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The aim is to assess the possibilities of future developments of Direct Marketing in the Visegrad group. Particular attention is paid to the fact that even when there is a single political grouping of states, which between them reported psychological closeness, there are differences between them, to be taken into account. Significant differences are primarily in consumer attitudes and preferences, their purchasing decisions as well as acceptance of the various tools of communication mix.
Direct Marketing is form of marketing communication aimed on exact selection of target group and its effective addressing. Contrary to the Mass Marketing, each customer is addressed individually and directly, and databases of potential or regular customers are used. One form of Direct Marketing is Direct Mail. It is the oldest and most advanced tool of Direct Marketing. Also called mailing, it is the most important tool of Direct Marketing.
The country with the highest amount of delivered mailings is Czech Republic. Up to 82% of respondents indicated that Direct Mail receives often or very often. In Slovak Republic, Poland and the Czech Republic, more than half of respondents read the received mailings only occasionally. Significantly overwhelming majority of Slovaks, Czechs and Poles responds to the delivered mailings by checking out the sender's web site firstly, or establishing the contact via e-mail. Hungarian respondents prefer answer sheet the most.

The paper is focused on comparing the classification ability of the model with self-learning neutral network and methods from cluster analysis. The emphasis is particularly on the comparison of different approaches to a specific application example of the commitment, the classification of then financial situation. The aim is to critically evaluate different approaches at the level of application and deployment options.
The verify the classification capability of the different approaches were used financial data from the database "Credit Info", in particular data describing the financial situation of the two hundred eleven farms of homogeneous and uniform primary field.
Input data were from the methods used, modified and evaluated by appropriate methodology. Found the final solution showed that the used approaches do not show significant differences, and they can say that they are equivalent. Based on this finding can formulate the conclusion that the approach of artificial intelligence (self-learning neural network) is as effective as a partial methods in the field of cluster analysis. In both cases, these approaches can be an invaluable tool in decision making.
When the financial situation is evaluated by the expert, the calculation of liquidity, profitability and other financial indicators are making some simplification. In this respect, neural networks perform better, since these simplifications in them selves are not natively included. They can better assess and somewhat ambiguous cases, including businesses with undefined financial situation, the so-called data in the border region. In this respect, support and representation of the graphical layout of the resulting situation sorted out objects using software implemented neural network model.

Capital structure is described as a relation between equity and debts while the mutual consequences among items of company's assets and resources employed as well as the cost of capital are also taken into account. Both, the theory and practice, at evaluation of approaches to capital structure are focused on creation and optimization of capital structure. Relatively less frequent approach is the analysis of a state and of changes in capital structure on the level of whole business branch. But on this basis, it is possible to investigate some "average" approaches to selection of financial resources. At capital structure optimization (the proportion between equity and debts), a wide range of criteria plays a substantial role, e.g. cost of capital, risk, expected profitability, liquidity, dividend policy. These criteria have joint effect. This way, a logic question which criteria are preferred more and which criteria are preferred less appears. The article deals with the analysis of capital structure of three branches of manufacturing industry (the branch of production of plastics, the branch of production of electric equipments, the branch of production of textile) in the years 2007-2009 with the special focus on development of financial structure, capital structure and on cost of capital.

The article describes an experimental study dealing with the possibility of nanotextile materials usage for microbiologically contaminated water filtration. The aim of the study is to verify filtration ability of different nanotextile materials and evaluate the possibilities of practical usage. Good detention ability of these materials in the air filtration is the presumption for nanotextile to be used for bacteria filtration from a liquid. High nanotextile porosity with the nanotextile pores dimensions smaller than a bacteria size predicates the possibility of a successful usage of these materials. For the experiment were used materials made from electrospinning nanofibres under the label PA612, PUR1, PUR2 s PUR3 on the supporting unwoven textiles (viscose and PP). As a model simulation of the microbial contamination, bacteria Escherichia coli was chosen. Contaminated water was filtered during the overpressure activity of 10⁵Pa on the input side of the filter from the mentioned material. After three-day incubation on the nutrient medium, cultures found in the samples before and after filtration were compared. In the filtrated water, bacteria E. coli were indicated, which did not verify the theoretical presumptions about an absolut bacteria detention. However, used materials caught at least 94% of bacteria in case of material PUR1 and up to 99,996% in case of material PUR2. These results predict the possibility of producing effective nanotextile filters for microbiologically contaminated water filtration.
Recommendation: For the production of materials with better filtrating qualities, experiments need to be done, enabling better understanding of the bacteria detention mechanisms on the nanotextile material, and parameters of the used materials that influence the filtrating abilities need to be verified.

One of the natural properties of wood and wood-based materials is their soaking capacity (hygroscopicity). The moisture content of wood and building constructions of wood and wood based materials significantly influences the service life and reliability of these constructions and buildings. The equilibrium weight moisture content of built-in wood corresponding to temperature/moisture conditions inside the cladding has therefore a decisive influence on the basic requirements placed on building constructions. The wood in wooden frame cladding changes its moisture content depending on temperature and moisture conditions of the environment it is built into. The water vapor condensation doesn't necessarily have to occur right in the wooden framework of the cladding for the equilibrium moisture content to rise over the level permissible for the reliable function of a given construction. In spite of the fact that the common heat-technical assessment cannot be considered fully capable of detecting the effects of these factors on the functional reliability of wood-based constructions and buildings, an extension has been proposed of the present method of design an assessment of building constructions according to the ČSN 73 0540 standard regarding the interpretation of equilibrium moisture content in relation to the temperature/moisture conditions and their time behavior inside a construction.

In the world the interconnection of national economies and internationalization of economic processes occur. In turbulent changing business environment only those companies that understand the current trends in global economy may survive, develop and prosper. Therefore, the issue of internationalization for most companies becomes to be more important and the process of internationalization is the way how to stand this increasingly competitive environment. In presented contribution, the attention is paid to issues of internationalization of Slovak food industry enterprises such as their way of business internationalization, percentage share of foreign - trading activities on overall business activity, company evaluation of business internationalization or barriers of foreign markets penetration that researched companies have to deal with. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the engine of the Slovak economy, generator of development, innovation, growth and they employ more than 60% of employees. Almost all businesses operating in agri-food complex have character of small and medium enterprises. The results of carried research have shown that small and medium-sized companies are considered to be successful in operation on foreign markets in surrounding European countries.

Competitiveness of national economies depends in great part on technological development and implementation of knowledge from science and research in practice. The phenomenon of cooperation represents an integral part of these processes. While its bounded forms, like mergers and acquisitions are relatively embedded in the Czech Republic, the advantages of less formal partnerships have been gradually discovered just recently.
In the paper we focus on a special type of cooperation called networks. In order to get an initial overview, we introduce some of the basic definitions, as the specialized literature lacks single explanation and categorization. Within the framework of our research we have focused on such purposeful connections of small and medium enterprises that bring benefits for both sides and lead to the growth of competitiveness. The aim of the article is to investigate the prerequisites of interfirm network operation in the South Moravian Region.
The first part of the paper introduces network cooperation, especially the motives standing behind network set-up, the typology of networks and the role of networks at regional level. Then we briefly describe the South Moravian region, where our investigation has been made. We focus especially on the demonstration of the most powerful and perspective economic branches in which we consider networks very important. This base is further extended by the information received in the South Moravian Innovation Centre, an interest association of legal persons having experience especially in research institution - company cooperation. The operation of a partnership network is analyzed on the case of DC Concept, a. s., a company from Brno producing and developing information system for middle and large companies. We introduce the six types of their partners, the system how the network works and the motives lying behind.
The paper is based on the information gained during the pre-research which falls within the scope of doctoral dissertation research focusing on network creation of small and medium enterprises in a certain region.

The aim of this article is to show the possibilities of spatial modelling and analysing of assumptions of tourism development in the Czech Republic with the objective to make decision-making processes in tourism easier and more efficient (for companies, clients as well as destination managements). The development and placement of tourism depend on the factors (conditions) that influence its application in specific areas. These factors are usually divided into three groups: selective, localization and realization. Tourism is inseparably connected with space - countryside. The countryside can be modelled and consecutively analysed by the means of geographical information technologies.
With the help of spatial modelling and following analyses the localization and realization conditions in the regions of the Czech Republic have been evaluated. The best localization conditions have been found in the Liberecký region. The capital city of Prague has negligible natural conditions; however, those social ones are on a high level. Next, the spatial analyses have shown that the best realization conditions are provided by the capital city of Prague. Then the Central-Bohemian, South-Moravian, Moravian-Silesian and Karlovarský regions follow. The development of tourism destination is depended not only on the localization and realization factors but it is basically affected by the level of local destination management. Spatial modelling can help destination managers in decision-making processes in order to optimal use of destination potential and efficient targeting their marketing activities.

The experimental plots are located on a farm in a mountainous area at an altitude of 845 m above the sea level with the soil type cambisol. After leaving pasture grassland in about 50 years created a forest community with 45.06 per cent share of woody plants. After it has been deforested was doing research on a variant grazing with Charolais cattle and compared with deforested grassland without management leaving the development without human intervention. On the variant without management for three years we recorded 58 plant species with woody plants. Cover of grasses was reduced, for example Agrostis capillaris L. from 15 to 0.78% and Festuca rubra from 5,33 to the tracks, like the presence of herbs, on the contrary increased the percentage of woody plants as Betula pendula from 4.08 to 13.52%, Cerasus avium from 3.07 to 16 28% and Populus tremula from 16.22 to 47.88%. Proportion of woody plants in the third year of research accounted for up to 77.68 per cent stake. Dominant Populus tremula amounted to 2.50 m high and mean diameter 30 mm. Grazing control variant for three years consisted of community - Agrostis Festucetum rubrae with 66 plant species and dominance of other herbs (53.66%). Significantly increased the proportion of grasses, for example Agrostis capillaris from 5.67 to 15.61%, Festuca rubra from 5.02 to 8.42%, Festuca pratensis from 3.84 to 4.40% and Dactylis glomerata from 2.46 to 4.46%. The variant without management significantly increased levels of C : N at depths of 0-200 mm from 10.88-12.65 to 14-16.53, compared with a variant of grazing (from 9.36-12.41 to 6.93-10.46). The evaluation of phosphorus and potassium in two depths, in the C : N ratio, but also in botanical composition from 2006 to 2008, we found statistically highly significant differences in the variant with self-reforestation without management (BM) compared with grazing control variant after deforestation.

Contamination level by phtalic acid esters (PAE), such as di-n-butyl phtalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phtalate (DEPH), was detected in fodder samples from industrial fodder producers within the Czech Republic (CR) in 2007. Samples were taken from additives, premixes, and fodder base materials (n = 52). The highest phtalates concentrations were detected in samples including fat matrices of plant as well as animal origin. Concentration achieved level of 148.2 mg.kg^-1 in soyabean oil, 22.73 in coleseed oil, 12.22 in palm fat, 11.29 in fish oil, 23.32 in animal fat as summation of phtalates (DBP and DEHP). High levels of summation of both phtalates were also detected in vitamin samples within the range from 1.06 (nicotinic acid) to 32.74 (vitamin E) mg.kg^-1. The lowest concentration of DBP and DEHP sum was detected in samples from grain crops, fodder base materials of plant origin (wheat, barley, oat, corn) and it was within the range of 0.06-2.08 mg.kg^-1 of the original weight. Although concentrations detected in samples of plant origin are significantly lower than in fodder base materials of animal origin, it presents a serious discovery since cereals represent the biggest part in fodder mixtures for livestock.

Besides agricultural primary production, the food industry and all other branches of the economy /services/ it is the information and communication technology used in retail that is one of the factors that markedly influence food retail. Therefore it is necessary to analyse the effect of electronic transactions that are used by food retail to attract and acquire other target groups of the consumers purchasing food. Though globally the retail companies (for ex. in Great Britain) invest in this technology heavily in order to increase their competitiveness on the market the food e-business in the Czech Republic has been more or less stagnating, though the recent years have been showing slight increase of interest in this form of shopping. This article identifies both the positive and the negative reasons of this situation. The technological level of computer network and its high accessibility proven by the fact that the vast majority of consumers can use internet for purchasing any kind of goods incl. food can be considered the positive reason. On the other hand the poor offer of food presented on the internet by retailers who - for fear of low demand for other kinds of food - focus mainly on beverages and dry food can be considered one of the negatives. The weakest point here is the timely delivery of goods in unchanged quality. Despite these facts the purchasing of food via internet can still serve well for busy or handicapped customers with limited mobility.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of storage duration on amino acids content in potato tubers. Tubers of six cultivars were stored for 16 weeks. Crude protein was determined by the Kjeldahl method. The amino acid content was identified after acid hydrolysis; sulphur amino acids were oxidized with the mixture of hydrogen peroxide, formic acid and phenol. The essential amino acids index and chemical score was calculated. The whole egg protein was used as reference protein. The effect of storage duration and cultivar on the total amino acids content was found to be significant in all potato varieties. The level of the total amino acids contents was determined within the range of 80-87%. Similar downward trend was observed in crude protein. The essential amino acids index varied considerably among the potato cultivars, ranging from 42 to 57%. Sulfur amino acids and isoleucin were the limiting amino acids in all the investigated tubers.

The economic situation of Czech agriculture is discussed in depth with its key questions related to insufficient level of subsidies (lower than subsidies paid to other member states of the EU) and to a decrease of prices of agricultural commodities. The paper deals with the situation of agricultural holdings in 2003-2007 examined with a system of financial analysis indices. A sample of 150 farms created within the project MSM 6007665806 was used to set indices of the financial analysis. Agricultural holdings were classified according to the share of the area of agricultural land in the LFA. The introduction to the analysis mentions the return on assets (ROA) which is a synthesis indicator of assessing the efficiency of a firm. In the paper, the following system of financial analysis indicators was used: the Altman Z-score index; the IN 95 index, the IN 99 index, IN 01 index; the Kralicek Quick Test, the Bonity index and the Du Pont pyramid system of indices for an analysis of the profitability. The aim of the paper was to assess the profit/loss of farms in relation to different farming conditions related to the share of land in the LFA and to subsidy policy. The analysis revealed that the subsidy system is set to compensate difficult conditions of farms in less favoured areas (i.e. farms with greater percentage of agricultural land in the LFA).

The paper is focused on the analysis of the price interactions between the Czech and world markets for the wheat. The long-term interactions of the wheat market prices were tested by means of the co-integration analysis (Engle-Granger test). The dynamic autoregressive model developed by the author was used for evaluation of the short-term price interactions. Monthly time series of the market prices from January 1995 till April 2010 were obtained from the Czech Statistical Office and the International Monetary Fund. The results of the co-integration analysis showed, that the price dynamics in the world wheat market does not have a long-term impact on the level of prices in the Czech market for the given commodity. According to the constructed and statistically verified model, the short-term price interactions between the studied markets are not strong too. The value of the determination index (0.5063) implies other factors forming the price dynamics of the Czech wheat market.

If local authorities units carry out an economic activity, are considered to be taxable under Act No. 235/2004 Coll., On Value Added Tax as amended. Adjustment of VAT in all countries of the European Union is based on Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax as amended. The application of this directive is binding for all EU member states and national treatment of VAT may diverge from the Directive only in cases where the Directive permits. Decisions of the European Court of Justice are of considerable importance during the interpretation of the Czech VAT Act.
For the municipalities and regions article defines the activities that are considered to be an economic activity and activities that are deemed to exercise of public administration and are not therefore subject to VAT. Further the paper defines the concept of turnover of local authorities. At paper there are evaluating the impact of the application of VAT on municipalities and regions in the provision of the individual fulfillment. Great attention must municipalities and region devote to the problem of correct application of claim to tax deduction if they carry out the exercise of public administration, taxable activities and fulfillments exempt from VAT.

Agricultural insurance is a sophisticated device for elimination of some risks in the agricultural production. In spite of its important role, its level is still unsatisfactory. The analyses carried out so far, demonstrated an astonishing drop in the volume of insurance premiums prescribed for the agricultural insurance commodity during 1991-1995. The second half of the Nineties brought a stagnation in its levels and the situation has not been changed so far. Since 2000 the State keeps supporting directly or indirectly the agricultural insurance by means of subsidies. Currently the support materializes through the PGRLF. In spite of this, the current levels of insuredness in such a specific and strategic area as the agriculture represents are low, and the agricultural insurance is not a convincing factor of risk management in the agricultural production, still. A model has been designed for the solution of agricultural insurance in CR, based on the analysis carried out, on professional consultations and international experience. The model assumes setting up a Fund for uninsurable risks, into the coffers of which the producers, their unions, commercial insurers as well as the State would contribute. The model would be able to manage calamity situations commercially uninsurable.

The paper evaluates the quality of model silages made of wilted grass biomass and treated with silage additives. Grass species used for the production of silages were Lolium perenne, Festulolium pabulare and Festulolium braunii harvested in the first cut at the stage of earing. The assessed grass species were wilted after the cut for an identical time 36 hours (2008), resp. 24 hours (2009). The treatment was made either with a chemical preparation (formic acid, propionic acid, ammonium formate) and/or with a biological inoculant (Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus acidilactici, Lactobacillus salivarius, cellulase, hemicellulase and amylase). The amount of the chemical ingredient was 4 l.t^-1 and the amount of the biological additive was 10 g.t^-1. The biomass was after wilting ensilaged in containers whose diameter and height were 0.15 m and 0.64 m, respectively. After 60 days of ensilaging, the silages were assessed for pH, organic acids content, ethanol content and acidity of water extract (AWE); organic nutrients assessed in the silages were crude fibre (CF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), crude protein (CP) and digestibility of organic matter (DOM). Hygienic safety was assessed from the contents of zearalenon, fumonisin and aflatoxin mycotoxins. The high (P < 0.05) dry matter (DM) content in Festulolium pabulare silages indicates that the species tends to rapid wilting. The higher DM content reflected in lower biomass losses (P < 0.05). The lowest pH values (P < 0.05) were detected in silages made of Festulolium braunii. The fact relates to the higher content of lactic acid in the prepared microsilages. The use of ensiling additives affected the quality of extracts. Namely the application of the biological additive led to the increased content (P < 0.05) of not only lactic acid but acetic acid too. Titrable acidity was not affected by the ensiling additives. As to the emanation of ethanol, heterofermentative bacteria of lactic fermentation apparently took part in the fermentation process of the silages as well. While the evaluated forage species showed differences in the digestibility of organic matter (P < 0.05), the application of preservatives did not influence the content of organic nutrients. Fumonisin was not detected at all and aflatoxins were below the level of detection. None of the assessed factors had an effect on the content of zearalenon; in spite of the fact, an apparent tendency towards a higher content of zearalenon was recorded in Lolium perenne.