Political cycle and fiscal policy in the countries of the European Union

The efforts of politicians in power to affect the decisions of voters through expansive fiscal policies in pre-election periods are still topical. This article determines whether governments in European Union countries initiate the political-budget cycle. We analyse 23 EU member states in the period 1995–2008. We pay attention to four institutional factors that can contribute to the creation of the political-budget cycle: length of democracy, type of parliamentary election, term of election and ideology. We find that the political-budget cycle was present throughout European Union countries in this period. The factor of the length of democracy had a small impact on the statistical significance of the results. However, ideology turned out to be the most important factor in our analysis. Current revenues were used as a tool of fiscal policy in the years of elections predominantly by ideologically mixed governments. Left-wing governments used rather the expenditure side of the budget to win the favour of the electorate. The type of election (regular or early) became relevant only in specific cases and in combination with other institutional factors. Finally, the new EU member governments consider the spring or autumn term of the election as a criterion co-determining their pre-election fiscal policies

EyeTribe Tracker Data Accuracy Evaluation and Its Interconnection with Hypothesis Software for Cartographic Purposes

The mixed research design is a progressive methodological discourse that combines the advantages of quantitative and qualitative methods. Its possibilities of application are, however, dependent on the efficiency with which the particular research techniques are used and combined. The aim of the paper is to introduce the possible combination of Hypothesis with EyeTribe tracker. The Hypothesis is intended for quantitative data acquisition and the EyeTribe is intended for qualitative (eye-tracking) data recording. In the first part of the paper, Hypothesis software is described. The Hypothesis platform provides an environment for web-based computerized experiment design and mass data collection. Then, evaluation of the accuracy of data recorded by EyeTribe tracker was performed with the use of concurrent recording together with the SMI RED 250 eye-tracker. Both qualitative and quantitative results showed that data accuracy is sufficient for cartographic research. In the third part of the paper, a system for connecting EyeTribe tracker and Hypothesis software is presented. The interconnection was performed with the help of developed web application HypOgama. The created system uses open-source software OGAMA for recording the eye-movements of participants together with quantitative data from Hypothesis. The final part of the paper describes the integrated research system combining Hypothesis and EyeTribe

The possibilities of using growth stimulants as agents for limiting the consequences of water deficit with growing vegetable

Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of a synthetic brassinolide and Atonik on the growth and yield of onion (Allium cepa L.; cultivars ´Alice´ and ´Lusy´) and head lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata; cultivars ´Maršálus´, ´Mars´ and ´Santoro´) grown at two irrigation levels. The treatment with brassinolide (1 nM) and Atonik (0.05 %) promoted germination at the beginning of the experiment in the onion (cultivar ´Alice´). The results also showed varietal differences in response to the treatments. In field trials under conditions with optimal irrigation the influence of the treatments with synthetic brassinolide in the onion (cultivar ´Alice´) was proven on the mass of the individual bulbs and yield in 2013. In the case of reduced irrigation, the treatment with a concentration of 1 nM had a statistically significant positive influence on the mass of the individual bulbs (2013) and yield (2012) in the cultivar ´Alice´. With the cultivar ´Lusy´, the treatment with a concentration of 1 nM and 0.01 nM significantly increased the marketable yield relative to the control variant (2012). The results of laboratory experiments showed that treatment of lettuce plants in the initial stage of the development with 1nM solution of synthetic brassinolide can be used to limit the consequences of reduced moisture conditions. Significant increase of marketable heads was noted after treatment with synthetic brassinolide in filed experiments (head lettuce - cultivar ´Santoro´). There were no significant differences among the ascorbic acid /nitrates contents of the treated vegetables. The results confirmed that it was possible to reduce the negative impact of the water deficit in the cultivation of onion and lettuce with growth stimulants. It is, however, necessary to bear in mind which parameter of the plants should be affected and last but not least also the varying sensitivity of the species and cultivars to the treatment

Economic Crisis and Growth in Vote Share for Extreme Left and Extreme Right Parties

Economic hardship fuels worries about a possible higher share of extremist parties in European legislature and executive. The article examines whether the recent economic recession resulted in growth in electoral support for the extreme right and the extreme left in parliamentary elections. The empirical analysis includes a set of 23 EU member states and observes the period from 1995 to 2012. A supplementary aim is to determine to what degree this phenomenon has a greater impact on countries that were forced to resort to IMF financial intervention. The analysis reveals that decline in GDP and growth in unemployment helped increase electoral support for extremist parties in the EU countries. Simultaneously, their share in the lower house representation grew. In these cases, the increase in support was primarily for extreme left parties. The inflation rate did not have any significant impact on growth in vote share for extremist parties. An increased vote share for extremist parties was more apparent in countries in receipt of an IMF loan

Roman uguentaria based on ancient collections in Moravian museums

In my work I decided to treat the glass balsamariích Roman period. The aim is to highlight the issue of production of blown glass and its evolution in the ancient world. The topic I chose, because the vast majority of collections of antique glass, on which I was involved in processing, are balsamaria. Moreover, this was not a topic in the Czech Republic almost a hundred years further elaborated, as are more focused balsamariím J. Čadík

Late Roman glass lamps

Tato práce si klade za cíl popsat skleněné lampy doby pozdně římské a raně byzantské a jejich postupný vznik a vývoj v daném období. Součástí práce je i popis předmětů souvisejících s užíváním lamp, shrnutí jejich funkce a výhod a nevýhod oproti lampám z ostatních materiálů. Důležitým bodem pak je katalog tvarových typů lamp a jejich porovnání s nálezy na několika lokalitách s největšími nalezenými soubory lamp.This thesis proposes to describe glass lamps of late roman and early byzantine era and their origin and emergence in these periods. Part of the thesis is a desription of objects related with using of lamps, summary of their function and advantages and disadvantages in comparison with lamps made of other materials. Important section is also catalogue of shapes of lamps and their comparison with the finds from several localities with the largest found groups of glass lamps.Institute for Classical ArcheologyÚstav pro klasickou archeologiiFaculty of ArtsFilozofická fakult

Využití hodnotících a měřících nástrojů pro hodnocení populace starší 60 let

Introduction: The 60-year-old population is one of the most vulnerable groups in terms of health. It is necessary to provide highly qualified and professional care to maintain or improve the quality of life. One way to achieve this is to use evaluation tools correctly and appropriately. Aims: The dissertation aimed to determine the attitude of nurses to currently used assessment tools, to determine the incidence of geriatric syndromes in the population over 60 years and their potential impact on quality of life, and the last goal was to validate the Rapid Geriatric Assessment tool. Methodology: The research was carried out using the quantitative and qualitative parts. The quantitative research survey used questionnaire data collection limited to the South Bohemian Region, both for the population older than 60 years, research group A. For nurses providing care for the population older than 60 years, research group B. Questionnaires were created for both research files. They consisted of a non-standardized part and a standardized part. For seniors, a non-standardized survey focused on evaluating the care provided, facilities, the performance of routine activities, and the evaluation of mental and physical health. The standardized part included an RGA tool for geriatric mapping syndromes and a WHOQOL BREF for quality of life monitoring. For nurses, the non-standardized part was intended to evaluate currently used tools and the new RGA tool and for the evaluation of designated areas of health and social care. The RGA tool was translated into the Czech language with the author's consent, tested in a pilot, modified as needed, and then entered as part of a questionnaire survey. The qualitative research survey was conducted using the focus group method and was conducted with nurses who provide nursing care to seniors in a hospital or other type of facility or in-home care. Results: The results showed fragility, sarcopenia, weight loss, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. Furthermore, the negative impact of geriatric syndromes on the quality of life of seniors has also been demonstrated. For nurses, it has been shown that the level of education and length of practice influence the view of assessment tools and also affect the actual use of assessment tools. Furthermore, the influence of the stay of seniors on the subjective assessment of mental and physical health and on satisfaction with physical and mental health was found. The impact of the most seriously perceived disease on meeting the needs and performing normal daily activities in the elderly was also found. Conclusion: The dissertation provides a comprehensive view of the use of assessment tools in the population over 60 years of age. Modified nursing documentation was created, which should better serve for a basic assessment of the health status of seniors

Late Roman glass lamps

This thesis proposes to describe glass lamps of late roman and early byzantine era and their origin and emergence in these periods. Part of the thesis is a desription of objects related with using of lamps, summary of their function and advantages and disadvantages in comparison with lamps made of other materials. Important section is also catalogue of shapes of lamps and their comparison with the finds from several localities with the largest found groups of glass lamps

Strategická analýza neziskové organizace

The aim of the final thesis was implementation of strategic analysis of dental orthodontia laboratory. The final thesis should help to laboratory during the process of transformation to social entrepreneurship. Strategic analysis pursues macroeconomic and microeconomic environment that influence enterprise in profitable and nonprofit surroundings. In case that laboratory will execute all statutory claims, transformation could be done in january 2011. Results of the analysis proved very good strategic position of laboratory between competition. High quality of the products was the main reason. I determined two strategic aims for laboratory as social entrepreneurship. The one of them deal with the employing of the handicapped or disadvantaged people in the labour market. The second one focus on the sustenance of the contemporary high quality. I divided these aims to the six tactical goals

Feasibility study of realization of bowl bar in Žďár nad Sázavou

Bakalářská práce se věnuje problematice marketingové a ekonomické části studie proveditelnosti realizace bowlingového klubu. Hlavním cílem práce je posouzení projektu z pohledu tržních podmínek, a to jak za pomoci PEST analýzy, tak také zanalyzováním mikrookolí prostřednictvím Porterova modelu pěti sil. Dalším krokem je sestavení ekonomického modelu a jeho vyhodnocení diskontovanými ukazateli. Na základě všech zjištěných skutečností je zhodnocena proveditelnost realizace či zamítnutí projektu