Innovation and invention in the EU business sector: the role of the R&D expenditures

The paper deals with the problems of business innovation and inventions in the EU countries with a focus on the potential effects of business R&D expenditure. Since the business is considered an essential sector concerning innovation, business R&D expenditure can play a significant role in their creation. However, several obstacles hinder the successful transformation of R&D expenditures into invention or innovation. R&D expenditures as any other type of business investments are associated with a certain risk. In this case, the risk of failure can be even higher due to their long-term nature and complexity. The paper aims at an examination of the short-run and long-run relationship between business R&D expenditure, on one hand, an invention, and innovation on the other. To achieve this, the tests of Granger causalities and panel cointegrated regression has been applied on macro-level data. Furthermore, the structure of R&D expenditure in EU countries has been also examined. The results suggest a positive correlation between business R&D expenditure and innovation activities as well as the positive causal effect of business R&D expenditure on patenting in the long ru

Effect of Drought on the Development of Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) and Selected Soil Parameters during a Three-Year Lysimetric Experiment

This work presents results from a field experiment which was focused on the impact of the drought period on microbial activities in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil. To demonstrate the effect of drought, the pot experiment lasted from 2012 to 2015. Fifteen lysimeters (plastic containers) were prepared in our area of interest. These lysimeters were filled with the subsoil and topsoil from this area and divided into two groups. The first group consisted of two variants: V1 (control) and V2 (84 kg N/ha), which were not stressed by drought. The second group consisted of three variants, V3 (control), V4 (84 kg N/ha), and V5 (84 kg N/ha + 1.25 L lignohumate/ha), which were stressed by drought every year of the experiment for 30 days. Changes in the soil moisture content caused by drought significantly affect the growth of Deschampsia caespitosa L., the microbial activity, and the soil's capacity to retain nutrients. The measured basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity values confirm the significant effect of drought on microbial activity. These values were demonstrably higher in the period before drought simulation by more than 60%. On the other hand, significant differences between microbial activities in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil were not found. We did not find a clear effect of drought on the formation of soil water repellency.O

Using UAV to Identify the Optimal Vegetation Index for Yield Prediction of Oil Seed Rape (Brassica napus L.) at the Flowering Stage

Suitability of the vegetation indices of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), blue normalized difference vegetation index (BNDVI), and normalized difference yellowness index (NDYI) obtained by means of UAV at the flowering stage of oil seed rape for the prediction of seed yield and usability of these vegetation indices in the identification of anomalies in the condition of the flowering growth were verified based on the regression analysis. Correlation analysis was performed to find the degree of yield dependence on the values of NDVI, BNDVI, and NDYI indices, which revealed a strong, significant linear positive dependence of seed yield on BNDVI (R = 0.98) and NDYI (R = 0.95). The level of correlation between the NDVI index and the seed yield was weaker (R = 0.70) than the others. Regression analysis was performed for a closer determination of the functional dependence of NDVI, BNDVI, and NDYI indices and the yield of seeds. Coefficients of determination in the linear regression model of NDVI, BNDVI, and NDYI indices reached the following values: R2 = 0.48 (NDVI), R2 = 0.95 (BNDVI), and R2 = 0.90 (NDYI). Thus, it was shown that increased density of yellow flowers decreased the relationship between NDVI and crop yield. The NDVI index is not appropriate for assessing growth conditions and prediction of yields at the flowering stage of oil seed rape. High accuracy of yield prediction was achieved with the use of BNDVI and NDYI. The performed analysis of NDVI, BNDVI, and NDYI demonstrated that particularly the BNDVI and NDYI indices can be used to identify problems in the development of oil seed rape growth at the stage of flowering, for their precise localization, and hence to targeted and effective remedial measures in line with the principles of precision agriculture.O

Anaerobic Fermentation of Silage from the Above-Ground Biomass of Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) and Maize (Zea mayse L.) as a New and Promising Input Raw Material for Biogas Production

Research of new input raw materials for biogas plants is a very actual topic. There are only a very few studies dealing with the possibility of using silage prepared from the above-ground parts of the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) and maize (Zea mayse L.) for methane production. This study deals with the determination of methane production and methane content in biogas during the fermentation of maize silage with dissimilar additions of the biomass of the Jerusalem artichoke (JA). Except for the effect of the JA's addition on the yield of methane, we also studied its potential influence on the inhibition of the process of anaerobic digestion and the bacterial and methanogenic archaeal composition of anaerobic digestate. There were five model silages prepared; two of them contained only maize or JAs, and the remaining three were mixtures of maize and JA silages (30%wt; 50%wt and 70%wt). The fermentation tests showed that the JA addition (from 30 to 70%wt) resulted in the production of biogas decreasing, on average, by 15%. Based on the performed metagenomic analysis, we cannot confirm an essential influence of JA biomass addition on the composition of the community of microorganisms during fermentation.O

Stiffness estimation and equivalence of boundary conditions in FEM models

The paper deals with methods of equivalence of boundary conditions in finite element models that are based on finite element model updating technique. The proposed methods are based on the determination of the stiffness parameters in the section plate or region, where the boundary condition or the removed part of the model is replaced by the bushing connector. Two methods for determining its elastic properties are described. In the first case, the stiffness coefficients are determined by a series of static finite element analyses that are used to obtain the response of the removed part to the six basic types of loads. The second method is a combination of experimental and numerical approaches. The natural frequencies obtained by the measurement are used in finite element (FE) optimization, in which the response of the model is tuned by changing the stiffness coefficients of the bushing. Both methods provide a good estimate of the stiffness at the region where the model is replaced by an equivalent boundary condition. This increases the accuracy of the numerical model and also saves computational time and capacity due to element reduction.Web of Science114art. no. 148

Effect of Seed Coating and PEG-Induced Drought on the Germination Capacity of Five Clover Crops

The effect of coating the seed of clover crops by water absorbing seed process (WASP) technology pelletization on its germination capacity was studied in conditions of diverse drought intensities simulated by different concentrations of polyethylenglycol (PEG) 8000 solution. Drought resistance was monitored in the seed of five fodder clover species: Anthyllis vulneraria L., Medicago lupulina L., Trifolium repens L., Melilotus albus Medik. and Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. In the seed of given plant species, germination capacity was determined along with the share of dead and hard seeds. Although the coating significantly (p < 0.05) affected the drought resistance of seeds, the germination capacity increased only in conditions of milder drought (simulation with PEG: 0.1-0.3 mol). With the increasing intensity of drought induced by higher PEG concentrations (0.4-0.7 mol) the number of germinable seeds demonstrably decreased and the number of dead seeds increased in the coated seed as compared with the uncoated seed. The coated seed can be appropriate for use in M. lupulina, M. albus and T. repens, while the uncoated seed can be used in A. vulneraria and O. viciifolia

Contributions from carbon and nitrogen in roots to closing the yield gap between conventional and organic cropping systems

This study investigates the effect of different crop rotation systems on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in root biomass as well as on soil organic carbon (SOC). Soils under spring barley and spring barley/pea mixture were sampled both in organic and conventional crop rotations. The amounts of root biomass and SOC in fine (250–253 μm), medium (425–250 μm) and coarse (>425 μm) soil particulate organic matter (POM) were determined. Grain dry matter (DM) and the amount of N in harvested grain were also quantified. Organic systems with varying use of manure and catch crops had lower spring barley grain DM yield compared to those in conventional systems, whereas barley/pea showed no differences. The largest benefits were observed for grain N yields and grain DM yields for spring barley, where grain N yield was positively correlated with root N. The inclusion of catch crops in organic rotations resulted in higher root N and SOC (g C/m2) in fine POM in soils under barley/pea. Our results suggest that manure application and inclusion of catch crops improve crop N supply and reduce the yield gap between conventional and organic rotations. The observed positive correlation between root N and grain N imply that management practices aimed at increasing grain N could also increase root N and thus enhance N supply for subsequent crops

The Election Campaigning and 2016 Regional Election in the Czech Republic

This thesis analyzes the election campaigns of six parties and movements (ANO 2011, ČSSD, TOP 09, ODS, KSČM, KDU-CSL) and one coalition (SPD-SPO). The aim of the diploma thesis is to analyze the election campaigns before the regional councils, which took place on 7.10. - 8.10.2016. In terms of methodology, qualitative research was applied in the diploma thesis. The first part of the thesis focuses on political marketing, which was used in the regional elections in 2016. The second part of the thesis deals with the campaigns of five parties of one movement and one coalition. Political parties have used various forms of political marketing in their campaigns. Elections to regional assemblies did not have one crucial topic to unify the entire political spectrum. Not even within the opposition was a single unifying theme linking the opposition against the government. Each political party chose its sub-theme. All parties had a centralized campaign. CSSD, KDU-ČSL and TOP 09 had a centralized campaign in part. Political party budgets ranged from 16 to 111 million. The least invested in the SPD-SPO coalition and most of the hnutí ANO 2011

Political marketing party ANO

Hlavním cílem předložené bakalářské práce je poskytnout analýzu politického marketingu hnutí ANO. Důraz je kladen hlavně na předvolební kampaň, která probíhala v roce 2013. Část práce, která se věnuje předvolební kampani je z hlediska přehlednosti rozdělena do několika částí, a to na sociální sítě a online marketing, kontaktní kampaň, outdoorovou kampaň a na jiné formy kampaně. Práce zároveň popisuje historii hnutí ANO a ukazuje proměnu loga, kterou hnutí ANO během svého působení udělalo. V závěru se práce snaží poskytnout odpověď na to jaké všechny skutečnosti vedly k úspěchu hnutí ANO a také se snaží zanalyzovat nové marketingové prvky, které hnutí ANO použilo.ObhájenoThe main aim of the bachelor thesis is to provide an analysis of political marketing of ANO. The emphasis is placed primarily on the election campaign, which took place in 2013. The part of the work, which is focused on the election campaign in terms of clarity is divided into several parts, which are the social networking and online marketing, contact campaign, outdoor campaign and other forms of campaigns. The work also describes the history of ANO and shows the transformation of logo, which ANO has made during his tenure. The conclusion of the thesis tries to provide an answer to what all the facts have led to the success of ANO and also tries to analyze new marketing elements that ANO has used