Abstract: Presently, it is necessary to ensure the sustainable
development of passenger and freight transport. Increasing
performance of road freight has had a negative impact to environment
and society. It is therefore necessary to increase the competitiveness
of intermodal transport, which is more environmentally friendly. The
study describes the effectiveness of logistical centers realization for
companies and society and research how the partial internalization of
external costs reflected in the efficient use of these centers and
increase the competitiveness of intermodal transport to road freight.
In our research, we use the method of comparative analysis and
market research to describe the advantages of logistic centers for their
users as well as for society as a whole. Method normal costing is used
for calculation infrastructure and total costs, method of conversion
costing for determine the external costs. We modelled total society
costs for road freight transport and inter modal transport chain (we
assumed that most of the traffic is carried by rail) with different
loading schemes for condition in the Slovak Republic. Our research
has shown that higher utilization of inter modal transport chain do
good not only for society, but for companies providing freight
services too. Increase in use of inter modal transport chain can bring
many benefits to society that do not bring direct immediate financial
return. They often bring the multiplier effects, such as greater use of
environmentally friendly transport mode and reduce the total society
costs.
Abstract: Established objective and subjective preconditions for
entrepreneurship, forming the business organically related whole, are
the necessary condition of successful entrepreneurial activities.
Objective preconditions for entrepreneurship are developed by
market economy that should stimulate entrepreneurship by allowing
the use of economic opportunities for all those who want to do
business in respective field while providing guarantees to all owners
and creating a stable business environment for entrepreneurs.
Subjective preconditions of entrepreneurship are formed primarily by
personal characteristics of the entrepreneur. These are his properties,
abilities, skills, physiological and psychological preconditions which
may be inherited, inborn or sequentially developed and obtained
during his life on the basis of education and influences of
surrounding environment. The paper is dealing with issues of
objective and subjective preconditions for entrepreneurship and
provides their analysis in view of the current situation in Slovakia. It
presents risks of the business environment in Slovakia that the Slovak
managers considered the most significant in 2014 and defines the
dominant attributes of the entrepreneur in the current business
environment in Slovakia.
Abstract: The Roma (Gypsies) is a transnational minority with a
high degree of consanguineous marriages. Similar to other
genetically isolated founder populations, the Roma harbor a number
of unique or rare genetic disorders. This paper discusses about a rare
form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease – type 4G (CMT4G), also
called Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy type Russe, an
autosomal recessive disease caused by mutation private to Roma
characterized by abnormally increased density of non-myelinated
axons. CMT4G was originally found in Bulgarian Roma and in 2009
two putative causative mutations in the HK1 gene were identified.
Since then, several cases were reported in Roma families mainly
from Bulgaria and Spain. Here we present a Slovak Roma family in
which CMT4G was diagnosed on the basis of clinical examination
and genetic testing. This case is a further proof of the role of the HK1
gene in pathogenesis of the disease. It confirms that mutation in the
HK1 gene is a common cause of autosomal recessive CMT disease in
Roma and should be considered as a common part of a diagnostic
procedure.
Abstract: This article describes the information system for
measuring and evaluating the dose rate in the environment of nuclear
power plants Mochovce and Bohunice in Slovakia.
The article presents the results achieved in the implementation of
the EU project – Research of monitoring and evaluation of nonstandard
conditions in the area of nuclear power plants. The
objectives included improving the system of acquisition, measuring
and evaluating data with mobile and autonomous units applying new
knowledge from research.
The article provides basic and specific features of the system and
compared to the previous version of the system, also new functions.
Abstract: Osteoporosis is a common multifactorial disease with
a strong genetic component characterized by reduced bone mass and
increased risk of fractures. Genetic factors play an important role in
the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. The aim of our study was to
identify the genotype and allele distribution of T245G polymorphism
in OPG gene in Slovak postmenopausal women. A total of 200
unrelated Slovak postmenopausal women with diagnosed
osteoporosis and 200 normal controls were genotyped for T245G
(rs3134069) polymorphism of OPG gene. Genotyping was performed
using the Custom Taqman®SNP Genotyping assays. Genotypes and
alleles frequencies showed no significant differences (p=0.5551;
p=0.6022). The results of the present study confirm the importance of
T245G polymorphism in OPG gene in the pathogenesis of
osteoporosis.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to estimate the efficiency of the Slovak commercial banks employing the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) window analysis approach during the period 2003-2012. The research is based on unbalanced panel data of the Slovak commercial banks. Undesirable output was included into analysis of banking efficiency. It was found that most efficient banks were Postovabanka, UniCredit Bank and Istrobanka in CCR model and the most efficient banks were Slovenskasporitelna, Istrobanka and UniCredit Bank in BCC model. On contrary, the lowest efficient banks were found Privatbanka and CitiBank. We found that the largest banks in the Slovak banking market were lower efficient than medium-size and small banks. Results of the paper is that during the period 2003-2008 the average efficiency was increasing and then during the period 2010-2011 the average efficiency decreased as a result of financial crisis.
Abstract: This contribution aims to compare legislation adjusting the course of insolvency proceedings in France, Germany and Slovakia. On the basis of an investigation of the legislative adjustment of this problem, an attempt is made to ascertain in the given countries the extent to which the outcome of the entire proceedings is influenced by legislation and to determine the fundamental moments that influence costs, recovery rate and the duration of proceedings. A comparative analysis was utilized in order to achieve the set goal. The results of the survey could be used to improve legislation so as to lead in the best and most expedient way to a departure from the market of those subjects that are for economic reasons unable to continue with their activities whilst burdening the entire process with the lowest possible costs, which would lead to a high level of satisfaction for creditors.
Abstract: The aim of this article was to analyze the relationship between the loyalty of banks´ employees and the acceptance of clients’ needs and to analyze the relationship between the loyalty of banks’ employees and the lack of their productivity in the Czech and Slovak banking sector. Our research has been realized through a questionnaire survey.
The loyalty of banks’ employees was higher in the Czech Republic than in Slovak Republic which has been transformed into a higher acceptance rate of customers’ needs and lower lack of employees’ productivity. Within both countries, it has been found that the approach of loyal employees to the acceptance of clients’ needs is not statistically significantly different from the approach of other employees. It has been also discovered that loyal employees did not work more intensively and did not feel statistically significant lower lack of their own productivity.
Abstract: Safe drinking water is one of the biggest issues facing
the planet this century. The primary aim of this paper is to present our
research focused on theoretical and experimental analysis of potable
water and in-building water distribution systems from the point of
view of microbiological risk on the basis of confrontation between
the theoretical analysis and synthesis of gathered information in
conditions of the Slovak Republic. The presence of the bacteria
Legionella in water systems, especially in hot water distribution
system, represents in terms of health protection of inhabitants the
crucial problem which cannot be overlooked. Legionella
pneumophila discovery, its classification and its influence on
installations inside buildings are relatively new. There are a lot of
guidelines and regulations developed in many individual countries for
the design, operation and maintenance for tap water systems to avoid
the growth of bacteria Legionella pneumophila, but in Slovakia we
don-t have any. The goal of this paper is to show the necessity of
prevention and regulations for installations inside buildings verified
by simulation methods.
Abstract: The direct sewage sludge application is a relative
cheap method for their liquidation. In the past heavy metal contents
increase in soils treated with sewage sludge was observed. In 2003
there was acceptance on act n.188/2003 about sewage sludge
application on soils. The basic philosophy of act is a safety of the
environmental proof of sludge application on soils. The samples of
soils from wastewater treatment plant (WTP) Poprad (35) and WTP
Michalovce (33 samples) were analyzed which were chosen for
sludge application on soils. According to the results only 14 areas for
Poprad and 25 areas for Michalovce are suitable for sludge
application according to act No. 188/2003. The application dose of
sludge was calculated 50 t.ha-1 or 75 t. ha-1 once in 5 years to ensure
that heavy metal contents in treated soils will be kept.
Abstract: The heavy metal contamination of the technogenous
sediments and soils at the investigated dump-field show irregular
planar distribution. Also the heavy metal content in the surface water,
drainage water and in the groundwater was studied both in the dry as
well as during the rainy periods. The cementation process causes
substitution of iron by copper. Natural installation and development
of plant species was observed at the old mine waste dumps, specific
to the local chemical conditions such as low content of essential
nutrients and high content of heavy metals. The individual parts of
the plant tissues (roots, branches/stems, leaves/needles, flowers/
fruits) are contaminated by heavy metals and tissues are damaged
differently, respectively.
Abstract: Ethical Education is a compulsorily optional subject in
primary and secondary schools. The Ethical Education objective is
the education of a personality with one´s own identity, with
interiorized ethical standards, with mature moral judgement and
therefore with the behaviour determined by one´s own beliefs; with a
positive attitude to himself/herself and other people and that is why
he/she is able to cooperate and to initiate cooperation. In the paper we
describe the contents and the principles of Ethical education. We also
shows that Ethical education is subject supported primary socialpathological
prevention and education to citizenship. In this context
we try to show that ethical education contributes to the education of
good people who are aware of the necessity to respect social norms
and are able to assume responsibility for their own behaviour in any
situation at present and in the future.
Abstract: During last decades is widely discussed the
international harmonization of financial reporting. This
harmonization is also affected by national tax systems in analyzed
countries. This paper provides some evidence on current national tax
systems in selected countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The
linkage of accounting profit as a tax base might decrease the
administrative burden for majority of SMEs, which are the most
important engine of each national economy.
Abstract: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a severe
cardiovascular disorder characterized by progressive systolic
dysfunction due to cardiac chamber dilatation and inefficient
myocardial contractility often leading to chronic heart failure.
Recently, a genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on DCM
indicate that the ZBTB17 gene rs10927875 single nucleotide
polymorphism is associated with DCM. The aim of the study was to
identify the distribution of ZBTB17 gene rs10927875 polymorphism
in 50 Slovak patients with DCM and 80 healthy control subjects
using the Custom Taqman®SNP Genotyping assays. Risk factors
detected at baseline in each group included age, sex, body mass
index, smoking status, diabetes and blood pressure. The mean age of
patients with DCM was 52.9±6.3 years; the mean age of individuals
in control group was 50.3±8.9 years. The distribution of investigated
genotypes of rs10927875 polymorphism within ZBTB17 gene in the
cohort of Slovak patients with DCM was as follows: CC (38.8%), CT
(55.1%), TT (6.1%), in controls: CC (43.8%), CT (51.2%), TT
(5.0%). The risk allele T was more common among the patients with
dilated cardiomyopathy than in normal controls (33.7% versus
30.6%). The differences in genotype or allele frequencies of ZBTB17
gene rs10927875 polymorphism were not statistically significant
(p=0.6908; p=0.6098). The results of this study suggest that ZBTB17
gene rs10927875 polymorphism may be a risk factor for
susceptibility to DCM in Slovak patients with DCM. Studies of
numerous files and additional functional investigations are needed to
fully understand the roles of genetic associations.
Abstract: The paper is intended to declare and apply ethics, i. e.
moral principles, rules in marketing environment. Ethical behavior of
selected pharmaceutical companies in the Slovak Republic is the
object of our research. The aim of our research is to determine
perception of ethical behavior of the pharmaceutical industry in
Slovakia by the medicine representatives in comparison with the
assessment of doctors and patients. The experimental sample
included 90 participants who were divided into three groups:
medicine representatives of the pharmaceutical companies (N=30),
doctors (N=30) and patients (N=30). The research method was a
Questionnaire of ethical behavior, created by us, that describes
individual areas included in the Code of ethics of the pharmaceutical
industry in Slovakia. The results showed influence of professional
status on ethical behavior perception, not gender. Higher perception
was indicated at patients rather than doctors and medicine
representatives.
Abstract: The aim of the paper is based on detailed analysis of
literary sources and carried out research to develop a model
development and implementation of innovation strategy in the
business. The paper brings the main results of the authors conducted
research on a sample of 462 respondents that shows the current
situation in the Slovak enterprises in the use of innovation strategy.
Carried out research and analysis provided the base for a model
development and implementation of innovation strategy in the
business, which is in the paper in detail, step by step explained with
emphasis on the implementation process. Implementing the
innovation strategy is described a separate model. Paper contains
recommendations for successful implementation of innovation
strategy in the business. These recommendations should serve mainly
business managers as valuable tool in implementing the innovation
strategy.
Abstract: Y chromosome microdeletions are the most common
genetic cause of male infertility and screening for these
microdeletions in azoospermic or severely oligospermic men is now
standard practice. Analysis of the Y chromosome in men with
azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia has resulted in the
identification of three regions in the euchromatic part of the long arm
of the human Y chromosome (Yq11) that are frequently deleted in
men with otherwise unexplained spermatogenic failure. PCR analysis
of microdeletions in the AZFa, AZFb and AZFc regions of the
human Y chromosome is an important screening tool. The aim of this
study was to analyse the type of microdeletions in men with fertility
disorders in Slovakia. We evaluated 227 patients with azoospermia
and with normal karyotype. All patient samples were analyzed
cytogenetically. For PCR amplification of sequence-tagged sites
(STS) of the AZFa, AZFb and AZFc regions of the Y chromosome
was used Devyser AZF set. Fluorescently labeled primers for all
markers in one multiplex PCR reaction were used and for automated
visualization and identification of the STS markers we used genetic
analyzer ABi 3500xl (Life Technologies). We reported 13 cases of
deletions in the AZF region 5,73%. Particular types of deletions were
recorded in each region AZFa,b,c .The presence of microdeletions in
the AZFc region was the most frequent. The study confirmed that
percentage of microdeletions in the AZF region is low in Slovak
azoospermic patients, but important from a prognostic view.
Abstract: The contribution deals with analysis of identity style
at adolescents (N=463) at the age from 16 to 19 (the average age is
17,7 years). We used the Identity Style Inventory by Berzonsky,
distinguishing three basic, measured identity styles: informational,
normative, diffuse-avoidant identity style and also commitment. The
informational identity style influencing on personal adaptability,
coping strategies, quality of life and the normative identity style, it
means the style in which an individual takes on models of authorities
at self-defining were found to have the highest representation in the
studied group of adolescents by higher scores at girls in comparison
with boys. The normative identity style positively correlates with the
informational identity style. The diffuse-avoidant identity style was
found to be positively associated with maladaptive decisional
strategies, neuroticism and depressive reactions. There is the style,
in which the individual shifts aside defining his personality. In our
research sample the lowest score represents it and negatively
correlates with commitment, it means with coping strategies, thrust in
oneself and the surrounding world. The age of adolescents did not
significantly differentiate representation of identity style. We were
finding the model, in which informational and normative identity
style had positive relationship and the informational and diffuseavoidant
style had negative relationship, which were determinated
with commitment. In the same time the commitment is influenced
with other outside factors.
Abstract: The current situation in the eurozone raises a number of topics for discussion and to help in finding an answer to the question of whether a common currency is a more suitable means of coping with the impact of the financial crisis or whether national currencies are better suited to this. The economic situation in the EU is now considerably volatile and, due to problems with the fulfilment of the Maastricht convergence criteria, it is now being considered whether, in their further development, new member states will decide to distance themselves from the euro or will, in an attempt to overcome the crisis, speed up the adoption of the euro. The Czech Republic is one country with little interest in adopting the euro, justified by the fact that a better alternative to dealing with this crisis is an independent monetary policy and its ability to respond flexibly to the economic situation not only in Europe, but around the world. One attribute of the crisis in the Czech Republic and its mitigation is the freely floating exchange rate of the national currency. It is not only the Czech Republic that is attempting to alleviate the impact of the crisis, but also new EU member countries facing fresh questions to which theory have yet to provide wholly satisfactory answers. These questions undoubtedly include the problem of inflation targeting and the choice of appropriate instruments for achieving financial stability. The difficulty lies in the fact that these objectives may be contradictory and may require more than one means of achieving them. In this respect we may assume that membership of the euro zone might not in itself mitigate the development of the recession or protect the nation from future crises. We are of the opinion that the decisive factor in the development of any economy will continue to be the domestic economic policy and the operability of market economic mechanisms. We attempt to document this fact using selected countries as examples, these being the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia.