemented in mentioned software applications, and has been used effectively several times in solving probabilistic tasks and in probabilistic reliability assessment of structures. The article summarizes the principles of this method and demonstrates its basic possibilities on simple examples. The paper presents unpublished details of probabilistic computations based on this method, including a reliability assessment, which provides the user with the probability of failure affected by statistically dependent input random variables. The study also mentions the potential of the optimization procedures under development, including an analysis of their effectiveness on the example of the reliability assessment of a slender column.