Digital Image Watermarking

V této práci jsou popsány základy digitálního vodoznačení obrazů a metody porovnání změny obrazu jeho vodoznačením. Jsou navrženy metody založené na využití diskrétní vlnkové traansformace, diskrétní kosinové transformace a Walsh-Hadamardovy transformace. Tyto metody jsou zde popsány a výsledky jejich použití porovnány.In this work are describe the basics of digital images and methods watermarking comparing changes its image by watermarking. They are propose watermark methods based on the discrete wavelet transform, discrete cosine transform and Walsh-Hadamard transform. These method are describe and the results of their use are compared.

A special irreducible matrix representation of the real Clifford algebra C(3,1)

4x4 Dirac (gamma) matrices (irreducible matrix representations of the Clifford algebras C(3,1), C(1,3), C(4,0)) are an essential part of many calculations in quantum physics. Although the final physical results do not depend on the applied representation of the Dirac matrices (e.g. due to the invariance of traces of products of Dirac matrices), the appropriate choice of the representation used may facilitate the analysis. The present paper introduces a particularly symmetric real representation of 4x4 Dirac matrices (Majorana representation) which may prove useful in the future. As a byproduct, a compact formula for (transformed) Pauli matrices is found. The consideration is based on the role played by isoclinic 2-planes in the geometry of the real Clifford algebra C(3,0) which provide an invariant geometric frame for it. It can be generalized to larger Clifford algebras.Comment: 23 pages LaTeX, to appear in the J. Math. Phys. (v2: appendix B on Pauli matrices and references are added, minor other changes

Productivity Optimization of Screen House Layout Design

The study investigated the optimization of the screen house design to improve the growth productivity of green ornamentals. It focused on the labor-intensive handling operations in order to minimize the time invested in these operations and to maximize the total revenue. The research was performed during 2006–2007 in two modern farms in the central part of Israel. The farms contained 7 and 11 ha of Pitosporum and Aralia screen houses. The various stages of harvesting on each farm were subjected to work studies and time measurements, and a computer simulation model was developed with the ARENA 7™ to find an improved screen house layout. The main goal was to determine the time per stem and hourly output per worker as functions of length of row, distance between rows, distance between plants, work pace, and number of workers. Results show that for the examined cultivars and the present working methods, the best outcome was reached when the row length was the shortest of those examined. There was a decrease of 35% in output when row length increased from 24 to 200 m. Simulation results showed that the best length of a screen house was 24 m. Furthermore, the best width of the screen house was determined as a function of the number of workers and their work pace. In addition, the optimal location of the cart used to transfer the crops to the packaging house was determined

Working planning in packing houses of flowers mixed farms to increase the yield

The study deals with performance improvement in flowers mixed farms.  The farm under investigation is located in the central part of Israel and grows three types of green ornamentals: Pittosporum, Aralia and Aspidistra.  The farm consists of 8 hectares and employs 7 workers.  The annual yield of the farm in 2009 was 3.5 million branches.  The study investigates the working processes of the packing house.  A computer model and work planning management tool was developed using MATLAB.  The model inputs are: flower type and quantity, due date and sales price.  The output is a work schedule.  Results show an improvement of processing time by: 47% for Pittosporum, 19% - 45% for Aralia, and 23% - 54% for Aspidistra

Delineating pathological pathways in a chemically-induced mouse model of Gaucher disease

Great interest has been shown in understanding the pathology of Gaucher disease (GD), due to the recently discovered genetic relationship with Parkinson's disease. For such studies, suitable animal models of GD are required. Chemical induction of GD by inhibition of acid β-glucosidase (GCase) using the irreversible inhibitor, conduritol B-epoxide (CBE), is particularly attractive, although few systematic studies examining the effect of CBE on development of symptoms associated with neurological forms of GD have been performed. We now demonstrate a correlation between the amount of CBE injected into mice and levels of accumulation of the GD substrates, glucosylceramide and glucosylsphingosine, and show that disease pathology, indicated by altered levels of pathological markers, depends on both levels of accumulated lipids and the time at which their accumulation begins. Gene array analysis shows a remarkable similarity in the gene expression profiles of CBE-treated mice and a genetic GD mouse model, the Gba(flox/flox) ;nestin-Cre mouse, with 120 of the 144 genes up-regulated in CBE-treated mice also up-regulated in Gba(flox/flox) ;nestin-Cre mice. We also demonstrate that various aspects of neuropathology and some behavioral abnormalities can be arrested upon cessation of CBE treatment during a specific time window. Together, our data demonstrate that injection of mice with CBE provides a rapid and relatively easy way to induce symptoms typical of neuronal forms of GD. This is particularly useful when examining the role of specific biochemical pathways in GD pathology, since CBE can be injected into mice defective in components of putative pathological pathways, alleviating the need for time-consuming crossing of mice

Installation and configuration of Octave computation cluster

Tato práce zkoumá možnosti a nástroje pro vytvoření vysoce-výkoného výpočetního clusteru. Obsahuje návrh pro jeho vytvoření a podrobně popisuje jeho nastavení a konfiguraci ve virtuálním prostředí.This paper explores the possibilities and tools for creating High-Performace Computing cluster. It contains a project for his creation and a detailed description of the setup and configuration in a virtual environment.

Međuovisnost upravljanja markom i održivost razvoja prekogranične turističke destinacije

Doktorski rad „Međuovisnost upravljanja markom i održivog razvoja prekogranične turističke destinacije“ vrednuje autorov model testiranjem veza i odnosa između varijabli „Upravljanje markom prekogranične turističke destinacije“ i „Održivi razvoj turizma“ preko intervenirajućih varijabli „Kulturna održivost turizma - Kulturna obilježja“, „Kulturna održivost turizma - Interkulturno razumijevanje i tolerantnost“, „Ekološka održivost turizma - Svijest o zaštiti okoliša“ te „Politička održivost turizma - Uključenost u razvojne procese u turizmu“. U teorijskom dijelu rada su sistematizirani i analizirani elementi pojma turističke destinacije, prekogranične turističke destinacije te marke u turizmu. Također je detaljno analiziran teorijski aspekt održivog razvoja turizma. Temeljem operacionaliziranja promatranih varijabli u radu kreiran je konceptualni model istraživanja. Testiranje glavne hipoteze i četiri pomoćne provedeno je na uzorku od 151 ispitanika primjenom multivarijatne analize, konkretno faktorske analize, i korelacijske analize temeljene na Pearsonovom koeficijentu linearne korelacije. Empirijski je testiran zadani model kroz trenutnu sliku stanja u pograničnim područjima Republike Hrvatske i Republike Slovenije. Ispitanici su stanovnici pograničnih područja Republike Hrvatske i Republike Slovenije zaposleni u turizmu. Rezultati istraživanja potvrđuju iskoristivost oblikovanog modela. Tako predstavljene temeljne sastavnice modela služit će turističkim dionicima postojećih, ali i potencijalnih, prekograničnih turističkih destinacija u procesu brendiranja prema načelima održivog razvoja turizma. Dokazani su smjerovi i intenziteti veza između promatranih varijabli. Empirijski je utvrđena statistički značajna umjereno pozitivna korelacija između varijabli „Upravljanje markom prekogranične turističke destinacije“ i „Održivi razvoj turizma“. Definirane i tipologizirane su poveznice upravljanja markom prekograničnih turističkih destinacija u kontekstu težnje održivom razvoju turizma. Predstavljeno je koliko pojedinačni i zajednički turistički proizvodi, temeljeni na resursnim odrednicama pograničnih područja, predstavljaju važnu pretpostavku za formiranje marke prekogranične turističke destinacije. Empirijski je dokazan relevantan potencijal turističke marke prekogranične turističke destinacije temeljene na resursnim odrednicama pograničnih područja u funkciji održivog razvoja turizma. U radu su predstavljeni, osim koristi brendiranja prekograničnih turističkih destinacija zajedničkom markom, i ograničavajući faktori prilikom provedbe istog. Provedeno istraživanje, kao i predstavljeni rezultati, adekvatno su uporište za buduća istraživanja u sferi upravljanja markom prekogranične turističke destinacije i održivog razvoja turizma. Pragmatične smjernice temeljene na rezultatima istraživanja predstavljaju iskoristivu osnovu pri donošenju strateških odluka dionika u upravljanju markom prekogranične turističke destinacije.Dissertation titled „The Interdependency of Management of Brand and Sustainability of Cross-Border Tourist Destination“ assesses the author's model by testing the connections and relationships between the observed variables „Management of Brand of Cross-Border Tourist Destination“ and „Sustainable Tourism Development“ through intervening variables „Cultural Sustainability – Cultural Characteristics“, „Cultural Sustainability – Intercultural Understanding and Tolerance“, „Environmental Sustainability – Environmental Awareness“ and „Political Sustainability – Involvement in Development Processes in Tourism“. In the theoretical part of the paper, systemized and analyzed are the elements of the concept of tourist destination, cross-border tourist destination and brand in tourism. The theoretical aspect of sustainable tourism development has also been analyzed in detail. Based on the operationalization of the observed variables in the paper, a conceptual research model was created. Testing the main hypothesis and four auxiliary ones was conducted on a sample of 151 respondents by using multivariate analysis, namely the factor analysis and correlation analysis based on the Pearson coefficient of linear correlation. The default model was empirically tested through the current picture of the situation in the border areas of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia. The respondents are residents of the border areas of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia who are employed in tourism. The research results confirm the efficiency of the shaped model. Such presented fundamental elements of the model will serve tourism stakeholders of the existing, but also, potential cross-border tourism destinations in the branding process according to the principles of sustainable tourism development. Proven were the directions and intensity of the connections between the observed variables. It was empirically determined the statistically significant moderately positive correlation between the „Brand Management of the Cross-Border Tourism Destination“ and the „Sustainable Tourism Development“. Defined and typologized were links of brand management of cross-border tourism destinations in the context of aspirations of the sustainable tourism development. It presents how individual and joint tourism products based on resource determinants of border areas present an important prerequisite for the formation of the brand of cross-border tourism destination. It was empirically proven the relevant potential of tourism brand of cross-border destination based on resource modifiers of border areas in the function of sustainable tourism development. The paper gives, not only the benefits of branding of the cross-border tourism destinations by a common brand, but also limitations while implementing the process. The conducted research, as well as the presented results are the adequate foothold for future research in the field of management of the brand of cross-border tourism destination and sustainable tourism development. Pragmatic guidelines based on the research results present usable basis for strategic decision making of stakeholders in the management of the brand of cross-border tourism destination

Međuovisnost upravljanja markom i održivost razvoja prekogranične turističke destinacije

Doktorski rad „Međuovisnost upravljanja markom i održivog razvoja prekogranične turističke destinacije“ vrednuje autorov model testiranjem veza i odnosa između varijabli „Upravljanje markom prekogranične turističke destinacije“ i „Održivi razvoj turizma“ preko intervenirajućih varijabli „Kulturna održivost turizma - Kulturna obilježja“, „Kulturna održivost turizma - Interkulturno razumijevanje i tolerantnost“, „Ekološka održivost turizma - Svijest o zaštiti okoliša“ te „Politička održivost turizma - Uključenost u razvojne procese u turizmu“. U teorijskom dijelu rada su sistematizirani i analizirani elementi pojma turističke destinacije, prekogranične turističke destinacije te marke u turizmu. Također je detaljno analiziran teorijski aspekt održivog razvoja turizma. Temeljem operacionaliziranja promatranih varijabli u radu kreiran je konceptualni model istraživanja. Testiranje glavne hipoteze i četiri pomoćne provedeno je na uzorku od 151 ispitanika primjenom multivarijatne analize, konkretno faktorske analize, i korelacijske analize temeljene na Pearsonovom koeficijentu linearne korelacije. Empirijski je testiran zadani model kroz trenutnu sliku stanja u pograničnim područjima Republike Hrvatske i Republike Slovenije. Ispitanici su stanovnici pograničnih područja Republike Hrvatske i Republike Slovenije zaposleni u turizmu. Rezultati istraživanja potvrđuju iskoristivost oblikovanog modela. Tako predstavljene temeljne sastavnice modela služit će turističkim dionicima postojećih, ali i potencijalnih, prekograničnih turističkih destinacija u procesu brendiranja prema načelima održivog razvoja turizma. Dokazani su smjerovi i intenziteti veza između promatranih varijabli. Empirijski je utvrđena statistički značajna umjereno pozitivna korelacija između varijabli „Upravljanje markom prekogranične turističke destinacije“ i „Održivi razvoj turizma“. Definirane i tipologizirane su poveznice upravljanja markom prekograničnih turističkih destinacija u kontekstu težnje održivom razvoju turizma. Predstavljeno je koliko pojedinačni i zajednički turistički proizvodi, temeljeni na resursnim odrednicama pograničnih područja, predstavljaju važnu pretpostavku za formiranje marke prekogranične turističke destinacije. Empirijski je dokazan relevantan potencijal turističke marke prekogranične turističke destinacije temeljene na resursnim odrednicama pograničnih područja u funkciji održivog razvoja turizma. U radu su predstavljeni, osim koristi brendiranja prekograničnih turističkih destinacija zajedničkom markom, i ograničavajući faktori prilikom provedbe istog. Provedeno istraživanje, kao i predstavljeni rezultati, adekvatno su uporište za buduća istraživanja u sferi upravljanja markom prekogranične turističke destinacije i održivog razvoja turizma. Pragmatične smjernice temeljene na rezultatima istraživanja predstavljaju iskoristivu osnovu pri donošenju strateških odluka dionika u upravljanju markom prekogranične turističke destinacije.Dissertation titled „The Interdependency of Management of Brand and Sustainability of Cross-Border Tourist Destination“ assesses the author's model by testing the connections and relationships between the observed variables „Management of Brand of Cross-Border Tourist Destination“ and „Sustainable Tourism Development“ through intervening variables „Cultural Sustainability – Cultural Characteristics“, „Cultural Sustainability – Intercultural Understanding and Tolerance“, „Environmental Sustainability – Environmental Awareness“ and „Political Sustainability – Involvement in Development Processes in Tourism“. In the theoretical part of the paper, systemized and analyzed are the elements of the concept of tourist destination, cross-border tourist destination and brand in tourism. The theoretical aspect of sustainable tourism development has also been analyzed in detail. Based on the operationalization of the observed variables in the paper, a conceptual research model was created. Testing the main hypothesis and four auxiliary ones was conducted on a sample of 151 respondents by using multivariate analysis, namely the factor analysis and correlation analysis based on the Pearson coefficient of linear correlation. The default model was empirically tested through the current picture of the situation in the border areas of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia. The respondents are residents of the border areas of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia who are employed in tourism. The research results confirm the efficiency of the shaped model. Such presented fundamental elements of the model will serve tourism stakeholders of the existing, but also, potential cross-border tourism destinations in the branding process according to the principles of sustainable tourism development. Proven were the directions and intensity of the connections between the observed variables. It was empirically determined the statistically significant moderately positive correlation between the „Brand Management of the Cross-Border Tourism Destination“ and the „Sustainable Tourism Development“. Defined and typologized were links of brand management of cross-border tourism destinations in the context of aspirations of the sustainable tourism development. It presents how individual and joint tourism products based on resource determinants of border areas present an important prerequisite for the formation of the brand of cross-border tourism destination. It was empirically proven the relevant potential of tourism brand of cross-border destination based on resource modifiers of border areas in the function of sustainable tourism development. The paper gives, not only the benefits of branding of the cross-border tourism destinations by a common brand, but also limitations while implementing the process. The conducted research, as well as the presented results are the adequate foothold for future research in the field of management of the brand of cross-border tourism destination and sustainable tourism development. Pragmatic guidelines based on the research results present usable basis for strategic decision making of stakeholders in the management of the brand of cross-border tourism destination

Međuovisnost upravljanja markom i održivost razvoja prekogranične turističke destinacije

Doktorski rad „Međuovisnost upravljanja markom i održivog razvoja prekogranične turističke destinacije“ vrednuje autorov model testiranjem veza i odnosa između varijabli „Upravljanje markom prekogranične turističke destinacije“ i „Održivi razvoj turizma“ preko intervenirajućih varijabli „Kulturna održivost turizma - Kulturna obilježja“, „Kulturna održivost turizma - Interkulturno razumijevanje i tolerantnost“, „Ekološka održivost turizma - Svijest o zaštiti okoliša“ te „Politička održivost turizma - Uključenost u razvojne procese u turizmu“. U teorijskom dijelu rada su sistematizirani i analizirani elementi pojma turističke destinacije, prekogranične turističke destinacije te marke u turizmu. Također je detaljno analiziran teorijski aspekt održivog razvoja turizma. Temeljem operacionaliziranja promatranih varijabli u radu kreiran je konceptualni model istraživanja. Testiranje glavne hipoteze i četiri pomoćne provedeno je na uzorku od 151 ispitanika primjenom multivarijatne analize, konkretno faktorske analize, i korelacijske analize temeljene na Pearsonovom koeficijentu linearne korelacije. Empirijski je testiran zadani model kroz trenutnu sliku stanja u pograničnim područjima Republike Hrvatske i Republike Slovenije. Ispitanici su stanovnici pograničnih područja Republike Hrvatske i Republike Slovenije zaposleni u turizmu. Rezultati istraživanja potvrđuju iskoristivost oblikovanog modela. Tako predstavljene temeljne sastavnice modela služit će turističkim dionicima postojećih, ali i potencijalnih, prekograničnih turističkih destinacija u procesu brendiranja prema načelima održivog razvoja turizma. Dokazani su smjerovi i intenziteti veza između promatranih varijabli. Empirijski je utvrđena statistički značajna umjereno pozitivna korelacija između varijabli „Upravljanje markom prekogranične turističke destinacije“ i „Održivi razvoj turizma“. Definirane i tipologizirane su poveznice upravljanja markom prekograničnih turističkih destinacija u kontekstu težnje održivom razvoju turizma. Predstavljeno je koliko pojedinačni i zajednički turistički proizvodi, temeljeni na resursnim odrednicama pograničnih područja, predstavljaju važnu pretpostavku za formiranje marke prekogranične turističke destinacije. Empirijski je dokazan relevantan potencijal turističke marke prekogranične turističke destinacije temeljene na resursnim odrednicama pograničnih područja u funkciji održivog razvoja turizma. U radu su predstavljeni, osim koristi brendiranja prekograničnih turističkih destinacija zajedničkom markom, i ograničavajući faktori prilikom provedbe istog. Provedeno istraživanje, kao i predstavljeni rezultati, adekvatno su uporište za buduća istraživanja u sferi upravljanja markom prekogranične turističke destinacije i održivog razvoja turizma. Pragmatične smjernice temeljene na rezultatima istraživanja predstavljaju iskoristivu osnovu pri donošenju strateških odluka dionika u upravljanju markom prekogranične turističke destinacije.Dissertation titled „The Interdependency of Management of Brand and Sustainability of Cross-Border Tourist Destination“ assesses the author's model by testing the connections and relationships between the observed variables „Management of Brand of Cross-Border Tourist Destination“ and „Sustainable Tourism Development“ through intervening variables „Cultural Sustainability – Cultural Characteristics“, „Cultural Sustainability – Intercultural Understanding and Tolerance“, „Environmental Sustainability – Environmental Awareness“ and „Political Sustainability – Involvement in Development Processes in Tourism“. In the theoretical part of the paper, systemized and analyzed are the elements of the concept of tourist destination, cross-border tourist destination and brand in tourism. The theoretical aspect of sustainable tourism development has also been analyzed in detail. Based on the operationalization of the observed variables in the paper, a conceptual research model was created. Testing the main hypothesis and four auxiliary ones was conducted on a sample of 151 respondents by using multivariate analysis, namely the factor analysis and correlation analysis based on the Pearson coefficient of linear correlation. The default model was empirically tested through the current picture of the situation in the border areas of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia. The respondents are residents of the border areas of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia who are employed in tourism. The research results confirm the efficiency of the shaped model. Such presented fundamental elements of the model will serve tourism stakeholders of the existing, but also, potential cross-border tourism destinations in the branding process according to the principles of sustainable tourism development. Proven were the directions and intensity of the connections between the observed variables. It was empirically determined the statistically significant moderately positive correlation between the „Brand Management of the Cross-Border Tourism Destination“ and the „Sustainable Tourism Development“. Defined and typologized were links of brand management of cross-border tourism destinations in the context of aspirations of the sustainable tourism development. It presents how individual and joint tourism products based on resource determinants of border areas present an important prerequisite for the formation of the brand of cross-border tourism destination. It was empirically proven the relevant potential of tourism brand of cross-border destination based on resource modifiers of border areas in the function of sustainable tourism development. The paper gives, not only the benefits of branding of the cross-border tourism destinations by a common brand, but also limitations while implementing the process. The conducted research, as well as the presented results are the adequate foothold for future research in the field of management of the brand of cross-border tourism destination and sustainable tourism development. Pragmatic guidelines based on the research results present usable basis for strategic decision making of stakeholders in the management of the brand of cross-border tourism destination