The debate on quantitative operational risk modeling has only started at the beginning of the last decade and the best-practices are still far from being established. Estimation of capital requirements for operational risk under Advanced Measurement Approaches of Basel II is critically dependent on the choice of risk measure, which quantifies the risk exposure based on the underlying simulated distribution of losses. Despite its well-known caveats Value-at-Risk remains a predominant risk measure used in the context of operational risk management. We describe several serious drawbacks of Value-at-Risk and explain why it can possibly lead to misleading conclusions. As a remedy we suggest the use of coherent risk measures - and namely the statistic known as Expected Shortfall - as a suitable alternative or complement for quantification of operational risk exposure. We demonstrate that application of Expected Shortfall in operational loss modeling is feasible and produces reasonable and consistent results. We also consider a variety of statistical techniques for modeling of underlying loss distribution and evaluate extreme value theory framework as the most suitable for this purpose. Using stress tests we further compare the robustness and consistency of selected models and their implied risk capital estimates...

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a form of renal replacement therapy using the peritoneum as a dialysis membrane. PD solutions employed to remove nitrogen metabolites and excess plasma fluid, and to restore electrolyte and acid-base balance are being developed to minimize local and systemic inflammatory responses while maintaining peritoneal homeostasis and host defense. The effect of chronic action of PD solutions on the peritoneum results in its remodeling and, possibly, eventual loss of peritoneal ultrafiltration capacity. Factors most responsible for late complications and peritoneal remodeling include high glucose levels in PD solutions, and the presence and formation of glucose degradation products (GDP) and advanced glycation end - products (AGEs) in the peritoneal cavity. The aim of our study described in this dissertation was to test various PD solutions with different glucose content and GDP and, using AGEs receptor ligands, to define their systemic effects and identify PD solutions with highest biocompatibility. This part of the dissertation characterizes conventional glucose - based solutions, low - glucose and GDP load solutions as well as glucose polymer (icodextrin) - based PD solutions while determining the plasma and dialysate levels of soluble receptor for AGEs (s - RAGE) and its...

Plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are a strong and independent predictor of prognosis in patients with advanced heart failure (CHF). However, the importance of this biomarker has been documented only in CHF of common causes such as dilated or ischemic cardiomyopathy. We hypothesized that BNP can serve as a strong predictor of end-stage CHF in group of patients with advanced CHF due to congenital heart disease (CHD) with the right ventricle in systemic position (SRV). The second hypothesis was that BNP monitoring in patients with implanted left ventricular assist device (LVAD) Heart Mate II could detect serious complications which negatively affect prognosis. We performed a retrospective analysis in 28 consecutive patients with severe systolic dysfunction of the SRV (ejection fraction 23 ± 6%) evaluated as heart transplant (HTx) candidates between May 2007 and October 2014. During a median follow-up of 29 months (interquartile range, 9-50), 14 pts reached primary endpoints of the study (death, urgent HTx, and LVAD implantation). We have considered these events equivalent to end-stage CHF. Using ROC analysis, we identified the first measured value of BNP as the strongest predictor of prognosis with the area under the curve (AUC) of 1.00, followed by the New York Heart Association...

Complex thermal barrier coating systems are one the most efficient high-temperature surface treatments which open up practical applications in land-based turbines and air jet engines. In the case of most exposed rotor and stator jet engine components, the combination of thermal barrier coatings together with the inner cooling system made it possible to increase working temperature by several tens of degrees of Celsius. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to achieve any further increase in working temperature by using the conventional thermal barrier coatings based on the ZrO2-Y2O3 ceramic top coat and the MCrAlY metallic bond coat, which currently work at their material limits. The working temperature inside the combustion chamber of the jet engine is proportional to engine’s efficiency and inversely proportional to fuel consumption and production of undesirable CO2 emission. Therefore, a considerable effort has recently been devoted to research and development of new types of ceramic coatings that can withstand long term extreme working conditions. New design approaches of multi-layer composite thermal barrier coating systems can sustain the required trend of increasing working temperature of jet engines mainly because of possibility of optimization of high-temperature durability and long lifetime. The theoretical part of thesis provides a fundamental overview of thermal barrier coatings, their properties, deposition technologies and testing methods. The experimental part is focused on optimization of deposition parameters of conventional ZrO2-Y2O3 / MCrAlY thermal barrier coatings prepared by means of atmospheric plasma spraying. Furthermore, a novel multi-layer thermal barrier coating system based on ZrO2-Y2O3-Al2O3-SiO2 / ZrO2-Y2O3 / MCrAlY, which contains amorphous and/or nanocrystalline regions, is developed, tested and characterized as well. Structural stability, phase transformations and growth of the thermally grown oxide in both conventional and experimental systems after high-temperature isothermal oxidation, cyclic oxidation and burner-rig tests were evaluated by means light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive microanalysis and X-ray diffraction. In comparison with the conventional thermal barrier coatings, the novel multi-layered systems have lower thermal conductivity, slower thermally grown oxide kinetic, better structural stability, and generally higher lifetime in all high-temperature tests.

This diploma thesis first introduces the services of servers Prednasky.com and SuperLectures.com. After analyzing the solution it describes the design and development of a new dedicated video player that combines SuperLectures.com functionality as a web-embeddable HTML5 application.

The diploma thesis deals with development of a new progressive anchor material on the polymer base. Nowadays, it is effort to utilize secondary raw materials in building industry as much as possible both from an environmental aspects in order to save primary energy sources and the reduction of waste and also due to economic reasons. Therefore, there is an effort to utilize high amount of suitable and appropriately treated secondary raw materials into the anchor materials. The main aim of this work is to develop high quality anchor material characterized by excellent ratio between speed and strength growth, high chemical resistance, thermal resistance and particularly minimal shrinkage. This new material is designed especially for anchoring building structures heavy machines steel barriers and other elements.

This master thesis is dealing with development and application of a model that employs fuzzy logic. The model is used to support a decision of a selected Czech company that plans to invest abroad and establish a subsidiary. Selected indicators determine an investment risk in all countries considered for the investment. The model was implemented in parallel in two systems: MS Excel and MATLAB®.

The diploma thesis deals with the development of a new material for the establishment of a layer of the ground body of a railway undercarriage purely on the basis of secondary raw materials. The theoretical part presents the characteristics of structural layers, materials used for bonded substrates, including their requirements. The following are the general conditions for the creation of base layers from purely secondary raw materials and previous experience with the issue. The introduction of the experimental part of the thesis sets out the basic parameters of secondary raw materials (construction recyclates, waste from railway bed cleaning, dust from cement plant) and energy by-products (fly ash, coal slag and municipal waste incinerator), which together form the raw material base. Grain size, absorbency, moisture, bulk density, chemical analysis and pollutant content were determined on the raw materials. Bulk densities and compressive strengths of the bonded mixtures were determined. The optimum humidity of all mixtures was determined by the Proctor standard test. Experimental verification was performed on testing of bonded mixtures in order to verify the effect of cement dose, when the original dose of 8% was optimized for construction recycled and slag from municipal waste incinerator to 4%, due to high strengths ranging from 4.5 to 6.0 MPa. Further optimization also included the addition of an energy by-product in a proportion of 10% of the weight of the secondary raw material. At the end of the experimental part, two optimal recipes were selected (recycled concrete with 4% cement and 10% fluid fly ash; slag from a municipal waste incinerator with 3% cement and 10% fluid fly ash), which underwent advanced testing in the form of frost resistance and resistance to water and a functional sample was designed. The final functional sample is recycled concrete with cement and 10% addition of fluid fly ash, which is suitable for core layers without frost loading.

The work presents an overview of swimming pool disinfection technologies of selected operations. Selected indoor and outdoor pool operations were to be described, and the use of chlorine and chlorine-free disinfectants was to be determined and the data evaluated. These goals were met in the theoretical part of the thesis, which presents the current methods of treatment and disinfection of swimming pool water and compares their advantages and disadvantages. The comparison includes advantages and disadvantages, use and costs of disinfection methods, individual water quality indicators, and their importance and measurements. The work also focuses on microbiological and chemical health risks from swimming pool water. The practical part described the technologies of swimming pool water treatment in six selected swimming pool operations, focusing on the use of chlorine and chlorine-free disinfectants and their operation. Another 27 operators in the Czech Republic (combined, indoor and outdoor) were contacted in writing for the survey. A total of 27 indoor and 23 outdoor operations were compared in the survey.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a form of renal replacement therapy using the peritoneum as a dialysis membrane. PD solutions employed to remove nitrogen metabolites and excess plasma fluid, and to restore electrolyte and acid-base balance are being developed to minimize local and systemic inflammatory responses while maintaining peritoneal homeostasis and host defense. The effect of chronic action of PD solutions on the peritoneum results in its remodeling and, possibly, eventual loss of peritoneal ultrafiltration capacity. Factors most responsible for late complications and peritoneal remodeling include high glucose levels in PD solutions, and the presence and formation of glucose degradation products (GDP) and advanced glycation end - products (AGEs) in the peritoneal cavity. The aim of our study described in this dissertation was to test various PD solutions with different glucose content and GDP and, using AGEs receptor ligands, to define their systemic effects and identify PD solutions with highest biocompatibility. This part of the dissertation characterizes conventional glucose - based solutions, low - glucose and GDP load solutions as well as glucose polymer (icodextrin) - based PD solutions while determining the plasma and dialysate levels of soluble receptor for AGEs (s - RAGE) and its...