Determinants of Foreign Currency Borrowing in the New Member States of the EU

The paper empirically investigates the determinants of foreign currency borrowing by the private sector in the new member states of the European Union. The authors find that striking differences in patterns of foreign currency borrowing between countries are explained by the extent to which domestic banks finance credit expansion from abroad, the level of deposit dollarization, and the interest rate differential. Joining the EU appears to have played an important role, by providing direct access to foreign funding, offering hedging opportunities through greater trade openness, lending credibility to exchange rate regimes, and raising expectations of imminent euro adoption. The empirical evidence suggests that regulatory policies to slow foreign currency borrowing have had only limited success.foreign currency borrowing, new EU member states, Central and Eastern Europe

Spillovers from the ECB's non-standard monetary policies on non-euro area EU countries: evidence from an event-study analysis

Using event-study techniques we investigate the presence and the magnitude of spillovers from the ECB’s non-standard monetary policies on financial assets in selected non-euro area EU countries from Central and Eastern Europe (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania). Generally, we find strong evidence of spillover effects from the ECB’s announcements on bond yields. We also find that the SMP announcements resulted in significant spillovers, while those from the OMT and the PSPP announcements were rather limited. Turning to the transmission channels, we argue that spillovers from the SMP announcements went through the portfolio rebalancing and the signalling channels. The transmission of the OMT operated via the confidence channel and for the PSPP we find evidence that both the confidence and the signalling channels were at play

Examination of professional characteristics of workers of social and legal protection of children

Examination of professional characteristics of workers of social and legal protection of children The diploma thesis is devoted to the examination of professional characteristics of social and legal protection of children. The theoretical part deals with areas related to the chosen focus. In particular, these are questions concerning the general concept of personality, which represents the summary, connection or interconnection of character, temperament, abilities and constitutional characteristics of a person. An important chapter is also a theoretical description of the basis of the used standardized questionnaire survey, focused on the area and diagnostics of professional characteristics crucial for success in employment. The last topic deals with the issue of social and legal protection of children, the definition of an endangered child and the personal and professional preconditions of a social worker. The practical part consists of the results obtained by the BIP-Bochum personality questionnaire (Hossiep, Paschen, 2011). The aim of the research is to find out, find and compare differences in professional characteristics of a selected group of respondents. The research survey is conducted on a sample of 134 employees of social and legal protection of children, of which 15 are men (11%) and 119...Zkoumání profesních charakteristik pracovníků sociálně právní ochrany dětí Diplomová práce se věnuje zkoumání profesních charakteristik pracovníků sociálně právní ochrany dětí. V teoretické části jsou zpracovány oblasti vztahující se ke zvolenému zaměření. Zejména se jedná o otázky týkající se obecné koncepce osobnosti, jež představuje souhrn, souvislost či propojení charakteru, temperamentu, schopností a konstitučních vlastností člověka. Důležitou kapitolou je i teoretický popis východisek použitého standardizovaného dotazníkového šetření, orientovaného na oblast a diagnostiku profesních charakteristik rozhodujících pro úspěch v zaměstnání. Poslední téma se věnuje problematice sociálně právní ochrany dětí, obecné definici ohroženého dítěte, osobnostním a profesním předpokladům sociálního pracovníka. Praktickou část tvoří výsledky zjišťované metodou BIP-Bochumským osobnostním dotazníkem (Hossiep, Paschen, 2011). Cílem výzkumného šetření je zjistit, nalézt a porovnat odlišnosti v profesních charakteristikách u vybrané skupiny respondentů. Výzkumné šetření je realizováno na vzorku 134 pracovníků sociálně právní ochrany dětí, z toho je 15 mužů (11 %) a 119 žen (89 %). Jako nezávisle proměnné výzkumného šetření jsou uvažovány především délka praxe a věk respondentů. Věkový průměr respondentů výzkumného...Katedra andragogiky a managementu vzděláváníPedagogická fakultaFaculty of Educatio

Error Rate in the Decisions of Elite Futsal Referees in the Context of Their Position on the Pitch

One of the primary requirements for a futsal referee is the minimum of incorrect decisions in a match. An important starting point for the possibility of the correct decision of the referee is his position on the court when deciding. The aim of the thesis is to find out whether the error rate of the futsal referee changes when assessing game situations (leading to a direct free kick) in connection with his position. The research group consisted of referees of the 1st futsal league in the Czech Republic (n = 15); average age 39.4 (SD = 6.2). A total of 685 game situations were assessed from 42 matches in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons. The methods of work were: indirect observation of video recordings, notation analysis, expert assessment of game situations by an expert group (n = 5).  Results: the error rate in the decisions of referees is 7%; inadequate positions detected 3%; A statistically significant relationship was found between the degree of error rate in the referees' decisions and the quality of the position (rs = .32, p < .001) but no material significance was found. We recommend a more detailed research solution to this issue

The Hadamard product, its residual, and its dual residual in the dioid of counters: algorithms and implementation in C++

This report presents the algorithms for computing the Hadamard product, its residual, and its dual residual between formal power series in the dioid of counters. The algorithms have been implemented in the C++ toolbox ETVO ((Event|Time)-Variant Operators). After proving the correctness of the algorithms, we present a user guide for the C++ implementation.Comment: 26 pages, 2 figures, technical repor

High taurine concentrations negatively effect stallion spermatozoa parameters in vitro

Article Details: Received: 2020-09-29 | Accepted: 2020-11-27 | Available online: 2021-01-31https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.mi-prap.15-19Over the past decades natural substances are widely used in the maintaining of spermatozoa viability. The target of present study was to evaluate the effect of various taurine concentrations on stallion spermatozoa during 37°C cultivation. Fresh semen was collected from 10 breeding stallions. The experimental groups were supplemented with six different concentration of taurine (in mg/ml): A – 2.5, B – 5, C – 7.5, D – 10, E – 15, F – 20 and compared to control (CON – 0). Spermatozoa motility was assessed using the Computer Assisted Semen Analyzer (CASA) system in 6 time periods (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours). The MTT test was used for detection of viability. For measuring antioxidant activity FRAP and TOS methods were used. Significantly negative effect was observed in the samples with the highest concentration of taurine (20 mg/ml). Spermatozoa viability was not significantly affected in analysed concentrations of taurine. Significant higher antioxidant activity was detected in the sample with the highest taurine concentration. Data clearly showed negative effects of high taurine concentrations on stallion spermatozoa.Keywords: taurine, CASA, antioxidant activity, spermatozoa, stallion References  Benzie, I. F. and Strain, J. J. (1996). The ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) as a measure of “antioxidant power”: The FRAP assay. Analytical Biochemistry, 239(1), 70-76. https://doi.org/10.1006/abio.1996.0292Bucak, M. N. et al. (2007). The influence of trehalose, taurine, cysteamine and hyaluronan on ram semen: Microscopic and oxidative stress parameters after freeze–thawing process. Theriogenology, 67(5), 1060-1067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2006.12.004Erel, O. (2005). A new automated colorimetric method for measuring total oxidant status. Clinical Biochemistry, 38(12), 1103-1111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2005.08.008Halo, M. and Tirpák, F. (2018) Stallion fertility - the basis of successful reproduction. Svet koní. 18.Halo Jr., M. et al. (2019) Time and dose-dependent effects of Viscum album quercus on rabbit spermatozoa motility and viability in vitro. Physiological Research, 68(6), 955-972. https://doi.org/10.33549/physiolres.934223 Ijaz, A. and Ducharme, R. (1995). Effect of various extenders and taurine on survival of stallion sperm cooled to 5 C. Theriogenology, 44(7), 1039-1050. https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-691x(95)00290-o Jambor, T. et al. (2017) In vitro effect of 4-nonylphenol on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulated hormone secretion, cell viability and reactive oxygen species generation in mice Leydig cells. Environmental Pollution, 222, 219–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.12.053 O'flaherty, L. et al. (1997) Intestinal taurine transport: a review. European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 27(11), 873-880. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2362.1997.2000747.xReddy, N. S. S. et al. (2010). Effects of adding taurine and trehalose to a tris-based egg yolk extender on buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) sperm quality following cryopreservation. Animal Reproduction Science, 119(3-4), 183-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.01.012 Slanina, T. et al. (2018) Effect of taurine on turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) spermatozoa viability and motility. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 63(4),127-135. https://doi.org/10.17221/79/2017-CJASStephens, T. D. et al. (2013) Effects of pentoxifylline, caffeine, and taurine on post-thaw motility and longevity of equine frozen semen. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 33(8), 615-621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2012.10.004Tirpák, F. et al. (2017) Low taurine concentrations possitively affect rabbit spermatozoa properties in later time intervals. Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences, 7, 128-131. https://doi.org/10.15414/jmbfs.2017.7.2.128-13

Archaeological and geophysical survey in deserted early islamic village Al-Qusur (Failaka, Kuwait)

Failaka Island, the second largest and the only inhabited off-shore island of Kuwait, is situated 17 km east of Kuwait mainland, in the entrance to Kuwait Bay. They can be found along the shores and approximately in the middle of the island and correspond with occurrence of known archaeological sites. Failaka’s history goes back to the Bronze Age Dilmun civilization. After the decline of the occupation during the Middle Bronze Age, Failaka was again inhabited during Seleucid and post-Seleucid..

Caffeine strongly improves motility parameters of turkey spermatozoa with no effect on cell viability

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of caffeine on turkey spermatozoa during in vitro incubation. Experimental samples were prepared by diluting the raw semen with nine different concentrations of caffeine – from 0.078125 mg/mL to 10 mg/mL. The individual motility parameters were evaluated by the Computer Assisted Semen Analyser (CASA) system, and the viability of spermatozoa was evaluated using eosin-nigrosin staining. Selected parameters were recorded at six time periods: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 h at 5 °C and 41 °C. A significantly higher motility and progressive motility of spermatozoa (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively) was detected in the samples containing caffeine ranging from 0.15625 to 7.5 mg/mL as compared to the control sample at 5 °C. At an incubation temperature of 41 °C the positive effect of caffeine on motility parameters was observed only at the beginning of incubation (at times 0 and 1). The tested caffeine concentrations showed no significant effect on the viability of turkey spermatozoa at any time period of incubation. A higher percentage of dead spermatozoa was observed for incubation at 41 °C (from 5.96% to 11.1%) in comparison to 5 °C (from 1.62% to 5.79%). The results suggest that caffeine can be used as a suitable component of turkey semen extenders and has the potential to improve fertility

The effects of caffeine on the motility and viability of stallion spermatozoa at different temperature conditions

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dose-and time-dependent effect of caffeine treatment on the motility and viability of stallion spermatozoa at different temperatures. Six dose groups (A to F) were established with changing caffeine concentrations (from 0.625 to 10 mg/mL). The control samples were prepared by diluting the ejaculate only with physiological salt solution. The samples were examined after 0, 1, 2 and 3 h of incubation at 5 degrees C and 37 degrees C. The motility parameters were evaluated by Computer Assisted Semen Analyzer (CASA) system, and the viability was assessed by the mito-chondrial toxicity test at the end of the incubation. A positive effect of the lowest tested caffeine concentration on the motility parameters was observed throughout the incubation period at 5 degrees C. At the end of the 3h incubation, the viability in every sample in these groups, treated with any caffeine concentration, showed lower values compared to the control. At the higher incubation temperature (37 degrees C), caffeine positively affected the motility in samples B (P < 0.05) and D, E, F (P < 0.001) after 3 h of incubation; however, the viability showed a slightly decreasing tendency. Our results suggest that caffeine, in an optimal concentration, may be used as a component of stallion semen extenders

A Non-synonymous point mutation in a WD-40 domain repeat of EML5 leads to decreased bovine sperm quality and fertility.

This study is part of a concerted effort to identify and phenotype rare, deleterious mutations that adversely affect sperm quality, or convey high developmental and fertility potential to embryos and ensuing progeny. A rare, homozygous mutation in EML5 (EML5R1654W), which encodes a microtubule-associated protein with high expression in testis and brain was identified in an Angus bull used extensively in artificial insemination (AI) for its outstanding progeny production traits. The bull?s fertility was low in cross-breeding timed AI (TAI) (Pregnancy/TAI = 25.2%; n = 222) and, in general, AI breeding to Nellore cows (41%; n = 822). A search of the 1,000 Bull Genomes Run9 database revealed an additional 74 heterozygous animals and 8 homozygous animals harboring this exact mutation across several different breeds (0.7% frequency within the 6,191 sequenced animals). Phenotypically, spermatozoa from the homozygous Angus bull displayed prominent piriform and tapered heads, and outwardly protruding knobbed acrosomes. Additionally, an increased retention of EML5 was also observed in the sperm head of both homozygous and heterozygous Angus bulls compared to wild-type animals. This non-synonymous point mutation is located within a WD40 signaling domain repeat of EML5 and is predicted to be detrimental to overall protein function by genomic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis and protein modeling. Future work will examine how this rare mutation affects field AI fertility and will characterize the role of EML5 in spermatogenesis