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One of the reasons for rising real estate prices may be the opposition to new housing development. Using a survey-framing experiment, we examine the persuasiveness of five arguments against residential development on a representative sample of 1,801 inhabitants of Czech cities. In addition to traditional concerns about the risks of increased population density and changes in neighbourhood character, we examine perceived unfairness as an alternative argument. Our conclusions show that the perception of unfair activities of developers and rental investors plays an important role. Furthermore, among the traditional concerns, the short-term effects disrupting life in the vicinity of the construction site proved to be the strongest. If Czech developers change their strategy from selling apartments to renting them, as they plan, our findings indicate that public support for residential development projects could decrease even further. This is the first experimental study to examine the causes of NIMBY sentiment against residential development in a post-communist country. Our results are not fundamentally different from research conducted in the U.S. And that is despite very different institutional settings in the Czech Republic, which were negatively affected by forty years of totalitarian rule and the centrally planned economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous countries are reportedly witnessing the bureaucratization of universities, manifesting inter alia in a gradual increase in the administrative burden that overshadows the core missions of universities. Regrettably, there is a notable gap in research specifically focused on bureaucratization of higher education institutions in post-communist countries, where state bureaucratic control over economies, societies, and academic institutions prevailed before 1990. This article seeks to address this gap by examining the perception of the administrative burden among a representative sample of 1117 Czech academic workers, utilizing a diverse range of methods, including an experimental component. The majority of academics are experiencing an escalation in administrative demands that curtails the time and effort they can allocate to research and teaching. While they do see potential in digitalization and modern technology, they view the existing university bureaucracy as inefficient, ever-increasing, and excessively regulated, particularly in relation to grants and subsidy programs. Notably, for many seasoned academics who have lived through communism, modern university bureaucracy is a reminder of the “bad old days.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue crack grows faster in the integral structure than in the riveted structure. This study compares the bonded, cold-sprayed and ultrasonically consolidated crack retarders to increase the fatigue life of integral airframe structure. The 2024-T351 aluminum M(T) specimen reinforced with crack retarders made of AISI 301 and 316L steels, Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy and unidirectional CFRP laminate are evaluated in terms of fatigue life, delamination resistance and weight efficiency. Specimens were subjected to constant amplitude loading up to the final failure. A substantial decrease in fatigue crack growth rate was achieved using the ultrasonically consolidated AISI 301 crack retarder. • Bonded, cold-sprayed and ultrasonically consolidated crack retarders are investigated. • Ultrasonically consolidated crack retarder lowered the fatigue crack growth rate. • Cold-sprayed crack retarder increased the fatigue crack growth rate. • Pulsed thermography is useful to detect delamination in ultrasonically consolidated laminate. • Delamination growth trend in consolidated crack retarder is the same as in bonded one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riveting and adhesive bonding are common joining technology in aircraft engineering. A hybrid joining such as rivet-bonding brings together the benefits of both basic techniques whilst minimising some of their shortcomings. These technologies have been present mastered sufficiently, and their characteristics are well known. Due to different influences in aircraft service (weather, location of aircraft operation, air composition, contact with fuel or hydraulic fluid), a degradation of the characteristics of joints is well noticed. This research was focused on the ageing of rivet-bonded joints with a polyurethane adhesive and blind rivets and the influence of ageing on the properties of joints. Ageing according EN 2243-5 was carried out in hot/wet conditions, salt mist, hydraulic fluid, and fuel. Thermal cycling was used as a resource of ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]