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Charles University Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy Candidate: Lucie Šťávová Supervisor: PharmDr. Jan Kostřiba, Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: Advertising in Pharmacy The theoretical part of this diploma thesis discusses the problematics of marketing, defines basic terms and specific characteristics of marketing in pharmacy. The next chapter defines basic terms related to the marketing of medicines, discusses its history and current legislation. The last chapter discusses the problematics of internet pharmacies and home delivery of pharmaceuticals. The practical part consists of three chapters. The first one analyzes the printed advertising materials commonly available in pharmacies with the aim to detect possible violation of current legislation. The second chapter analyzes the availability of loyalty programs in pharmacies in Hradec Králové and its terms and conditions. The third chapter analyzes web pages and online presentation of pharmacies in Hradec Králové as well as the availability of home delivery of pharmaceuticals in these pharmacies. According to results, in printed advertising materials of pharmacies the law is frequently being violated, loyalty programs are commonly available in most pharmacies and on the other hand home delivery of...

The present work investigates the inorganic nitrogenous nutrition of the phytoplanktonic community and its association with the bacterial role in the remineralisation and/or utilisation of inorganic nitrogen, in the waters of the Menai Strait. The field study lead to the recognition of four distinct phases in the seasonal cycle, based on measurements of primary plankton production and metabolism of nitrate and ammonium by the algae and bacteria. These were first the net autotrophic phase (April and May), followed by the net heterotrophic phase (June), then the secondary net autotrophic phase (July and August) and finally, the regenerative phase (remainder of the year). The phytoplankton seasonal pattern was characterised by nitrate-based production in the spring followed by ammonium-based production in summer and autumn, associated with the ambient availability of these nutrients. Bacteria accounted for up to 70% of the total inorganic nitrogen taken up with nitrate contributing heavily to bacterial production (up to 80%) early in the year. Whilst the maximum contribution of the heterotrophs to the total uptake was observed during the net heterotrophic phase, the lowest (<25%) was during the net autotrophic periods of the seasonal cycle. Calculations suggest that a maximum of 67% of algal ammonium uptake came from bacterial recycling. Only in June was there evidence of competition between algae and bacteria for nitrogen which is believed to have contributed to the sharp decline of the phytoplankton, at this time of the year. There was no evidence for nutrient limitation of the algae at other times of the season. There was also evidence for uptake of nitrate and ammonium in conditions of total darkness by both the bacteria and the algae, with bacteria accounting for a maximum of-75% the total nitrate and ammonium uptake. Ammonium was preferred over nitrate by the autotrophs and the heterotrophs. However, early in the year, when both primary and bacterial production were nitrate based, nitrate was utilised equitably with its environmental availability. For increasing concentrations of ammonium, bacteria clearly rejected the more oxidised form of inorganic nitrogen. The seasonal variation of 13C (as NaH13CO3) uptake by the populations studied was also investigated and there was strong evidence for heterotrophic uptake. Over the diel cycle, the contribution of bacteria to the total 13 C uptake amounted to a maximum of 44% during the net heterotrophic phase. In dark conditions, this percentage increased to a value of 60%, measured on the same occasion. The ambient availability of inorganic nitrogen seemed to influence the proportion of carbon fixed by the autotrophs that was inferred to be transferred to the bacteria. The assumed carbon transference from the autotrophs to the heterotrophs was highest in the spring, following a period of sufficiency of inorganic nitrogen, and lowest during summer (despite peaks of primary production), associated with conditions of ambient nitrogen depletion. It is widely hypothesised that bacteria take up inorganic nitrogen in order to be able to utilise carbon-rich, nitrogen-deficient compounds and so maintain a constant C:N cell quota. From a series of laboratory experiments, it was observed that the C:N ratio of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) used by the bacteria set the boundary on the role of these organisms as inorganic N net consumers or remineralisers. The laboratory work was interpreted as showing that when DOM was the major nitrogen source for growth, bacteria excreted the excess nitrogen as ammonium whereas at high C:N ratios, bacteria took up and conserved nitrogen. In the latter circumstances, when nitrogen was limiting, bacteria appeared to increase respiratory losses in order to dispose of the excess carbon. By contrast at low C:N ratios, carbon conservation occurred. It was concluded that if the release of DOM by the algae is the prime source of organic material for the bacteria, then this switching of the inorganic nitrogen metabolism of the bacteria, will be ultimately driven by the algae. These results were used to interpret the seasonal dynamics of the phytoplanlctonic and bacterial inorganic nitrogen metabolism in the Menai Strait.

M.Ing. / This study proposed to evaluate decision methods for R&D projects to assist managers to choose the appropriate type of model for their organization. In order to enhance the understanding of selection of R&D projects, general characteristics of project selection models have been explained with their advantages and disadvantages. For this purpose, model groups, criteria for models and usage of models have been addressed in detail. For better understanding of project selection models, the general characteristics of R&D projects, which are uncertainty, sequentiality and project interactions have been explained. It has been found by literature survey that the most used models are scoring models, economic models and optimization models. Among these models scoring models have more advantages than the others. However, there is not a perfect model for all types of projects and organizations. The criteria for selection of projects and models have been introduced. It has been found that criteria for selection of projects differ according to the type of projects under consideration, to the managers' view of project selection and to the size of the organizations. Research projects are often selected by using scoring models, which allow subjective estimation. On the other hand development or new product projects are selected mostly by using economic models. It has also been found that realism, flexibility, cost, ease of use, and capability were the most accepted criteria for selection of models. In order to make the discussed subjects clearer the project selection practice of Premet R&D has been explained in a step by step fashion. The model used by Premet R&D in the project selection process has also been addressed. Premet R&D's model has been compared with other models and weighted factor scoring model, which is a better version of their model, has been recommended for Premet R&D.

The research problem addressed in this study was to determine what is required for e-business and e-commerce to have an impact on the Textile Industry in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan. To achieve this objective, a literature study was done to identify what strategies were needed and how e-business and e-commerce would enhance the relationships between the organisations, suppliers and customers. An empirical study was conducted to ascertain what the managers within the Textile Industry know about e-commerce and e-business and the role they have or could play within their industry.

Abstract I studied the structure of European breeding forest bird communities on several spatial scales focusing on heterospecific attraction among birds (i.e., the attraction of individuals to the company of interspecifics). Namely, I examined how heterospecific attraction affects habitat selection in migrant birds and the potential role of predation risk in enhancing heterospecific attraction during breeding with particular emphasis regarding the interaction between resident and migrant birds. Geographically, low densities and low relative proportions of resident titmice (Parus and Aegithalos spp.) were associated with harsh winter conditions. The densities of northern European titmice populations are suggested to be lower than expected on the basis of summer productivity potentially causing geographical variation with respect to the interactions between resident and migrant birds. As expected, the associations between titmice and migrants appear stronger and more positive in northern Europe than elsewhere. Heterospecific attraction in habitat selection among migrant species was studied both experimentally and theoretically. An increased density of titmice resulted in a higher number and abundance of migrant species than the removal treatment, suggesting that resident birds are used as cues for locating profitable breeding sites. From a theoretical perspective and under most conditions, the use of heterospecific cues proved to be a better habitat selection strategy than selection of sites based on direct assessment of the relative quality of habitat patches. Only when interactions (both positive and negative) between migrants and residents were weak and sampling costs of both strategies were about equivalent, did individuals using direct sampling gain in fitness. Heterospecific attraction during breeding in relation to predation risk was assessed by examining the spatial distribution of birds. Both experimentally increased perceived predation risk and naturally occurring predation risk created by the presence of sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) i.e., relative to the vicinity of nesting hawk, resulted in more clumped distribution of birds than areas of lower risk. Around sparrowhawks nest, however, clumping was apparent for only one forest type and only among study plots including both large (≥ 20 g, preferred prey) and small birds (&lt; 20 g). To conclude, heterospecific attraction of migrants to resident birds contributes to the structure of local avian communities in forest landscapes. Heterospecific attraction among birds is strengthened by increased predation risk causing variation in species interactions when considered in a landscape perspective.

M.Inf. / Enterprises are becoming more dependent on people than ever before and in the twenty first century, an enterprise's survival and success will highly depend on the ability to manage knowledge as a source for competitive advantage. This study is concerned with the establishment of a knowledge management program that will ensure sustainable competitive advantage within the enterprise. The main problem under investigation is to assess the importance of knowledge management within an enterprise and to ascertain how knowledge management can ensure sustained competitive advantage in an enterprise. In the first three chapters of the study a literature survey is done to get a better understanding of what knowledge management is, the importance of corporate culture when implementing a knowledge management program and how knowledge management can be a source for sustainable competitive advantage or business edge. The advancement in information technology has allowed enterprises to leverage people's knowledge onto higher competitive level by improving competencies and processes, reducing mistakes, etc. and the optimal application of knowledge in a knowledge-based environment is playing an ever-increasing role in enterprise success. The second part of the study was an empirical study where a qualitative research was conducted in the Eskom Transmission Group. The aim of the research was to investigate understanding of the knowledge management concept amongst business leaders, determine enablers and barriers to implementing a knowledge management, and to also determine whether knowledge is seen as a source for competitive advantage. Structured interviews were conducted with ten business leaders in the Eskom Transmission Group. The data obtained from the interviews were analysed and interpreted according to the grounded theory. It was found that although knowledge management is old but as a formalised concept in the business environment in South Africa it is new and there is no common definition or understanding of the concept. It is however evident that the need to manage knowledge is understood and its importance to the sustainability of the business. The majority of the respondents agree that people issues are critical to the success of knowledge management in an enterprise, as people own knowledge. It is suggested that enterprises should adopt a holistic and integrated approach when establishing a knowledge management program. The holistic approach together with the framework and guidelines as given in chapter six would afford enterprises the ability to manage and harness their knowledge for sustainable competitive advantage. Broad recommendations for establishing a knowledge management program that will be a source of sustainable competitive advantage are proposed.

In this thesis we investigate important issues in the area of dynamic pricing for revenue management. Studying the effect of competition and strategic consumer behavior, we characterize the dynamic pricing policies for retailers who sell homogeneous goods in multi-period, discrete time, finite horizon settings. In the first essay an impatient consumer visits only one of two competing retailers in each period. If he does not purchase the good, he visits the competing retailer in the ensuing period. Compared to the corresponding single store monopoly, when the consumer’s valuation is uniformly distributed, prices decline exponentially rather than linearly, with a dramatically lower initial price, and a substantially lower system profit. The model is extended to accommodate many consumers, who may be either identical or similar, a more general valuation distribution, and situations wherein capacities are limited. The base case of a centralized two-store monopoly is also examined. In the second essay the consumer may return to the same retailer with some certain probability. This probability is either affected by market structure characteristics, or it may depend on the consumer’s experience at the last store visited. The robustness of the exponential decline of prices is reinforced. It occurs even when a strong retailer faces competition from a relatively much weaker retailer. We investigate the impact of the return probabilities on prices, profits, and consumer surplus. The model is extended to an oligopoly, and to situations with many similar consumers. The effect of strategic consumer behavior on prices and profits is revealed in the third essay. Characterizing the pricing policies arising in a two-period monopoly and duopoly settings, we find that strategic consumer behavior inflicts larger losses to a duopoly than to a monopoly. A lower strategic consumers’ discounting factor, which is beneficial to a monopoly, may be harmful to a duopoly. Ignoring strategic consumer behaviour is costly to a monopoly, but may, on the other hand, be beneficial to a duopoly. An extension to three periods is studied, and with longer horizons the model is analyzed for the case when all the consumers are strategic. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

Transition dairy cows are vulnerable to negative consequences of depressed feed intake due to a transient state of negative energy balance that predisposes them to disease after calving. Competition has been identified as one factor that can decrease feeding activity in mid-lactation cows, but the effects of competition on the transition cow are less well understood. The objective of this study was to test the effect of a competition on the behaviour and feed intake of transition cows. Standing behaviour, feeding behaviour and dry matter intake (DMI) was monitored from 1 wk before to 2 wk after calving for 110 Holstein dairy cows. Social behaviour was recorded in the week before calving. Cows were assigned to a competitive (2:1 cows:bin) or non-competitive (1:1 cow:bin) treatment at the start of the study. Treatment groups were balanced for parity and baseline feeding data, resulting in 8 primiparous and 10 multiparous cows per treatment. Competition dramatically increased the number of agonistic behaviours between cows at the feeder. Primiparous cows showed no change in either feeding or standing behaviour when fed in a competitive environment; however, they increased their total meal duration and within-meal intervals in the wk -1 before and wk +1 after calving. In wk -1 before calving, competitively fed multiparous cows increased the frequency of visits to the feeder but consumed less feed at each visit, resulting in decreased daily DMI. Throughout the experiment, multiparous cows fed competitively spent less time eating at each visit and ate at a faster rate, particularly during the 2 wk after calving. Multiparous cows on the competitive treatment also increased the time they spent standing (without eating) compared to cows on the non-competitive treatment. Feeding rate was negatively correlated with social status in multiparous cows. In summary, the results of this study indicate that restricting access to the feeder increases agonistic behaviours regardless of parity, and cows of different parity and social status respond differently in terms of feeding and standing behaviour. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate