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

A new triterpenoid compound from stems and leaves of American ginseng

<div><p>A new dammarane-type triterpenoid compound was isolated from stems and leaves of American ginseng. The structure of the new sapogenin was elucidated by the combined analysis of NMR and HR-ESI-MS as dammar-20<i>S</i>, 25<i>S</i>-epoxy-3β, 12β, 26-triol (1). Compound <b>1</b> showed cytotoxic effect on human SM7721 and human Hela cells <i>in vitro</i>.</p></div

The FgHog1 MAPK pathway also is involved in responses to oxidative, cytoplasm membrane, and cell wall stresses.

<p><b>A</b>. Colonies of PH-1 and the <i>Fghog1</i> (HG15), <i>Fgpbs2</i> (PS15), and <i>Fgssk2</i> (FK13) mutants on media with 0.05% H₂O₂, SDS, and Congo red. <b>B</b>. Germ tubes of the <i>Fghog1</i>, <i>Fgpbs2</i>, and <i>Fgssk2</i> mutants incubated in liquid YEPD with 0.005% H₂O₂. Bar = 40 µm.</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

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

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

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

Figure 9

<p>Metabolic profiles of the wild type PH-1 (<b>A</b>), <i>Fghog1</i> mutant (<b>B</b>), and the <i>Fghog1</i>/<i>FgHOG1</i> complemented transformant (<b>C</b>) cultured in YEPD with or without 1 M NaCl. The X-axis is the retention time (RT) in minutes. The Y-axis represents the abundance of total ion current. The peaks with RT of 6.64, 20.43, 26.15, and 44.09 are glycerol, arabitol, mannitol, and sucrose, respectively. The far left peak (RT = 5.75) is 1,2,2,3,4,5-hexamethyl-1,2,5-azasilaborole.</p

Corn stalks inoculated with the wild type (PH-1) and the <i>Fghog1</i> (HG15), <i>Fgpbs2</i> (PS15), and <i>Fgssk2</i> (FK13) mutants were examined 10 dpi.

<p>Arrows pointed to the inoculation sites.</p

Phenotypes of the <i>Fgssk2</i>, <i>Fgpbs2</i>, and <i>Fghog1</i> mutants in growth, conidiation, and plant infection.

a<p>Growth rate and conidiation were measured after incubating for 3 and 5 days, respectively. Mean and standard deviation were calculated from three replicates. The same letter indicated there was no significant difference. Different letters were used to mark statistically significant differences (P = 0.05).</p>b<p>DON/Ergosterol ratio was determined with 2-week-old rice grain cultures. Ergosterol was measured to quantify fungal biomass.</p>c<p>N/A, not assayed.</p