Health Care Reform and Its Economic Impacts

Import 11/07/2012Tato diplomová práce pojednává o reformě zdravotnictví. V práci jsou analyzovány důvody nutnosti reformy a představeny navrhované, resp. již zavedené změny a opatření v jednotlivých fázích. Cílem je zhodnocení, zda priority a postup reformy jsou vzhledem v potřebám racionálně zvoleny.This thesis deals with the health care reform. In the thesis, the reasons are analyzed for the need for the reform respectively there are presented and already implemented changes and actions in each phrase. The aim is to assess whether the priorities and reforom process are due to the needs of rationally selected.153 - Katedra veřejné ekonomikyvýborn

Photodegradation and biodegradation of poly(lactic) acid containing orotic acid as a nucleation agent

Orotic acid is a natural heterocyclic compound that acts as a nucleation agent in poly(lactic acid) (PLA). PLA materials with increasing orotic acid content were prepared and characterized. It was found that crystallinity of about 28% was reached with 0.3% content of the agent. Further enhancement in the content of the agent did not provoke any additional significant increase of crystallinity. Subsequently, it was investigated whether the orotic acid content affected photodegradation of PLA and, in the next phase, its biodegradation. The results of rheological measurements showed that the compound slightly accelerates photodegradation of the material, which was accompanied by the cleavage of PLA chains. Previous photodegradation was shown to accelerate the subsequent biodegradation by shortening the lag phase of the process, where the explanation is probably in the reduction of the polymer molecular weight during the photodegradation. Moreover, the presence of orotic acid in both initial and photodegraded samples was found to influence biodegradation positively by shortening the lag phase and increasing the observed maximal rate of the biodegradation. © 2019 by the authors.Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Internal Grant Agency [IGA/FT/2018/009, IGA/FT/2019/011

Structure characterization and biodegradation rate of poly(ε-caprolactone)/starch blends

The present paper focuses on the effects of blending poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with thermoplastic starch (TPS) on the final biodegradation rate of PCL/TPS blends, emphasizing the type of environment in which biodegradation takes place. The blends were prepared by melt-mixing the components before a two-step processing procedure, which strongly affects the degree of plasticization and therefore the final material morphology, as was detailed in the previous work, was used for the thermoplastic starch. The concentration row of pure PCL over PCL/TPS blends to pure TPS was analyzed for biodegradation in two different environments (compost and soil), as well as from a morphological, thermomechanical, rheological, and mechanical point of view. The morphology of all the samples was studied before and after biodegradation. The biodegradation rate of the materials was expressed as the percentage of carbon mineralization, and significant changes, especially after exposure in soil, were recorded. The crystallinity of the measured samples indicated that the addition of thermoplastic starch has a negligible effect on PCL-crystallization. The blend with 70% of TPS and a co-continuous morphology demonstrated very fast biodegradation, with the initial rate almost identical to pure TPS in both environments while the 30% TPS blend exhibited particle morphology of the starch phase in the PCL matrix, which probably resulted in a dominant effect of the matrix on the biodegradation course. Moreover, some molecular interaction between PCL and TPS, as well as differences in flow and mechanical behavior of the blends, was determined. © Copyright © 2020 Nevoralová, Koutný, Ujčić, Starý, Šerá, Vlková, Šlouf, Fortelný and Kruliš.MH CR [NV15-31269A]; Technology Agency of the CR [TE01020118, TN01000008]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, program NPU I [POLYMAT LO1507

Occurrence and analysis of thermophilic poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)-degrading microorganisms in temperate zone soils

The ubiquity and character of thermophilic poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)-degrading microorganisms in soils were investigated and compared to the process in an industrial composting plant. PBAT degraders were sought in 41 temperate zone soils. No mesophilic degraders were found by the employed method, but roughly 102 colony-forming units (CFUs) of thermophilic degraders per gram of soil were found in nine soils, and after an enrichment procedure, the PBAT-degrading consortia were isolated from 30 out of 41 soils. Thermophilic actinomycetes, Thermobispora bispora in particular, together with bacilli proved to be the key constituents of the isolated and characterized PBAT-degrading consortia, with bacilli comprising from about 30% to over 90% of the retrieved sequences. It was also shown that only consortia containing both constituents were able to decompose PBAT. For comparison, a PBAT film together with two types of PBAT/starch films were subjected to biodegradation in compost and the degrading microorganisms were analyzed. Bacilli and actinobacteria were again the most common species identified on pure PBAT film, especially at the beginning of biodegradation. Later, the composition of the consortia on all three tested materials became very similar and more diverse. Since waste containing PBAT-based materials is often intended to end up in composting plants, this study increases our confidence that thermophilic PBAT degraders are rather broadly present in the environment and the degradation of the material during the composting process should not be limited by the absence of specific microorganisms. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Internal Grant of Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FT/2020/005, IGA/FT/2020/009

Occurrence of biogenic amines producers in the wastewater of the dairy industry

Out of six samples of wastewater produced in the dairy industry, taken in 2017 at various places of dairy operations, 86 bacterial strains showing decarboxylase activity were isolated. From the wastewater samples, the species of genera Staphylococcus, Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Microbacterium, Kocuria, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Klebsiella and Enterobacter were identified by the MALDI-TOF MS and biochemical methods. The in vitro produced quantity of eight biogenic amines (BAs) was detected by the HPLC/UV-Vis method. All the isolated bacteria were able to produce four to eight BAs. Tyramine, putrescine and cadaverine belonged to the most frequently produced BAs. Of the isolated bacteria, 41% were able to produce BAs in amounts >100 mg L-1. Therefore, wastewater embodies a potential vector of transmission of decarboxylase positive microorganisms, which should be taken into consideration in hazard analyses within foodstuff safety control. The parameters of this wastewater (contents of nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, and proteins) were also monitored.National Agency for Agriculture Research [QK1710156]; Internal Grant Agency of the Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FT/2020/009

Biodegradable polyesters and low molecular weight polyethylene in soil: Interrelations of material properties, soil organic matter substances, and microbial community

Conventional and also biodegradable polymer microplastics have started to be broadly present in the environment, if they end up in soil, they may influence both abiotic and biotic soil properties. In this study, the interactions of polyethylene wax together with three biodegradable polyesters PLA, PHB and PBAT with a soil matrix were investigated over a 1-year incubation period. Soil organic matter content was measured using UV-VIS, the microbial biomass amount was measured using qPCR, the mineralisation of polymers was measured using UGA 3000, the surface of polymers was observed with SEM, live/dead microorganisms were determined by fluorescent microscopy and microbial consortia diversity was analyzed using NGS. The amount of humic substances was generally higher in incubations with slowly degrading polyesters, but the effect was temporary. The microbial biomass grew during the incubations; the addition of PHB enhanced fungal biomass whereas PE wax enhanced bacterial biomass. Fungal microbial consortia diversity was altered in incubations with PHB and PBAT. Interestingly, these two polyesters were also covered in biofilm, probably fungal. No such trend was observed in a metagenomic analysis of bacteria, although, bacterial biofilm was probably formed on the PE520 surface. Different methods confirmed the effect of certain polymers on the soil environment

Suburbanization – between a city and landspace (searching for the optimal strategy for sustainable development of suburbs in the background of a big city)

Zadání mé diplomové práce vyšlo z modulového specializovaného ateliéru Kompaktní město. Zabývá se problematikou suburbanizace - fenoménu posledních 20 let v naší zemi. Jejím smyslem je hledat kroky, které by vedli k zlepšení kvality života v nich. Stojíme tváří v tvář problému rozpínání města do krajiny na úkor zemědělské půdy. Stěhujeme se blíž přírodě a tím ji paradoxně ztrácíme. Trávíme hodiny a hodiny v dopravních prostředcích, nejčastěji osobním automobilu. Ale přichází doba, kdy se zásoby neobnovitelných zdrojů tenčí a jejich cena roste a pak možnost volby: použít auto a jet do práce do města nebo dojít pěšky do zaměstnání v místě bydliště bude velmi ceněná. Současný český venkov přestává být venkovem v pravém slova smyslu. Stává se rezidenčním zázemím blízkých měst. Lidé, kteří se stěhují na vesnici, tam většinou nejdou za prací v zemědělství. Stěhují se tam za vidinou rodinného domu se zahradou blízko přírody. Tuhle tu svoji představu tam ale nenacházejí. Realitou je velký dům, uprostřed malé parcely, která nenabízí intimní prostor. Satelitní obytné soubory jsou málokdy koncipovány ve vztahu k okolní krajině, jak je v tomu v tradiční zástavbě. Pravoúhle narýsované parcely obehnané zdmi vytvářejí ostrou hranici, která vybízí k přistavění dalšího satelitu. Práce je dělena to několika částí. V první se zabývám obecně proměnami vztahu člověka ke krajině. V druhé jsem se zaměřila na mapování suburbanizace v okolí Brna. Vybrala jsem několik městských částí i samostatných obcí, ve kterých už proces suburbanizace proběhl, nebo jím jsou nejvíce ohroženy. Tři zvolené lokality (Útěchov, Jehnice, Troubsko) jsem analyzovala detailněji a následně porovnala. V následující části jsem definovala pět oblastí, kterým je třeba věnovat pozornost při rozvoji suburbánních lokalit. Cílem všech zásahů je především minimalizovat nezbytné cesty automobilem V poslední části se věnuju konkrétně Jehnicím. Netvořím územní ani regulační plán. Definuji důležitá místa, prostory a nabízím vize, kterým směrem by se měl jejich rozvoj ubírat.Assignment of the diploma thesis came out as a result of the module specialized studiol called Compact city, dealing with the problematics of the urban sprawl phenomenon in last 20 years in our country. The target of this thesis is to find ways leading to the improvement of life quality within such structures. We are facing the problem of the urban sprawl into the landscape to the detriment of land used for agriculture. We try to move closer to the landscape, which causes our loss of it. We spend long hours by commuting, mostly by car. The time, when the non-renewable sources of energy are getting tinner is on approach and with it the prices of oil are getting higher. Then we will have a choice: commute by car or get to the place of our job by walk. The second option will be highly appreciated. Contemporary czech countryside is loosing its original features in order of becoming residential base for nearby cities. People moving to the countryside are not searching for the job in the agriculture sector. They move there, trying to find a house with a garden in touch of the nearby landscape. Sadly, they do not find what they expect. Their reality is a big house in the middle of a small patch of land, which can not provide them with the intimate sorrounding. Such residential sites are seldom, if ever proposed in relationship towards the landscape as it was common in the case of original countryside. Right-angled properties which are provided with high fences or walls create sharp edges urging towards constructing a new such structure next to it. The thesis is devided into several parts. First part is dealing with changes in the relationship of people towards landscape. Second part is mapping the urban sprawl in sorrounding of Brno. Several parts of Brno and several municipalities, where the phenomenon of the urban sprawl is about to take place or where it took place already were chosen for this purpose. Three chosen localities (Útěchov, Jehnice, Troubsko) undergone detailed analysis and comparison. In the following section of the thesis were defined five areas, which should be monitored during the development of sub-urban localities. The aim of all proposals is to minimize necessary journeys by car. The final part of the thesis is focused on Jehnice town and country plan and spatial regulations zoning is not created. Thesis defines important places, spaces and offers visions on which direction should the development take.

Revitalization Program of Floral Garden in Kromeriz

Bachelor thesis is focused on urban and architectural design and revitalization of the part of Květná zahrada (Flower garden) in city Kroměříž (World culture heritage of UNESCO). The aim of the design is the solution of sufficient rear for visitors of the garden. Nowaday the rear is inconvenient

Comparison of the Effect of Plasma-Activated Water and Artificially Prepared Plasma-Activated Water on Wheat Grain Properties

Recently, much attention has been paid to the use of low-temperature plasmas and plasma-activated water (PAW) in various areas of biological research. In addition to its use in medicine, especially for low-temperature disinfection and sterilization, a number of works using plasma in various fields of agriculture have already appeared. While direct plasma action involves the effects of many highly reactive species with short lifetimes, the use of PAW involves the action of only long-lived particles. A number of articles have shown that the main stable components of PAW are H2O2, O3, HNO2, and HNO3. If so, then it would be faster and much more practical to artificially prepare PAW by directly mixing these chemicals in a given ratio. In this article, we review the literature describing the composition and properties of PAW prepared by various methods. We also draw attention to an otherwise rather neglected fact, that there are no significant differences between the action of PAW and artificially prepared PAW. The effect of PAW on the properties of wheat grains (Triticum aestivum L.) was determined. PAW exposure increased germination, shoot length, and fresh and dry shoot weight. The root length and R/S length, i.e., the ratio between the underground (R) and aboveground (S) length of the wheat seedlings, slightly decreased, while the other parameters changed only irregularly or not at all. Grains artificially inoculated with Escherichia coli were significantly decontaminated after only one hour of exposure to PAW, while Saccharomyces cerevisiae decontamination required soaking for 24 h. The differences between the PAW prepared by plasma treatment and the PAW prepared by artificially mixing the active ingredients, i.e., nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide, proved to be inconsistent and statistically insignificant. Therefore, it may be sufficient for further research to focus only on the effects of artificial PAW