http://hdl.handle.net/10563/1000001 2026-07-27T12:16:26Z 2026-07-27T12:16:26Z Škoda, David Pokorný, Tomáš Hanulíková, Barbora Stýskalík, Aleš Hlavenková, Zuzana Šimoníková, Lucie Varaďa, Jan Leonová, Lucie Kuřitka, Ivo Poleunis, Claude Debecker, Damien P. http://hdl.handle.net/10563/1012852 2026-07-24T14:23:17Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Microwave-assisted one-pot sol–gel synthesis of tungsten silicate microspheres with dispersed WOx and their activity in ethanol dehydration Škoda, David; Pokorný, Tomáš; Hanulíková, Barbora; Stýskalík, Aleš; Hlavenková, Zuzana; Šimoníková, Lucie; Varaďa, Jan; Leonová, Lucie; Kuřitka, Ivo; Poleunis, Claude; Debecker, Damien P. This study introduces a novel microspherical W–SiO2 heterogeneous catalyst for alcohol dehydration, prepared via an innovative microwave-assisted condensation synthesis method. The process involves the microwave-assisted preparation of a hybrid tungsten naphthalene dicarboxylate-based precursor solution, which is subsequently condensed with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane in a single step—eliminating the need for separate silica support preparation, as required in conventional impregnation methods. After calcination at 550 °C, the resulting amorphous and porous microspheres contain highly dispersed tungsten species (with loadings of 2, 6, and 12 wt%), with no crystalline WO3 phase detected, even at the highest loading. Compared to a 12 wt% WO3/SiO2 catalyst prepared via conventional impregnation, the W–SiO2 microspheres exhibit higher catalytic activity and ethylene selectivity in ethanol dehydration at 420 °C. Notably, the 2W–SiO2 catalyst achieved the highest initial ethylene productivity per mole of tungsten (520 mmol mmolW−1 h−1), maintaining 230 mmol mmolW−1 h−1 after 1000 minutes on stream, indicating high long-term stability. In terms of mass-specific performance, the 12W–SiO2 catalyst reached 133 mmol g−1 h−1, outperforming other comparable previously reported tungsten–silica catalysts.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Parra-Flores, Julio Enrique Daza-Prieto, Beatriz Troncoso, Miriam R. Figueroa, Guillermo Reyes-Fuentes, María Holý, Ondřej Cruz-Coŕdova, Ariadnna Ruppitsch, Werner Forsythe, Stephen James http://hdl.handle.net/10563/1012846 2026-07-24T14:23:17Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of cronobacter spp. strains isolated from powdered milk formulas and dairy production environments Parra-Flores, Julio Enrique; Daza-Prieto, Beatriz; Troncoso, Miriam R.; Figueroa, Guillermo; Reyes-Fuentes, María; Holý, Ondřej; Cruz-Coŕdova, Ariadnna; Ruppitsch, Werner; Forsythe, Stephen James Cronobacter spp. is a pathogenic genus comprising seven species, of which C. sakazakii is particularly notable for its association with neonatal outbreaks linked to powdered infant formula. The severity of infections is associated with virulence factors (VFs) and β-lactam antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has enabled precise strain typing through core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST), enhancing discrimination and accuracy. This study aimed to use cgMLST (2831 genes) to genomically characterize 34 Cronobacter strains which had been isolated from powdered milk and production surfaces between 2011 and 2022. The identified strains included C. sakazakii ST1, ST4, ST13, ST31 and ST83, as well as C. malonaticus ST60. Overall, there were eight clusters of closely related strains. All strains exhibited resistance to cephalothin, 18 were resistant to ceftazidime and 11 to ampicillin. Various resistance genes (blaCSA, blaCMA, fos, qacJ, marA, AcrAB-TolC, and mcr-9.1) and virulence genes (cpa, nanAKT, fic, relB, fliC) were detected, with some genes being exclusive to C. sakazakii. All strains carried plasmids and mobile genetic elements. The multidrug resistance and presence of virulence genes in these isolates highlight the significant risk that C. sakazakii-contaminated powdered dairy products pose to public health, underscoring the need to adopt proper hygienic manufacturing practices and effectively implement HACCP in their production.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Betuš, Miroslav Betušová, Ivanna Wittenberger, Gabriel Konček, Martin Hnilica, Marek http://hdl.handle.net/10563/1012850 2026-07-24T14:23:17Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Building safe and sustainable universities: An integrated governance framework for physical, cyber, and psychosocial security Betuš, Miroslav; Betušová, Ivanna; Wittenberger, Gabriel; Konček, Martin; Hnilica, Marek European universities are facing increasingly complex security risks, including physical threats, violence, cyberattacks, emergency situations, and the deterioration of the psychological well-being of students and staff. Rapid societal change, technological development, and increasing uncertainty place mounting pressure on higher education institutions to adopt a systematic approach to the protection of life, health, and property. Despite this, many universities continue to operate through fragmented and largely reactive measures that are insufficiently integrated into a coherent security management system. This paper presents an integrated conceptual framework for security management in higher education institutions, linking physical, cyber, organizational, and psychosocial dimensions of risk governance. By framing university security as a component of institutional sustainability and resilience, the paper situates safety governance within the broader context of sustainable higher education institutions. The framework is grounded in an analysis of existing legislative requirements, the principles of crisis management, and practical experience from the higher education sector. It identifies key sources of risk, core areas of responsibility, and preventive mechanisms that strengthen institutional resilience and emergency preparedness. Particular attention is given to the role of academic staff, institutional leadership, community engagement, and the development of digital security as fundamental pillars of a safe academic environment. By integrating security governance with institutional resilience, the framework supports the sustainable continuity of teaching and research under disruptive events. The proposed framework may serve as a methodological foundation for developing university security strategies and as a tool supporting the long-term organizational and social sustainability of higher education institutions.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Drofová, Irena Wang, Haozhou Guo, Wei Katsuhama, Naoya Burridge, James Blok, Pieter M. Adámek, Milan http://hdl.handle.net/10563/1012849 2026-07-24T14:23:17Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Color vision in digital twin creation using photogrammetry in sustainable agriculture 4.0 Drofová, Irena; Wang, Haozhou; Guo, Wei; Katsuhama, Naoya; Burridge, James; Blok, Pieter M.; Adámek, Milan The study proposes a methodological integration of machine vision and image processing based on color-based object detection. The primary goal of the study is to use the color vision method to simplify the process of transforming real objects into 3D digital twins for application in Sustainable Agriculture 4.0. The experiment solves several related problems: (1) Color analysis and methodology for quantifying the color representation of a 3D model. Representation quality was determined using colorimetric methods with sRGB and L*a*b* models in relation to the D65 standard. Colors with accurate color values on the object surface and in the 3D model were identified. (2) The process of capturing and creating digital twins using the SfM method is time-consuming and requires manual work. The study solves this problem by partially automating the entire process. The proposed DSLR system with an automated method for capturing, storing, and sorting data significantly accelerates the entire process. (3) To create a digital color scale, it is necessary to define the color values of 3D digital twins. A color segmentation procedure based on points on the surface of a 3D model is proposed. These color values form a basic color form corresponding to the color value changes in the coloring process of a real object. The proposed procedure uniquely integrates methodologies and has potential for use in Sustainable Agriculture 4.0. The proposed colorimetric method quantifies representation quality and could be deployed in other 3D model digitization and automation processes, especially in image processing and computer vision.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z