Multi-level fiscal system in Bosnia and Herzegovina: evolution and coping with economic crisis

Fiscal federalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina is characterized by multi-level asymmetric architecture of government sector and a high degree of fiscal decentralization. Reform of indirect taxation has resulted in centralization of the major part of the revenues in B&H and induced a high degree of fiscal interdependence of governments. In the absence of national economic and fiscal goals and fiscal coordination required during the global economic crisis, strong autonomous activities of the Entities and District have been expressed. Uncoordinated and divergent responses to the crisis in addition to distorting the achieved degree of tax harmonization within B&H has led to a widening fiscal deficit and the rapid growth of borrowing at all levels of government. The aim of this paper is to propose a new model of fiscal coordination in B&H that would mitigate the negative effects of fiscal decentralization on macroeconomic management. The key hypothesis is that, in given political constraints, only a concept of fiscal federalism that includes comprehensive, institutionalized and obligatory fiscal coordination can ensure a coherent response to the crisis

A Review of Synthesis Methods of Chalcones, Flavonoids, and Coumarins

Chalcones are the principal precursors for the biosynthesis of flavonoids and isoflavonoids. A three-carbon α, β-unsaturated carbonyl system constitutes chalcones. Chalcones are the condensation products of an aromatic aldehyde with acetophenones in attendance of catalyst. A lot of methods and schemes have been reported for the synthesis of these compounds. Amongst all, Aldol condensation and Claisen-Schmidt condensation reactions are the most cited synthetic protocols in literature, nevertheless, Suzuki reaction, Witting reaction, and Photo-Fries rearrangement have also been utilized as synthetic protocols towards the chalcone framework. Several catalysts have been developed in the synthesis of the chalcone framework among which SOCl2 natural phosphate, lithium nitrate, amino grafted zeolites, zinc oxide, water, K2CO3, PEG400, silica sulfuric acid, ZrCl4, and ionic liquid are the most cited ones. The development of better synthetic techniques for the synthesis of α, β- unsaturated carbonyl compounds is still remaining high demand. Keywords: Chalcones, Aldol condensation, Claisen-Schmidt condensation, Suzuki reaction, Witting reaction, Photo-Fries rearrangement DOI: 10.7176/CMR/14-3-01 Publication date:August 31st 2022

Production of Lysine by Lactobacilli or Aspergillus Ficuum

In the animal feed industries, there is a global need for adding certain nutritional ingredients to augment deficits usually associated with plant-based materials. As a result, the industrial practices require direct addition of ingredients such as amino acids and vitamins. One of the key ingredients in this context is lysine. Alternately, the same goal can be achieved indirectly through in situ co-culturing of microorgan-isms. The focus of this thesis was genetic improvement of bacterial and /or fungal mutants, which could over-produce lysine. The accumulation of free lysine during microbial growth serves this end based on de-regulation of the lysine biosynthetic pathway. Microorganisms used in this thesis were nine species of lactobacilli and Aspergillus ficuum. Having in mind the highly complex nutritional requirements of lacto-bacilli, the assessment of possible lysine auxotrophy was performed. No lysine auxotrophs were found and the choice of Lactobacillus plantarum as the working species among nine others was based on its higher growth rate in minimal medium. Selection of mutants that overproduced lysine was carried out in the minimal medium supplemented with the following lysine analogs: S-aminoethyl-L-cysteine (AEC), DL-aspartic acid-ƒÒ-hydroxamate (DL-ASP), ƒÒ -fluoropyruvic-acid (FPA), L-lysine hydroxamate (LHX) and diaminopimelic acid (DAP). In L. plantarum, LHX was shown to be the most potent inhibitor; although, the bacterium demonstrated high resistance to all the analogs tested. The inhibition by LHX was obtained only after significant alteration of the minimal medium M3. Furthermore, the mutant # 34, resistant to 2 mM of LHX, secreted only 4.52 £gM of lysine in M3. To address the question of low lysine yield obtained by L. plantarum, thorough study of the regulation of aspartokinase (AK) was performed. It was found that AK exists as four isozymes, threonine sensitive, methionine sensitive and two lysine sensitive isozymes. Activity differed with respect to the growth stage of L. plantarum. Beside lysine, threonine and methionine have influenced the repression of AK isozymes, which suggested that effective lysine over-production could be obtained only if AK is simultaneously resistant to threonine and methionine analogs. In the case of A. ficuum, mutant #5-10 secreted 29.25 £gM of lysine in the minimal medium, which was approximately 30 % higher than that of the wild type. DL-ASP was found as the most potent inhibitor only after the conidia were soaked for 8 h in 0.03 % Tween 80. Ammonium phosphate as a nitrogen source enhanced lysine secretion in A. ficuum compared to five other nitrogen sources tested

Analysing decadal land usecover dynamics of the Lake Basaka catchment (Main Ethiopian Rift) using LANDSAT imagery and GIS

Abstract: Development of accurate classification methods for rapidly changing catchments like that of Lake Basaka is fundamental to better understanding the catchment dynamics, which were not addressed in previous studies. Thus, the aim of this study was to map the decadal land use ⁄ cover (LUC) regimes of the Lake Basaka catchment, utilizing time series of LANDSAT images and to analyse the changes that occurred at different time periods..

Implications of the taxation of tobacco in the European Union in the period 2005-2014

The paper aims to analyze the implications of excise policy in member states and at the EU level in the period 2005-2014 in the field of tobacco taxation for policy convergence, revenues and the tobacco market. Based on statistical measures of variability, the convergence of the excise policies of EU member states in the field of the taxation of cigarettes is determined, with the proviso that the excise policies of the new member states are more homogenous than those of the EU-15. From trends in the consumption of tobacco products it can be concluded that the policy that was based on the premise of increasing the excise burden on cigarettes while maintaining a low excise duty on fine cut tobacco led in most member states to distortions in the tobacco market and loss of excise revenues. The study presented in this paper confirmed the key hypothesis that a coherent and effective excise policy at EU level cannot be achieved without careful balancing the structure, amount and dynamics of the increase in the tax burden on cigarettes and all products that may appear as their substitutes

Effect of land use/cover change on the regimes of surface runoff for Lake Basaka catchment

Abstract: Lake Basaka is expanding at a very fast rate. An appropriate method of estimating the surface runoff from such dynamic catchment is extremely important to delineate sensitive areas to be protected and to develop suitable management measures. In this study, the surface (direct) runoff was estimated using SCS-CN model, assisted by remote sensing and GIS. The result indicated that Lake Basaka catchment showed significant variability (temporal and spatial) in runoff responses depending on the rainfall amount and distribution pattern and land use/cover change. The significant increase of surface runoff (runoff coefficient) was observed to occur after 1973, which is in line with the significant increment of lake level after that period. The reduction in vegetation cover also resulted in increase of runoff coefficient of the Lake catchment from 0.07 in 1960s to about 0.23 in 2000s

Technical Performance Evaluation of Ketar Medium Scale Irrigation Scheme, Southeast of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Evaluation of performance of irrigation systems has been increasingly stressed in recent years by many researchers and managers of irrigation schemes. This study was aimed to contribute to the improvement of irrigation efficiency and crop productivity of the farm. It had been conducted on Ketar medium scale irrigation scheme situated in Arsi zone Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. Performance indicators used were conveyance, application, storage efficiency, water application uniformity; depletion fraction, runoff ratio, deep percolation, irrigation water use efficiency and scheme sustainability were done. Potato was the selected crop for the experiment. Soil of the study area was found clay loam, moderate acidic, non-saline soil and has 3.44 OM in average.  Average Ec, ,Ea, Eu, Es, DF, RR, DPF, IWUE of Ketar scheme was found as 57.4% , 61.6%, 61.6%, 160%, 70.1%, 27.86%, 10.54% and 2.38kg/m3, respectively. The study was concluded as upper and middle stream users were consuming more water than the lowers with decreased productivity of the scheme and technical support and SWC activities in this watershed and redesign are recommendable for sustained design discharge

The complete list of scientific publications of Prof. Árpád Berczik

Árpád Berczik the renowned hydrobilogist celebrated his 88th birthday in this year. His research covered systematics, ecology and larval abundance of the Chironomidae, paying attention to the nutrient cycle of the shallow lakes, which is a characteristic of Hungary . He is a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences since 1982 and author of some 158 research publication listed belo

Critical Linkages: Poverty, Livelihoods, Institutions, and Community Development in Poverty Reduction

Currently, sustainable livelihood approach has been getting attention than conventional approach for poverty minimization for the reason that conventional approach considered as narrow focused. The sustainable livelihood approach is framed in complex manner subsumed different dimensions and elements where poverty, livelihoods, institutions, and community are the critical. Thus, this papers aims to examine the critical linkages among between poverty, livelihoods, institutions, and community development in context of sustainable livelihoods framework. To address the objective of study, descriptive research design and qualitative research approach applied. The study demonstrates that poverty, livelihoods, institutions, and community development are influencing one another, but institutions either formal or informal  are vital  because they influences directly or indirectly access to livelihood resources, community development, livelihood strategy, and, in due course, the scope for sustainable livelihood outcomes. Keywords: Poverty; livelihood; institutions; community development; sustainable livelihood approach DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/10-6-02 Publication date:June 30th 202

Synthesis of Chalcone and Flavanone Derivatives using ZnO Nanoparticle as Catalyst for Antibacterial Activity

A green method was developed for the synthesis of chalcone and flavanone derivatives by Claisen-Schmidth reaction using ZnO nanoparticles as catalyst and water as solvent. The yield of flavonone synthesis reaction catalyzed by ZnO Nanoparticles was found to be higher (89.6%) compared to conventionally protocol (55.7 %) catalyzed by KOH. In vitro antibacterial activity of the synthesized compounds against the Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus and Gram-negative bacteria E. coli, P. aeruginosa and K. preumanin revealed that chalcones 4 and 5 are active on against S. aureus (13 and 11 mm zone of inhibition, respectively) whereas flavonones 6 showed promising activity against E. coli (10 mm zone of inhibition) and chalcone 5 against S. aureus and P.aeroginosa(10 mm zone of inhibition for each) compared to Ceftraxione as positive control. Keywords:  Chalcones, flavanone, Green synthesis, ZnO nanoparticles