Modeling the efficiency of the agri-environmental payments to Czech agriculture in a CGE framework incorporating public goods approach

Replaced with revised version of paper 03/03/11.Environmental public goods, agri-environmental policy, CGE models, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Q11, Q15, Q18,

Four Milestones in the Social and Economic Development of Czech Agriculture

The development of agriculture in Czechoslovakia has a rich history. Some authors talk about two discontinuities (collectivization & decollectivization). However, in the almost 100-year long evolution, at least four major turnarounds can be registered: the agrarian crisis at the turn of the century; the 1919 land reform; collectivization after 1949; & transformation after 1989. The events of this century that acted as the most important impulses of social change are evidently WWI & WWII. Outside these events, the political-administrative form changed seven times during 100 years (the Austro-Hungarian Empire to 1918, the First Republic 1918-1938, the Second Republic 1938/39, the Protectorate Bohmen & Mahre under German occupational direction 1939-1945, the Czechoslovak Republic 1945-1960, the Czechoslovak Socialistic Republic 1960-1968, the Czechoslovak Federative Republic 1968-1993, & the Czech Republic from 1993). Included in this enumeration are the connection with Slovakia in 1918 & the separation of Slovakia on two occasions, in 1939 & 1993. Agriculture went through a rise as well as a deep fall in prestige in this history. Agricultural workers as a social group have gone through major ups & downs, & the present situation is not prosperous for them. The key problem of Czech agriculture is a parallelism of high indebtedness & a low rate of enterprise profit. The problem in rural areas is related to the high rate of unemployment & growing migration. The development of agriculture within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy in Europe remains an open question

BRAND VALUE BUILDING AND MANAGEMENT ON B2B MARKETS

The brand value building and management marketing strategy forms the immanent part of an optimally conceived competitive strategy of companies, regardless of whether they operate in consumer (B2C) or business-oriented (B2B) markets. In practice, however, there is often an interpretive confusion of management patterns without respecting the specifics of these two elementary kinds of markets. This fact subsequently results in interpretive malformations. These negatively affect the erudition of marketing managers' decisions and create the misconception that the strategies of building and managing brand value, formulated so far, are not effective in the context of B2B markets, as their implementation does not lead to the desired results. The aim of the paper is to identify the main differences between building and managing brand value in the B2B and B2C markets in the context of the needs of a successful modern company. From a methodological point of view, in addition to the basic methods of formal logic, such as analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction, mainly the method of scientific excerption is applied. This is precisely the main pillar of the realized literary review, devoted to the researched issue. Based on the above mentioned methodological apparatus and its effective implementation, the output of the article is a basic definition of building and managing the value of a brand in B2B markets, respecting their specifics, determining the need to modify the original functional consumer-oriented branding constructs

Beaver Dam Influences on Streamflow Hydraulic Properties and Thermal Regimes

Beaver dams alter channel hydraulics which in turn change the geomorphic templates of streams. Variability in geomorphic units, the building blocks of stream systems, and water temperature, critical to stream ecological function, define habitat heterogeneity and availability. While prior research has shown the impact of beaver dams on stream hydraulics, geomorphic template, or temperature, the connections or feedbacks between these habitat measures are not well understood. This has left questions regarding relationships between temperature variability at different spatial scales to hydraulic properties such as flow depth and velocity that are dependent on the geomorphology. We combine detailed predicted hydraulic properties, field-based maps with an additional classification scheme of geomorphic units, and detailed water temperature observations throughout a study reach to demonstrate the relationship between these factors at different spatial scales (reach, beaver dam complexes, and geomorphic units). Over a three-week, low flow period we found temperature to vary 2 °C between the upstream and downstream extents of the reach with a net warming of 1 °C during the day and a net cooling of 0.5 °C at night. At the beaver dam complex scale, net warming of 1.15 °C occurred during the day with variable cooling at night. Regardless of limited temperature changes at these larger scales, the temperature variability within a beaver dam complex reached up to 10.5 °C due to the diversity of geomorphic units. At the geomorphic unit scale, the highly altered flow velocity and depth distributions within primary geomorphic units provide an explanation of the temperature variability within the dam complex and insight regarding increases in habitat heterogeneity

Global economic crisis impact on organic food consumption in the Czech Republic

IntroductionThis study investigates the impact of the global economic crisis of 2008 on organic food consumption in the Czech Republic. The structure of this study includes general consumption attitudes and consumption of individual organic food items (organic milk). The goal of this study is to quantify the influence of selected income macroeconomic indicators on organic food consumption (in general and individually). This study is focused on analyzing how this impact changed after 2008 in both prospectives.MethodsMethodologically, the error correction methodology (ECM) has been applied. However, it has been modified to incorporate breakpoint analysis to model the impact of the global economic crisis on organic food consumption. Thus, the total consumption of organic food and consumption of organic milk has been investigated.ResultsEconometric verification of the estimated model proved that there was a statistically significant positive dependence of both indicators of organic food consumption on all the investigated indicators of income before 2008. Nonetheless, it was also proved that this dependence disappeared after the global economic recession in 2008. This retrospective analysis provides a valuable view of the mechanisms of organic food consumption changes caused by economic crises.DiscussionProspective repetition of the research with the data from the current crisis could enrich the theory of organic food consumption. On the one hand, the results of hypotheses testing could be verified, and thus, the mechanisms of consumer reactions to the crisis could be identified, and the model of reaction to the next crisis cycle could be developed so as not to harm radically this sector. On the other hand, the results of hypothesis testing could be denied, and thus, the evolution in organic food perception and consumption could be stated. In this case, the need to revise the so-far formulated theoretical approaches would be proved

Patterns of gene flow and selection across multiple species of Acrocephalus warblers: footprints of parallel selection on the Z chromosome

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Influence of nitriding on the fatigue behavior and fracture micromechanisms of nodular cast Iron

Surface modification processes are increasingly used to fully exploit material potential in fatigue critical applications because fatigue strength is sensitive to surface conditions. Nitriding is extensively adopted with ferrous materials because it forms a hard and strong surface layer and a system ofsuperficial compressive residual stresses. Fatigue, however, is strongly dependent also on defects and inhomogeneity. When nitriding is applied to nodular cast iron (NCI), the relatively thin hardened layer (about 300 μm) contains graphite nodules (diameter of the order of 30 μm), casting defects and a heterogeneous matrix structure. The paper presents and discusses the influence of nitriding on the fatigue response and fracture mechanisms of NCI. A ferritic NCI and a synthetic melt with different content of effective ferrite were initially gas-nitrided. Then, (i) structural analysis of nitrided layers, (ii) fatigue testing with rotating bending specimens, and (iii) fatigue fracture surface inspection were performed. Performance and scatter in fatigue performance is discussed by selective inspection of fracture surfaces and identification fracture micromechanisms. A semiempirical model explains observed trends in test results and is used for the process optimization.Процессы модификации поверхности все более широко применяются для полного раскрытия возможностей материала в условиях высоких усталостных нагрузок, поскольку на усталостную прочность влияет состояние поверхности. Азотирование широко используют для обработки железосодержащих материалов, поскольку оно создает прочный поверхностный слой и поверхностные остаточные сжимающие напряжения. Усталость также существенно зависит от дефектов и неоднородности. При азотировании чугуна с шаровидным графитом в относительно тонком упрочненном слое (примерно 300 мкм) присутствуют шаровидные включения графита (диаметр порядка 30 мкм), дефекты литья и неоднородная структура основы. Рассматривается влияние азотирования на характеристики усталости и механизмы разрушения чугуна. Сначала проводили газовое азотирование ферритного чугуна и синтетического расплава с различным содержанием активного феррита. Затем выполняли структурный анализ азотированных слоев; испытание на сопротивление усталости путем кругового изгиба образца; контроль поверхности усталостного разрушения. Эффективность и разброс усталостных характеристик оценивали путем выборочного контроля поверхностей разрушения и идентификации микромеханизмов разрушения. Полуэмпирическая модель используется для оценки результатов испытаний и оптимизации процесса

The Theory of Generational Stratification in the Context of Brand Marketing Communication Strategy

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0The generational approach is becoming widely used to revise patterns in brand value building and management. The need for such revision is a logical consequence of the current situation, where traditional branding principles fail. As turbulent changes are occurring in the macro environment due to the (post)pandemic situation and global socio-economic development, more and more voices are beginning to point out the different natures of the problem. One solution is the application of the generational approach to the practice of brand managers. Thus, strategies would become more personalized and fit crucial market segments focusing on the increase of subjectively perceived brand value. On the other hand, some concepts and theories which have not been checked functionally in the long term perspective, and which have started to be prematurely applied in specific managerial tasks, are being critically discussed. One of such concepts involves the usage of generational stratification in the practice of marketing managers. Thus, the aim of this paper is to analyze the concept of fitting brand marketing communication strategy to the specifics of a targeted generational cohort. Subsequently, this study aims to critically discuss the concept of generational stratification from the point of view of brand management. To fulfill this aim, the method of contingency table evaluation and hypotheses testing via chi-squared tests is used. Data were collected via a consumer questionnaire survey among Slovak inhabitants aged 15 years and above, involving 1,978 respondents in total. Based on this research, it is concluded that generational stratification is not relevant for the purposes of brand marketing communication strategy. On the one hand, its general applicability is proved, but on the other – in selected product categories (personal cars, banks, cola beverages and sportswear) – the link between generation and perception of brand value is not proved

Postoperative visual performance with a bifocal and trifocal diffractive intraocular lens during a 1-year follow-up

AIM: To evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes with a diffractive bifocal and trifocal intraocular lens (IOL) during a 12-month follow-up. METHODS: Prospective comparative study including 75 eyes of 38 patients (44-70y) undergoing uneventful cataract surgery. Each patient was randomly assigned to one type of IOL, bifocal (35 eyes) or trifocal (40 eyes). Visual, refractive, and contrast sensitivity changes were evaluated in a 12-month follow-up. The binocular defocus curve was also measured at 12mo postoperatively. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences between groups were found in postoperative uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities (P≥0.276). Postoperative corrected near visual acuity (33 cm) was significantly better in the trifocal group during all follow-up (P≤0.004) as well as 6-month uncorrected near (P=0.008) and distance-corrected near visual acuities (P=0.016) (33/40 cm). Significantly better uncorrected intermediate and distance corrected-intermediate visual acuity were found during all follow-up in the trifocal group (P<0.001), which was consistent with differences among groups in binocular defocus curve. Differences among groups in contrast sensitivity were minimal, being only significant at 6 months for some low to medium spatial frequencies (P≤0.006). CONCLUSION: Bifocal and trifocal diffractive IOLs are able to provide an effective visual restoration which is maintained during a 12-month follow-up, with a clear benefit of the trifocal IOL for the intermediate vision

Beavers affect carbon biogeochemistry : both short-term and long-term processes are involved.

With the recent population increase in beavers (Castor spp.), a considerable amount of new riparian habitat has been created in the Holarctic. We evaluated how beaver‐induced floods affect carbon (C) dynamics in the beaver ponds and in the water‐atmosphere and riparian zone interfaces. Beaver disturbance affects soil organic C storage by decreasing or increasing it, resulting in a redistribution of C. Upon flooding, the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increases in the water. This C can be released into the atmosphere, it can settle down to the bottom sediments, it can be sequestered by vegetation, or it can be transported downstream. The carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions vary between 0.14 and 11.2 g CO2 m−2 day−1, averaging 4.9 CO2 g m−2 day−1. The methane (CH4) emissions vary too, from 27 mg m−2 day−1 to 919 mg m−2 day−1, averaging 222 mg CH4 m−2 day−1. Globally, C emission from beaver ponds in the form of CH4 and CO2 may be 3.33–4.62 Tg (teragram, 1012 g) year−1. The yearly short‐term sedimentation rates in beaver ponds vary between 0.4 and 47 cm year−1, and individual ponds contain 9–6355 m3 of sediment. The approximate global estimate for yearly C sedimentation is 3.8 Tg C; beaver ponds globally contain 380 Tg sedimented C. After being formed, beaver pond deposits can remain for millennia. Both C sequestration and CO2 and CH4 emissions in ponds of various ages should be taken into account when considering the net effect of beavers on the C dynamics. With present estimates, beaver ponds globally range from a sink (−0.47 Tg year−1) to a source (0.82 Tg year−1) of C. More research is needed with continuous flux measurements and from ponds of different ages. Likewise, there is a need for more studies in Eurasia to understand the effect of beaver on C biogeochemistry.Peer reviewe