EUNIS Habitat Classification: Expert system, characteristic species combinations and distribution maps of European habitats

Aim: The EUNIS Habitat Classification is a widely used reference framework for European habitat types (habitats), but it lacks formal definitions of individual habitats that would enable their unequivocal identification. Our goal was to develop a tool for assigning vegetation‐plot records to the habitats of the EUNIS system, use it to classify a European vegetation‐plot database, and compile statistically‐derived characteristic species combinations and distribution maps for these habitats. Location: Europe. Methods: We developed the classification expert system EUNIS‐ESy, which contains definitions of individual EUNIS habitats based on their species composition and geographic location. Each habitat was formally defined as a formula in a computer language combining algebraic and set‐theoretic concepts with formal logical operators. We applied this expert system to classify 1,261,373 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA) and other databases. Then we determined diagnostic, constant and dominant species for each habitat by calculating species‐to‐habitat fidelity and constancy (occurrence frequency) in the classified data set. Finally, we mapped the plot locations for each habitat. Results: Formal definitions were developed for 199 habitats at Level 3 of the EUNIS hierarchy, including 25 coastal, 18 wetland, 55 grassland, 43 shrubland, 46 forest and 12 man‐made habitats. The expert system classified 1,125,121 vegetation plots to these habitat groups and 73,188 to other habitats, while 63,064 plots remained unclassified or were classified to more than one habitat. Data on each habitat were summarized in factsheets containing habitat description, distribution map, corresponding syntaxa and characteristic species combination. Conclusions: EUNIS habitats were characterized for the first time in terms of their species composition and distribution, based on a classification of a European database of vegetation plots using the newly developed electronic expert system EUNIS‐ESy. The data provided and the expert system have considerable potential for future use in European nature conservation planning, monitoring and assessment

Distribution maps of vegetation alliances in Europe

Aim: The first comprehensive checklist of European phytosociological alliances, orders and classes (EuroVegChecklist) was published by Mucina et al. (2016, Applied Vegetation Science, 19 (Suppl. 1), 3–264). However, this checklist did not contain detailed information on the distribution of individual vegetation types. Here we provide the first maps of all alliances in Europe. Location: Europe, Greenland, Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cyprus and the Caucasus countries. Methods: We collected data on the occurrence of phytosociological alliances in European countries and regions from literature and vegetation-plot databases. We interpreted and complemented these data using the expert knowledge of an international team of vegetation scientists and matched all the previously reported alliance names and concepts with those of the EuroVegChecklist. We then mapped the occurrence of the EuroVegChecklist alliances in 82 territorial units corresponding to countries, large islands, archipelagos and peninsulas. We subdivided the mainland parts of large or biogeographically heterogeneous countries based on the European biogeographical regions. Specialized alliances of coastal habitats were mapped only for the coastal section of each territorial unit. Results: Distribution maps were prepared for 1,105 alliances of vascular-plant dominated vegetation reported in the EuroVegChecklist. For each territorial unit, three levels of occurrence probability were plotted on the maps: (a) verified occurrence; (b) uncertain occurrence; and (c) absence. The maps of individual alliances were complemented by summary maps of the number of alliances and the alliance–area relationship. Distribution data are also provided in a spreadsheet. Conclusions: The new map series represents the first attempt to characterize the distribution of all vegetation types at the alliance level across Europe. There are still many knowledge gaps, partly due to a lack of data for some regions and partly due to uncertainties in the definition of some alliances. The maps presented here provide a basis for future research aimed at filling these gaps

The property of anticorrosive coatings based on modified phosphates

Diplomová práce se zabývá studiem vlastností nátěrových filmů s obsahem fosforečnanů jako antikorozních pigmentů. Byly připraveny epoxidové nátěrové hmoty pigmentované fosforečnany. Na základě fyzikálních a antikorozních účinností byly hodnoceny a diskutovány vlastnosti nátěrových filmů.The aim of this thesis was to compare anticorrosin efficiency of miscellaneous types of pigment based on phosphates. These pigments were dispersed in a epoxide binder. There were consequent properties, which are related to their anticorrosion efficiency.Ústav polymerních materiálůDokončená práce s úspěšnou obhajobo

Welsh National Assembly: position and powers

Katedra ústavního právaDepartment of Constitutional LawFaculty of LawPrávnická fakult

Order Processing Improvement in the Company TNS SERVIS s.r.o.

Bakalářská práce se zaměřuje na zlepšování procesu zpracování objednávek ve společnosti TNS SERVIS s. r. o. Tato práce analyzuje současný stav zpracování objednávek a výstupů objednávek s využitím příslušných metod. Současně předkládá návrhy na zlepšení stávajícího stavu.The bachelor´s thesis focuses on the effectivity improvement of orders processing in TNS SERVIS s. r. o. This thesis analyzes the current status of order processing and outputs orders using appropriate methods. At the same time it proposes improvement suggestions of existing situation.

A study of photocatalytic and antimicrobial efficacy of paints

Tato práce se zabývá studiem antimikrobiálních, fotokatalytických a lakařsko-technologických vlastností akrylátových nátěrových hmot pro úpravu minerálních povrchů, což vede k interdisciplinárnímu propojení chemie nátěrových hmot a mikrobiologie za účelem zlepšení antimikrobiální ochrany prostředí. Aditiva testovaná v těchto nátěrových hmotách byla rozdělena podle svých vlastností na fotokatalytické oxidy a biocidy. Také byly testovány různé kombinace těchto látek ve formulacích, kde byl zjišťován vliv koncentračních řad při různém OKP nátěrových hmot a vliv vybraných plniv. Cílem bylo získat co nejúčinnější formulace nátěrové hmoty při co nejnižším množství aditiv. Hodnota fotokatalytického účinku nátěrových hmot byla testována pomocí metody degradace indikátorů methylenové modře a také oranže II při působení ultrafialového (UV) záření i viditelného (VIS) záření. Ze získaných výsledků je patrné, že nejvyššího fotokatalytického účinku dosahoval oxid titaničitý anatasové formy s velikostí částic 10 nm. Ostatní testované nátěrové hmoty nedosahovaly takovéto fotokatalytické účinnosti. Antimikrobiální účinnost této nátěrové hmoty ovšem nebyla nejlepší ze všech testovaných nátěrových hmot, ani v rámci první skupiny nátěrových hmot (A). Antimikrobiální účinnost nátěrových hmot byla testována na mikroorganismech Escherichia coli CCM 3954, Staphylococcus aureus CCM 4223, Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCM 3955, Aspergillus niger CCM 8189 a Penicillium chrysogenum CCM 8034. Na základě pozitivních výsledků hodnocení kombinace oxidu titaničitého s nanostrukturním oxidem zinečnatým bylo další testování zaměřeno spíše na využití nano oxidu zinečnatého jako antimikrobiálního aditiva do nátěrových hmot. Následovalo také testování antimikrobiálních a lakařsko-technologických vlastností nátěrových hmot obsahujících kombinaci nanostrukturního ZnO s vybranými biocidy. Byla nalezena optimální formulace, ve které byly testovány další biocidy, za cílem snížení množství účinných látek díky jejich vhodné kombinaci. Jako nejvhodnější se jevila nátěrová hmota obsahující pyrithion zinku. Tato nátěrová hmota vykazovala i po 12 měsících skladování skvělé aplikační vlastnosti a především nátěry z ní připravené si zachovaly skvělé fotokatalytické a antimikrobiální účinky. Lze konstatovat, že účinky nátěrů po ročním skladování nátěrové hmoty byly téměř stejné jako u nátěrů z nátěrové hmoty bezprostředně po její přípravě.This work deals with antimicrobial, photocatalytic and paint-technological properties of acrylic coatings used for treatment of mineral surfaces, which leads to interdisciplinary fusion of chemistry of paints and microbiology with contribution to improvement of antimicrobial protection of environment. Additives tested in these paints were divided according to their properties into photocatalytic oxides and biocides. Various combinations of these materials were tested in formulations, where both influence of concentration ranges at different PVC of paints and influence of selected fillers were detected. The aim was to get the most efficient formulations of paint at the lowest amount of additives. Value of photocatalytic efficacy was tested by a method of degradation of methylene blue indicator and also degradation of orange II indicator exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and visible (VIS) radiation. The results show that the highest photocatalytic efficacy reached anatase titanium dioxide with the size of particles 10 nm. Other tested paints did not reach such photocatalytic efficacy. On the other hand, antimicrobial efficacy of this paint was not the best within all tested paints, even within the first set of paints (A). Antimicrobial efficacy of paints was tested on the following microorganisms: Escherichia coli CCM 3954, Staphylococcus aureus CCM 4223, Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCM 3955, Aspergillus niger CCM 8189 and Penicillium chrysogenum CCM 8034. On the basis of the positive results of evaluation of combination of titanium dioxide with nano zinc oxide, was further testing focused mainly on a use of nano zinc oxide as an antimicrobial additive for paints. Also, testing of antimicrobial and paint-technological properties of paints containing combination of nanostructural ZnO with selected biocides followed. Optimal formulation was found, in which other biocides were later tested with the aim to reduce the amount of efficient materials thanks to their suitable combination. As the most suitable proved to be the paint containing zinc pyrithione. This paint proved great application properties even after 12 months of shelf-life stability and mainly, the coatings prepared from this paint kept their photocatalytic and antimicrobial efficacy. It is possible to state that efficacy of the coatings after one year of shelf-life stability of the paint was almost the same as at coatings from paint applied instantly after its preparation.Ústav chemie a technologie makromolekulárních láte

Order Processing Improvement in the Company TNS SERVIS s.r.o.

The bachelor´s thesis focuses on the effectivity improvement of orders processing in TNS SERVIS s. r. o. This thesis analyzes the current status of order processing and outputs orders using appropriate methods. At the same time it proposes improvement suggestions of existing situation

Nanočástice TiO2 a ZnO ve fotokatalytických a hygienických nátěrech

Antimicrobial paints were based on the aqueous acrylic dispersion and various nanoparticles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Antimicrobial ability and photoactivity were assumed in these paints. It was possible to observe the photoactivity thanks to change of organic dyes due to oxidative-reductive reaction. The best photocatalytic effect showed the coating containing the mixture of the first type of TiO2 and nano-ZnO despite the fact that the first type of TiO2 was not better in the photocatalytic test than the other types of TiO2. The agar dilution method was used to test antimicrobial ability. The Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus were chosen as test bacteria and Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus niger as test molds. The antimicrobial effect of coatings with the mixture of the first type of TiO2 and nano-ZnO was the best of all the tested samples.Antimikroibiální nátěry byly založeny na vodních akrylových disperzíc s proměnlivou koncentrací nanočástic TiO2 a ZnO. Byla testována antimikrobiální a fotokatalytická účinnost těchto nátěrů. Pro testování antimikrobiální aktivity byla použita agarová diluční metoda. Byly testovány bakterie Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa a Staphylococcus aureus, z plísní to byly Penicillium chrysogenum a Aspergillus niger. Ze všech testovaných vzorků nátěrů byly nejlepší směsi prvního typu TiO2 a nanočástic ZnO

TiO2 and ZnO Nanoparticles in Photocatalytic and Hygienic Coatings

Antimicrobial paints were based on the aqueous acrylic dispersion and various nanoparticles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Antimicrobial ability and photoactivity were assumed in these paints. It was possible to observe the photoactivity thanks to change of organic dyes due to oxidative-reductive reaction. The best photocatalytic effect showed the coating containing the mixture of the first type of TiO2 and nano-ZnO despite the fact that the first type of TiO2 was not better in the photocatalytic test than the other types of TiO2. The agar dilution method was used to test antimicrobial ability. The Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus were chosen as test bacteria and Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus niger as test molds. The antimicrobial effect of coatings with the mixture of the first type of TiO2 and nano-ZnO was the best of all the tested samples