The research work of current paper is dedicated to the problems that appear in resource attraction processes of the Cohesion Fund (CF) in Latvia. Latvia has an access to branches of financing covered by CF - transport and environment. These branches require harmonized legislation. Successful administrating is assured by effective institutional system. The weaknesses of CF management system in Latvia are figured out so rendering ideas to the reader to be studied further.

This article analyzes the experience of economic clustering of Finnish industry. This experience is described in the report of the fundamental investigation which was carried out by the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA) - Advantage Finland - The Future of the Finnish industries. The study deals with the competitiveness and future growth prospects of the Finnish industry on the basis of Michael E. Porter's theory of the competitive advantage of nations. The comparative advantage of Finnish industries has been moving from capital-and resource-intensive branches to those driven by know-how and technology. The author recommends to study this experience and to use it in Latvia. The finding of the real and potential business-groups in the economy of Latvia may be realized with the algorithm of clustering described by the professor of Colombian University (USA) David Stark on the base of Lursoft data of the Latvian enterprises.

The paper focuses on the exposition of the research results on agricultural resources in Kurzeme peninsula-climatic resources, qualitative evaluation of the land, condition of land amelioration, topographic resources, and structural breakdown of farm land by types of use. It is concluded that extremely various climatic and soil conditions govern in the region. The Southeast part of Kurzeme peninsula is displayed very favourably by the aggregate value of agricultural resources. Labour productivity in Kurzeme has been analysed as well.

The article is meant to analyze the methodological qualitative characteristics of the creation of employees' motivation. These characteristics help to measure the reliability of research instruments. In accordance with Kendal ranking correlation (Henning, 1997) there are identified motivation indicators of managing employees and executives. The main attention is paid to the importance of motivation models' shaping and the essential principles by giving the results of model shaping and their interpretations.

The scientific article is prepared using monographic research method. The most important works by several scientists are examined. The author analyses guidelines for strengthening of civil society within Decree of 2005 by the Cabinet of Latvia; previous research on social capital in scientists' works is considered and indicators regarding economics of Latvia are characterized; formal and informal social networks and their norms are cleared. Importance of civil society is suggested by the Cabinet Decree No. 98 Guidelines of Strengthening Policy for Civil Society in 2005. The guidelines and directions for strengthening of civil society for the ten years describe actuality of this program. This theme is less researched in Latvia. Civil society promotes democracy, increases and mobilizes social capital, coordinating collaboration of citizens for common benefit. Civil society in Latvia is in its initial position. The concept of social capital by different foreign scientists and Latvian specialists is analysed in this article. American scientist R. Putnam (1995) has written about social capital that human capital regards individuals but social capital regards relationships among individuals as well as social networks and exchange norms. Another researcher F. Fukuyama (1995) analyses social capital by comparison of economical development of different peoples and nations. Research by several scientists on indicators of social capital and their use in economics of Latvia are analysed in the work. The author concludes that social capital of Latvia has tendency to develop, and social networks and their expansion is little explored in Latvia.

This research presents the antiradical activity and fatty acids changes of vegetable oils. Natural antiradical activity and its changes during storage for one and two years of rapeseed, linseed and hemp oils were determined with 1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Fresh hemp oil shows the higher antiradical activity. The content of fatty acids of fresh rapeseed, linseed and hemp oils and of the mixture of rapeseed (800 g kgE-1) and linseed (200 g kgE-1) oils was determined by the method of gas chromatography. After heating the mixture of rapeseed and linseed oils at the temperature of 160-180 deg C, changes proportions in saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.

Several farmers of Latvia have established ostrich substituting traditional animal growing farms. Ostrich meat is frequently described as a healthy alternative to other meat products. Ostrich, a red meat, is even lower in calories, cholesterol and fat than skinless chicken and turkey, while remaining high in the content of iron and protein. The aim of the investigation is to evaluate the chemical composition of frozen ostrich meat obtain in Latvia and compare it with other meats. The samples of meat for experiments were obtained from ostrich meat producers. Moisture content was determined by drying of the samples at 100 deg C to a constant weight (ISO 6406). Protein content was determined by Kjeldahl method (ISO 5983). Fat content was determined by Soxlet extraction method (ISO 6492). The calories in different meats were determined by an approved procedure which includes summing of the calories from fat and from protein. The investigations showed that there were no significant differences between the main components of ostrich meat produced in Latvia and those found in the data in literature. Chemical composition of ostrich meat does not significantly differ from that of other types of meat. The research suggests that ostrich meat can be substituted for beef or chicken in any recipe, including meat-processing products.

Tryptophan is a precursor for the production of skatole and indole in the large intestine of pigs. Accumulation of these compounds in adipose tissue causes on objectionable odour in meat from entire male pigs. Potential market impact illustrates the importance in developing an accurate method of determining skatole and indole content in adipose tissue. In the present study, a method is described for determination of skatole and indole concentrations by liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). The optimization of chromatographic and APCI conditions is reported. This method showed excellent linearity over the concentration range tested (from 10 to 1000 ng mlE-1 of liquefied fat for both skatole and indole).

The main pine natural woodland habitats (woodland key habitats -WKH) and the importance of their management and monitoring have been described in this paper. The ecological importance of lichen epiphytes in forest ecosystem has been analysed. The lichenoflora and its percental cover features have been described. The exposition of lichen species depending on the cardinal points has been analysed. The paper presents the characteristics of ecological indicators of lichen in the landscape features. The lichenoindicative evaluation and comparison of pine WKH have been carried out.

The manufacture and export of pallets is one of the largest sectors of the wood industry. For the manufacturing of pallets mainly softwood - spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood - materials are used. The price of those materials is increasing. It could be better for the production of pallets if the manufacturers could use hardwood - alder (Alnus incana L. Moench) and aspen (Populus tremula L.) wood materials. The reasons for that could be that these materials are not so expensive and that softwood materials could be used more in the wood industry where it is more necessary. But at that point more information about the physical and mechanical properties of hardwood materials needed. Basing on the previous research on quality and mechanical properties of softwood and hardwood and on the present research work the practical and theoretical values of deflection and strength of pallets have been assessed. The research enables us to optimize the preparation for pallet production. The aim of the research is to find out the strength of the pallets without destroying.