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The literature on cross-border cooperation in Europe is predominated by the analysis of the European Union (EU) INTERREG Programmes' results, while other support funds are often neglected. To fill this research gap, the authors undertook the research on cross-border cooperation of the area-based partnerships (Local Action Groups – LAGs) from Poland and the Czech Republic, financed by the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) 2014–2020. The main purpose of our paper is to identify the rationales for cooperation, strategies to find partners, the scope of activities and obstacles in implementing the joint projects. The qualitative research involved a content analysis of LAG documents and interviews with LAG managers. The actions in twelve identified cooperation projects were mainly related to local traditions, inventory and the promotion of local products and services, the development of tourism and environmental issues. The respondents have emphasised that these actions required separate financing by national RDPs following different administrative rules, even though when constituting the components of a single project. The bureaucratic restrictions resulted in a clear asymmetry of LAGs activities, manifested in a lower involvement of the Czech LAGs. As a result, many projects can be considered as highly unilateral, solely national rather than genuinely international, which has not been the intention of the LAG managers, however. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aims to explore the role of professional diagnostic rapid testing of acute respiratory infections (ARIs), especially COVID-19 and influenza, ensuring proper disease management and treatment in Europe, and particularly in Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania. The paper was constructed based on a review of scientific evidence and national and international policies and recommendations, as well as a process of validation by four experts. The development of new testing technologies, treatment options, and increased awareness of the negative multidimensional impact of ARI profiles transformed differential diagnosis into a tangible and desirable reality. This review covers the following topics: (1) the multidimensional impact of ARIs, (2) ARI rapid diagnostic testing platforms and their value, (3) the policy landscape, (4) challenges and barriers to implementation, and (5) a set of recommendations illustrating a path forward. The findings indicate that rapid diagnostic testing, including at the point of care (POC), can have a positive impact on case management, antimicrobial and antibiotic stewardship, epidemiological surveillance, and decision making. Integrating this strategy will require the commitment of governments and the international and academic communities, especially as we identified room for improvement in the access and expansion of POC rapid testing in the focus countries and the inclusion of rapid testing in relevant policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the memoryscapes of Cieszyn Silesia, Orawa and Spisz in a context of the border conflicts of the twentieth century. The regions located on the current Czech-Polish and Slovak-Polish border have lived through paralleled histories of the border demarcation after WWI, which was unprecedented there. In both cases the national minorities were left behind the border, outside of their home states. Their stories and memories are, however, not being researched together. This paper contrasts the patterns of memory production related to the border shifts in the landscape in both regions. Emphasis is placed on the memory sites, their narratives and memory activism related to the conflicting past. The results show that the main axes of both memory debates are contrasting. While the conflict over Cieszyn Silesia was most shaped by the short war in 1919, the lesser-known dispute over Orawa and Spisz was marked by numerous smaller incidents, assimilation efforts and a layer of post WWII violence. This has important consequences for the memory production. The other important differentiating factor is the scope of memory activism inside of the national minority group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a discontinuity‐based analysis of the settlement pattern changes in the Czechia–Poland cross‐border historical region of Těšín Silesia. An approach based on a well‐known and popular method (regression discontinuity design) was applied to measure spatial discontinuity. To describe the spatiotemporal changes, a combination of spatial, statistical and cartographic methods was used. The observed differences have been developing for more than 150 years; at the start, this area belonged to the territory of one state, and later it was divided by a national border. The division of the region resulted in areas following different development trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the utilization of the International Atomic Energy Agency's toolkit for reactor technology assessment (RTA) application to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Czech Republic, Egypt, and Poland. The increasing demand for clean energy has led to the prominence of small modular reactors (SMRs) in addressing global energy challenges. The successful integration of SMRs into national energy systems necessitates comprehensive evaluations that take into account each country's specific characteristics and energy requirements. RTA application represents significant progress towards innovative nuclear solutions, advancing a cleaner and more resilient energy future plan. The aim of this study is assessing the feasibility and advantages of SMR implementation in these countries, focusing on energy security, emission reduction, and long-term sustainability. Various SMR technologies, including NuScale, SMART, HTR-PM, BWRX-300, SMR-160, and RITM-200, are comparatively analyzed based on safety, scalability, efficiency, and economic viability. The findings reveal that BWRX-300 suits the needs of the Czech Republic and Poland, while RITM-200 is the optimal choice for Egypt. Moreover, NuScale also stands as a strong alternative for all three countries. This article emphasizes the importance of informed discussions and evidence-based decisions, promoting sustainable energy development and global advancements in nuclear technology. By utilizing SMRs, the Czech Republic, Egypt, and Poland can enhance energy security, reduce emissions, and meet rising energy needs sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the proliferation of the Industry 4.0 paradigm, the inadequacy of conventional quality management tools has become increasingly apparent. The preliminary investigation presented in this paper focuses on the identification of the Quality 4.0 readiness level of organizations operating in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia, as well as affecting factors. The study is based on the review of relevant literature. The web-based questionnaire enabling organizations' representatives through Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) to take part in the study was used. Data from 298 completed responses were subjected to comprehensive analysis. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were applied to analyse the data. Small and medium-sized organizations achieve low levels of Quality 4.0 readiness. Large organizations are better prepared. The study confirmed the dependence between the Quality 4.0 readiness level and whether the organization operates in automotive, while automotive organizations achieved a higher level of Quality 4.0 readiness than other organizations. The significant relationship between the Quality 4.0 readiness level and whether the organization has a certified management system was also confirmed. Received data also enabled the identification of the main barriers and benefits of Quality 4.0 implementation perceived by the organizations. The research findings identify the challenges that enterprises face regarding the Quality 4.0 implementation and the necessary support that organizations require. These findings can be a foundation for developing novel research initiatives and implementation programs. The research results contribute to the existing body of knowledge and bring new information and insights into the field of quality digitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a parameter identification methodology of the SIRD model, an extension of the classical SIR model, that considers the deceased as a separate category. In addition, our model includes one parameter which is the ratio between the real total number of infected and the number of infected that were documented in the official statistics. Due to many factors, like governmental decisions, several variants circulating, opening and closing of schools, the typical assumption that the parameters of the model stay constant for long periods of time is not realistic. Thus our objective is to create a method which works for short periods of time. In this scope, we approach the estimation relying on the previous 7 days of data and then use the identified parameters to make predictions. To perform the estimation of the parameters we propose the average of an ensemble of neural networks. Each neural network is constructed based on a database built by solving the SIRD for 7 days, with random parameters. In this way, the networks learn the parameters from the solution of the SIRD model. Lastly we use the ensemble to get estimates of the parameters from the real data of Covid19 in Romania and then we illustrate the predictions for different periods of time, from 10 up to 45 days, for the number of deaths. The main goal was to apply this approach on the analysis of COVID-19 evolution in Romania, but this was also exemplified on other countries like Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland with similar results. The results are backed by a theorem which guarantees that we can recover the parameters of the model from the reported data. We believe this methodology can be used as a general tool for dealing with short term predictions of infectious diseases or in other compartmental models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decades, North America as well as Europe have experienced a significant boom of craft breweries. While it has been understood mainly as a result of neolocalism, we argue that this view is overly unilateral and depending on spatial context. Other factors like glocalization may potentially also affect the emergence of craft breweries. This paper examined the factors influencing the expansion of craft breweries in seven regions of Czechia and Poland, two Central European countries that share similar history but differ in their brewing traditions. Based on semi-structured interviews with representatives of 59 breweries, we identified important similarities but also fundamental differences. Many breweries have indeed been significantly influenced by neolocalism, while some did not capitalize on it, and others even directly rejected it. The role of spatial context has also manifested, particularly through the increased importance of glocalization in several regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern communication and information technologies are rapidly being deployed at health care institutions around the world. Although these technologies offer many benefits, ensuring data protection is a major concern, and implementation of robust data protection measures is essential. In this context, health care providers and medical care facilities must frequently make difficult decisions and compromises between the need to provide effective medical care and the need to ensure data security and patient privacy. In the present paper, we describe and discuss key issues related to data protection systems in the setting of cancer care hospitals in Europe. We provide real-life examples from two European countries—Poland and the Czech Republic—to illustrate data protection issues and the steps being taking to address these questions. More specifically, we discuss the legal framework surrounding data protection and technical aspects related to patient authentication and communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When discussing historic structures, a significant problem is how to preserve and protect these structures. The presented paper deals with some issues of the unfavourable impact of industrial activity on some historic structures. Long-term influences from the industrial activity are one of the common sources of damage observed in these structures. Due to the size and volume of such structures, they are characterized by very low resistance to vibration and ground deformations. At the same time, the high cultural and material value of historic structures necessitates their costly protection and repair. Knowing the origin of problems, one may take proper actions to protect them. This paper discusses two important types of impact typical for industrial areas, especially affected by mining, seismically induced vibrations and continuous ground deformations from underground extraction. The presented discussion is based on the case study examples of historical sites located in some industrial areas in the Czech Republic and Poland. They point to different sources of damage to those structures that may arise as well as a combined effect of mining-induced seismic events and land subsidence. The medieval Jeroným Mine represents an underground structure loaded with natural and technical seismicity. The paper also includes a short overview of the process of seismic loading evaluation and basic information about historic structures with respect to seismic standards and land surface subsidence caused by underground mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capital structure plays an important role in corporate finance, especially in the period of restrictive monetary policy in many developed countries. This paper aims to estimate the debt ratio based on five selected financial indicators: tangibility, return on assets, size of total assets, current ratio, and size of total sales using multiple linear regression for four countries, such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, as well as the V4 region. The total sample consists of 3828 small- and medium-sized enterprises from the transport sector in the Central European area. These data are drawn from Amadeus by Bureau van Dijk from 2019. The results show that three of the five variables are statistically significant in all models. These findings indicate that transport companies prefer the pecking order theory. We find that the increase in tangibility, return on assets, as well as current ratio, reduce the debt ratio. The outputs provide new theoretical and empirical knowledge regarding transport companies in V4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic brought many changes to social behaviours in Europe. One of its major consequences was the temporary closure of borders, which was introduced as a measure to prevent the uncontrolled pandemic spreading and involved internal Schengen borders. This has had a major impact in the way in which cross-border cooperation has been conducted in Europe, including the Czech-Polish borderland, as it dramatically restrained all flows across borders. In this paper, we evaluate the impact of the pandemic on five roles of cross-border cooperation: 1) as a multi-level governance form; 2) as a regional development tool; 3) as a para-diplomacy form; 4) as a post-conflict reconciliation tool; and 5) as Europe-building. We argue that the impacts of the pandemic complicated regional development and the Europe-building role of cross-border cooperation in the Czech-Polish borderland. The article envisages re-bordering processes also in the Czech-Polish borderland, but with important exceptions in the regions with a high level of cross-border integration, mainly in the Euroregion Těšínské Slezsko/Śląsk Cieszyński. The paper also calls for the elaboration of the guidelines for possible repeated (Schengen) border closures and proposes modifications of the INTERREG microprojects schemes, to keep them attractive also in times of expected cuts in public finances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the growth of research productivity is a core element of performance in the higher education sector. This paper aims to analyse the scientific productivity of the Visegrád Group countries (2010–2019) based on data from the Web of Scopus and Scopus databases, as well as data from secondary sources (demographic and socio‐economic factors). Quantitatively, although Poland has the highest output, this is due to its comparative size, whereas output per researcher in Poland is lower than in other Visegrád Four (V4) countries. As regards the qualitative approach, Hungary and the Czech Republic are significantly more effective in terms of scientific collaboration and receive a greater number of European Research Council grants. Thus, bibliometric data in relation to cross‐country characteristic indicators (socio‐economic variables including expenditure on science and having prestigious universities) are related to the positions of the V4 countries. Practical implications suggest that university management within the Visegrád Group must develop and continue strategies to strengthen international collaboration between researchers in order to accelerate change in the dissemination of scientific output at the global level. Academic scholarly publishers may benefit from publishing research on specific issues important to different regions of the world in order to expand their audience and gain new potential resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, human capital has become increasingly emphasized as a factor of economic growth. Managing human capital could stimulate the whole economy to better performance in competitiveness. Although these indicators include several variables, there is no precise determination of which indicator mostly affects the country's economic growth. This paper summarizes the knowledge and approaches of several authors in the field of economic growth, knowledge economy, competitiveness, innovations and individual elements affecting these areas. It outlines the findings and provides some insight into the impact of individual factors on economic growth across recent studies. The main goal is to obtain information about the impact of education, its support, and its influence on economic performance on the example of empirical data documenting the qualitative parameters of the workforce. The use of selected indicators indicated their impact on the change in economic performance. The partial objective is to identify an indicator or set of indicators that could express the impact of human capital on economic growth. The study involved research methods such as analyzes, statistical methods such as correlation and p-value, and prediction for the next period based on past developments. The research object is the V4 countries – the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. The findings pointed to the strong impact of the analyzed factors on economic growth. Besides, they showed which of the known ways to increase the efficiency of the labor factor were actually or little used in the sample countries. Undoubtedly, there is also an indicative and interesting comparison within a group or with other economies at a comparable economic and social development level. Finally, improvements to the current situation were proposed. The systematization of literary sources and approaches to economic growth helps identify possible proposals for improving competitiveness in the future, using innovative approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to ascertain, from the normative ("should be" - academic experts) and business practice ("is" - management accountants) perspective, whether and to what extent management accountants' competence requirements differ between the Czech Republic and Poland and if so, to indicate the reasons for such differences. Both groups of respondents, as well as both countries have they own specific characteristics, but also share some common qualities. All respondents emphasize an important role that management accountants play in modern companies and suggest the necessity of developing standards and requirements for this position. The study is unique, since it compares different perspectives of management accountants' professional competences expected by academic and business practice in two neighbouring countries (the Czech Republic and Poland) with their own specific institutional environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local service centres play a vital role in shaping the quality of life in urban neighbourhoods. They offer access to essential everyday services (shops, education, healthcare, personal services) and to public spaces. If they are properly planned and managed, they can bring particular added values to a local community, such as social integration and territorial identification. The history of urban planning has produced several patterns of local service centres (ancient agora, mediaeval market square, neighbourhood unit, modern agora) but today a question arises: how can a local service centre be successfully planned and organised in post-modern political practice? How can its potential be realised and the ever-changing needs, expectations and preferences of local communities be met? Who should be involved in those processes? To answer those questions in this paper we refer to citizen participation and public communication concepts, where selecting the appropriate stakeholders emerges as a necessary starting point for effective urban governance. We present the results of in-depth interviews with local actors (local authorities, municipality officials, town planners, non-governmental organisations, local leaders) in Poland (Wrocław, Siechnice, Ostrów Wielkopolski, Warszawa and Zabierzów), Czech Republic (Prague) and Denmark (Copenhagen). Depending on the specific local context, various stakeholders are perceived as essential to the decision-making process. The power relations and problems encountered in implementing public policy in particular locations have been summarised in three sections: relationships between stakeholders, leadership, and good practices. The paper concludes with a list of typical actors who should be involved in planning, building and managing a local service centre in an urbanised neigh-bourhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An appropriate transfer pricing policy and procedures help to reach a win-win situation between involved parties - taxpayers and tax administration authorities. The paper deals with one of the instruments that could help to reach such a desirable status - namely with the Advance Pricing Agreement (hereinafter referred to as “APA" only). The aim of the paper is to identify fundamental rules as stated for the APAs in the standards of the OECD and subsequently describe, assess and compare general rules for the APAs in the Czech and Polish domestic law. The research realized is based on a qualitative research; a case study was selected for its realization. A content analysis of a text was a technique used for the collection of relevant data and information. On the basis of results reached, one can observe that the Czech domestic legal regulation does not meet the criteria, unlike polish one, for the APAs as stated by the OECD. The legal regulation contained in the Czech domestic law is insufficient and in this respect the provisions contained in the Polish domestic law can be considered as a suitable and inspiring. Following this conclusion, authors present some de lege ferenda proposals for the Czech domestic law rising from the Polish domestic law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this paper is to analyse the exposure to exchange rate risk of 24 financial and energy companies from 4 Central and Eastern European countries, i.e., Romania, Hungary, Poland and Czechia, using datasets covering the period between January 2010 and December 2017. The largest listed companies from financial and energy industries were selected by market capitalization and based on available data for this period. This study investigates the link between stock prices and a number of variables, such as stock market indices, monthly changes in the exchange rate of the domestic currencies to the EUR and USD, real GDP growth rate, Brent crude oil prices and 1-year bond yields. Applying the panel data methodology, the findings indicate that for both types of companies, when considering the stock market index, significant exposure to this variable is discovered. When excluding this variable from the equation at the financial companies, there is a significant exposure to the change in the exchange rate of the domestic currencies to the both EUR and USD and unexpectedly, to the oil price changes, fact that displays a remarkable result for the financial companies. The price of crude oil had a much greater impact on the stock prices of the financial companies than it was expected and at the same time, it seemed to be a risk factor. For the energy companies, when removing the stock market index from the equation, significant exposure is found to the change in the exchange rates of domestic currencies to the EUR and to the change in the price of oil. The exposure to Brent crude oil price turned out to be positive in both situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The right to have one's case heard within reasonable time constitutes one component of an effective judicial protection. The aim of this paper is to establish the reasons for delays in proceedings before the Supreme Administrative Courts in the Czech Republic and in Poland, to analyze why they exist, and to formulate proposals on how the structural and procedural activity of these courts could be organized more effectively. The international and national standards as well as the Polish and the Czech standards pertaining to the right to have one's case heard within reasonable time and the reasons for unjustified delays will be examined, and the explanations for their occurrence will be provided. Proposals will then be formulated on how to make the procedures more effective. The ideas formulated are relevant in both countries for the two judicial systems, but also for other judiciaries, which also experience the same problems with system delays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective risk management in coal mining companies may be achieved by adopting an integrated approach, i.e. IERM, which allows them to manage their risk exposure in a complete and complementary way. Risk needs to be properly identified, before it may be estimated, and later responded to adequately. This is a prerequisite for effective risk management in coal mining companies conducting their activities in Poland and the Czech Republic, as well as other countries all over the world. In both countries, i.e. Poland and the Czech Republic, coal mines operate within the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, which means that their operating conditions are almost identical. It may then be possible to standardise risk management procedures and implement them in companies' operations. This may be ensured by using the integrated risk management formula, outlined in this paper. Therefore, the paper aims to give an overview of the risk management problems experienced by coal mines, with the focus on the integrated enterprise risk management (IERM) concept, as well as proposing that the concept should be implemented in coal mines operating in Poland and the Czech Republic. In particular, it proposes that the traditional approach to the risk management process, i.e. Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) should be modified and transformed into an integrated process. The paper uses the method of synthesis. It also contains a review of scientific literature on the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the attitudes and beliefs of students of Spanish as a foreign language, who undertook their secondary education in the bilingual sections of Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland, towards the educated varieties of Spanish. To achieve our goal, we relied on the PRECAVES-XXI project, which allowed us to establish how the surveyed students valued the varieties in both direct (evaluating an audio recording) and indirect (evaluating the speaker, the region and the culture) ways. It was found that, in the case of direct evaluation, the variety that obtained the best results was the Castilian, followed by the Mexican, the Rioplatense and, finally, the Andalusian variety. Almost identical results were obtained in the indirect evaluation by the region and the culture. However, this was not the case in the evaluation by the speaker, in which the order of the varieties, best to worst, was as follows: Castilian, Andalusian, Rioplatense and Mexican. Finally, the possible causes of such results are discussed, as well as their application in the field of teaching Spanish as a foreign language, and in Hispanic language policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban transport in countries of East-Central Europe, including the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, played an important role in the residents’ daily mobility. The underdevelopment of individual motorisation contributed to the lasting significant role of public transport. Due to the operating characteristics of electric vehicles, as well as emerging fuel crises, electric public transport played a key role, especially in large cities. Differences in the development of economies in the electrotechnical segment influenced the structure of public transport in the analysed countries. The higher level of development of the Czechoslovak transport sector contributed to a greater share of trams and trolleybuses in total transport. Despite many development plans in Poland, the process of developing traditional means of electric transport slowed down with the political change in 1989. The situation was slightly different in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where, despite financial difficulties, the development of tramway and trolleybus networks continued. Modernisation of public transport began after joining the European Union. Technological development has led to the emergence of a new means of transport –electric buses. The apparent ease of putting them into service revolutionised the situation in Poland, thus popularising electric transport. The situation was different in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where the main focus was on the development of tramway and trolleybus transport. The article reconstructs the development of urban electric transport after 1989 in the analysed countries and identifies factors that differentiate contemporary transport development policies in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative activity is an important source of competitiveness, economic growth, as well as the image of each country. There are several ways to measure and evaluate the innovation performance of a country. Our research was focused on the summary innovation index (SII), a tool used for analysing the innovative ability of European countries. The Innovation Union is an EU initiative which monitors progress achieved in research, development, and innovation, all indicators which are included in the SII. The aim of this paper is to analyse the impact of all SII 27 indicators, which are divided into 10 main areas: human resources, research systems, innovation-friendly environment, finance and support, firm investments, innovators, linkages, intellectual assets, employment impacts, sales impacts. All these indicators are considered in creating the total value of the SII. A statistically significant relationship was determined among all the SII indicators and the total value of the SII using samples from the V4 countries of Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland during the period 2010-2016. The aim of the research was to identify possible strengths and weaknesses of the national innovation systems of these countries and, thus to identify the impact of these strengths and weaknesses on the innovative position of these countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differences in welfare amongst European countries are especially evident in border regions, and this affects cross-border cooperation and relationships. Due to the historical development of Central and Eastern European countries over the last century, the affected countries are unique "laboratories" for geographical research. This study assesses disparities in socio-economic indicators representing socio-economic phenomena in the Czech-Polish border region, through the analysis of cross-border (spatial) continuity, using quantitative methods (multivariate statistics and socio-economic profiling), GIS analysis and cartographic visualisation. It is demonstrated how such a combination of methods is useful for the comparison and evaluation of the complex socio-economic situations in neighbouring countries. This research project identifies the most suitable common indicators for a proper evaluation of cross-border (spatial) continuity, and it reveals the spatial patterns as reflected by a cluster analysis. The greatest cross-border (spatial) continuity is apparent in the easternmost part of the borderlands, while significant differences on both sides of the border are evident in the very central part of the areas under study. The paper also describes methodological aspects of the research in order to provide a quantitative approach to borderland studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Electric vehicles (EVs) are the future of road transport in both Poland and the Czech Republic and offer significant potential for reducing air pollution and increasing life comfort, especially in crowded city centers. This paper presents a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of EVs in Poland and the Czech Republic, considering the life cycle from cradle to grave, with a special focus on the production of the electricity required to charge EV batteries. The analyses included the current and future energy systems (from 2015 to 2050) used to charge EV batteries in the both countries. A comparative analysis of EVs and passenger vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICEVs) was carried out. In addition, the analyses considered scenarios of smart grids from which the energy for the charging of EV batteries could be supplied exclusively from renewable sources. The results showed that the environmental burden of current and future EVs is higher in Poland than in the Czech Republic for all analyzed impact categories and that this result is primarily related to the type of electricity used to charge EV batteries. The comparative analysis of EVs and ICEVs showed that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fossil fuel depletion in Poland and the Czech Republic, both at present and in the future, will be lower in the case of EVs than in the case of ICEVs. However, the acidification, eutrophication, human toxicity, and particulate matter formation caused by EVs are higher than those caused by ICEVs. The results showed that EVs coupled with renewable electricity sources offer the potential to reduce the negative impacts on the environment. It was concluded that the main determinant of the environmental impact of EVs is the type of electricity used to charge EV batteries. This is the first attempt at a comparative LCA of EVs in Poland and the Czech Republic. It is also the first approach that includes analyses of the LCA for both the present and future electricity production systems used for charging EV batteries. Highlights • The environmental performance of EVs in Poland and the Czech Republic was assessed. • The main sources affecting EV environmental performance were analyzed. • A comparative LCA of electric and internal combustion vehicles was conducted. • LCA of EV charging with exclusively renewable sources was performed. • The study showed the importance of the energy sources used to charge EV batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to find a trend in air transport behaviour in the Czech Republic and Poland, based on data collected between the years of 2004 and 2016. The choice of data period for the analysis was made because of the date when both mentioned countries joined the European Union and availability of data. The data used in this article is provided from the Eurostat web page where many revealing statistics are collected. The correlations of indicators were chosen as a method of the analysis. It was observed that the number of passengers increased up to 30% and 460%, respectively, in the Czech Republic and in Poland. The authors will explain possible reasons and aspects of such behaviour in order to make some predictions for future trends in air transport. The additional aim is to understand transport processes and economic growth in neighbouring countries during the period of focus. The knowledge of conditional changes in the number of passengers utilizing air transport grants the ability to make forecasts about the needed infrastructure, number of aircrafts, pilots, and staff needed at the airports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper advances the topic of food quality labels. The main goal of the study is to explore generation Y perceptions and expectations of food quality labels in the Czech Republic and Poland. The data were collected through an online survey from 372 respondents, involving 221 of Czechs and 151 of Poles. The statistical analysis procedures including descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were performed to discover whether significant differences do exist between Czech and Polish consumer attitudes to the topic. Findings show that the number of food quality labels is perceived as strongly high and confusing, it is evident mainly in the Czech Republic. Impact of quality labels on food purchases is therefore limited and the labels benefits are not understood in full range. Statistically significant differences were confirmed between attitudes of Czechs and Poles to the food products characteristics that should be guaranteed by quality labels. Futher, Czech and Polish respondents differ in their opinion on the fee for the certification and credible administrator of the labels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the effects of macroeconomic policy announcements on financial markets in three Central European economies: Czechia, Hungary, and Poland (CE–3). We focus on the unprecedented stabilisation policies implemented from March to December 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, including unconventional monetary measures and large stimulus programs. Detailed categories of monetary and fiscal measures are introduced into vector autoregressions with exogenous regressors and dynamic conditional correlations, which we estimate using daily data. This allows us to control for policy spillovers from abroad, as well as global risk factors and pandemic-related variables. We find that, in general, macroeconomic policy measures implemented in the CE–3 countries played an important role in stabilising financial markets during the pandemic. We uncover several notable patterns in the reaction of markets to anti-crisis measures across the region. The impact of the monetary policy announcements on 10-year sovereign bond yields was more substantial than on stock market returns and exchange rate returns. The communication of the unconventional tools proved effective in lowering the bond yields. Interestingly, we document that the effects of non-standard measures for some variables, such as the exchange rate, can be qualitatively different from those resulting from a conventional monetary expansion. Even though the domestic monetary events became more important than the fiscal ones, the latter proved relevant for financial market returns, especially when large-scale immediate fiscal measures and tax deferrals were introduced. We also show that the CE–3 economies were subject to the cross-border transmission of policy announcement effects from the Euro Area and the US, although the magnitude of these effects was smaller than expected and varied across the CE–3 countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at pointing out the evolution in real and financial plans in order to adhere to the EMU, using a comparative approach, on the example of Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary. The main results of the study are the following: the four countries have made notable progress in the years preceding the current crisis; however, considerable efforts are still needed in order to comply with the euro zone, in terms of living standards, economic structure, degree of openness of the economy, etc.; refer the financial convergence, directions are needed to increase the financial intermediation and financial depth in Romania and Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary recording slightly more favourable indicators. On the other hand, central banks, except the Polish one, should significantly improve the transmission mechanism of monetary policy upon the financial and real sphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The term GNSS meteorology refers to the utilization of the Global Navigation Satellite System''s (GNSS) radio signals to derive information about the state of the troposphere. GNSS tomography allows to resolve the spatial structure and temporal behavior of the tropospheric water vapor. This paper presents the verification of GNSS tomography over dense local GNSS network. The paper addresses the problem of obtaining a stable tomographic solution from an ill-conditioned system of linear equations. The main interests are in suitable horizontal and vertical resolution in given conditions. Here the Moore–Penrose pseudo inverse of variance–covariance matrix is used. The minimum constraints solution is obtained with no additional assumptions. The results are validated with the help of simulated weather conditions. Three various scenarios are tested. As general output of this paper the optimal model construction scheme is presented with possible further improvements. The verification of the tomography model based on the local GPS KARKONOSZE, situated in the Karkonosze mountains area in Poland. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Contemporary airborne Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) elevation data provide a high-resolution input to quantitative studies within various branches of geomorphological research. Availability of such data played an especially significant role in the recent developments of geomorphometric studies focused on extremely rugged terrains, such as dissected sandstone plateaus. These are the areas of very complex topography, featuring structurally-controlled landforms such as tabular hills, canyons, cleft-and-valley systems, numerous high and near-vertical rock walls, isolated tors and dense boulder slope covers. In this paper we focus on issues of LiDAR data handling for geomorphometric research in Central European sandstone areas in Czechia, Poland and Germany, where the extremely rugged terrains are usually located in the forest and, thus, usability of LiDAR DEM (Digital Elevation Model) products for morphometric studies can be constrained. The impact of forest density on local decrease of ground point density may be considerable, adversely affecting the quality of DEMs, which become unsuitable to represent properly terrain features. Therefore, the role of DEM pre-processing in geomorphometric workflow is emphasized. Using the original point cloud data one can provide a much more detailed terrain representation that includes numerous convex landforms (tors, boulders) which are erroneously filtered-out from ready-to-use DEMs. Results of such procedure are shown explicitly in the form of Elevation Difference maps, as well as on examples of selected morphometric indices such as Topographic Wetness Index, Terrain Ruggedness Index and Morphometric Protection Index. The awareness of qualities of particular LiDAR datasets should be considered crucial while assessing LiDAR data applicability for morphometric studies on rugged erosional landscapes, especially if the study areas are transboundary. • Forest canopies significantly decrease LiDAR DEM quality in complex topography. • Qualities of LiDAR data affect representation of particular rock landform types. • Convex rock landforms located in forests are vulnerable to LiDAR data errors. • Point-cloud-based upgrade of available DEM products is highly recommended. • Upgraded LiDAR DEMs make difference in studies on sandstone geomorphometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on the multimodal transport development within the cross-border area is a result of identified gaps in the system solutions and cooperation between stakeholders of three countries: Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Freight transport is an especially complex problem. It is an area that is not comprehensively recognized in the context of cross-border cooperation. The results of the research presented in this paper are the continuation of analyses performed within the scope of the international project framework TRANS TRITIA. At the moment, transport policy assumes the struggle for the utilization of multimodality within freight transport. This is justified by the need to reduce external transport costs. At the same time, this necessitates actions of a technical, organizational, and legislation nature as well as cooperation between stakeholders. The multimodal transport ecosystem is a vision of the transport within cross-border areas that assumes the increase in the flow dynamics within the multimodal transport. The main goal of this paper was the stakeholders' analysis and identification of their roles in the ecosystem of multimodal freight transport within the Polish–Czech–Slovak cross-border area. The conceptualization of the multimodal freight transport ecosystem was essential to achieving the objective. To achieve the objective, a stakeholder analysis has been performed based on expert research. As a result of the research, organizational projects have been proposed to strengthen the idea of the coevolution of the multimodal transport ecosystem. The key conclusion from the performed research is the declaration that a holistic view of the multimodal transport ecosystem necessitates the appointment of a coordinator who will synchronize knowledge, business, and innovation ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glacial cirques have specific concave longitudinal profiles different from those of valley heads without glacial imprint. The degree of deepening of valley heads can be used to determine the extent of past mountain glaciation and serve as a tool in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. The aim of the present paper is to compare longitudinal profiles of glacial cirques and non-glaciated valley heads. For this purpose, we analyzed an alpine area with classic well-developed glacial cirques in the Central Alps (Austria) and a mid-mountain area of the High Sudetes (Czech Republic/Poland) with both cirques and non-glaciated valley heads. We described each valley head by c- value function fitting using longitudinal profiles obtained from detailed laser-derived digital elevation models and tested them statistically. The results show, with high accuracy of fitting, significant differences between c- values of glacial cirques and those of non-glacial valley heads. This newly presented approach could be useful for distinguishing between valley heads of fluvial origin and glacial cirques, as well as for evaluating the degree of cirque development. • Cirques and fluvial valley heads are described by function fitting. • C -value function defined by the shape of valley-head normalized long-profiles. • C -value describes each profile by a unique number corresponding to its concavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate time management allows individuals to achieve work and personal goals, plan tasks, set priorities, eliminate disruptive effects, and increase work efficiency and productivity. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of managerial work and the performance of managers of food companies in the V4 countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland) from the perspective of time management principles, point out the shortcomings and reserves that can ensure time management, and propose solutions to improve business practice. We set five research assumptions in order to evaluate the situation comprehensively. A survey carried out from September 2020 to January 2021 involved 1588 managers working at various levels of management. Statistical methods and tests were used for data processing and their subsequent evaluation. The data were processed using Microsoft Excel 2016, the statistical software SAS Enterprise Guide 7.1, and XLSTAT. The analysis showed that three-quarters of managers are aware of the value of their time. More than half of the managers involved try to regularly review their agenda in order to identify gaps in the use of time and to avoid repeating unproductive practices. Only half of the managers make arrangements not to think about work in their free time. The managers spend the most time in their work dealing with administration. Intensifying the implementation of ICT (information and communication technologies) in the work of the manager has the effect of increasing the efficiency of the division and use of working time of managers. Based on our findings, we consider the goal orientation, positive motivation, systematic training, and development of managers as a key prerequisite for efficiency of managerial work and performance of managers and their effective time management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the agri-food export dynamics in the New Member States and the Old Member States of the European Union during the enlargement process. The analysis relies on two different approaches based on the similarity and the sophistication indices of exported goods using a disaggregation at 95 items. The analysis shows that different and somehow divergent paths are in place. On the one side, the Czech Republic and Poland are involved in a quality catching up process and increase their competitiveness. On the other side, Bulgaria and Romania seem to be still trapped in the low-quality segment of the agri-food market with a decreasing competitiveness performance in the richest segment of the European market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of studies of fault zones carried out in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. Three types of changes of the coal were distinguished: degradative changes connected with a deterioration in the quality of the coal; aggradational changes connected with an increase in the quality of coal; and the type of coal which shows no significant change in the values of its parameters. Hypergenic changes of the coal were mainly observed in the fissures of faults with the dominant strike in NW-SE and NE-SW directions. The faults of such parameters in the USCB are characterized as fragile. They were formed in the period of the inversion of the USCB, in a tensional stress regime. Aggrading changes of coal were observed in the faults planes with the dominant strike in NNW-SSE and W-E directions. The faults of such a run in the USCB are susceptible in nature and developed during the compressive regime. In the fault zones where no changes were in the coal quality, the orientation of faulting surfaces did not show the privileged run direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foraminifera studies were carried out on the Štramberk-type limestones which occur as pebbles to small boulders (exotics) within the uppermost Jurassic-Palaeogene flysch deposits of the Polish Outer Carpathians. The studies were focused on foraminifera from (1) reef and peri-reef facies, and (2) lagoonal algal-foraminiferal facies. The paper deals with 34 species (including 8 in open nomenclature) representing 30 genera, 22 families, 14 superfamilies, 11 suborders, and 7 orders. A more precise age determination has been obtained for 30 exotics, representing a Tithonian (mostly) to Valanginian age. Foraminiferal assemblages from at least two exotics suggest a Valanginian age as indicated by the co-occurrence of the species: Meandrospira favrei (CHAROLLAIS, BRÖNNIMANN & ZANINETTI), Montsalevia salevensis (CHAROLLAIS, BRÖNNIMANN & ZANINETTI), Patellina turriculata DIENI & MASSARI, Neotrocholina valdensis REICHEL, Hechtina praeantiqua BARTENSTEIN & BRAND, Istriloculina eliptica (IOVCHEVA) and I. emiliae NEAGU. Previous studies based on ammonites and calpionellids indicated the Tithonian to the Early Berriasian age of the štramberk Limestone in Moravia (the Czech Republic), and their equivalents in Poland. However, Valanginian shallow-water limestones occur as pebbles in some deposits of the Outer Carpathians in the Czech Republic. Further evidence for Valanginian shallow-water marine carbonate sedimentation (algal facies) in the Polish part of the Tethyan margin comes from recent studies of the substrate drilled in the Carpathian Foredeep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of detailed field investigations and herbarium studies on the occurrence of representatives of the genus Rubus L. in the Bardo Mts (SW Poland). For each species a short description, as well as horizontal and vertical distribution maps are provided. This region is one of the areas of the greatest concentration of bramble species in Poland, with 50 species being documented, of which 37 species were foundthere for the first time. Forty-eight species belong to the subgenus Rubus, one to the subgenus Idaeobatus andone taxon is of hybridorigin (nothosubgenus x Idaeorubus). The subgenus Rubus is represented by 3 sections, 4 subsections and20 series, among which the most numerous are Discolores (11 species), Glandulosi (7 species) and Rubus (4 species). The distribution and migratory patterns of particular species are discussed. In the bramble flora, transitional elements are prevalent (66%), while 9 species reach northern, 4 species western and 4 southern limits of their ranges. Presumably southern species did not immigrate directly from the south by the Miedzylesie Pass, but rather through the foothill zone along the Sudetian fault line, from the Moravian Gate. The vertical distribution of most of the species was confined to the submontane belt. The study contributed significantly to the description of one species which is new to science and two species which have not previously been recorded in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fuel market is an important sector of the economy and fuel prices influence the prices of numerous products and services. This paper focuses on the analysis of the interrelationships between markets of fuels in the Visegrad Group (V4) countries. The research is based on weekly prices of Pb95 gasoline and diesel in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia observed from January 2016 through December 2020. After performing the preliminary statistical analysis, the long-term relationships between the prices of fuels are investigated through application of the cointegrated regression Durbin–Watson (CRDW) test. Next, Granger causality is tested to answer the question of whether changes in prices of fuels in separate V4 countries Granger-cause changes in prices of fuels in other V4 countries. The cointegration research uses logarithmic prices, whereas causality investigation is based on their first differences. The results reveal long-term relationships between the prices of Pb95 gasoline in the Czech Republic and prices in other V4 countries as well as Granger causality flowing from diesel price changes in Poland to diesel price changes in other V4 countries and bilateral causation between changes in the prices of Pb95 gasoline in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various environmental policy instruments supporting the development of renewable energy are used on an increasing scale as part of the policy of mitigating climate change and more. In our paper, we examine the influence of environmental policy stringency on renewable energy production in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia for the period 1993–2012 after controlling for gross domestic product per capita growth, CO2 emissions per capita and income inequality. We use the Panel Pooled Mean Group Autoregressive Distributive Lag model to analyze the long-run and the short-run relationship between restrictiveness of environmental policy and renewable energy generation. The results reveal that, in the long run, a more stringent environmental policy has a positive impact both on the increase in the absolute volume of renewable energy production, as well as on the replacement of energy from fossil sources. Our main findings indicate that renewable energy production is positively influenced not only by the stringency of instruments aimed directly at the development of this energy sector, but also by the stringency of instruments with other environmental goals and by the overall level of restrictiveness of the environmental policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful energy transformation is interconnected with greater citizenry participation as prosumers. The search for novel solutions to implement the transition to renewable energy that will neutralize the barriers to this process, e.g., the reluctance of citizens to get involved, lack of trust in decision-makers and lack of co-ownership of energy projects, is inevitable as a part of the bottom-up process. Energy communities have vast potential to scale up Renewable Energy projects. Due to the fact that in Poland, establishing citizen energy communities in the cities is not allowed, the key success factor of energy transformation is to engage housing cooperatives and other housing communities in this process. A similar legal framework prevents communities from establishing themselves in the Czech Republic and Hungary. The research problem of this paper is to identify determinants of the co-creation process in Renewable Energy project activation at the housing cooperative level. The aim is to identify key conditions that housing cooperatives should establish in order to successfully undertake Renewable Energy project implementation using a co-creation approach. The literature study shows that the term "co-creation" is not often used in energy transition projects, although many local energy transitions are indeed co-created, unfortunately not in a structured methodical manner. In the research, we apply the DART (Dialogue, Access, Risk, Transparency) model as the framework to conduct the analysis. The study has been carried out using quantitative and qualitative research methods and based on primary and secondary data. Our findings indicate that considering the different areas of the DART model, co-creation was most visible in the area of dialogue-communication between cooperative authorities and its members, while it was least visible in the area of transparency. Based on the results pertaining to the implemented project, the researchers postulate the inclusion of factors beyond the DART model that further shape the co-creation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the factors that determine the profitability of non-listed energy firms from four central European countries: Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. We apply the regression analysis, on a large panel of firm-year observations for the 2015–2019 timespan, to verify the hypothesis on the inversed relationship between leverage and profitability of the companies performing in the energy sector. Our results support the inversed relationship for debt in total and long-term debt, which are consistent with the assumptions of the pecking order theory. However, for short-term debt, we have found a direct relationship, which confirms the assumptions of the trade-off theory of capital structure. Our work contributes to the existing debate on the interplay between financial leverage and profitability, by providing evidence for a large panel of non-listed firms, from a single sector (energy)-oriented perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study of the politics of food production/consumption in Poland and the Czech Republic brings together food and post-socialist studies. The food stories explored in the paper, relating to packaging, restaurant dining, self-provisioning and the emergence of an organic food sector, open up the politics of everyday life in these significant cases. We show that there are diverse responses to ‘transition’ that are resistant or alternative to dominant narratives of linear progression towards Western ‘normality’. This finding is of wider significance at a time when debates about globalization and sustainability are promoting searches for alternative economic forms and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores problems associated with explanation of geoheritage at the landscape scale and argues that focus on individual geosites that show rock outcrops or small-scale landforms may not be sufficient to tell the story. The area of Orlické–Bystrzyckie Mountains Block in Central Europe lacks spectacular landforms or large rock outcrops, and yet has a most interesting geological history that involved Mesozoic planation, Cretaceous marine transgression and the origin of sedimentary cover, Cenozoic differential uplift and the origin of tectonic topography, resultant fluvial incision and Quaternary periglaciation. Individual geosites documented in the area fail to show this complexity and give an incomplete picture. Therefore, viewpoint geosites, allowing for in situ interpretation of regional landscapes, have a role to play and they collectively illustrate the effects of the main stages of geological and geomorphological evolution. In addition, the potential of simple visualization technologies is investigated, as these 3D visualizations may enhance ground views, putting things into even broader perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovations in technical, financial, and social areas are crucial prerequisites for an effective and sustainable energy transition. In this context, the construction of a new energy structure and the motivation of the consumer towards a change in their consumption behaviours to balance demand with a volatile energy supply are important issues. At the same time, Consumer Stock Ownership Plans (CSOPs) in renewable energies sources (RESs) have proven to be an essential cornerstone in the overall success of energy transition. Indeed, when consumers acquire ownership in RES, they become prosumers, participating in the phase of production and distribution of energy. Prosumers provide benefits by (1) generating a part of the energy they consume, (2) reducing their overall expenditure for energy, and (3) receiving a second source of income from the sale of excess production. Supporting Consumer Co-Ownership in Renewable Energies (SCORE) is an ongoing Horizon 2020 project with the aim of overcoming the usage of energy from fossil sources in favour of RES, promoting the creation of energy communities (EC) and facilitating co-ownership of renewable energies (RE) for consumers. SCORE hereby particularly emphasises the inclusion of women, low-income households, and vulnerable groups affected by fuel poverty that are as a rule excluded from RE investments. In this framework, the main goal of the present study is to illustrate the general procedure and process of EC creation. In particular, this paper focuses on the description of the methodological approach in implementing the CSOP model which consists of three main phases: the identification and description of selected buildings (preparation phase), the preliminary and feasibility analysis phase, and finally the phase of target group involvement. SCORE first started in three pilot regions in Italy, Czech Republic, and Poland, and later, with the aim of extending the methodology, in various other cities across Europe. In this study, Italian pilot study sites were chosen as a case study to develop and test the methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]