INNOVATION PERFORMANCE OF CZECH AND FINNISH MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES AND THEIR POSITION IN THE EU

The aim of this article is to assess the innovation performance of innovative small, medium-sized, and large enterprises operating in the manufacturing industry in two European countries – the Czech Republic (CR) and Finland, and to determine their position within the EU based on a comparison with average values of created Fictitious EU Country (FEUC). The FEUC includes the indicators and population of the EU member countries whose data were available. The performed analysis is based on the use of selected key performance indicators (related mainly to inputs that are expected to contribute to innovations) evaluating the enterprises´ innovation performance. The conducted research tries to identify the most significant drivers of innovation performance with regard to the size group of enterprises. Moreover, the achieved results are further compared within the innovation environment of the CR and Finland as well as the EU as a whole. It is worth highlighting the innovation resources of Finnish mainly small but partly also medium-sized enterprises, which in some monitored indicators occupy a much more significant share than in the case of the CR. This fact can indicate a particular signal, which size group of enterprises should become a target group of public support aiming to boost innovation performance.

Economics of Banana Production in Solapur District of Maharashtra, India

The study analyses the resource-use efficiency of banana cultivation in relation with per ha return and cost based on the information of 90 sample farmers of Solapur district, Maharashtra in 2018-19. Findings show that production level was 563.11q/ha on an aggregate level. The estimated cost of cultivation was Rs.324671.04/ha. The per hectare inputs utilized for banana at overall level were 118.58 human days, 22.67 tonnes manures, 399.60 kg N, 126.11 kg P, 720.29 kg K. Average gross income was Rs.627708.57. The gross income received in size group small, medium and large was Rs. 609142.70, Rs. 614926.70 and Rs.659056.30, respectively. The benefit-cost ratio was 1.93 at the overall level indicating highly prosperous crop. This ratio is the highest (2.06) for large size farms. Thus, the crop was found to be economically viable. The results of Cobb-Douglas production function howed that seed, manures, potassium fertilizer and irrigation had positive and significant influence on the yield of banana. The magnitude of coefficient of multiple determination (R2) was 0.92. Value of the ratio of MVP/Px was found greater than unity in case of seed, manures and irrigation indicated the underutilization of these resources. Quantity of per hectare produce marketed was maximum (99.09 per cent) for large size group and minimum in (98.88 per cent) for small size group i.e. there is no significant differences as marketing system was similar.

EXCAVATOR WORKING EQUIPMENT FOR ISLANDS OF PIPELINE REPAIR

Work objective. Modernization of the excavator's working equipment design intended for islands of pipeline repair together with confirmation of its operability by checking the machine for stability, carrying out the necessary calculations of the hydraulic system. Methods. The main idea is in accessorizing the main working equipment of the excavator with a structure consisting of three teeth, which is in a body with an excavator bucket form a pickup mechanism. To confirm the operability of the proposed design, theoretical studies have been carried out aimed at determining the stability of the machine for the most dangerous design operating positions, and permissible pipe sizes have been established so that working with these sizes provides the stability of the machine. Results. A variant of improving the design of the excavator working equipment of the third size group has been developed. The equipment is intended for carrying out random repair of the pipeline by the excavator without involving other road construction equipment (for example, a pipelaying crane). The proposed design of the working body allows speeding pipeline repair by reducing the time spent on changing or relocating the equipment, which as a result reduces the cost of repair work. Conclusions. Calculations of the excavator hydraulic system have been carried out. In addition, as a result of theoretical studies, calculated dependences have been obtained, which made it possible to establish the stability coefficient of the excavator of the third size group when working with upgraded equipment and the pipeline diameter in the range of 720 ...1420 mm. As a result of the research, it was found that the proposed equipment is effective for carrying out random repairs of pipelines with diameters of 720, 1020 and 1220 mm. The stability of the machine in the most dangerous positions is being carried out. The calculation shows that when the excavator does demolition works of a pipeline with a diameter of 1420 mm, there is a danger of overturning the machine due to a decrease in the Ku coefficient below the permissible value.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE FARMERS’ PERCEPTION ON THE ORGANIC CULTIVATION IN SELECTED HORTICULTURAL CROP

A study on the farmers' perception on the organic cultivation for the selected horticultural crops viz.; pineapple, potato and cabbage was undertaken during the period 2018 to 2020 in the state of Nagaland and Manipur. The analysis of the data from the selected districts reveal that the total cultivated area is found maximum in Nagaland as compare to Manipur. The total overall land holding in Nagaland is recorded as 106.25 ha; while in Manipur it was recorded as 92.18 ha. While in Manipur state, maximum ploughing is recorded at marginal farmers with 2 ploughing, followed by small and medium farm size group, as 3 times ploughing is concerned, marginal farmers are maximum followed equally by small and medium, whereas 4 ploughing is concerned, very few are doing 4 & above ploughing in Nagaland for the pineapple crop. For the potato crop, 3 to 4 ploughing are found maximum in both the state. Very few are adopting 5 & more ploughng for potato crop in Manipur whereas it is found maximum in medium farm size group. In case of cabbage, maximum is found with 3 & above ploughing on medium farm size. The extent of adoption of (FYM) farm yard manure (in t/ha) across the different farm size group of Nagaland and Manipur shows that maximum FYM is used by the medium adopters, followed by low adopter and very few are found in the high adopter of Nagaland state. With respect to the state of Manipur, maximum are medium rate adopter followed by low rate and it is least on high adopter of pineapple crop. As for potato crop is concerned, medium farms were found maximum for medium rate adopter of FYM followed by low rate and very few are under high rate of adopter in Nagaland state. As Manipur is concerned, it is also found in the same trend with maximum on medium, followed by low and least on high rate adopter of FYM for potato crop. As cabbage crop is concerned, it is also following the same trend of pineapple and potato with maximum on medium rate, followed by low rate and least on hig

A Study on Fish Production of Different Size of Fish Farm Groups in Prayagraj District, Uttar Pradesh

Background: Uttar Pradesh is India’s most populous state having 1662 lakh population as per 2001 census, against 16.2% of India’s population with enough fisheries resources in the form of community ponds, tanks with dominance of rivers and man-made reservoirs. Five blocks (Koraon, Shankargarh, Karchhana, Handia, and Jasara) from Prayagraj were taken for study during the period of 1st December,2020 - 31st May,2021. Aim: To examine the fish production of different size of fish farm groups. Methodology: A study was conducted in the Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh. A total of 80 fish farmers were selected randomly from five blocks (Koraon, Shankargarh, Karchhana, Handia, and Jasara) and a pre-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from the fish farmers. The fish farmers were classified into three categories on the basis of the size of pond area viz. small farmer: up to 0.125 ha., medium farmer: 0.125 ha to 0.250 ha., and large farmer: above 0.250 ha. Result: The Study showed that, various independent variables of production like fingerlings, manures, feeds, and labor were being analysed in accordance with their respective sample of fish ponds and it is concluded that all of the independent variables affected the fish production differently. Using Cobb Douglas production function, 73% variation in gross value return from explanatory variables was observed in first size-group. Effect of Improved variety fingerlings was negative and coefficient of elasticity for human labor was positive but both impacted fish production significantly. A variation of 41.6% in gross value return was observed from second size group. Human labor impacted fish production significantly and its coefficient of elasticity was positive. Further, 45.7% of variation in gross value return was in third size group. Human labor and manure both had a significant effect, and their coefficients of elasticity was positive and negative respectively. Coefficient of multiple determination was 76.6% indicating variation in gross value return from independent variable from all farm’s situations. Pond area and human labor variables had positive coefficient of elasticity but for improved fingerlings it was negative and all effected fish production significantly. Conclusion: It was concluded that there is a need to further engage the fish farmers in the fish production practices and provide them with sufficient inputs of production like fingerlings, manures, feeds, and labor so that the farmers can boost the fish production in the study area.

Farmers as Consumers of Quality Fertilizers: Willingness to Pay and Empirical Evidences from Bangladesh

The study investigated farmer’s willingness to pay for getting quality fertilizers by employing probit and ordered probit models as the quality of fertilizers were often adulterated in Bangladesh. Primary data collected from 300 farm households were utilized. Results indicated that an average farmer’s willingness to pay was influenced significantly by the farm size group, annual income, off-farm income, product prices and financial constraints. All farmers except marginal farmers were more likely to be willing to pay more than market prices for urea and MoP. The findings suggested for adjusting the farm size group specific subsidy policies. More off-farm employment opportunities could be created in the farming regions to strengthen farmer’s financial capability.

Lagged Effect of Macroeconomic Variables on Stock Returns: A Case of Firm Size

The evidence of lagged effect regarding firm size between macroeconomic factors and stock returns is found with GARCH model for the UAE firms. More precisely, exchange rate showed a significant effect on stock returns irrespective of size group and lag level. However, a positive effect is observed at lag four and a negative effect is observed on lag five and two for small and large size firms respectively. For majority of the firms in small size, the risk-free rate showed a negative lagged effect on stock returns; however, for the majority of the firms in large size, it showed a positive lagged effect on stock returns. Inflation also showed a significant effect on stock returns on each lag level except for large firms where at lag five it is insignificant. Moreover, as the lags increase from 1- 4 and size from small to large, the negative effect of inflation converts to positive effect on stock returns. The lag effect of real activity showed both positive and negative effects on relatively larger stock returns of small firms than big firms. Money supply showed positive significant effect on stock returns of all firms irrespective of the size group; however, this relationship is even more prominent at lag five. Finally, the oil prices showed a positive effect on stock returns (large size) which further maximizes at lag two; whereas, a negative maximization takes place at lag three. Hence, investors can make informed and effective decisions and UAE policymakers developed effective measures to control and promote macroeconomic growth and stability.

Invasive Potential of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis Niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) From the Tributary of the Ganga River, Central India

The natural fishery or wild stock of fishes especially fresh water in India is significantly declining due to manmade stressors. The invasion of fishes and size composition are an essential component of stream, river and other large water bodies ecosystem and represents an evident of structure, function, depth and health of stream/river. During study period 683 specimens of Oreochromis niloticus were collected from February 2019 to January 2020 in Sirsa fish landing centre from the lower stretch of the Tons river at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. Size composition of fishes was varied from 82 to 463 mm (total length). The maximum total length of O. niloticus in the catches indicated that its increasing colonisation success in the river Tons. Size composition of fishes was also indicated that the stock of O. niloticus in the Tons river was in healthy condition. The 231-260 mm size group was most dominated (15.67%) compared to 261-290 mm (12.44%) and 291-320 mm (11.71%) in the total exploited stock. The middle size group was maximum exploited with 51.24% from the Tons river at Prayagraj. Higher size group contributed sizeable proportion with 25.04% in the exploited stock. The exploitation pattern was unsystematic in higher size group due to contribution of higher proportion. Current exploitation pattern is unsystematic but O. niloticus is powerfully invaded from the lower stretch of the Tons river at Prayagraj.

Unsupervised phenotyping of sepsis using nonnegative matrix factorization of temporal trends from a multivariate panel of physiological measurements

Background Sepsis is a highly lethal and heterogeneous disease. Utilization of an unsupervised method may identify novel clinical phenotypes that lead to targeted therapies and improved care. Methods Our objective was to derive clinically relevant sepsis phenotypes from a multivariate panel of physiological data using subgraph-augmented nonnegative matrix factorization. We utilized data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database of patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit with sepsis. The extracted data contained patient demographics, physiological records, sequential organ failure assessment scores, and comorbidities. We applied frequent subgraph mining to extract subgraphs from physiological time series and performed nonnegative matrix factorization over the subgraphs to derive patient clusters as phenotypes. Finally, we profiled these phenotypes based on demographics, physiological patterns, disease trajectories, comorbidities and outcomes, and performed functional validation of their clinical implications. Results We analyzed a cohort of 5782 patients, derived three novel phenotypes of distinct clinical characteristics and demonstrated their prognostic implications on patient outcome. Subgroup 1 included relatively less severe/deadly patients (30-day mortality, 17%) and was the smallest-in-size group (n = 1218, 21%). It was characterized by old age (mean age, 73 years), a male majority (male-to-female ratio, 59-to-41), and complex chronic conditions. Subgroup 2 included the most severe/deadliest patients (30-day mortality, 28%) and was the second-in-size group (n = 2036, 35%). It was characterized by a male majority (male-to-female ratio, 60-to-40), severe organ dysfunction or failure compounded by a wide range of comorbidities, and uniquely high incidences of coagulopathy and liver disease. Subgroup 3 included the least severe/deadly patients (30-day mortality, 10%) and was the largest group (n = 2528, 44%). It was characterized by low age (mean age, 60 years), a balanced gender ratio (male-to-female ratio, 50-to-50), the least complicated conditions, and a uniquely high incidence of neurologic disease. These phenotypes were validated to be prognostic factors of mortality for sepsis patients. Conclusions Our results suggest that these phenotypes can be used to develop targeted therapies based on phenotypic heterogeneity and algorithms designed for monitoring, validating and intervening clinical decisions for sepsis patients.