The impacts of EU accession on the agriculture of the Visegrad Countries

The Visegrad Countries (VC)2 joined the European Union in 2004, which has offered several possibilities and challenges for their agriculture. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the status of the sector in the light of latest available data as well as to identify the factors lying behind different country performances. Results suggest that EU accession has had a diverse impact on the Visegrad Countries’ agriculture and member states capitalised their possibilities in a different manner, due to initial conditions and pre- and post-accession policies

The evolution of a Ku-Band satellite network

The purpose of this study was to undertake the management and development of CTS terminals and time on appropriate Ku-Band satellites was procured. A community of public service users who have readily addressable needs and resources to pay for services on an ad hoc Ku-Band network was developed and a test network for selected users was managed

What drives rural out-migration? Insights from Kosovo

Drawing on household, network and relative deprivation models of migration, this paper empirically tests the probability to migrate utilising data for agricultural households in Kosovo (circa 13,500 observations). We identify the determinants of the propensity to migrate and length of migration in the previous year, considering gender related differences. The results reveal the significance of household / personal characteristics, farm characteristics, and network effects on the propensity to migrate and length of migration in the previous year. However, we find no significant effect of relative deprivation on the propensity to migrate and length of migration. While education has a strong, positive effect on migration by women, this is not the case for men. Unprofitability and a lack of inputs, manpower and equipment, causing farmland to be left uncultivated, also stimulate out-migration

Understanding fans' responses to the sponsor of a rival team

Research Question What factors determine fans’ responses to the sponsor of a rival team? To what extent does higher in-group fan identification, more positive prior attitudes to the sponsor, and a more congruent fit between the sponsor and club, cause denigration or mitigate negative outcomes for the sponsor? Research Methods 300 questionnaires were collected from fans of English Premier League (EPL) football teams Newcastle United and Sunderland allowed us to test our model of sponsorship responses. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to evaluate each hypothesis. Results and Findings Brands will gain greater benefits from sponsorships deemed to be congruent with the rival team and where a higher pre-sponsorship attitude exists. More highly identified fans tend to pay greater attention to the sponsor of their rival team. We find that schadenfreude is a better predictor of affective and behavioural responses than fan identification, despite its popularity in recent research involving rival fans. Implications Brand managers concerned about the size and scope of out-groups can employ our findings to more effectively configure sponsorship activities

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the detection of Cryptotermes brevis West Indian drywood termite (Blattodea: Kalotermitidae)

Cryptotermes brevis is one of the most destructive invasive termites in the subtropics and tropics and is a common biosecurity intercept at the Australian border. Drywood termite species are cryptic and difficult to identify morphologically in situations when soldiers or imagos are unavailable. We developed a novel DNA based loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay to detect C. brevis and differentiate it from other drywood termites. Validated voucher specimens of 30 different drywood termite species were obtained from several insect collections from which DNA was extracted and amplified. The amplicons containing partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA were sequenced and a DNA database was created from which C. brevis LAMP primers were developed, optimized, and tested. The assay was assessed against a range of target and non-target species and found to be specific, successfully amplifying the target specimens of C. brevis in under 30 min. Amplification success was variable against C. brevis faecal pellets due to minute, unmeasurable or degraded DNA. This LAMP test is a new tool for the rapid detection of C. brevis that will enable faster and less destructive management of drywood termite infestations

Don't Distract Me When I'm Media Multitasking: Toward a Theory for Raising Advertising Recall and Recognition

Media multitasking, such as using handheld devices like smartphones and tablets while watching TV, has become prevalent but its effect on the recall and recognition of advertising subject to limited academic research. We contend that the context in which multitasking takes place affects consumer memory for advertising delivered via the primary activity (e.g., watching television). Specifically, we identify the importance of the degree of (a) congruence between the primary and second screen activity and (b) social accountability of second screen activities. We test our typology empirically by examining the determinants of next day recall and recognition for billboard advertisers (perimeter board advertisements) of a televised football (soccer) match. In line with our theory, in most cases media multitasking leads to worse recall and recognition, however, in situations where there is congruence between primary and second screen activities and secondary activities have a higher level of social accountability attached to them, then advertising recall and recognition improves