Closing of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant in Lithuania will have an impact on economics of Latvia in providing of electric energy in the future. Experts of the Economic Ministry of Latvia have said, that in covering of approximately 300-400 MW electric energy deficit after 2009, for Latvia most suitable will be solid fuel - coal and partly biomass (approximately 10 %) - condensation electric power plant. The article describes also the alternatives - use of natural gas, nuclear energy and bio-energy - in electric energy production in Latvia.

During 1936-1938 by suggestion of Karlis Ulmanis (agronomist, the 4th president of the Republic of Latvia) wine-mountain was arranged at the Pure Horticulture Experimental Station in Sabile (Latvia), where 1350 vines were planted. 36 grape varieties were growing in Sabile Wine Mountain after the World War II. Since 1951 scientists have investigated more than 300 outdoor growing grapes varieties and hybrids from West Europe and Russia. The most outstanding grape breeder in Latvia is Peteris Sukatnieks, who develops winter hardiness vine hybrids ('Lauma', 'Ritausma' and 'Zilga') suitable for climatic conditions of Latvia. During 1992-2006 fifth super early grape varieties of high quality berries have been developed: 'Dovga', 'Liepajas Dzintars', Liepajas Agra', 'Ciravas Agra' and 'Silva'.

In Latvia in the 21th century informatics branch as research and innovations direction still is in leader. Safe software, integrate information and communication systems and networks, electronic technologies - there are the main directions, which at present are in the focus of attention of our researchers and product developers. | 21. gs. neatkarīgajā Latvijā informātika kā nozare, kā pētījumu un inovāciju virziens joprojām ir līderos. Droša programmatūra, integrētas informācijas un komunikācijas sistēmas un tīkli, elektroniskās tehnoloģijas - tie ir galvenie virzieni, kuri pašlaik ir mūsu pētnieku un produktu attīstītāju uzmanības centrā.

This article describes the effects of new legislation in Latvia, as well as external and international factors, on the registration (establishing) and liquidation of individual enterprises, companies and farms. Legislation in Latvia facilitates the harmonisation of the structure and content of businesses in Latvia with globally accepted and known definitions of legal structures of entrepreneurship. After transformation or liquidation, previously established and functioning legal structures of business are classified in accordance with the new Commercial Law and European practice. Regression analysis revealed definite trends and convincing casual relationships: the fact that the number of registered businesses in Latvia is increasing, which indicates that the business environment is developing; the number of liquidated businesses has stabilized at the level that prevailed immediately after the introduction of new legislation regulating commercial activities.

The paper presents the short survey of production and use of motor biofuels in Latvia. Latvia is rich in agricultural lands, but a very large of agricultural lands nowadays still remines uncultivated. Under these circumstances the biofuel production resource potential of Latvia is very good. Small quantities of biodiesel - 2.5 thousand tons annually, have been started to produce since the end of 2001, but the development of production and use of biofuels goes very slowly due to different economical, legislative and psychological barriers. This paper summarizes the main results of our study on the introduction of biofuels in motor vehicles and the identification of policy measures in support of the promotion of biofuels and other renewable fuels in accordance with the Directive 2003/30/EC and the further policy measures for developing biofuels in Latvia.

The common aim of the project is, elaborating researches in field of labour market, promote on results of the researches based employment and social policy and programs developing for improvement of regions balance and sustainable development, developing analytical basis of well-founded and effective decisions reception, thus promoting increase of employment, creating of labour market and development of economics in Latvia. The researches of the Ministry of Welfare of the Republic of Latvia embrace the following themes: (1) forecasting of labour market, (2) geographical mobility of labour force, (3) salaries and its impacting factors, (4) specific problems of labour market of Latvia and its regions, (5) optimal, employment promoting taxes and benefits, (6) aspects of gender equality in labour market, (7) working conditions and risks in Latvia, (8) reasons and duration of unemployment and social rejection, (9) evaluation of unregistered employment.

SWOT analysis allow to conclude, that for medicine branch in Latvia has the necessary specialist competence, qualification and experience, as well as a high development potential, and that are being considered as an essential precondition for determination for branch the status of priority. Foundation of mentioned priority direction is following: a priority fundamental and applied research direction in Latvia - Medicine - development of clinical medicine based on applied science technologies - based on the fundamental researches in medicine and related branches. For development of priority direction are sufficient strong and internationally accredit research basis institutes - research structural units of University of Latvia and Riga Stradins University, and Biomedical Research and Study Centre of University of Latvia. | SVID analīze ļauj secināt, ka medicīnas nozarei Latvijā ir nepieciešamā speciālistu kompetence, kvalifikācija un pieredze, kā arī augsts attīstības potenciāls, un tie uzskatāmi par būtiskākajiem priekšnosacījumiem, lai nozarei noteiktu prioritārās nozares statusu. Minētā prioritārā virziena pamatojums ir šāds: prioritārais fundamentālo un lietišķo pētījumu virziens Latvijā - Medicīna - lietišķo zinātņu tehnoloģijās bāzēta klīniskās medicīnas attīstība - balstīts uz fundamentāliem pētījumiem medicīnā un tai tuvu stāvošās nozarēs. Prioritārā virziena attīstībai Latvijā ir pietiekami spēcīgi un starptautiski atzīti pētnieciskie bāzes institūti - Latvijas Universitātes, Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes zinātniskās struktūrvienības un LU Biomedicīnas studiju un pētījumu centrs.

If among engineering phenomena exist nonlinear interconnections, they are expressed with help of corresponding nonlinear functions. Teaching the regression analysis for the engineering science students one of the important topic is method of Least Square Method (LSM) and their application in the nonlinear regression analysis. Based on experience at Latvia University of Agriculture, the illustrated approach of teaching of nonlinear regression topics for undergraduate students in engineering applications is presented. Teaching statistics on regression analysis, students usually have problems with interpretation of the transformed regression model parameters significance. The tasks of teaching using LSM in the nonlinear regression analysis are discussed. On the figure 1 regression dependence are shown between such sizes as age of pine-tree and his height. The main species in Latvia is pine-tree (47% from total Latvia forest area); growth of trees motion is stipulated by tips of growth circumstances (Statistical Yearbook of Latvia, 2005).

The researches were evaluated and discussed by scientists of the Institute of Biotechnology and Veterinary Medicine Sigra of Latvia University of Agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia, the State Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Centre, the Latvian Agricultural Advisory and Training Centre and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Latvia University of Agriculture on 22 February 2007. In this time, only researches ordered by the Ministry of Education and Science in the fields of animal feeding, feed and food technologies, animal reproduction, and improvement of research infrastructure at the institute Sigra were analyzed and evaluated.

The article deals with the discussion of scientists about bio-pharmacological chemistry problems in Latvia, but also embraced common issues that touch other branches of science and science in all. Role of the University of Latvia, Institute of Organic Synthesis and enterprises Grindeks and Olainfarm in biomedicine researches and development of new products and technologies are described also. | Rakstā atspoguļota zinātnieku diskusija ne tikai par biofarmaceitiskām ķīmijas problēmām Latvijā, bet aptverti arī vispārīgi jautājumi, kas skar arī citas zinātnes nozares un zinātni kopumā. Apskatīta arī Latvijas Universitātes, Organiskās sintēzes institūta un uzņēmumu Grindeks un Olainfarm loma biomedicīnas pētījumos un jaunu produktu un tehnoloģiju izstrādāšanā.