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Green Public Procurement is currently a voluntary instrument to promote Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industrial Policy. Surveys in this field help to understand how individual States, Public Authorities and Organizations, are approaching this voluntary instrument and thus how far they support Eco-Innovations and Sustainable Economy. Our survey focuses on mapping of units of local self-governments in the Slovak Republic that carried out Green Public Procurement in the category of paper products through the Electronic Contracting System (ECS) in 2017. We consider local self-government units to be major consumers of paper products, especially because of their extensive administration, what makes them a target group to promote the use of Green Public Procurement in a given category in practice. The total number of contracts awarded through the ECS in 2017 was 471. As the results show, the share of Green Public Procurements in the total number of Public Procurements in the Slovak Republic in 2017 was not satisfactory. In order to improve the situation, it is necessary to further deepen the targeted dissemination of examples of good practice in Green Public Procurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Waste paper recycling utilization has been increasing in Iran and world paper industries which offers many benefits to the environment and humans. Municipal waste is also reused after recycling processes. Cardboard recycling industry has great environmental and economic importance and helps overcone the lack of wood resources and high demand for paper products. It plays an important role in the development of paper-related industries. However, recycling can be associated with the reduction in the optical properties of the paper. The use of nanoparticles in the paper industry is also expanding gradually. Nanosilica is one of the most important nanoparticles which is used as a retention aid in the paper industry. In order to reduce the consumption of long fibers and obtain the desired optical properties, the use of nanosilica alone or in combination with other materials such as cationic starch and cationic polyacrylamide is investigated. The purpose of this research is to compare the effect of individual and combined use of nanosilica additives, cationic polyacrylamide, cationic starch and long fibers on the optical properties of white liner paper pulp. Methodology: In this study, white paper pulp with the brightness of at least 78% and the gloss of at least 45% was used to prepare handmade paper sheets. Long fiber kraft chemical pulp from coniferous wood imported from Russia with the brightness of 89% was used in the laboratory paper sheet making. Nanosilica powder (NanoSiO2) (Degussa), Germany, cationic polyacrylamide (Farinret K325 brand, Degussa, Germany), and cationic starch (LyckebyAmylex, Slovakia) were used. Independent treatments included the addition of 10% refined long fibers pulp, 6% nanosilica, 1.5% cationic starch and 0.15% cationic polyacrylamide and combined treatments included 6% nanosilica and 1.5% cationic starch and 6% nanosilica and 0.15% cationic polyacrylamide. Then 127 g.m-2 handmade papers were prepared and the optical and microscopic properties were evaluated. Results: The results showed that by adding 10% long fibers, the brightness decreased and by using 6% nanosilica, the maximum brightness was reached. Meanwhile, the whiteness of papers with 6% nanosilica was minimum and with the dosage of only 0.15% cationic polyacrylamide, the whiteness reached at the maximum value. Opacity showed its highest value with the combination of 6% nanosilica and 0.15% cationic polyacrylamide. Also, by increasing the amount of polyacrylamide and cationic starch, individually or in combination with nanosilica, the opacity increased. The light absorption coefficient was the lowest in papers with 6% nanosilica and the light scattering coefficient was the highest in papers containing 6% nanosilica and 0.15% cationic polyacrylamide. A colorimeter was used to measure the color components and the results showed that the additives had an effect on the brightness and whiteness of the papers. Also, changes in the color spectrum and the value of color change were also observed. Additives increased the darkness and changes in different colors. Conclusion: The use of nanosilica individually and in combination with starch and cationic polyacrylamide increases the brightness of papers. Also, the use of cationic polyacrylamide individually and in combination with nanosilica leads to an increase in the whiteness and opacity of papers. The brightness factor of the papers, which is representative of the L* component, decreased with the exception of the addition of 10% long fibers and 6% nanosilica. The amount of overall color change with ΔE* was the lowest in samples containing 1.5% cationic starch and the highest in samples containing 0.15% cationic polyacrylamide. The use of some treatments can lead to a decrease in the optical properties and a decrease in the printability quality of the white liner. To solve this problem, mechanical pulp that has been decolorized or coated on the surface of the paper can be used. The presence of nano-silica particles in the structure of the paper improves the surface structure and reduces the prosity, which results in the reduction of surface roughness and less light refraction, and increases the light reflection and brightness of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the possibility of valorizing wood waste from grapevine cultivation of the varieties Pesecká leánka (white graft) and Frankovka modrá (red graft), grown in Slovakia. From the point of view of chemical composition, two methods (water and ethyl alcohol) were performed for the determination of extractives, acid-insoluble (Klason) lignin, and structural carbohydrates, and FTIR spectra of the grape samples were recorded. Mechanical strength, compression test parallel to the grain, and morphological properties (fiber length, width, and shape factor using a fiber tester) were carried out. The energy potential of grapevines was evaluated by determining the calorific value. According to the results, the relatively high content of carbohydrates (54.19%–55.27%) provides a prerequisite for acid or enzymatic hydrolysis to produce monosaccharides or second-generation bioethanol. FTIR spectra confirmed the higher content of lignin and cellulose in red grapes. The compression strength of grape cuttings (37.34 MPa—red; 32.34 MPa—white) was comparable to the strength of softwood species; hence, these wastes can be used for particleboard or fiberboard production. Average fiber length is comparable to non-wood species; thus, grape cutting can be used for pulp and paper production. The calorific value of grape cuttings ranged from 18.68 MJ·kg−1 (white) to 18.91 MJ·kg−1 (red), with pellets having 16.96 MJ·kg−1. The energetic potential of grape cuttings was comparable to that of other wooden materials; on the other hand, the ash content of pellets from grape cuttings (10.54%) greatly exceeded the limit given by the EN ISO 17225-1 standard, which is a significant disadvantage to pellets used for heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are highly important for producing highvalue-added innovative and intermediary goods and play a crucial role in being suppliers of large enterprises, their financial restraints cause them to encounter problems regarding their internationalization process and financial performance. As a dynamic capability of Resourcebased View theory (RBV), the usage of marketing communication tools (MCTs) by SMEs, such as social media (SM), websites, telemarketing, direct mail, SMS campaigns, and Google Adwords, increases the competitiveness of SMEs and might enable them to reduce their financial performance and export concerns. However, the usage of these tools can differ depending on the firm's country of origin since countries have various socio-economic and cultural conditions that affect the competitiveness of firms and their marketing communication approaches to their export and financial performance. In this regard, this paper aims to find international differences in the impact of the usage of MCTs on export and financial performance. This paper examines 1221 SMEs from Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary for this aim. The researchers created an online questionnaire to collect data from randomly selected respondents in the research sample. The researchers also ran Binary Logistic Regression analyses for analysis purposes. Although this paper confirms international differences in the impact of MCTs on the export of SMEs, the effect of SM usage on the financial performance of SMEs does not differ depending on the SMEs' country of origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There was published a pamphlet called Aké bude Slovensko o sto rokov? (1920), [What will Slovakia be like in 100 years?] just a century ago. It offered a vision of Slovak national state’s future – the state flourishing with social welfare, scientific and technological progress and moral maturity of citizens. Adaptation of „happy national home“ idea for future, written by engineer Jozef Dohnány (1873 – 1947), carries marks characteristics for utopias. The conference paper approaches to Dohnány’s vision as to a branch of modern dynamic utopic phenomenon, creating a communication space, especially in the 19.th and 20.th century, for expressing desires and ideals, testing possibilities of mental borders and calling for social or political mobilization in favour of achievement realistic, or even unrealistic aims. The paper uses interdisciplinary interpretative approach for analysis of Dohnány vision’s ideological structure, compares it in relation to More’s prototype of utopia and refers to representations of „period’s presence“ in utopic genre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Yearbook of Antitrust & Regulatory Studies is the property of University of Warsaw and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Conference paper Election Program of the Political Party Kotleba - People's Party Our Slovakia is focused on the analysis of election programs for parliamentary elections 2006 to 2016. Kotleba - People's Party Our Slovakia joined these elections under different names and in different organizational form and partly changed content of its electoral program. The results of the parliamentary elections also brought significantly different support for this political party. Therefore, the paper tries to find a link between election programs and its election profit in the elections to the National Council of the Slovak Republic 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research background: The lack of financial resources of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) make them face high financial risk. Their entrepreneurial abilities that belong to Resource-based View (RBV), such as innovativeness and competitiveness, might reduce SMEs’ financial risk because those entrepreneurial abilities increase the financial performance of businesses. Purpose of the article: This paper aims to investigate the effects of the innovativeness and competitiveness of SMEs on their financial concerns based on financial risk, including bankruptcy, financial performance, and financial risk management. Methods: The authors use a method of data analysis and synthesis, including advanced knowledge and digital processing of background studies. This paper examines 1221 SMEs from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Those firms are chosen by random sampling method from Cribis and the Budapest Chamber of Commerce databases. Then the researchers directed an online questionnaire to collect the research data from the randomly selected firms. The researchers use Ordinal Logistic Regression Test for analysis purposes. Findings & value added: This paper's results indicate that SMEs' competitiveness does not impact SMEs’ bankruptcy prediction, financial performance, or financial risk management. On the other hand, while more innovative SMEs are less likely to face bankruptcy issues than less innovative SMEs, less innovative SMEs indicate better financial performance than their more innovative counterparts. Since this paper focuses on the influences of intangible assets of SMEs (such as characteristics based on RBV and Entrepreneurial Orientation) on their tangible assets (financial performance etc.) and puts emphasis on this fact from an International perspective, this paper makes a significant contribution to the literature. Furthermore, analyzing multiple relationships between SMEs’ different entrepreneurial characteristics and various financial risk concerns is another important fact that might draw prospective readers’ attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we compare the development and possibilities for improvement of waste management in three countries: Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Waste management is part of the circular economy. The circular economy is the basis for waste management today. This applies to municipal waste management, too. In this paper, we work with data available in the Eurostat database. We mainly deal with municipal waste in the three chosen countries. The output of this paper is an assessment of indicators such as recycling rates and waste production. The outputs are documented graphically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The migration process is becoming more and more intensive in the European region. Various opinions have been expressed about the effects of immigration on the country's economy. Most of these opinions reveal a positive impact via fulfilling deficits in the labour market and tax payments. On the other hand, a negative long-term effect on the social security system because of the poor integration of immigrants into the domestic population can be seen as a thread in this discussion. This paper analyses the impact of immigration, based on the United Nations National Transfer Accounts methodology developed by Lee and Mason. This methodology is employed to break down the System of National Accounts with respect to age groups and generations and, in addition, show the economic flows between them. The findings of this paper show that the earnings and consumption behaviour of immigrants and natives in Slovakia differ; immigrants tend to work after retirement age, earn more, and consume less, which results in positive effects on the aggregate life cycle deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper deals with the method of digitalisation of the authorisation process for verification of legally controlled measuring instruments, which is under the responsibility of the Slovak Office for Standards, Metrology and Testing, presents the legislative definition of the process and a description of the individual authorisation threads. Furthermore, the work deals with the method of process digitalisation, which can be applied analogously to other processes within the office. Methodology/Approach: We have analysed the law on metrology and identified 26 processes suitable for digitalisation. These processes were analysed in more detail by flowcharts and process maps. Findings: We have found that the most complex process in the national metrology system is the authorisation process, and therefore, we concluded that it will be the most appropriate process for the scope of digitalisation. Research Limitation/implication: Our research is limited by the currently valid legal metrology regulations in the Slovak Republic. Originality/Value of paper: Creating a universal methodology to define a strategy and implementing the digitalisation of the selected industry in specific national facts. The article can serve as a detailed and qualified background in the processes of specific implementation of national metrology system digital services in Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extremism poses a cross-border social problem, lacking a universally accepted definition. In principle, so-called hate crimes are specific types of criminal offences that cut across all types of extremism. We can even talk about their conceptual overlap. A special category of hate crimes is represented by so-called verbal attacks, known as hate speech, which are considered an abuse of freedom of expression from an international perspective as well as in jurisprudence of the European Court on Human Rights. As a result of such a perception, their criminal sanction comes into consideration. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity of criminal law repression, another method of sanctioning hate crimes and hate speech is also possible, namely by administrative law. The existence of “multiple legal regulations” on extremism as delict caused a dual sanctioning system of extremism. It leads to application problems in legal practice, for example, an unclear understanding of offences from criminal and administrative perspectives or even the weak possibility of investigating such acts by State power. The main objective of the contribution is to point out the dual legal regulation (criminal and administrative) of the sanctioning of extremism, in particular its special category – hate crimes and hate speech. Moreover, the objective of the contribution is to assess its unclear issues in legal understanding and to identify specific application problems caused by its dual system (criminal and administrative). Special attention is focused on applicable sanctions in both the criminal law area and administrative law areas. At the end, suggestions on how to solve indicated problems are introduced. Methods: The primary sources used for the elaboration of the contribution are scholarly sources (books, studies, scientific papers, etc.), legislative instruments (national and international legislation) and case law (of Slovak national courts and the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union). The authors use traditional methods of legal scientific (jurisprudential) research – general scientific methods and special methods of legal science (jurisprudence). The general scientific methods used in the paper are predominantly logical methods, namely, the method of analysis, the method of synthesis, the method of analogy, and the descriptive method. The descriptive method has been used to familiarise the reader with the current legal regulation of extremism. The method of analysis has been used regarding relevant legal provisions and case-laws of courts. The method of synthesis has also been used. The special methods of legal science used here predominantly include methods belonging to a group of interpretative methods, namely, the teleological method, the systematic method and the comparative method. The teleological method has been used to explain the purpose of legislative instruments. The systematic method has been used to classify the relevant applicable law. The comparative method has been used to examine the relationship between legislative perspectives – criminal and administrative. Results and Conclusions: Regarding extremism offences committed in the Slovak Republic, in specific cases, the decision making whether the committed offence is criminal or of an administrative nature depends on the attitude of the person who committed it. In the Slovak Republic, legislative amendments are intended to address the area of extremism offences, but they have not been introduced as final. A new legal regulation of the administrative offences of extremism is envisaged in terms of their definition. A new sanctioning policy of extremism administrative offences by juvenile offenders is also expected. Moreover, the application of probation in case of offences committed by juvenile delinquents in the area of extremism is recommended and preferred. It would highlight the importance of restorative justice, including its strengthening. Probation would allow the court, when sanctioning extremism in the criminal law area, to create a so-called tailor-made sanction, which would strengthen the individualisation of the sanction, the educational purpose of the sanction and the achievement of both the purpose of the sanction and the purpose of the Criminal Code, which is to protect society from criminal offences and their perpetrators. Even the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic partially examined the modification of the elements of criminal offences of extremism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on the selected aspects of investment measurement and management for the support of financial and economic decision-making of investors in wood-processing sectors. The aim of the study was to analyze the indicators for the structure and cost of capital of furniture and paper/forest branches in Slovakia, quantify the actual expected return on investment based on the selected methodology, and consequently find out the fundamental differences resulting from the specific conditions of given sectors. Methodologically, the study uses procedures for the weighted average cost of capital (WACC), capital asset pricing model (CAPM) for determining the cost of equity, and calculation of the beta coefficient considering the risk premium. The results of the study demonstrated a similar levered beta in both analyzed sectors (1.17 in furniture, 1.20 in paper/forest), but in each sector for a different reason. The expected rate of return is higher in furniture (7.84%) compared to paper/forest products at the level of 6.04%. The findings provide the possibility of comparing the required and expected rate of return on invested capital and making the appropriate long-term investment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper was to assess the impact of climate changes on agricultural development and food security in Ukraine and Slovakia using statistical data from Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, State Statistics Service of Ukraine, Eurostat, Food and Agriculture Organization and other sources. The comparison method was used to evaluate changes in agricultural development indicators, as well as climate changes in 1998-2021 in Ukraine and Slovakia. The main indicators of agricultural development used in the research were agricultural raw materials exports(%), agricultural raw materials imports (%), agriculture value added (% of GDP), agriculture value added (annual % growth), agriculture value added (current US$), cereal production (metric tons), cereal yield (kg per hectare), crop production index, food production index. Correlation and regression equations were used to establish the relationship between climatic factors and agricultural development indicators. The multiple correlations between air temperature and indicators of agricultural development was r=0.75 for Ukraine, r=0.69 for Slovakia. Using neuromodeling tools, the indicators of cereal production volumes and cereals yields in Ukraine and Slovakia in 2024-2033 were predicted. Tables were used to summarize the results. In conclusion, it should be noted that climatic conditions should be analyzed in each sector of crop production, and measures should be taken to adapt technologies for the gradual expansion of obligations for the production and export of agricultural products to world markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zbornik Radova Pravnog Fakulteta u Nisu is the property of Law Faculty in Nis and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper focuses on investigating the correlation and volatility of fuel markets in four countries of the Visegrad region, namely Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia. The primary objective of the paper is to explore regional fuel markets and retail prices in these countries by employing VAR models and Johansen procedures to analyze the interrelationships between Visegrad fuel markets. Additionally, the paper uses multivariate dynamic conditional GARCH (DCC GARCH-M) models to examine the volatility and covariance of fuel prices in these nations. The results of the study indicate that there are no long-term connections between Visegrad gasoline prices. The performance of the domestic price is independent of other markets. The research also shows long-term relations of diesel prices only among some countries. Overall, the size of these relations is small and mostly statistically insignificant. These findings provide valuable insights into the fuel markets of the Visegrad countries and can be useful in formulating policies related to energy and fuel price regulation. Overall, the study contributes to the literature on fuel markets in the Visegrad region and provides policymakers and stakeholders with essential information necessary for making informed decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the paper is to present the results of a qualitative research that mapped the situation in the field of institutional education in the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic. In the paper we will introduce the system of institutional education in the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic and describe the most important legislation. At the end of the paper, we will discuss the findings that we have observed during our research. We will point out the common areas and the most significant differences. Our paper will offer an opportunity to better understand the specifics of each system of institutional education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the period of the First Czechoslovak Republic, Slovakia was an ethnically mixed territory, the scene of the meeting of Czechoslovak, Slovak, and Hungarian nationbuilding, among other things. From this point of view, the use of different national symbols, including national anthems, was a sensitive and much debated issue. This study attempts to outline the conflicts that the issue of national anthems had provoked between the state and its citizens, based on the archival records of county courts in Slovakia. The main focus of the paper is on the conflicts between the Czechoslovak state and the Hungarian population in Slovakia over the Hungarian national anthem. Based primarily on the county courts of the period and news reports in the contemporary press, the paper describes the court cases over the anthem and their outcomes. In doing so, it shows that the First Czechoslovak Republic, which was considered a liberal democracy, did not have a liberal attitude towards the use of symbols of national minorities at all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable energy presently represents the energy of the future, which should be based on the application respecting the importance of energy priorities, increasing regional self-sufficiency, regional control of energy, and regulation of resource use. In the area of energy supply, the use of RES has been increasingly popular, mainly due to the instability in the energy market and the political situation worldwide. Paper's ambition is to evaluate the efficiency of the selected RES use in the specific conditions of Slovakia, with the aim to achieve the EU targets. This is important due to the increasing use of RES in Slovakia. The objective of this paper is achieved through an analysis of the energy profit of the RES system, comparing the costs of the proposed solutions. The evaluation is carried out by calculating the energy and economic efficiency of three possible buildings used in the research. Using the data obtained, the results show the most suitable alternative for each building. The resulting findings provide a valuable insight for governments in identifying the best projects for RES use. The result will be methodology creation as a base for local administration and communities to elaborate plans with a goal to extend RES use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting bankruptcy within selected industries is crucial because of the potential ripple effects and unique characteristics of those industries. It serves as a risk management tool, guiding various stakeholders in making decisions. While artificial intelligence (AI) has shown high success rates in classification tasks, it remains uncertain whether its use significantly enhances the potential for early warning of impending problems. The following question arises: will classical methods eventually replace the effectiveness of these advanced techniques? This paper sheds light on the fact that even classical methods continue to achieve results that are not far behind, highlighting their enduring importance in financial analysis. This paper aims to develop bankruptcy prediction models for the chemical industry in Slovakia and to compare their effectiveness. Predictions are generated using the classical logistic regression (LR) method as well as AI techniques, artificial neural networks (ANNs), support vector machines (SVMs), and decision trees (DTs). The analysis aims to determine which of the employed methods is the most efficient. The research sample consists of circa 600 enterprises operating in the Slovak chemical industry. The selection of eleven financial indicators used for bankruptcy prediction was grounded in prior research and existing literature. The results show that all of the explored methods yielded highly similar outcomes. Therefore, determining the clear superiority of any single method is a difficult task. This might be partially due to the potentially reduced quality of the input data. In addition to classical statistical methods employed in econometrics, there is an ongoing development of AI-based models and their hybrid forms. The following question arises: to what extent can these newer approaches enhance accuracy and effectiveness? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the geographical distribution of regional state aid in Slovakia between 2004 and 2021, while focusing on projects realized in the least developed districts. The purpose is to answer the following research question: how much investment support is provided to areas with high rates of long-term unemployment to promote local economic activity? The investigation was conducted using a spatial distribution analysis and descriptive statistical methods. The findings demonstrate that the level of support in less developed districts is below the level of aid directed into more developed regions not only in terms of the number of supported projects, but also regarding the total amount of aid and the number of created jobs. Out of the 20 least developed districts we monitored, only the results for Košice-okolie significantly outperformed the results of the other districts. This article provides possible explanations for these findings and contributes to the literature by providing insights into the practical application of state aid in Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research background: On the basis of an analysis of the current situation and expectations in the field of implementation of the elements of the Industry 4.0 concept, the purpose of this paper is to identify the effects on the labor market in large manufacturing enterprises in the Slovak Republic. Purpose of the article: The presented work has a theoretical-empirical nature and consists of a theoretical section and a practical section, which includes statistical indicator analysis and quantitative research. In the theoretical section, the paper discusses the issue of Industry 4.0 in general, with a focus on its impact on the labor market, thus laying the groundwork for future research on the subject. Methods: The output of this work is an analysis of selected indicators of the manufacturing industry sector in the Slovak Republic, based on the most recent employment data analysis in the first stage and quantitative research survey in the second stage, with the respondents being manufacturing industry companies operating in the Slovak Republic, and whose primary objective is to determine the current status of the implementation of the elements and technologies of Industry 4.0 in production companies in the Slovak Republic, as well as the factors influencing this situation, such as digital twin simulation modeling, artificial intelligence-based Internet of Manufacturing Things systems, and virtual machine and cognitive computing algorithms. Findings & value added: The research findings indicate that the degree of digitization adopted by businesses in the Slovak Republic is comparatively less robust and more sluggish to adapt. This is primarily attributable to the underdeveloped educational system, population reluctance, self-actualization, and inadequate state support. Recommendations for the Slovak market aim to increase the digital proficiency of businesses and of the general populace through various means, such as reforming legislation, enhancing state support for entrepreneurs, and modifying the education system, constituting the added value of the work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy and efficient use of resources gained importance in the context of sustainable development. The paper aims to evaluate the development of landfilling in Slovakia. The next goal is to assess the trend in compared with the EU's situation. The presented research presents a continuation of previous research in the area of waste recycling in Slovakia, pointing to the waste and landfilling, which is deserving of analysis from a long-term perspective. The research is carried out via data collection at the EU level by recording continuously published values. The paper's results are processed in statistical software. Considering regional development, landfilling in Slovakia is followed up according to the geographical units of the entire country. The results shown here show that a higher recycling capacity is required and Slovakia should decrease its level of landfill. Such results can be used in the waste treatment area, protection of the living environment and sustainable development of regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this contribution is to assess the development of the economic condition of the Slovak Republic in the context of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation regarding the development of and changes in the economic condition of Slovakia is compared with that in selected EU countries, considering the effects of previous global crises, with a focus on the impacts on small and medium-sized enterprises. The economies of European countries are mentioned to illustrate the ideas of the presented paper, with an emphasis on the economic dimension of the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent impact on the Slovak Republic. This research is conducted through basic analytical tools and an analysis of the development of macroeconomic indicators, and by addressing the issue through data from a globally available database. The results in this paper serve as proposals and recommendations for the mitigation of negative economic impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of HR analytics has been on the rise in recent years, with organizations increasingly recognizing its potential to improve HR processes, increase employee productivity and engagement, and reduce costs. The research presented in this paper extends the knowledge base, especially the characteristics of the degree of implementation of HR analysis into working systems of human resources management utilized within businesses operating within the Slovakian context, emphasizing their role in bolstering and enhancing competitiveness within the European economic arena. Although there was a clear interest in the use of predictive analytics in Slovak companies, there was still a lot of room for improvement and adoption of this approach in HR practice. The authors' findings also suggest that companies in Slovakia are increasingly aware of the value of data-driven decision-making in HR and are willing to invest in these technologies to gain a competitive advantage. The objective of this study is to ascertain contemporary human resource management instruments utilized within businesses operating within the Slovakian context. The authors assumed that the perceived importance of the data approach in HR among Slovak companies is strong, and companies are open to learning more about this approach. A sample of 841 respondents was collected throughout 2020, sample included enterprises from the Slovak Republic. The interviews were conducted via phone in November 2022. The interview respondents are 7 HR representatives. The authors' findings suggest that companies in Slovakia are increasingly aware of the value of data-driven decision-making in HR and are willing to invest in these technologies to gain a competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to identify the factors that are positively or negatively impacting students' well-being and their academic engagement. We used partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using the data collected through a questionnaire from four countries: Romania, Turkey, Slovakia, and Bulgaria. The model includes seven factors that influence the well-being of students and indirectly their academic engagement: stressors in the students' lives; professors' support; social support from family and friends; the students' perceived satisfaction in their lives; engaging in activities during their leisure time; self-exploration regarding their careers; and environmental exploration regarding their careers. The results show that all factors, except for stressors and environmental exploration regarding their careers, positively influence the students' well-being and thus their academic engagement. These findings are useful for university professors and managers in better organizing activities to increase academic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainability of the family business mirrors the business success and functionality of the family. Sustainability cannot be ensured without sufficient business profitability, solvency and financial stability. A company unable to pay its obligations on time is insolvent and, therefore, unhealthy. The paper’s main goal is to evaluate the impact of selected economic aspects on the sustainability of family farms in Slovakia. The Finstat database serves as the source of input data for the research. For the economic analysis of the family and non-family sets of companies, Grünwald's bonity index (GIB) was chosen for its universality. According to the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, family businesses can be considered less risky, especially considering the conservative way of management and the effort for long-term sustainability. However, the results of our research may differ. Family businesses show higher profitability of total and mainly equity capital but also low current liquidity and an under-capitalised state. The most increased noncredit current liquidity was achieved in family businesses in the pandemic years 2020 and 2021. The family businesses we monitored are more profitable than non-family businesses, they do not show an excessive increase in investments, and most of them seem to have a targeted and purposeful high level of short-term liabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reflects the research aim and starting points of the APVV-18- 0115 project entitled Language in the City – Documenting the Multimodal Semiosphere of Linguistic Landscapes in Slovakia and in a Comparative Perspective. As formulated by its main author, Wolfgang Schulze (2018), the presented interdisciplinary project is focused on “the general research paradigms of the so-called cultural linguistics, sociolinguistics, multimodal linguistics, and cultural semiotics.” Within this context, the paper addresses the means used to express appeal in the linguistic landscape (order, ban, instruction, warning, request, or plea). The author draws on the characteristics and functions of imperative and its competitive forms in the German language, and observes their manifestations in the linguistic landscape. The analysis of the grammatical structures used for expressing the appeal deals with the material collected during the field research performed in the specifically selected parts of Erlangen, Germany. For the purpose of this analysis, the research material was complemented by the signs collected in the more frequented parts of Erlangen as well, i.e., places with increased movement and concentration of people such as the railway station, public transportation vehicles, malls, university, university library. The goal of this paper is to outline the means used in the German linguistic landscape to express an appeal and guide the behaviour of the intended recipients. The comparative perspective is applied not only in the examination and analysis of the research sample, but it also extends to the Slovak language. The results of the analysis are compared with the way an appeal is expressed in the Slovak linguistic landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Knowing key indicators of goodwill value can contribute to its effective management and growth of the market value of the enterprise. The purpose of this research is to identify individual goodwill indicators. The paper aim is to obtain potential indicators of enterprise goodwill under the conditions of the Slovak Republic. Design/Methodology/Approach: Paper data included 11,483 financial statements of Slovak enterprises in 2017. The value of residual enterprise income represents the value of goodwill. Input data for the identification of goodwill indicators represented 15 financial-economic variables. Outliers in data were searched and removed through an interquartile range. Multicollinearity among input variables, by the coefficient of determination and variance inflation factor, was also analysed. A statistically significant correlation between goodwill and its potential indicator were tested by the significance test of the Pearson correlation coefficient and correlation matrixes. Results: Research results reveal the existence of a statistically significant correlation between goodwill and 8 input variables, which represent its potential vital indicators. Conclusion: Paper findings bring new possibilities for goodwill management, which may create an essential competitive advantage of a company. For the scientific community, the findings represent sources of potential goodwill indicators which can be used for the creation of the new model of goodwill valuation in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The territory of Slovakia, during the period when it was part of Hungary, was considered a food storehouse, which was in charge of procuring the majority of food supplies for the country. Nothing about this changed even during the existence of the interwar Czechoslovak Republic, in which the southern part of Slovakia was the republic’s “granary”. The situation in the agrarian area significantly worsened with the adoption of the arbitration decision, on the basis of which the southern territory of Slovakia was ceded to Hungary. The paper focuses on the research of the agricultural situation in the period of the post-arbitration decision in the southern border areas of Slovakia and at the same time in the ceded territory of Hungary. The aim of the paper is to research the effects of the Vienna Arbitration on agriculture in the mentioned territories and, subsequently, on stabilization of the situation in the period from November 2, 1938 to March 14, 1939. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the paper is to analyse and compare the consequences of the coronacrisis on the entrepreneurship of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Slovakia and the Czech Republic with the aim of identifying the determinants of changes in entrepreneurship. The secondary empirical research was carried out based on the analysis of secondary and primary data. The analysis used economic indicators of SMEs, governmental measures and surveys of the views of entrepreneurs. The analysis used data from statistical databases and official reports from government institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as data from primary surveys conducted by NGOs. Descriptive statistics, financial analysis and cross-comparison methods were used to process the data. The results revealed changes in the business of SMEs in the Czech Republic and Slovakia during the crisis, such as the adaptation of business strategies, improvement of flexibility and acceleration of digitalisation processes. These changes highlighted the importance of building business agility. The summary of the main changes in SME business based on both secondary data and primary surveys and the perception of state anti-pandemic aid by managers as feedback to governments represent the main contributions of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores how Slovak consumers perceive the value of food, sold by different retail formats (especially farmers' markets and supermarkets), in terms of the quality, price, and healthiness. The aim of this paper is to evaluate consumer perceptions regarding global and local types of retail stores where they buy food most frequently. In the study, the segmentation of consumers by generation, income, and type of residence is provided. From the methodological point of view, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests are used to test hypotheses. According to the sample of respondents (n = 1,004), large-scale stores do not offer healthier and higher-quality food. This perception, however, varies based on the income of the consumer groups. On the other hand, respondents perceive that food sold at farmers' markets is healthier and of higher quality than food in conventional stores. They do not perceive that food sold at farmers' markets is cheaper than food in conventional stores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research background: The corporate debt situation can be considered a crucial factor influencing the future development of the financial performance of the firm. It is essential for every business entity to know its financial health, its strengths and weaknesses, and how its business has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and all the changes it has brought. Purpose of the article: The main aim of this paper is to explain and quantify the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, analyze changes in the growth of crucial determinants, and identify new trends in Slovak enterprises throughout the monitored period of 2018-2021. Methods: Hence, a statistically significant difference between the individual indicators due to the period in which the firms achieved these values was determined using the Friedman test. It determined whether the average values of the financial indicators remained constant over the period under review (the years 2018 and 2019 are considered pre-COVID-19 years, while 2020 and 2021 are years when the globe was already being impacted by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic) or whether the individual values of the indicators differed significantly. Findings & value added: Considering that there are statistically significant differences in the indicators of self-financing ratio, current indebtedness ratio, and equity leverage ratio in all monitored periods except for the years 2020 and 2021, where the average values of these debt indicators are the same, the results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic also negatively impacted the indebtedness of Slovak enterprises. Although this research paper, focusing on the financial performance of the firms in the post-pandemic period, is pioneering in Slovakia, the biggest contribution of the study is the application of the latest information, which could help in more precise monitoring of corporate financial stability and debt policy during the current challenging period. The obtained results provide important universal guidelines for building financial strategies improving long-term financial resilience of enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation vouchers are a tool of innovation policy, which aims to initiate cooperation between different actors, particularly between the business and research entities. The paper compares the implementation of vouchers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Its objective is to compare the policy approaches to innovation vouchers in two countries in Central Europe which have a shared history, but which, at some point, went their own way. Vouchers in Czechia have a longer tradition and were first initiated at the regional level. In Slovakia, vouchers were only implemented at the national level and with a lower budget. The research confirmed the persistent differences in the innovation policies and the more proactive approach in Czechia. The paper's contribution also lies in the focus on transitive economies, which have received less research attention so far. Implications for the design of innovation policies in countries with emerging innovation systems are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, a number of experts in the Czech Republic and Slovakia are ceasing their activities. For many of them, the reason is mandatory examinations; in some other cases, it is, for example, the unclear liability of the expert witness along with large penalties for violation of given rules. The purpose of the paper is to define the fundamental parameters of expert witness liability in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the light of the global trends in the field. The primary method to achieve this goal was content analysis. The data source used was legal documents, as well as opinions published in scholarly and expert publications. The liability of expert witnesses lies not only in the compliance with the set rules and standards but also in the ability to adapt to new challenges and ensure that their wok is as relevant and accurate as possible. Expert witnesses thus bear liability at multiple levels, including ethics, professional standards, legal obligations, and practical considerations. Nevertheless, there is no established judicial practice in this area in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Europe faces many problems connected to ageing infrastructure which was built in the second half of the 20th century. Bridges are one of the crucial elements of these infrastructures. In recent years, European countries have witnessed many failures of bridges across the continent. For example, the collapse of Viadotto Polcevera in Genoa caught the attention of society regarding its tragic consequences. Therefore, engineers must deal with the assessment of existing bridges which is essential for proper decision-making. Condition rating systems for bridges vary from country to country. Consequently, these differences in the methodology can lead to different conclusions related to the future service of assessed structures. For these reasons, this paper briefly describes condition rating systems for road bridges in Italy, Slovakia, and Portugal and defines the differences in the methodology. Subsequently, the obtained conclusions are compared and discussed. The aim of the paper is to encourage standardization in the assessment of bridge health conditions within European countries, highlighting the differences in the current systems adopted by various countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Theological Review / Bogoslovska Smotra is the property of University of Zagreb, Catholic Faculty of Theology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research background: Studies of income distributions may focus on describing empirical distributions by theoretical models. This approach can be useful for many reasons. When choosing a statistical model, it is important both to find out a theoretical distribution function that would characterize empirical frequency distribution and to choose suitable methods to calculate the parameters of the model. In the literature, there are proposals for various types of mathematical functions. Very high accuracy with empirical distribution is characteristic for Dagum and log-normal models. In 2010 Zenga proposed a new three-parameter model for economic size distribution which possesses interesting statistical properties. Purpose: The aim of this paper is to apply and compare Dagum, log-normal and Zenga models to income distributions in Poland and Slovakia. Research methodology: The studies are based on research data from the European Quality of Life Surveys (EQLS), whose purpose is to measure both objective and subjective indicators of the standard of living of citizens and their households. The estimation parameters were obtained by means of the maximum likelihood method and D'Addario's invariants method. Results: The results of the conducted approximations, presented in the paper confirmed the good consistency of the Dagum and Zenga distributions with the empirical income distribution of households in Poland and Slovakia. Novelty: The Zenga distribution was used for the first time to describe the income distribution of the Slovak population and it allows the best fit to the empirical data of this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central European Agriculture is the property of Journal of Central European Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Central European Agriculture is the property of Journal of Central European Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper focuses on the measurement of PM and other meteorological parameters in a small region of central Europe—eastern Slovakia and northeastern Hungary. Due to the increasing availability of sensors measuring not only PM, but also temperature, humidity, pressure, VOC, NOx, and CO2, new possibilities arise in terms of comparing (mainly in terms of correlation) PM and the other measured parameters, thus generating a large amount of data for evaluation. The correlations found are typical for inland conditions, thus able to map other regions of the world. The presented measurements can also be used to predict the evolution of PM with alerts for people with respiratory diseases, or in virtual reality using a digital twin of a humanoid robot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal waste management plays a crucial role in our communities and has far-reaching implications. Effective waste management contributes to environmental conservation. By reducing waste, recycling, and implementing sustainable practices, we protect our ecosystems and natural resources. Due to the increasing volume of waste and the increasingly complex administration of its collection and disposal, solid waste management is quickly becoming a demanding issue for municipalities all over the world. The objective of the paper was to describe the impacts of communal waste management on municipal budgets and to compare waste management expenditure intensity. The legislative changes, the focus on minimising waste for disposal and promoting a material recycling orientation will have a significant impact on municipal budgets. Local authorities must adjust to the standards established by the European Union. The Slovak Republic will need to progressively adopt these standards by incorporating them into national law [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The right to a favourable environment is a constitutionally guaranteed right. It is also linked to the duty of every entity to protect and improve the environment. The rights and obligations related to this are further regulated in the legislation of parliament. However, the municipality has also its irreplaceable place in ensuring environment protection, including in the form of issuance of generally binding regulations. The purpose of this paper is the assessment of the municipality's competence in the field of environmental protection, taking into account its legislative competence. The aim is to examine the definition of the municipality's power to issue generally binding regulations in the previous decision-making activity of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic, the subsequent legislative changes and the current state of the scope of these powers of municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impetus for the development of coaching as a professional managerial activity is based on the needs and requirements of a modern sustainable society. This paper aims to explore the awareness of academic students about the coaching approach and to formulate recommendations for its application in the academic environment so that students are prepared for the requirements of practice. This article focuses on the views of experts in the field of the coaching approach as a means of improving communication in the academic environment, characterizes communication skills and the coaching approach, and describes coaching models and their benefits and barriers. This research aims to survey the awareness of the coaching approach among college and university students in Slovakia and the possibilities of its application in the academic environment. The primary research was carried out by the inquiry method with 689 students. An evaluation of the questionnaire and a statistical evaluation of the established hypotheses and assumptions concerning the coaching approach were conducted. According to the survey, 468 students, representing 68% of respondents, had knowledge about coaching. Furthermore, 68% of students had or have doubts about achieving their goals during their studies. According to the results of the survey, only 24% of students had experience with coaching. Cooperation with a coach was regarded as beneficial for 76% of the students who had already experienced coaching lectures who took part in the survey. The proposition of the students was the implementation of the subject "Foundations of coaching", which could be offered to be taught to all students at the University of Zilina, Slovakia. The students of managerial fields would benefit by enhancing their leadership skills and providing support to their working teams, completing their final thesis, searching for professional job opportunities, and also coping with everyday life and stressful situations. Finally, we suggest the organization of introductory full-day workshops in specific areas of coaching for students of management, who are future managers. This will help to raise the awareness of the coaching approach at the University of Zilina in cooperation with the Counseling and Career Center and its activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The honey market has adapted to changing consumer preferences for healthy, sustainable produced, local, and high-quality food, which also leads to the development of new flavored honeys. The aim of the paper is to explore honey consumption trends and examine consumer acceptance of new flavored honeys. Consumer study is based on questionnaire survey combined with the evaluation of sensory attributes (color, taste, aroma, consistency, overall acceptance) of selected samples of flavored honeys (cinnamon, raspberry, cocoa and hazelnuts, grape powder, and ginger). The research was conducted in 2023 in Slovakia with a sample of 86 young consumers. Various statistical methods (the Chi-square test of independence, the Friedman test, Nemenyi procedure, extraction method principal component analysis and principal component analysis) were used to identify consumer acceptance and attitudes toward new flavored honeys. Results indicate that the younger generation tends towards occasional honey consumption, averaging up to 3 kg per year. Furthermore, the results showed that nearly 70% of consumers consume flavored honey and prefer honeys with propolis, pollen, royal jelly, ginger, and cinnamon. The motives for consumption are primarily taste and health benefits and key factors influencing the purchase and consumption of flavored honeys include quality and composition. Sensory evaluation highlights positive evaluations for color of honey with raspberry; aroma, taste, and overall acceptance of honey with cinnamon; and taste of honey with cocoa and hazelnuts. The findings underscore a shifting preference among younger consumers towards flavored honeys, indicating a growing market demand driven by both taste preferences and perceived health benefits, potentially reshaping the honey consumption patterns towards new and value-added products. Consumer study offers new insights for scientific research and provide valuable information for honey producers in developing and marketing of new flavored honey. Additionally, it contributes to public health awareness, emphasizing the significance of flavored honey consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]