Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most widely used polymers in many industrial applications. Biomedical uses seem to be attractive, with increasing interest. However, PE it prone to infections and its additional surface treatment is indispensable. An increase in resistance to infections can be achieved by treating PE surfaces with substances containing antibacterial groups such as triclosan (5-Chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol) and chlorhexidine (1,1'-Hexamethylenebis[5-(4-chlorophenyl)biguanide]). This work has examined the impact of selected antibacterial substances immobilized on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) via polyacrylic acid (PAA) grafted on LDPE by low-temperature barrier discharge plasma. This LDPE surface treatment led to inhibition of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus adhesion; the first causes intestinal disease, peritonitis, mastitis, pneumonia, septicemia, the latter is the reason for wound and urinary tract infections.

This paper deals with the quality costs control in small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) in Slovakia and also presents the results from the questionnaire survey. The empirical study attempts to determine the level of understanding and level of implementation of quality costs control in SMEs in Slovakia. The research is based on the prevention -appraisal -failure model. In the paper we also propose a suitable model for quality costs control in small and medium manufacturing enterprises based on the results of the research. The empirical study focused on SMEs where quality cost control often works as a latent management subsystem. Managers of SMEs use indicators for monitoring process performance and production quality, but they usually do not develop a separate framework for measuring and evaluating quality costs. We asked them to what extent and on what level quality costs control was used in their manufacturing.

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This paper investigates the financial aspects of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Slovak wood-processing industry. The aim of the survey was to determine the level of understanding and implementation of financial controlling, and to identify its potential for future implementation. The survey revealed a low level of understanding and implementation of this tool in Slovak wood-processing SMEs, because the use of all analyzed instruments of financial controlling was in small enterprises in a range of 15% and in medium-sized enterprises up to 40%. However, medium-sized enterprises were substantially more equipped than small enterprises at applying and recognizing the benefits of financial controlling. Based on the results of this research, the framework for a standardized model of financial controlling for Slovak wood-processing SMEs was proposed, as a practical way of improving company performance models.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively influenced all areas of human life across the world. Economic downturn is evident in almost every country. However, the biggest impact has crisis on micro and small enterprises (MaSEs). As the change of regime and rhythm of work is coming, the important task of employees in management is to retain their subordinates in the state of positive setting and motivation. The aim of the research is to define the impact of pandemic COVID-19 on the level of employee motivation in MaSEs operating in Slovak Republic. The development of employee motivation was investigated in three fields, financial, working and relationship one. A total of 848 respondents were asked in 2017 to 2020 by means of stratified selection. There was a significant decrease of preferences of respondents in all investigated motivation factors. Testing confirmed the existence of statistically significant differences during 2020 in comparison with previous years in investigating the following motivation factors: basic salary, job security, good working team, communication at work and superior's approach. The main contribution of the research is the finding that pandemic COVID-19 has the influence except of other impacts also on the area of employee motivation.

This paper investigates the impact of the global economy on the forestbased sector in Slovakia in the early years of the 21 st century. Indicators such as gross domestic product, production value of forestry-wood sectors, net exports, foreign direct investments, and the ratio indices of foreign direct investment to GDP in industrial production and foreign direct investment to production value were used to analyze this sector in the context of globalization. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the factors that significantly affect the development of the forest-based sector and to shed light on how globalization impacts the analyzed sector. The results showed that the forest-based sector had a minor impact of the Slovak economy with less than 5% share on the whole GDP. Using multiple regression analysis it was found that globalization factors such as foreign direct investment and net export did not have a significant influence (p > 0.44175) on the forest-based sector during the investigated period. Nevertheless, the highest globalization indicators were detected by the pulp and paper industry ( ̅ = 2.72; 29.14) and the furniture manufacturing ( ̅ = 1.60; 27.57). The highest variability of FDI was identified in the forest sector (vx = 72.38%; 67.32%) by influence of zero FDI in the last three years and in the wood industry (vx = 38.90%; 38.51%).

To provide environmentally sustainable development of a wood processing enterprise, it is necessary to implement environmentally sustainable products. The study focuses on identifying the factors of consumer perception of environmentally sustainable wood processing products and recommends how to ensure such product development. The main objective of the research was to survey the perception of environmentally sustainable wood processing products by consumers and to identify the factors that consumers take into account when making purchasing decisions. The survey was conducted by the method of questionnaire, addressing 754 adult inhabitants of Slovakia. The results revealed that the most frequently indicated reason for purchasing environmentally sustainable wood processing products was that they had a positive impact on health. The most commonly identified reason why consumers do not buy these products was their high price. The survey results should help understand the needs of consumers with regard to the environmental aspects of wood processing products, and thus ensure better satisfaction of their environmental needs.