bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SMART GROWTH IN LATGALE REGION OF LATVIA: AN OVERVIEW OF MULTIPLE-HELIX ACTORS
Authors: ALEKSEJEVA Ludmila , ŠIPILOVA Viktorija , JERMOLAJEVA Elita , OSTROVSKA Inta , OĻEHNOVIČS Dmitrijs
Published: March 2018

Within the framework of the Latvian National Programme EKOSOC-LV this paper focuses on the smart growth as a tool for regional development. The research aim is to evaluate the factors that influence the formation of a smart territory and to estimate interconnections of quantitative indicators and expert opinions. The present study reflects the quantitative and qualitative assessment of smart growth challenges in the region of Latgale (Latvia) on the level of 19 districts. One of the most important aspects of the implementation of the concept of smart specialization is the participation of all involved actors; thus, one of the solutions of smart growth evaluation is the multiple helix approach. By analysing and summarizing the aspects affecting smart territories, based on the theoretical principles, regional stakeholder’s (local governments, entrepreneurs, representatives of communities, scientists, general public) recommendations, taking into account the national strategic settings and the views of the EKOSOC-LV working group, smart growth index was developed as well as factor hierarchy of the smart territory formation and growth, on the basis of which the Analytic Hierarchy Process method was realized. Logical construction, monographic, analytic hierarchy process, statistical analysis methods are used for research. The quantitative assessment is based on integrated index (Smart Development Index) establishment and testing. The qualitative assessment is based on the regional expert opinions summarized by the Analytic Hierarchy Process methodology. Complex analysis of the obtained quantitative indicators highlights the People and Resources dimension, but qualitative assessment underlines People and Economy dimensions as the keystones of the smart specialization of the Latgale region. The integrated application of quantitative and qualitative approaches allows a comprehensive assessment of the smart growth process in the Latgale region and its districts.
THE POTENTİAL OF THE EUROPEAN UNİON COUNTRİES TO PRODUCE BİOMASS FOR BİODİESEL PRODUCTİON AND CONSUMPTİON PURPOSES
Authors: KRUKOWSKI Artur , KIJEK Tomasz , NOWAK Anna , KASZTELAN Armand , KOBIAŁKA Anna , MATRAS-BOLIBOK Anna
Published: March 2018

This article aims at evaluating the capacity of agriculture in the member states of the European Union regarding the production of biodiesel from biomass as well as identification and empirical verification of relationships between the rapeseed market and the consumption of biodiesel. The studies were based on panel data for the EU-28 member states in the period 2010-2013 obtained from Eurostat.
The results of the studies point to significant differentiation in the production and consumption of biodiesel and its share in the consumption of liquid fuels in the transport sector in the EU. In 2010-2013 the consumption of biodiesel in EU countries exceeded 10.5 M TOE, with 2012 being a unique year when the consumption of biodiesel increased to nearly 12 M TOE. France and Germany are the leaders in the consumption of biodiesel in the EU; their consumption accounts for about 40% of the EU’s consumption. In the same period in the EU countries rape was cultivated over 6673.7 k ha, with the largest area recorded also in France (1516.4 k ha) and in Germany (1390.4 k ha) - the total area of rapeseed crops in those countries accounted for 43% of the total area in the EU. In this period the annual yield of rapeseed in the 28 member states of the EU on average amounted to 19979.4 k t, 50.3% of which were crops from France and Germany.
This article proposes the construction of a theoretical model describing the relationship between the consumption of biodiesel and the key determinants of its production. The studies carried out show that the variable having the strongest impact on the consumption of biodiesel in the countries of the EU is the price of rapeseed (smaller-the-better characteristic). At the same time it was demonstrated that the consumption of biodiesel is stimulated by the supply of rapeseed.
EURASIAN BEAVER (CASTOR FIBER L.) POPULATION IN ASU SCIENCE AND TEACHING HUNTING AREA AND BEAVER DAMS REBUILD INTENSITY
Authors: RAŠKAUSKAITĖ Monika , ŠIMKEVIČIUS Kastytis
Published: March 2018

Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber L.) was reintroduced in Lithuania on 1947. Population growth was quite rapid ant there were about 6000 beavers on 1970. Nowadays beavers population in Lithuania is about 40 000. Beavers have a possibility to affect the environment where they live by building dams, lodges, making burrows systems, changing water level. Because of being such an active environmental former beaver has a huge indirect impact for forest and agricultural fields – higher water level usually causes damage for forest trees or crops. There are different studies about this beaver’s ability to change environment and to build dams, lodges. Explanations why it is needed for this species now is clear, but still there are question how can these animal plan, organize and improve their ability to build. The aim of this research is to find out if dams rebuilt activity intensity differs during different year seasons and is it affected by the beaver’s family size in current place. According to our findings, the beginning of dam rebuilt and total dam rebuild depends on year season – on fall season it takes 4 times less time. In addition to this, family size has an effect – bigger families rebuilt dams faster. Usually beavers do this job from midnight to 2 a.m. on fall season.
INTEGRATED EFFECT OF METEOROLOGY, AIR POLLUTION AND SURFACE OZONE ON CROWN CONDITION AND STEM INCREMENT OF SCOTS PINE TREES UNDER DIFFERENT SITE CONDITIONS
Authors: ŠIDLAUSKAS Giedrius , MIKALAJŪNAS Marius , PIVORAS Ainis , JUONYTĖ Inga , PIVORAS Gintaras
Published: March 2018

Adaptation of the local tree species to recent environmental conditions rather often is found to be very low even when it affects tree health integrally with air pollutants, and surface ozone. The aim of the study was to quantify the relationships between environmental factors, annual stem basal area increment and crown defoliation of Scots pine trees located in the north-eastern part of Lithuania. The obtained data revealed that Scots pine is the most sensitive species to environmental changes. Its reaction to both negative and favorable environmental factors was best expressed, what indicated its highest level of resilience and adaptive capacity to recent global changes. Air concentrations of sulphur species and ammonium as well as their deposition were the main drivers resulting in changes in mean defoliation of Scots pine trees in Lithuania. The data on stem basal area increment collected on two different forest sites (FS): mineral olygotrophic and organic mesoeutrophic soils confirmed that since the 1980 growing season the annual increment of the pine trees has increased. The causes of this rapid growth were as follows: higher air temperatures during the dormant period and, to a lower extent, the higher temperatures from May through August. The effect of precipitation was negligible. During vegetation nitrate deposition as fertilizing compound stimulated the pine tree stem BAI formation especially on mineral soil FS. Negative ozone effect on pine growth intensity was significant for pine trees on mineral soil FS. Higher moisture regime significantly increased the tolerance of pine trees to the negative effect of air concentration of acidifying compounds, their wet deposition and surface ozone. The study is based on the results obtained conducting national project supported by Lithuanian Council of Research “FOREstRESS” (SIT- 3/2015).
ESTIMATION OF PRODUCTIVITY AND PRIME COST OF LOGSET 5HP GT HARVESTER IN THINNING
Authors: PETAJA Guna , BUTLERS Aldis , OKMANIS Modris , ZIMELIS Agris
Published: March 2018

Productivity of a harvester significantly affects costs of mechanized felling, which in turn determines, if commercial thinning will be profitable. The objective of this study is to estimate productivity and prime cost of Logset 5HP GT harvester with increased boom length (11 m), equipped with the TH45 felling head, in thinning. Trials are conducted in Latvia, eastern Vidzeme, in coniferous stands. To evaluate productivity of Logset 5HP GT, a time study was carried out. Influence of small trees (diameter at breast height &lt; 8 cm) on productivity and harvesting cost was also determined. During the trials 2379 trees are harvested with the total stem volume of 400 m3. The diameter at breast height of an average harvested tree is 14 cm and volume of a stem – 0.171 m3. Duration of time study is 33.5 h. Obtained productivity rates of Logset 5HP GT are compared with those of John Deere 1070 D harvester. According to the study results average productivity of Logset 5HP GT harvester in thinning of coniferous stands is 13.85 m3 per productive work hour. Prime cost of harvesting of the Logset 5HP GT in thinning is 8.02 € m-3. Increased boom length allows to decrease the total time spent for driving in a stand by 71%. Harvesting of small trees reduces productivity by 6.9% and increase production cost by 2.1% in the experimental stands. Difference between productivity of Logset 5HP GT and John Deere 1070 D in similar conditions is statistically insignificant.
FOREST REGENERATION QUALITY ASSESSMENT BY ASTA SYSTEM
Authors: DUMINS Karlis , STALS Toms , LAZDINA Dagnija
Published: March 2018

In Latvia one third of the total forest area is regenerated by planting tree seedlings and therefore it is important to choose the appropriate soil preparation method and the right type of regeneration material for each forest type. Usually the success of afforestation is evaluated by how high is the average seedling survival rate and growth parameters like height, annual increment, diameter at breast height while the location of the seedling is disregarded. This may be of great importance since in such stands the environmental conditions typically are not entirely homogenous. Micro topography differences impact seedling growth, because it modifies water regime, temperature, micronutrient availability, sun radiation and other factors.
Therefore, aim of this work is to improve monitoring methods and determine the most efficient soil preparation and seedling preparation combination to improve the quality of forest regeneration. That could be done using ASTA documentation system originally developed to show seedling and mound location and density in planting area during mechanic planting. But it also allows to link the precise location of the seedling and growing conditions with its growing rate and survival and therefore it is easier to exclude seedlings that are affected by other factors than those that you are interested in, so you can gain more representative results. This also could be used in forest management. When using ASTA system it is also possible to display how different tree disease are distributed in the stand, if they have spread eventually or localized only in some parts of the stand, also it can be used for browsing and other tree damage monitoring in the stand.
In conclusion: in harsh environmental conditions on unprepared forest soil and soil prepared in furrows made by disc trench larger seedlings show better survival rate. Survival of seedlings is significantly impacted by micro topography, whereas mounded micro sites equalize local environmental conditions that reduce impact of micro topography.
NUTRIENT RETENTION IN SURFACE FLOW CONSTRUCTED WETLAND IN AGRICULTURAL LAND IN LATVIA
Authors: GRINBERGA Linda , LAGZDINS Ainis
Published: March 2018

The research site consists of a pilot-scale surface flow constructed wetland at the farm Mezaciruli located in Zalenieki County, Jelgava Region, in the middle part of Latvia. The constructed wetland was installed in June 2014 to improve water quality in agricultural catchment and examine nutrient retention at the constructed wetland receiving surface and drainage runoff. The constructed wetland’s surface area of 0.37 ha corresponds to 0.5 % of the total catchment area. During the observation period of 32 months (2014-2017) water quality parameters such as total suspended solids (TSS), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N), total nitrogen (TN), orthophosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P), and total phosphorus (TP) were monitored twice a month using a grab sample approach. Retention efficiency for monitored water quality parameters was calculated based on their concentrations at the inlet and outlet. The monitoring results obtained during this study showed a reduction within the constructed wetland for all examined parameters. The concentrations of NO3-N, NH4-N and TN were reduced on average by 13 %, 15 % and 16 %, respectively. PO4-P and TP concentrations were reduced on average by 38 % and 36 %, respectively. Total suspended solids were reduced by 31% at the outlet of the constructed wetland. However, in some cases, an increase in nutrient concentrations in water leaving the constructed wetland was observed. Therefore, there is a need for further research to investigate causes of such increase.
THE ANTHROPOGENIC AIR POLLUTION SOURCE IDENTIFICATION IN URBAN AREAS USING SNOW SAMPLING
Authors: PILECKA Jovita , GRINFELDE Inga , STRAUPE Inga , PURMALIS Oskars
Published: March 2018

The anthropogenic sources of air pollution such as transport, energetics, household heating and industry generate different trace element footprint. The urban planning is one of tool to reduce air pollution with trace elements.
The aim of this study is to identify air pollution sources in Jelgava city using trace elements. The snow sampling were collected during January and February 2017. The January snow samples characterise average Jelgava city air pollution. However, February characterises intensive tourism impact on total air quality of Jelgava city.
The snow samples were analysed using inductively coupled plasma spectrometer (ICP-OES).
The data analysis consists of three stages. First, data verification and development of waste burning; burning of oil and fossil materials; wastewater treatment and utilisation of sewage sludge; transport; metal industry and fireworks typical pollution trace element data sets. Second, the cluster analysis of each data set, by developing three groups of pollution level for each pollution source. Third the results of clusters were analysed using GIS, and the areas with different air pollution risks were identified.
The results show strong evidence of transport and household impact on air quality.
BIOGAS POTENTIAL OF DIGESTATE AFTER FERMENTATION OF SIDA HERMAPHRODITA SILAGE
Authors: RUSANOWSKA Paulina , DUDEK Magda , ZIELIŃSKI Marcin , DĘBOWSKI Marcin
Published: March 2018

Lignocellulosic biomass is one of the most widely used substrate in methane digestion. Among plants with a high yield potential, Sida hermaphrodita is particularly noteworthy, due to Sida can be grown on low quality soils and its utilization for energy purposes is not competitive with food crops. Methane fermentation of biomass with such a complex structure usually requires application of pre-treatment methods for efficient utilization of its cellulose and hemicellulose. It is economically justified to control of digestate if substrate was efficiently used. The study aimed to measure biogas potential of digestate after fermentation of Sida hermaphrodita silage. The post-fermentation of two samples of digestate from the reactors operated at organic compounds loading 2 kg/(m3∙d) – S1 and 3 kg/(m3∙d) – S2 was performed. Hydraulic retention time in these reactors was 50 d and 33 d, respectively. Biogas potential of fermented sludge was measured with the use of AMPTS II (Bioprocess control). Biogas production was 0.012 L/g TS and 0.031 L/g TS from digestate’s S1 and S2, respectively. The methane content in biogas was 15% from digestate S1 and 50% from digestate S2. The obtained results suggest that digestate from reactor with organic compounds loading of 3 kg/(m3∙d) still has high biogas potential, and hydraulic retention time in this reactor should be prolonged.
CONVERSION TO BIOGAS OF HERBACEOUS PLANTS, USED FOR OIL HYDROCARBONS CONTAMINATED SOILS CLEANING
Authors: RUBEŽIUS Mantas , VENSLAUSKAS Kęstutis , NAVICKAS Kęstutis
Published: March 2018

Fossil fuel demand growth in and price fluctuation, depletion resources and supply monopolize, climate change is forcing the restructuring of energy and other industrial and transport area, seeking for renewable energy sources. Using phytoremedial methods in biomass engineering, there is a possibility to create a sustainable method of biomass growth in mid-low contaminated sites soil system. Main aim of the research was to assess the oil-contaminated soil treatment herbaceous plants and their subsequent use for biogas production in order to create a closed cleaning and plant biomass utilization cycle.
After the evaluation of the biogas yield and energy conversion efficiency performance it was found that all of the selected herbaceous plant biomass is suitable as raw material for the production of biogas. The biogas potential of selected plants ranged from 377.2 to 822.9 l/kg dry organic matter with an energy value ranging from 7.1 MJ/kg to 17.1 MJ/kg.
EFFICIENCY OF ANAEROBIC DECOMPOSITION OF MANURE FROM CATTLE FED WITH SIDA HERMAPHRODITA SILAGE
Authors: DUDEK Magda , ZIELIŃSKI Marcin , RUSANOWSKA Paulina , DĘBOWSKI Marcin , PURWIN, Cezary, , FIJAŁKOWSKA Maja , NOWICKA Anna
Published: March 2018

The study aimed to determine the influence of addition of Sida hermaphrodita silage into cattle forage on efficiency of methane fermentation of cattle manure. Efficiency of methane fermentation connected with amount and composition of produced biogas was determined with respirometric tests. Methane fermentation was performed in mesophilic conditions with initial organic compounds loading of 5 g VS/(dm3∙d). The study was divided into two stages. In first stage, substrate in methane fermentation was only cattle manure. In second stage, substrate in methane fermentation was cattle manure and Sida silage. There were three series of experiments in each stage, due to cattle manure was obtained from cattle fed with forage differ in contribution of Sida silage (0 – series 1, 17% - series 2, 34% - series 3).
In the stage 1, biogas production of 223±15 L/kg VS, 247±8.5 L/kg VS and 231±18 L/kg VS was noted in the series 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The addition of Sida silage to the cattle forage had no impact on biogas potential of cattle manure. In the stage 2, the same tendency was observed. No differences in biogas composition between series were also observed. Methane content in biogas was about 60%.
CLUSTER APPROACH TO AGRICULTURE EDUCATION IN RUSSIA BY THE EXAMPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF TATARSTANi
Authors: ZIGANSHIN Bulat , ABDRAKHMANOV Renat , GAYAZIEV Ilnar , ZAKIROV Zufar
Published: March 2018

In modern conditions of rural development, the most important productive resource of the agrarian company is human capital. Only well-trained, receptive to innovation, adapted to the market economy, the technician can solve problems for the effective implementation of the economic activity of any enterprise. However, in recent years the problem of staffing is both a management and staff machine operators have intensified. Numbers have fallen substantially, increased the load on one specialist. Inadequate salaries and general social problems in rural areas of Russia and Republic of Tatarstan reduce the attractiveness of work for graduates of agricultural education institutions. The main purpose of this research was to develop a new conceptual approach to staffing of agro industrial complex in modern conditions. The subject of the study was the system of training personnel for agriculture of Russia (on the example Republic of Tatarstan).
The main methods used in this study are comparative theoretical-methodological research of educational institution and logical analyze agricultural education in Russia. The article discusses and analyzed the positive experience of scientific and educational cluster of agro-industrial complex of Republic of Tatarstan and Kazan State Agrarian University. One of the important conditions to solve some of the problems facing agriculture of Russia today, is the modernization of the agricultural education is associated with the formation of relevant scientific, scientific-educational and scientific-production platform. The progressive development of human potential of the agricultural sector plays an important role in achieving the designated high results as the main carrier of innovative knowledge and skills, without which the introduction of modern methods and technologies in production and management of enterprises of agro-industrial complex is simply impossible. Staffing issues agriculture is of great socio-economic importance and is the most important priorities of the state policy not only at present but in the future. Identified key staffing problems of the agro industrial complex of Russia and Tatarstan. Designed and proposed a new intensive model of development of scientific-educational cluster of agro-industrial complex of Republic of Tatarstan.
CITIZENS PARTICIPATION IN ADDRESSING LOCAL PROBLEMS: A CASE STUDY OF REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Authors: JAKIMOVSKI Jorde
Published: March 2018

The paper discusses the level of satisfaction of the local government performance and certain forms of citizen’s participation in the improvement of the quality of life in the rural communities, such as creating new job positions, improvement of the infrastructure, creating better opportunities for the children, and decreasing of the poverty. Politicians often make big promises before elections while talking about democracy, rule of law and citizens well-being. After their election, however, they forget about the problems of their fellow citizens. Citizens then feel helpless, fall in apathy and hopelessness, and take a distance from politics and the vital questions for their rural community. The paper will show some data related to these issues gathered from a research conducted by the author in 2016 on a representative sample of 640 respondents on the territory of Republic of Macedonia. The research results show the current situation of the citizen’s satisfaction from the local government with respect to the solutions of water supply and sewerage, transport of citizens, opening of new jobs, building of social services facilities, opportunities for culture and recreational activities, and they ways in which the citizens influenced the local government. The results mostly reflect dissatisfaction with the work of the local government in addressing local problems, the underdeveloped mechanism of public participation, low level of human capital in rural local governments and other problems.
SOCIAL FARMING – INTRODUCTION OF THE CONCEPT AND THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Authors: MOUDRÝ Jan , PROCHÁZKOVÁ Helena , CHOVANEC Tomáš , HUDCOVÁ Eliška
Published: March 2018

Historically, agriculture always fulfilled a social function as well. However, its intensification taking place in the 20th century brought about a number of changes accompanied by putting this and a number of other non-productive functions in the shade. However, recent years have seen the establishment of agricultural directions that contribute to their renewal. This also includes social farming. Social farming is the most complex component of the concept “green care”. In its current form, it creates room for providing for the people who have hardly any chances on the labour market and for their involving in farming activities. While in a number of European countries this concept has been used for many years, in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe it has still been in the early stages and has not been formally defined in many countries yet. In the Czech Republic, the concept of social farming has been developed approximately since 2013, growing and gaining in importance continuously. The article introduces the concept of social farming and describes its current situation in the Czech Republic. The data were obtained through questionnaire surveys and directed interviews in the field. As part of the analysis of the structure of social farming in the Czech Republic, the selected set of thirty entities involved in social farming is described in terms of the structure of the farming production, the main target groups of clients and the funding sources.
SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRODUCTION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT - CASE STUDY BASED ON A SELECTED GROUP OF FARMERS
Authors: PRUS Piotr
Published: March 2018

The idea of sustainable farming entails farming production management which allows for the efficient use of natural resources in order to achieve financial profit, while respecting the laws of nature and meeting expectations of society at the same time. The idea is interdisciplinary and incorporates many facets. The author analysed numerous methods of production technology which exert influence on the natural environment. The aim of the research was to evaluate if - and to what extent - agricultural production of the examined farms was sustainable. The empirical data was collected by means of the diagnostic interview technique. The poll was carried out between 2014 and 2017 among 155 respondents. The research showed that the majority of the polled farmers adhered to the sustainable farming production guidelines and tried to extend their knowledge of the subject matter.
THE IMPACT OF NATIONAL RURAL NETWORK’S INITIATIVES ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF PODLASKIE VOIVODESHIP IN POLAND
Authors: RYSZKOWSKA Dorota , ADAMIAK Czesław , SZYDA Barbara
Published: March 2018

National Rural Network is an important instrument for rural development in Poland. NRN is an instrument of the Rural Areas Development Programme. The main objective of NRN is to support the rural areas of the European Union by providing information, experiences and good practices for sustainable rural development. These measures are intended to improve the quality of life of rural residents and the conditions of their work. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate whether the implementation of NRN initiatives contributes to socio-economic development of rural areas in Podlaskie Voivodship. In order to achieve this objective, the projects supported by NRN for the years 2010-2017 were reviewed, and the numbers of the projects in individual poviats were compared to the changes in values of socio-economic development indicators derived from the Central Statistical Office data.
INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR UKRAINIAN FARMS
Authors: LADYCHENKO Kateryna , METELSKA Anna
Published: March 2018

The study aimed to explore the current situation and services efficiency level of problems of Institutional framework of government support for Ukrainian farms. Nowadays, the agrarian sector of the economy shows a positive dynamics of growth, forming in recent years about 14% of gross value added in the country and about 40% of foreign exchange earnings on exports in Ukraine. This article aims to examine, through content analysis and statistical description, the importance of the agrarian sector in the national economy and its role in ensuring the country's food security requires the sustainability and effectiveness of its development based by experiences of USA and Europe practices.
Therefore, the study examined the development of farming and service cooperatives are the necessary actions of the state, aimed at ensuring that a person working on the ground can earn enough money to be interested in continuing the work on his own land.
Research data were collected from State Statistics Service of Ukraine, World Economic Forum and The European Statistical System.
Research results showed that creating new jobs in the countryside are taxes to local budgets, and the development of rural areas, and the slowdown of urbanization, the reduction of the rate of extinction of the Ukrainian village. Such economic results, supplemented by the solution of other problems that farmers say, will obviously be better prepared for the opening of the land market in the future.
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY
Authors: GAJEWSKA Paulina , PISKRZYŃSKA Katarzyna , RAKSTYS Rolandas
Published: March 2018

Everything formed in the company including products, services and all ideas are created by human. Therefore, human capital is one of the most important resources of an organization and source of achieving company’s success. The relation between employee fulfilment, satisfaction of their work and their effectiveness, commitment, performance and identification with the organization seems to be obvious. The goal of the paper is to present the review of the literature in the field of human capital management and the cognitive purpose is the analysis of the implementation of selected elements of human resource management and most of all methods and tools that improve the performance of employees. The research method was a survey carried out among the selected employees in Natures Way Food – organization based in Southern England, West Sussex. The study involved 100 randomly selected employees of Natures Way Foods. As a method of data collection was used the auditorium questionnaire consisting of 30 questions carried out in the workplace of surveyed people. The survey was anonymous and its results served for conclusions and proposals for changes in the implementation of HR processes, affecting the efficiency of employees.
CHARACTERISTIC OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AND ITS INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE SELECTED COUNTRY
Authors: SOKIL Oksana , UBREŽIOVÁ Iveta
Published: March 2018

Agrarian sector occupies a special place in the structure of the economy. The article presents the characteristics of this segment and its infrastructure in Ukraine. The transition to a market economy requires the formation of an appropriate market environment, without which the civilized market and agrarian, in the first place, cannot work normally. Agrarian producers independently choose channels for selling their products, forms of sales and sales of resources and use various intermediary structures in their economic activities. All these activities lead to the need to collect, accumulate and process growing information streams that farms have to use efficiently and in a timely manner. The harmonious development of the entire system of social production and food security of the country depends on the effective functioning of all available infrastructure components. Based on the foregoing, it is possible to understand that this topic is extremely important and require the research. The goal of the article is to investigate the condition of the agricultural market and its infrastructure in Ukraine. It was described the main problems of agriculture. To make the research about the topic, it was necessary to use data from the official site of State Statistic Service of Ukraine. It was analyzed the project Strategy for the development of the agrarian sector in Ukrainian economy for the period up to 2020. This project is developed by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. Also, it was needful to use synthesis, analysis, deduction, induction, and comparison methods. As a result of research, we described possible ways to resolve main problems in this sphere, made the analysis of the main statistical data which are related to the agrarian sector.
MOST SPECIFIC INCONSISTENCIES OF LABOR SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ENTERPRISES
Authors: KARNUPA Indra , IEVINS Janis , VILCANE Inese
Published: March 2018

The construction industry and the safety of workers in it is also related to the agricultural sector and its development. The construction industry is one of the most dangerous sectors in the world where employees relatively often suffer from accidents. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of labor safety management systems in construction industry enterprises. The main goal of the study is to detect the most significant inconsistencies in the labor safety management system, to develop the necessary actions and activity, which ensure the elimination of inconsistencies or minimization of their consequences, and also provide an economic benefit for the company. Since the purpose of this study is to ensure that the construction company, knowing the most common weaknesses in the system, is preventive in dealing with these issues.
The study methods used are secondary data analysis, case study and expert observations in ten companies that chooses to implement the OHSAS Standard. A total of 35 external audit reports were analyzed for the period 2008 to 2016. The study examines the role of labor safety management systems in construction industry enterprises. The study identifies the problems and influencing factors associated with implementation and maintenance of the systems. The work analyzes theoretical aspects of the safety culture, its development and choices of the labor safety culture in the organization. Requirements of labor safety legislation in the European Union are reviewed and how these requirements are integrated into Latvian legislation, and specifically in the enterprises of the reviewed sector. The most significant inconsistencies of the labor safety management system was identified and summarized in construction companies.
THE ROLE OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN CREATING CONDITIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES: A CASE STUDY OF RURAL MUNICIPALITIES IN POLAND
Authors: MARKS-BIELSKA Renata
Published: March 2018

The author’s purpose has been to point to initiatives that can be undertaken by authorities in rural municipalities in order to create positive conditions for the growth of entrepreneurship in their territorial units. Parallel to a review of selected references, a survey method was employed, which relied on a questionnaire developed by the author and addressed to local authorities in all municipalities across Poland. Out of 2 479 Polish municipalities, 1 220 responded (d – measurement error = 2%), of which 770 were rural ones (49.17% of the rural municipalities in Poland). The socio-economic environment and spatial conditions of rural areas are different from the ones which prevail in an urban setting. Local governments are equipped with instruments with which they can take advantage of the potential they possess and thereby achieve their goals. Local authorities take initiatives together with the entrepreneurs who are already active in their municipality. Strategically orientated local government officials offer various forms of assistance to entrepreneurs. Regions, towns or municipalities are now competing fiercely for the capital. Developed land parcels (technical infrastructure) are no longer sufficient to attract investors. Other, innovative and business-friendly solutions must be looked for. A municipality which is successful in this search gain a competitive advantage, will attract some capital and, in a further perspective, will attain a high economic growth.
The Types of Business Risk Identified in Integrated Reporting
Authors: Chłapek Katarzyna
Published: March 2018

The paper presents the possibilities of identifying business risk on the basis of data disclosed in integrated reporting. The research method used relies on a review of Polish and foreign literatures and an empirical analysis of integrated reports disclosed in 2016. The structure of the reports, which complies with the most recent trends and international recommendations with regard to integrated reporting, confirms the hypothesis put forward in the paper. The concluding remarks aim to arouse interest in research on the possibilities of verifying and assessing disclosures related to the identification of risk in integrated reporting.
Wpływ kryzysu finansowego na możliwość wprowadzenia federalizmu fiskalnego w strefie euro
Authors: Kawalec Marcin
Published: March 2018

The economic and monetary union is undergoing crisis, one triggered by both internal and external factors. The problems that arose as a result of macroeconomic shock brought the monetary union’s structural flaws to the fore. The purpose of this article is to determine if a stable monetary union is possible without a fiscal union and how the financial crisis has affected the possibility of fiscal federalism in the euro area. The problem of the euro area was tackled in the context of the economic crisis and will highlight the main problems of the monetary union and the management of the financial crisis in the EU. An analysis of the institutional arrangements introduced as a result of emerging problems in achieving nominal convergence in the euro area and budgetary imbalances arising from the global financial crisis was also examined. These solutions can in the long term form the basis for the creation of a fiscal union within the euro area.
Struktura wydatków unijnych po 2020 roku w aspekcie wyzwań integracyjnych
Authors: Stabryła-Chudzio Katarzyna
Published: March 2018

The article presents the latest concepts of integration models with particular attention to financial issues, i.e. the possible directions for spending EU funds after 2020 in view of possible new common economics, social and defense strategies. The reflections are based on a scenario approach, where the most important element is determining how realistically fiscal federalism can be introduced in the European Union. It follows from this that the analysis would have a political aspect, meaning possible institutional changes.
Symbols of Sacred Art in the Corporate Identity of Insurance Companies
Authors: Trynchuk Viktor
Published: March 2018

This article examines the development of the insurance business in Ukraine and Poland from the late nineteenth to the early twenty-first centuries. It identifies special aspects of the formation and use of elements of sacred art in the corporate identity of insurance companies. Dniester Mutual Insurance Company and Florianka Krakow Mutual Insurance Company are a particular focus. Examples of the use of images of St. Florian, crosses and the inscription “In the name of the Lord” in corporate identity of insurance companies are provided.
Changes in a Company’s Current Dividend Level and Their Impact on Future Profits – Theory and Practice
Authors: Zyguła Andrzej
Published: March 2018

According to the signalling theory, investors draw conclusions concerning the future income potential of a given company based on the dividends it pays. According to one of the implications of this theory, changes made to a dividend should mirror the direction of future profits. This article presents an empirical analysis of the relationship between the current changes in the level of a dividend paid (t0) and future company profitability (t + 1, t + 2). The companies examined were all traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and paid dividends in the years 2001–2013. The research shows that there is no statistically significant relationship between the dividend paid in a given year and the future results obtained by the companies examined.
FTIR study on early-age hydration of carbon nanotubes-modified cement-based materials
Authors: Shi Tao , Gao Yuan , Corr David J. , Shah Surendra P.
Published: March 2018

In this paper, the hydration process of Portland cement at early age was characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); the results showed that FTIR is a simple and rapid research method in operation, which can reflect the basic variation in the primary cement hydration products. As the hydration reaction proceeded, the peak value corresponding to silicon–oxygen (Si–O) vibrations in the FTIR spectrum shifted from low wavenumbers to high wavenumbers, which not only reflected the polymerisation process of silicon–oxygen tetrahedrons in the calcium–silicate–hydrate gel, but also the hydration reaction speed of cement paste at this stage. This was confirmed by experiment on samples with added superplasticiser. The shifting characteristics of the absorption peaks in the range 800–1025 cm−1 for samples at the ages of 8–12 h were comprehensively investigated in this study. The research results showed that the shifting speed of the characteristic peak for the blank sample was exactly the same as that for the sample reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Therefore, the addition of CNT materials into Portland cement did not influence the hydration reaction at the early age. This conclusion was verified by the thermometry test for hydration temperature.
Monotonic and cyclic shear behaviour of geomembrane-sand interface
Authors: Cen W. J. , Wang H. , Sun Y. J. , Wen L. S.
Published: March 2018

Geomembranes have been widely applied in hydraulic systems and mineral and environmental engineering. For geomembrane-lined soil structures, such as dikes, dams, and landfills, the geomembrane-soil interface could be a potentially unstable plane under static and dynamic loading. In this study, a large-scale shear apparatus was employed to investigate the monotonic and cyclic shear behaviour of a geomembrane-sand interface under varying normal stress and shear-displacement amplitude. A nonlinear mathematical piecewise model was developed to simulate pre-peak stress-dependent stiffness and post-peak displacement-softening behaviour for the monotonic shear response of the geomembrane-sand interface. Furthermore, the study provided a modeling approach based on the Masing rule to represent the nonlinearity and hysteresis of the cyclic shear behaviour of the interface. The predictions made by the two proposed models were both in good agreement with the experimental monotonic and cyclic shear-test data.
Comparative study of sustainable drainage systems for refugee camps stormwater management
Authors: Ajibade Oluwatoyin Opeyemi , Tota-Maharaj Kiran
Published: March 2018

To meet the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030) without leaving vulnerable people such as the refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) behind, it is important to upgrade drainage systems across refugee and IDP camps using innovative technologies such as sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). Retrofitting the existing surface water drainage systems using SuDS technologies can improve the living conditions of the refugees by addressing environmental challenges such as flooding, erosion and outbreak of water-related diseases across the camps. In this paper, evaluation of pollutant removal and hydraulic performance of laboratory experimental set-up of SuDS technologies mimicking stormwater management conditions for African IDP and refugee camps is presented. Two rigs of engineered wetlands and two rigs of filter drains (FDs) constructed using locally sourced low-cost sustainable materials were evaluated for stormwater attenuation and pollutants removal efficacies. The results showed that both the engineered wetland systems and FDs for simulated refugee camp conditions showed a significant reduction in the organic loading levels for chemical oxygen demand, biochemical/biological oxygen demand and turbidity and nutrients present in the stormwater. In addition, the engineered wetlands and FDs are effective in attenuating significant proportion of precipitation.
Headway distribution for manually operated tollbooths in India in mixed traffic conditions
Authors: Navandar Yogeshwar V. , Dhamaniya Ashish , Patel Dilip A.
Published: March 2018

This paper presents a vehicle-type-specific headway distribution analysis at toll plazas under mixed traffic conditions. The aim of the paper is to provide headway distribution models that may be used for traffic flow analysis and traffic management at tollbooths. Seven classes of vehicle and a total of 49 combinations of leader–follower vehicles were considered, out of which 11 combinations were considered for studying the headway distribution model based on the frequency of arrival of such vehicle combinations at tollbooths. The results showed that vehicle classes requiring a headway of 5–25 s followed a log-normal distribution whereas, for higher headway ranges of 15–40 s, the generalised extreme value showed the best fit. For the small car category, the Wakeby distribution showed a better result than conventional distributions. The findings of this study may be useful for developing toll plaza microscopic simulation models, which could be used for assessing and improving the performance and efficiency of tollbooths.
African catfish Clarias gariepinus farming practices in North and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal, India
Authors: Abraham Thangapalam Jawahar , Mallick Prakash Kumar , Paul Pradipta
Published: March 2018

Clarias gariepinus is widely cultured due to its tolerance to environmental extremes, high production and good feed conversion rate. This communication describes the farming practices of C. gariepinus in North and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal. Clarias gariepinus is cultured in ponds of 0.1–0.75 ha, where fingerlings were stocked at a density of 860–1150 cubic meter–1. The current practices of seed transportation were stressful to fish as the majority of the farmers noticed 5–10% mortalities, despite the use of antibiotics. Acclimatization of seeds was practiced by the majority of farmers before stocking. Different feeds including slaughter-house wastes and dead poultry were supplied. Multiple stocking and harvesting were a common practice. Major problems identified were insufficient feed, disease, transport, poor seed quality and lack of financial support. The survival percentage was poor, as 88% of the farmers recorded <40–50% survival at harvest. Dropsy was the most common disease and had a significant impact on economy. Antibiotics or other aquadrugs were frequently used for treatment, although the success varied. In general, the C. gariepinus farming has helped to recycle the wastes generated in and around metropolitan Kolkata and adjacent municipalities into wealth, but it suffers from management issues and huge economic losses. This calls for immediate attention from researchers, administrators and extension personals.
Antonio Ibarra, Mercado e institución: corporaciones comerciales, redes de negocios y crisis colonial: Guadalajara en el siglo XVIII, México, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México/Bonilla Artigas Editores, 2017, 376 pp.
Authors: Herrera Guevara Sebastián Porfirio
Published: March 2018

No contiene resumen.
The Myth of the City in the French and the Georgian Symbolist Aesthetics
Authors: Oboladze Tatia
Published: March 2018

“Modern Art is a genuine offspring of the city… the city created new images, here the foundation was laid for the literary school, known as Symbolism…The poet’s consciousness was burdened by the gray iron city and it poured out into a new unknown song”  (Tabidze 2011: 121-122), - writes Georgian Symbolist Titsian Tabidze in his program article Tsisperi Qantsebit (With Blue Horns). Indeed, in the Symbolist aesthetics the city-megalopolis, as a micro model of the material world, is formed as one of the basic concepts.