Abstract: The largest share of policy and money within the
European Union goes to agriculture. The Union’s Common
Agricultural Policy has undergone several transformations in the last
five decades, with the main change taking place in the 1990s. This
change influenced agriculture in the Czech Republic, inasmuch as the
fledgling republic was preparing to join the European Union and
adopt its policies. In the 1990s, Czech agriculture passed from
a centrally planned economy to a market economy and subsequently
adopted the terms of the Common Agricultural Policy. The Czech
Republic is also characterized by a significant diversification of
landscape sphere. Agricultural entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic
are still not accustomed to the possibility of grants from the European
Union. They focus rather on national or regional subsidies. Only half
of all agricultural entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic use European
subsidies. This article focuses on the introduction of the Common
Agricultural Policy to the Czech Republic and its subsequent
influence on Czech agriculture. It is demonstrated through the
implementation rate of the CAP in the EU Member States and
a closer focus on Czech integration.
Abstract: This paper reports the worldwide status of building
information modeling (BIM) adoption from the perspectives of the
engagement level, the Hype Cycle model, the technology diffusion
model, and BIM services. An online survey was distributed, and 156
experts from six continents responded. Overall, North America was
the most advanced continent, followed by Oceania and Europe.
Countries in Asia perceived their phase mainly as slope of
enlightenment (mature) in the Hype Cycle model. In the technology
diffusion model, the main BIM-users worldwide were “early majority”
(third phase), but those in the Middle East/Africa and South America
were “early adopters” (second phase). In addition, the more advanced
the country, the more number of BIM services employed in general. In
summary, North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia were advancing
rapidly toward the mature stage of BIM, whereas the Middle
East/Africa and South America were still in the early phase. The
simple indexes used in this study may be used to track the worldwide
status of BIM adoption in long-term surveys.
Abstract: Within the framework of this research, the regulatory
documents, which are in force in relation to this industry, were
analyzed. The main attention is turned to their modernization and
necessity of their compliance with European standards.
It is a current issue to direct the efforts of state policy on support
of business by implementing infrastructural projects, as well as by
development of human resources, which may be possible by
supporting the relevant higher and vocational studying-educational
programs.
Abstract: In this work, we attempt to analyze the contribution of
innovative activities to firm performance and growth. We examine
economic data from some of the economies that were heavily
affected by current economic crisis: the countries of southern Europe
(Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain) and Ireland. Following literature,
an appropriate econometric model is developed and several indicators
are tested in order to disclose possible relation with innovative
activity. Findings confirm the crucial effect of innovative process in
economic activity, in firm and country level.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to select the most accurate
forecasting method for predicting the future values of the
unemployment rate in selected European countries. In order to do so,
several forecasting techniques adequate for forecasting time series
with trend component, were selected, namely: double exponential
smoothing (also known as Holt`s method) and Holt-Winters` method
which accounts for trend and seasonality. The results of the empirical
analysis showed that the optimal model for forecasting
unemployment rate in Greece was Holt-Winters` additive method. In
the case of Spain, according to MAPE, the optimal model was double
exponential smoothing model. Furthermore, for Croatia and Italy the
best forecasting model for unemployment rate was Holt-Winters`
multiplicative model, whereas in the case of Portugal the best model
to forecast unemployment rate was Double exponential smoothing
model. Our findings are in line with European Commission
unemployment rate estimates.
Abstract: Employers occupational safety and health training
obligations are regulated in 89/391/EEC Framework Directive and
also in 6331 numbered Occupational Health and Safety Law in
Turkey.
The main objective of this research is to determine and evaluate
the employers’ occupational health and safety training obligations in
Framework Directive in comparison with the 6331 numbered
Occupational Health and Safety Law and to examine training
principles in Turkey. For this purpose, employers’ occupational
health and safety training obligations examined in Framework
Directive and Occupational Health and Safety Law. This study
carried out through comparative scanning model and literature model.
The research data were collected through European Agency and
ministry legislations.
As a result, employers’ occupational health and safety training
obligations in the 6331 numbered Occupational Health and Safety
Law are compatible with the 89/391/EEC numbered Framework
Directive and training principles are determined by in different ways
like the trained workers, training issues, training period, training time
and trainers. In this study, employers’ training obligations are
evaluated in detail.
Abstract: Various personality profile tests are used to identify
personality strengths and limits in individuals, helping both
individuals and managers to optimize work and team effort in
organizations. One such test, the Hartman’s personality profile,
emphasizes four driving "core motives" influenced or affected by
both strengths and limitations classified into four colors: Red -
motivated by power; Blue - discipline and loyalty; White - peace; and
Yellow – fun loving. Two shortcomings of Hartman’s personality test
are noted; 1) only one selection for every item / situation allowed and
2) selection of an item / option even if not applicable. A test taker
may be as much nurturing as he is opinionated but since
“opinionated” seems less attractive the individual would likely select
nurturing, causing a misidentification in personality strengths and
limits. Since few individuals have a “strong” personality, it is
difficult to assess their true personality strengths and limits allowing
only one choice or requiring unwanted choices, undermining the
potential of the test. We modified Hartman’s personality profile
allowing test takers to make either multiple choices for any item /
situation or leave them blank if applicable. Sixty-eight participants
(38 males and 30 females), 17 - 49 years old, from countries in Asia,
Europe, N. America, CIS, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania were
included. 58 participants (85.3%) reported the modified test, allowing
multiple / no choices better identified their personality strengths and
limits, while 10 participants (14.7%) expressed the original (one
choice version) was sufficient. The overall results show that our
modified test enhanced the identification and balance of core
personalities’ strengths and limits, aiding test takers, managers and
organizations to better assess individual characteristics, particularly
useful in making task-related, teamwork, and management decisions.
Abstract: The paper deals with the diagnostics of steel roof
structure of the winter sports halls built in 1970 year. The necessity
of the diagnostics has been given by the requirement to the evaluation
design of this structure, which has been caused by the new situation
in the field of the loadings given by the validity of the European
Standards in the Czech Republic from 2010 year. Due to these
changes in the normative rules, in practice existing structures are
gradually subjected to the evaluation design and depending on its
results to the strengthening or reconstruction, respectively. Steel roof
is composed of plane truss main girders, purlins and bracings and the
roof structure is supported by two arch main girders with the span of
L = 84 m. The in situ diagnostics of the roof structure was oriented to
the following parts: (i) determination and evaluation of the actual
material properties of used steel and (ii) verification of the actual
dimensions of the structural members. For the solution the nondestructive
methods have been used for in situ measurement. For the
indicative determination of steel strengths the modified method based
on the determination of Rockwell’s hardness has been used. For the
verification of the member’s dimensions (thickness of hollow
sections) the ultrasound method has been used. This paper presents
the results obtained using these testing methods and their evaluation,
from the viewpoint of the usage for the subsequent static assessment
and design evaluation of the existing structure. For the comparison,
the examples of the similar evaluations realized for steel structures of
the stadiums in Olomouc and Jihlava cities are briefly illustrated, too.
Abstract: Arising problems of countries’ public finances, social
and demographic changes motivate scientific and policy debates on
public spending size, structure and efficiency in order to meet the
changing needs of society and business. The concept of sustainable
development poses new challenges for scientists and policy-makers
in the field of public finance. This paper focuses on the investigation
of the relationship between government expenditure and country’s
economic development in the context of sustainable development.
Empirical analysis focuses on the data of the European Union (except
Croatia and Luxemburg) countries. The study covers 2003 – 2012
years, using annual cross-sectional data. Summarizing the research
results, it can be stated that governments should pay more attention to
the needs that ensure sustainable development in the long-run when
formulating public expenditure policy, particularly in the field of
environment protection.
Abstract: The main aim of this article is to present a balance of the decade of Polish air transport market in the European Union having taking into account selected entities of the aviation market. This article analyzes the functioning of the Polish air transport market after the Polish accession to the European Union. During the study two main areas were pointed: shipping activity and activity of the airports. The most important benefits of integration and the benefits of introducing of the open sky policy were indicated. The last part of the article presents the perspectives of development of air traffic.
Abstract: In this study was monitored the population of the
European Pond Turtle, Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) in the area
of Narta Lagoon, Vlora Bay (Albania), from August to October 2014.
A total of 54 individuals of E. orbicularis were studied using
different methodologies. Curved Carapace Length (CCL), Plastron
Length (PL) and Curved Carapace Width (CCW) were measured for
each individual of E. orbicularis and were statistically analyzed. All
captured turtles were separated in seven different size – classes based
on their carapace length (CCL). Each individual of E. orbicularis was
marked by notching the carapace (marginal scutes). Form all
individuals captured resulted that 37 were females (68.5%), 14 males
(25.9%), 3 juveniles (5.5%), while 18 individuals of E. orbicularis
were recaptured for the first and some for the second time.
Abstract: Member States shall establish zones and
agglomerations throughout their territory to assess and manage air
quality in order to comply with European directives.
In Italy decree 155/2010, transposing Directive 2008/50/EC on
ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, merged into a single
act the previous provisions on ambient air quality assessment and
management, including those resulting from the implementation of
Directive 2004/107/EC relating to arsenic, cadmium, nickel, mercury
and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air.
Decree 155/2010 introduced stricter rules for identifying zones on
the basis of the characteristics of the territory in spite of considering
pollution levels, as it was in the past. The implementation of such
new criteria has reduced the great variability of the previous zoning,
leading to a significant reduction of the total number of zones and to
a complete and uniform ambient air quality assessment and
management throughout the Country.
The present document is related to the new zones definition in
Italy according to Decree 155/2010. In particular the paper contains
the description and the analysis of the outcome of zoning and
classification.
Abstract: The article deals with one of the most significant
issues concerning the functioning of the public sector in the European
Union. The objectives of good governance were formulated by the
EU itself and also the Scholars in reaction to the discussion that
started a decade ago and concerned the role of the government in 21st
century, the future of integration processes and globalization
challenges in Europe. Currently, the concept of good governance is
mainly associated with the improvement of management of public
policies in the European Union, concerning both domestic and EU
policies. However, it goes beyond the issues of state capacity and
effectiveness of management. Good governance relates also to
societal participation in the public administration and verification of
decisions made in public authorities’ (including public
administration). Indirectly, the concept and practice of good
governance are connected to societal legitimisation of public bodies
in the European Union.
Abstract: Although it is not intended to identify distance
education students as a homogeneous group, recent research has
demonstrated that there are some demographic and personality
common traits among most of them that provide the basis for the
description of a typical distance learning student. The purpose of this
paper is to describe these common traits and to facilitate their
learning journey within a distance education program. The described
research is an initiative of the Distance Education Unit at the
European University Cyprus (Laureate International Universities) in
the context of its action for the improvement of the students’
performance.
Abstract: Fugitive particulate matter (PM) is a major source of
airborne pollution in the Middle East countries. The meteorological
conditions and topography of the area makes it highly susceptible to
wind-blown particles which raise many air quality concerns. Air
quality tools such as field monitoring, emission factors and dispersion
modeling have been used in previous research studies to analyze the
release and impacts of fugitive PM in the region. However, these
tools have been originally developed based on experiments made for
European and North American regions. In this work, an experimental
campaign was conducted on April-May 2014 in a construction site in
Doha city, Qatar. The ultimate goal is to evaluate the applicability of
the existing emission factors for construction sites in dry and arid
areas like the Middle East.
Abstract: Starting in 2020, an EU-wide CO2-limitation of
95 g/km is scheduled for the average of an OEMs passenger car fleet.
Taking that into consideration additional improvement measures of
the Diesel cycle are necessary in order to reduce fuel consumption
and emissions while boosting, or at the least, keeping performance
values at the same time.
The present article deals with the possibilities of an optimized
air/water charge air cooler, also called iCAC (indirect Charge Air
Cooler) for a Diesel passenger car amongst extreme-boundary
conditions. In this context, the precise objective was to show the
impact of improved intercooling with reference to the engine working
process (fuel consumption and NOx-emissions). Several extremeboundaries
- e.g. varying ambient temperatures or mountainous
routes - that will become very important in the near future regarding
RDE (Real Driving emissions) were subject of the investigation.
With the introduction of RDE in 2017 (EU6c measure), the
controversial NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) will belong to
the past and the OEMs will have to avoid harmful emissions in any
conceivable real life situation.
This is certainly going to lead to optimization-measurements at the
powertrain, which again is going to make the implementation of
iCACs, presently solely used for the premium class, more and more
attractive for compact class cars. The investigations showed a benefit
in FC between 1 and 3% for the iCAC in real world conditions.
Abstract: The extermination and proper disposal of
pharmaceutical wastes from expired and unused medications remains
a disputable issue due to their specific nature and characteristics.
Even though the hazards from these wastes are already well known in
terms of environment and human health, people still treat them as
usual wastes. At a national level, in many countries the management
of pharmaceutical and medical wastes has been one of the main
objectives in order to protect people’s health and the environment.
Even though many legal regulations exist in this respect, there has not
been a single law that would clearly explain the procedures of
returning medicines, ways of selection, treatment and extermination
of pharmaceutical wastes. This paper aims at analyzing the practices
of pharmaceutical waste management and treatment in some
European countries as well as a review of the legislation and official
guidelines in managing these kinds of wastes and protecting the
environment and human health. A suitable treatment and
management of expired medications and other similar wastes would
be in the interest of public health in the first place, as well as in the
interest of healthcare institutions and other bodies engaged in
environment protection.
Abstract: City shrinkage is one of the thorny problems that many
European cities have to face with nowadays. It is mainly expressed as
the decrease of population in these cities. Eastern Germany is one of
the pioneers of European shrinking cities with long shrinking history.
The paper selects one representative shrinking city Halle (Saale) in
eastern Germany as research objective, collecting and investigating
nearly 20 years (1993-2010) municipal data after the reunification of
Germany. These data based on five dimensions, which are
demographic, economic, social, spatial and environmental and total 16
eligible variables. Factor Analysis is used to deal with these variables
in order to assess the most important factors affecting shrinking Halle.
The results show that there are three main factors determine the
shrinkage of Halle, respectively named “demographical and
economical factor”, “social stability factor”, and “city vitality factor”.
The three factors act at different time period of Halle’s shrinkage: from
1993 to 1997 the demographical and economical factor played an
important role; from 1997 to 2004 the social stability factor is
significant to city shrinkage; since 2005 city vitality factor determines
the shrinkage of Halle. In recent years, the shrinkage in Halle mitigates
that shows the sign of growing population. Thus the city Halle should
focus on attaching more importance on the city vitality factor to
prevent the city from shrinkage. Meanwhile, the city should possess a
positive perspective to shift the growth-oriented development to tap
the potential of shrinking cities. This method is expected to apply to
further research and other shrinking cities
Abstract: This paper focuses on the contemporary phenomenon
of Anti-Gypsyism which diffused widely throughout social
representations of the so called “Gypsies”. In Europe and especially
in Italy, the media tends to reproduce racist stereotypes and
prejudices through a xenophobic depiction of this ethnic group, often
offering an ethnocentric point of view. From an anthropological
perspective, Roma people are a minority group facing diasporic
phenomena across Europe, produced by the host societies.
Abstract: Inland Waterway Transportation (IWT) is playing an
important role in national transport systems, water transportation is
considered to be safe, energy efficient and environmentally friendly
mode of transport, all benefits of IWT cause national awareness
increase, for instance the Colombian government is planning to
restore the navigability of the most important river of the country, the
Magdalena’s River navigability, embrace waterway transportation in
Colombia could strength competitiveness while reduce most of the
transport externalities. However, the current situation of the
Magdalena is deplorable, the most important river of Colombia has
been abandoned for decades and the solution is beyond of a single
administrative entity. This paper analyzes the outcomes of the
Navigation And Inland Waterway Action and Development in
Europe program (NAIADES) as a prospective to develop a similar
program in Colombia with similar objectives and guidelines,
considering sustainability, guarantying the long-term future results
and adaptability of the program. Identifying stakeholders and policy
experts, a set of individual interviews were carried out; findings
support the idea of lack of integration within governmental
institutions and lack of importance in marketing promotion as
possible drawbacks on the implementation of IWT projects.