Change of EU28 countries research and development indicators between 2010 and 2015

In the paper evaluation of research and development efficiency change in EU28 countries between 2010 and 2015. The authors used the non -radial and non oriented Malmquist index of available R&D indicators of EU28 countries (five inputs and two outputs) and have found six groups of EU28 countries from the viewpoint of three index terms values (efficiency shift, frontier shift and Malmquist index). The relatively best group of countries with progress in both efficiency shift and frontier shift terms (Malmquist index >1) is represented by two countries: Italy and Germany. The last group contains the six relatively worst countries with regress in all three terms (efficiency shift, frontier shift and Malmquist index < 1): Netherlands, Greece, Malta, Poland, Luxembourg and Portugal. It was found by means of the nonparametric test that post-socialist countries are not different from capitalist EU countries from the viewpoint of efficiency change between 2010 and 2015. The biggest change in R&D efficiency using the Malmquist index between 2010 and 2015 was found in Spain, Latvia, Denmark and Ireland. Conversely, the smallest change in R&D efficiency is demonstrated by Poland, Luxembourg and Portugal.project Operational Programme Education for Competitiveness [CZ. 1.07/2.3.00/20.0296]; Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport of the Slovak Republic; Slovak Academy Sciences [VEGA 1/0843/18

The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and its use for the identification of fireball fragmentation

We propose an application of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for rapidity distributions of individual events in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions. The test is particularly suitable to recognise non-statistical differences between the events. Thus when applied to a narrow centrality class it could indicate differences between events which would not be expected if all events evolve according to the same scenario. In particular, as an example we assume here a possible fragmentation of the fireball into smaller pieces at the quark/hadron phase transition. Quantitative studies are performed with a Monte Carlo model capable of simulating such a distribution of hadrons. We conclude that the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is a very powerful tool for the identification of the fragmentation process.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure

Research and Development Indicators of EU28 Countries from Viewpoint of Super‑efficiency DEA Analysis

Research and development are important sources of economic growth and social welfare and play a key role in creating new knowledge, products and technological processes. In our paper we focused on the analysis and evaluation of research and innovation potential in the European Union countries in 2010 and 2015 using Data Envelopment Analysis. For the evaluation, seven indicators were selected, as starting point for the evaluation of research activities and the measurement of the innovation performance and of competitiveness of the individual countries. Input capital indicators were – R&amp;D expenditure in the higher education sector and in the business enterprise sector as % of GDP. Input human labour indicators were total researchers (FTE), human resources in science and technology (HRST) as % of active population and employment in total service intensive sectors as % of total employment. Output indicators were the number of scientific publications and high‑tech export as % of total export. On basis of DEA super‑efficiency analyses results we can make following conclusions. The best group of five countries is characterized by efficient status in both analysed periods 2010 and 2015 (Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, Croatia and United Kingdom). The second group contains two countries Germany and Italy. This countries improved status from inefficient in 2010 to efficient in 2015. In the third group are five countries that worsened their status from efficient in 2010 to inefficient one in 2015: Portugal, Malta, Poland, Luxembourg and Netherlands. In last fourth group are all other EU28 countries that were inefficient in both analysed periods 2010 and 2015. In group of V4 countries situation is not optimistic. Poland worsened its status from efficient in 2010 to inefficient one in 2015 and three remaining countries – Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia stagnated in inefficient status in both periods. On the opposite there was not significant difference in super‑efficiencies in 2010 and in 2015 and in their differences between capitalist and post‑socialist EU28 countries

Similarity of Slovak regions in neoplastic mortality in the context of risk factors and access to health care

Aim: Access to primary health care is highly connected to the prevention of cancer mortality, since the risk factors threatening health can be early identified. The aim of this paper is, firstly, to explore similarity within and between the regions of the Slovak Republic and cancer mortality patterns, and secondly, to reveal if similar regions are characterised by the similar access to health care or risk factors occurrence. Methods: Data on deaths by sex, type of cancer death and region from 1996 to 2014 is provided by the National Health Information Centre of Slovakia. The relationships between 8 regions and 16 cancer types are described by correspondence analysis for both sexes. Results: The most similar cancer mortality patterns among Slovak regions are between the Nitra and Trnava regions for both sexes, and the Košice region for males. The Prešov region is showed as an outlier from other regions for females, likely due to the highest concentration of Roma marginalised communities. As for access to health care, the Trnava region as well as Nitra region report the lowest densities of physicians, 2.4 and 2.6 per 1,000 inhabitants, respectively. The most serious cancer types mortality is attributed to the digestive organs (C15-C26) in each Slovak region for both sexes with the average proportion of 35.56%. Observed high association between the Nitra region and respiratory cancer (C30-C39) in males may be confirmed by the increased incidence of radon in this region. Similarly, a tight relationship between the Bratislava region and cancer of male genital organs (C60-C63) can relate to the highest proportion of drug users in the Bratislava region. Conclusions: Based on the findings of similar regions in cancer mortality patterns, we recommend to set the same prevention programs in the Trnava and Nitra regions, on the other hand, different preventive interventions should be introduced in the Prešov region. © National Institute of Public Health, Prague 2017.1/0945/17, VEGA, Vedecká Grantová Agentúra MŠVVaŠ SR a SAVVEGA project [1/0945/17

Age-adjusted mortality rates of neoplastic and circulatory diseases and their demographic factors in Slovak regions during 1996–2013

Aim: Knowledge of the causes of deaths in Slovakia is lacking. This is significant because diet and lifestyle factors are different in central Europe compared to Western, Northern and Southern Europe. This study aims to discern trends of age-adjusted mortality rates caused by various diseases in relation to demographic factors. The aim of our study was to find certain statistical aspects including trends of age-adjusted mortality rates caused by neoplastic (Chapter II) and circulatory diseases (Chapter IX) in the Slovak population in relation to available demographic factors (sex, region and calendar year of death). Methods: Dataset of individual deaths in Slovakia with certain demographic factors (sex, region and calendar year of death) during 1996–2013 were provided by the Slovak National Center of Health Informatics. Regression and correlation analyses and analyses of variance and of covariance were used to yield the level of significance. Results: We found significant differences of age-adjusted mortality rates between men and women, between Chapter II and Chapter IX and among Slovak regions. Age-adjusted mortality rates decline significantly in most regions for both sexes with the exception of stagnation in four regions in a group of Chapter II women (Košice, Nitra, Trenčín and Žilina) and one region in Chapter IX, also in group of women (Žilina). Conclusions: Mortalities caused either by Chapter II or Chapter IX diseases are significantly dependent on chapter, sex and region with mortalities either declining or stagnating. © National Institute of Public Health, Prague 2017.1/0993/15, VEGA, Vedecká Grantová Agentúra MŠVVaŠ SR a SAV; NCPHI, National Center for Public Health InformaticsVEGA Project [1/0993/15

Visitor profiling using characteristics of socio-demographic and spatial behavior as tools to support the management of protected mountain areas

Protected mountain areas are attractive tourist destinations, and the number of visitors to these areas is increasing. The extension of cable car operations into the summer season is a challenge for some protected areas. Our study focuses on visitor profiles and is based on the characteristics of socio-demographic and spatial behavior of cable car users of the Chopok area (Slovakia).The methods used involve recording visitors’ itineraries through the use of GPS loggers and conducting post-trip interviews with the study participants. In order to better understand visitors’ spatial behavior, the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and trip itinerary parameters was analyzed. Additionally, three distinct visitor profiles based on cluster analysis were found in the investigated sample. The results can be used to enrich our knowledge concerning the spatial behavior of tourists in mountain environments, and more directly, for the management of cable car destinations located within protected areas.46147