Weighted Automata over Vector Spaces

In this paper we deal with three models of weighted automata that take weights in the field of real numbers. The first of these models are classical weighted finite automata, the second one are crisp-deterministic weighted automata, and the third one are weighted automata over a vector space. We explore the interrelationships between weighted automata over a vector space and other two models.Comment: In Proceedings AFL 2023, arXiv:2309.0112

Chinese investment in Central Eastern Europe and the Western Balkan

As part of the “Belt and Road Initiative”, China has established a platform for cooperation in the field of investment with 11 European Union countries in the region of Central and Eastern Europe and 5 countries in the Western Balkan (CEEWB-16). In addition to infrastructure projects, China has invested in this region in the form of foreign direct investments (FDI). The aim of this paper is to estimate the importance of Chinese investments for 16 countries in the CEEWB-16 region. Analyzing the placement of funds, it can be concluded that FDI are placed primarily in the countries of the region that are members of the EU, while investments in infrastructure projects are mainly directed to the countries of the Western Balkans, primarily in the transport sector. Infrastructure projects are financed by the governments of the countries borrowing from state-owned Chinese banks, and these loans have the character of public loans, but the conditions of borrowing also have commercial characteristics. In addition, the contractors of infrastructure projects are mainly Chinese companies, which largely employ their workers and import materials from China, so that the positive effect on the debtor’s country are smaller. However, as the countries of the Western Balkans have limited access to European funds and a great need to invest in infrastructure, they see these investment projects as a development opportunity

International relations through the prism of the new technological division of power

The aim of this paper is to determine which country has technological superiority in the field of industry by analysing the strategic approaches to the industrial development of three leading industrial countries (Germany, China, and the US), as well as selected indicators of industrial development. The results of the research show that China has the most ambitious approach and pretension to take a leading position in a large number of high-tech industries. Since 2014, China has become the second-largest industrial power, right after Germany, while the US has been in fourth place since 2017. China leads in terms of the share of industrial products in global trade and the share of manufacturing value added in the total world gross domestic product. Since 2015, China and Germany have developed intensive cooperation in the area of hi-tech industrial production, while bilateral relations between China and the US are tight due to the trade war. While the US, as the third-largest bilateral trading partner of Germany (after China and the Netherlands), is generating a trade deficit, China is making a breakthrough towards the European market, which is in line with the strategy of taking the position of a global leader in high technology

Foreign trade commodity exchange between the countries of the former SFRY

This paper aims to determine the effects of the transition on mutual trade between the countries of the former Yugoslavia. The research will be based on a qualitative and descriptive analysis of representative databases of the six countries mentioned for the time period after the disintegration of the SFRY. Economic reforms and the trade liberalisation process started even within the SFRY, but the reforms did not yield the desired results. After the disintegration of the SFRY, all countries independently defined the transition process and chose the path of European integration. In the first phase of the transition, all countries experienced recession and hyperinflation and a high foreign trade deficit due to trade liberalisation. The second phase was characterised by regulatory reform and institution building, but this process did not proceed at the same speed in all countries. After 2000, Slovenia was the only one with a higher export level as a percentage of GDP compared to imports (68.2%), and the other countries lagged significantly behind. When Slovenia and Croatia became EU members, they increased their foreign trade exchange with the EU. Other countries of the former Yugoslavia developed their mutual trade, primarily due to the CEFTA Agreement. By signing the agreement, all countries achieved export growth as a percentage of GDP, and the highest values of this indicator were recorded in North Macedonia (49.6%) and Serbia (40.8%). Within the CEFTA group, Serbia is the largest exporter and importer by value (its most important partner is Bosnia and Herzegovina). If we consider all the countries of the former SFRY, the largest exporter and importer is Slovenia, and its largest foreign trade partner is Croatia

Karakteristike upotrebe interneta kao sredstva percipirane redukcije stresa kod studenata medicinskih nauka

Previous studies suggest that people use media for instrumental needs, entertainment/leisure or for social gratification. The aim of this study is to identify specific characteristics of Internet use in health care students who use the Internet as a means of perceived stress reduction. The sample included 231 students (m=34%; f=66%), aged (M=22.44; SD=2.09), who were subsequently categorised into two groups according to whether they consciously use the Internet to alleviate the consequences of stressful experiences. The individuals reporting the Internet as a means of perceived stress reduction spend considerably more time online than other Internet users. They also use contents related to entertainment, culture and sex more frequently, as well as social applications and networks. In comparison to others, these participants meet new people and potential partners more often via the Internet, spend more time on their friends’ profiles, while using different entertainment applications, most commonly games. The Internet may play a significant role in reducing negative reactions to stressful events; therefore, we may regard cyberspace as a fertile ground for educational, preventive and counselling services The main limitation to the current study is the sample (only health care students). Future studies should include assessment of perceived stress levels and their relation to study variables.U najvećem broju studija o upotrebi medija navodi se da ljudi uglavnom koriste medije radi zadovoljenja instrumentalnih, emocionalnih i socijalnih potreba. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je da se identifikuju specifične karakteristike upotrebe interneta u populaciji studenata medicinskih nauka koji koriste internet kao sredstvo za redukciju stresa. Uzorak je činio 231 student (34% muškog i 66% ženskog pola), prosečne starosti AS=22,44; SD=2,090. Ispitanici su svrstani u dve grupe na osnovu toga da li svesno koriste internet za ublažavanje posledica stresnih doživljaja ili ne. Nalazi pokazuju da osobe koje navode internet kao sredstvo redukcije stresa provode značajno više vremena onlajn od ostalih korisnika interneta, češće prate sadržaje vezane za zabavu, kulturu i seks, a takođe, više koriste socijalne aplikacije i socijalne mreže. Za razliku od ostalih, ovi ispitanici se češće odlučuju za upoznavanje novih ljudi i potencijalnih partnera preko interneta, provode više vremena na profilima prijatelja, a više koriste i različite zabavne aplikacije, najčešće igrice. Internet može imati značajnu ulogu u redukciji negativnih reakcija na stresne događaje, tako da sajberprostor možemo posmatrati kao pogodno tlo za veću aktivnost edukativnih, preventivnih i savetodavnih službi. Glavno ograničenje ove studije je specifičnost uzorka (samo studenti medicinskih nauka). U narednim studijama nivo stresa bi trebalo i formalno meriti