Competitiveness as a function of local and regional growth and development

Each economic entity, institution and individual has the responsibility of contributing to the economic development in its region. Creating conditions for the development and empowerment of the business sector are activities that in the long run lead to the strengthening of not only certain economic sectors, but the entire region. In the recent period sources from EU funds for co-financing of capital projects have become available to investors. Given the uncertainty in business conditions, investors’ poor capitalization, lack of business profitability and, in terms of profitability and risk, lack of high-quality capital projects, the benefits of these resources are insufficient and/or inadequately used. The aim of this paper is to analyse the strength and capabilities of Croatian companies for financing and implementation of high-quality capital projects. For this purpose, this paper will present the results of research of financial position of selected companies in 2012. Also, it presents the results of research from 2011 that examined the reality of projections of later activated investment projects. These results are the basis for a conclusion about the ability of management, in the analysed region, to make realistic plans and carry out high-quality capital projects

Nickel–Cobalt Sulfide Nanosheets Anchored on Porous Carbon for Energy Storage and Small-Molecule Detection

Transition metal sulfides (TMSs) are considered to be highly promising electrode materials for supercapacitors. Optimizing the structure of the electrode materials to expose more active sites is a crucial strategy for boosting the electrochemical performance. Herein, we developed carbon/metal sulfide composite electrode materials by anchoring nickel–cobalt bimetallic sulfide nanosheets (NCS) on chitosan-derived heteroatom-doped hierarchical porous carbon (CPC). The composite materials exhibited a uniform distribution and significantly increased active sites, which led to a substantial enhancement of the electrochemical properties. The optimal sample NCS/CPC-3 exhibited a brilliant capacitive performance and great cycling stability. Also, the assembled asymmetric supercapacitor presented a robust energy output of 37.1 W h kg–1 at 800.0 W kg–1. In addition, NCS/CPC-3 also demonstrated potential in the field of small-molecule detection. Our findings supply a unique perspective on effectively boosting the electrochemical properties of TMS-based electrode materials

Assays for the activation of FgHog1, Mgv1, and Gpmk1 MAP kinases.

<p>Total proteins were isolated from vegetative hyphae of the wild type (PH-1) and the <i>Fghog1</i> (HG15), <i>Fgpbs2</i> (PS15), and <i>Fgssk2</i> (FK13) mutants. <b>A.</b> The anti-TpGY antibody was used to detect the phosphorylation of FgHog1 (41-kDa) in cultures treated with or without 0.7 M NaCl. <b>B.</b> Phosphorylation of Mgv1 (46-kDa) and Gpmk1 (42-kDa) was detected with the anti-TpEY antibody. Anti-actin and anti-MAPK antibodies were used to determine the same loading amount of protein.</p

Growth defects of the <i>Fghog1</i>, <i>Fgpbs2</i>, and <i>Fgssk2</i> mutants.

<p><b>A</b>. Colonies of the wild type (PH-1) and the <i>Fghog1</i> (HG15), <i>Fgpbs2</i> (PS15), and <i>Fgssk2</i> (FK13) mutants grown on PDA and 5xYEG agar plates for 3 days. <b>B</b>. Colony surface hydrophobicity tests with the same set of mutants. Photos were taken 15 min. after placing droplets of 50 µl red ink on the surface of the wild-type and mutant colonies. <b>C</b>. Hyphal tip growth and branching patterns of PH-1 and the same set of mutants on PDA plates. The branching angles were reduced in the extension zone of mutant colonies. Bar = 150 µm.</p

Flowering wheat heads were inoculated with the wild type (PH-1) and <i>Fghog1</i> mutant (HG15).

<p><b>A</b>. Colonization of glume tissues by PH-1 and HG15 was examined 48 hpi. <b>B</b>. The rachises directly beneath the inoculated spikeletes were examined 120 hpi. Hyphae growth (marked with arrows) was abundant in plant tissues inoculated with PH-1 and but not in samples inoculated with <i>Fghog1</i> mutant. Bar = 40 µm.</p

Defects of the <i>Fghog1</i>, <i>Fgpbs2</i>, and <i>Fgssk2</i> mutants in response to hyperosmotic stress.

<p><b>A</b>. Colonies of PH-1, the <i>Fghog1</i> (HG15), <i>Fgpbs2</i> (PS15), and <i>Fgssk2</i> (FK13) mutants, and the <i>Fghog1</i>/<i>FgHOG1</i> complemented transformant (HGC1) on CM plates with or without 1 M NaCl. <b>B</b>. Conidium germination of PH-1 and the <i>Fghog1</i> mutant in CM with 0.7 M NaCl examined at 3 h, 12 h, and 18 h. Bar = 20 µm. <b>C</b>. Germlings of PH-1, HG15, PS15, FK13, and HGC1 incubated in CM+1 M KCl for 12 h. Bar = 40 µm.</p

Expression and subcellular localization of FgHog1-GFP.

<p><b>A.</b> Conidia harvested from the <i>Fghog1</i>/<i>FgHOG1</i>-GFP transformant HGC1 were re-suspended in sterile distilled water or 0.3 M NaCl and examined by DIC or epifluorescence microscopy (GFP). <b>B.</b> GFP signals in germlings of FGC1 were incubated in the liquid YEPD medium with or without 0.3M NaCl. Nuclei were stained with DAPI. Bar = 20 µm.</p

Wild-type and mutant strains of <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> used in this study.

<p>Wild-type and mutant strains of <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> used in this study.</p

Defects of the <i>Fghog1</i>, <i>Fgpbs2</i>, and <i>Fgssk2</i> mutants in sexual reproduction.

<p><b>A</b>. Self-crossing cultures of the wild type (PH-1) and the <i>Fghog1</i> (HG15), <i>Fgpbs2</i> (PS15), and <i>Fgssk2</i> (FK13) mutants. Fertile perithecia with cirrhi were only observed with the wild type. <b>B</b>. Carrot agar cultures of the <i>mat2</i> mutant fertilized with <i>Fghog1</i>, <i>Fgpbs2</i>, and <i>Fgssk2</i> mutants. All the mutants retained male fertility. The close-up views were taken under a dissecting microscope.</p