Higher Education Funding and Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from Croatia

Deprived of investment in education, no country can expect sustainable economic growth and development. Higher education is particularly a priceless tool in today's era of globalization that requires continuous education to keep up with new knowledge. According to UNESCO (2014), higher education is no longer a luxury; it is essential to national, social and economic development. The impact of education on economic growth is possible to observe within the so-called ‘education led growth hypothesis’. The main aim of this paper it to analyse the higher education size and structure, model and financing sources in Croatia and to test the ‘education led growth hypothesis’ on the example of Croatia. The study will apply the Granger causality test to evaluate if there is any causal relationship between investment in higher education and economic growth in Croatia.JEL Codes - C58; H52; I25; O4

Development Impact of FDI in Hotel: Case Study of Terme Tuhelj in Croatia

The main objective of this study is to assess the development impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) in tourism in the case of foreign-owned hotel on the micro-location of Croatia. As an example of this study, the FDI in the Terme Tuhelj, a hotel complex which is located in the area of small local government in the continental Croatia, is choosen. The research methodology is based on questionnaires, unstructured interviews and processing of secondary data sources. The research results show that Terme Tuhelj became the engine of growth of Tuhelj municipality and Krapina-Zagorje County. The Terme Tuhelj example showed how a foreign-owned hotel, in less developed country, has a significant development impact on the local economy.

Does Terrorism have a Limited Impact on International Investments in Tourism? Some Theoretical Considerations

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in tourism is a catalyst for a number of positive changes within the economy of the host country and reflect positively on economic growth. Therefore, it is in the interest of many countries to attract foreign investors, which is especially prevalent in developing countries. At the same time, the 21st century is marked by major changes in terms of safety, influencing the appearance of the contemporary international terrorism. Terrorism has many direct and indirect effects and is influenced by mass media, reflects on changes in behaviour patterns of modern tourists, including the movement of tourist flows as well as flows of FDI into tourism. Tourism, FDI and security are three very interrelated concepts. The purpose of this paper is to explore to what extent uncertainty, primarily in the form of terrorism, affects FDI in tourism. It should also be borne in mind that the picture of the risky countries in the conditions of global uncertainty changes very rapidly and in such circumstances each destination may potentially become risky. Existing research on terrorism and foreign direct investment in tourism are scarce and give different results

Tourism foreign direct investment led tourism gross value added: a co-integration and causality analysis of Croatian tourism

The purpose of this study was to investigate the causal relationship between foreign direct investment in tourism and tourism gross value added in Croatia. The study employed econometric techniques, such as the unit root test, Johansen co-integration, and the Granger causality test, in a vector error correction model (V.E.C. model), and the Toda–Yamamoto causality test in a vector autoregressive model (V.A.R. model), using quarterly time-series data from 2000(1) to 2012(4). The results confirm the existence of a stable co-integrated relationship between variables in the long term. A short-term relationship was also proved between foreign direct investment in tourism and gross value added, using the Toda–Yamamoto causality test. By including control variables, the two-way causality between the subject variables was proven using the Granger causality test

Nitrates and phosphates in leaf litter during decomposition on tufa barriers

Razgradnja listinca bukve (Fagus sp.) i lopuha (Petasites spp.) praćena je 2007. godine u akvatoriju NP Plitvička jezera. Metodom “paketića listinca” dobiveni su podaci o brzini raspadanja listinca tijekom jednogodišnjeg razdoblja te za dvije kraće eksperimentalne serije. Listinac lopuha, kao zeljaste biljke, se razgrađivao znatno brže od listinca bukve, koja kao drvenasta biljka ima veći udio lignina te je zbog toga process razgradnje sporiji. Na listincu lopuha i bukve se nitrati apsorbiraju tokom hladnijih mjeseci, a ispiru tijekom toplijih mjeseci. Generalno listinac bukve ima manji sadržaj nitrata. Koncentracija fosfata raste na listincu lopuha s vremenom ekspozicije, dok se s listinca bukve fosfati uglavnom ispiru. Razlog za takve trendove apsorpcije nitrata i fosfata je razlika u mikrobnoj aktivnosti na listincu tijekom godine, pri čemu temperatura vode ima ključan utjecaj.Leaf litter decomposition of two species; common beech (Fagus sp.) and butterbur (Petasites spp.) was investigated during 2007 in lakes of Plitvička jezera national park. Data on decomposition rate were gathered for the whole year exposition as well as for two short experimental series using the methods of “leaf packs”. Leaf litter of butterbur, as herbaceous plant, showed faster decomposition compared to leaf litter of common beech, which, as woody species, have higher proportion of lignin making the process of decomposition slower. On both species nitrates were absorbed during cold seasons, while process of leaching dominated during warm seasons. Generally, the beech leaf litter had lower content of nitrates. Concentration of phosphates mainly increases with exposition time on butterbur leaf litter, while they were mainly leached from beech leaf litter. Difference in the activity of microorganisms during the year, mainly influenced by water temperature is a possible reason for observed trends

Oslobađanje lijeka iz parenteralnih treapijskih sustava metodama in vitro i korelacija in vitro in vivo

Cilj istraživanja Cilj ovog specijalističkog rada jest sustavnim pregledom dostupne literature sistematizirati dosadašnje spoznaje u razvoju modela in vitro-in vivo korelacije (IVIVC) terapijskih sustava za parenteralnu primjenu s modificiranim oslobađanjem. U radu je dan osvrt na različite vrste parenteralnih pripravaka s modificiranim prvenstveno produljenim/kontroliranim oslobađanjem na tržištu, in vitro metode kojima se prati oslobađanje djelatne tvari iz takvih ljekovitih pripravaka, te parametre razvoja uspješnih in vitro in vivo korelacija koje se mogu koristiti kao zamjena za bioekvivalencijske studije. Materijali i metode Istraživanja u okviru specijalističkog rada su teorijskog karaktera. Pretraživanjem odgovarajuće stručne i znanstvene literature skupljeni su podaci o in vitro metodama koje se koriste za praćenje oslobađanja lijeka iz parenteralnih pripravaka s modificiranim oslobađanjem, te je dan osvrt na parametre razvoja uspješnih in vitro in vivo korelacija. Pregledno su prikazani literaturno dostupni parametri razvoja in vitro metoda oslobađanja djelatne tvari te uspješni IVIVC modeli kojima je razjašnjen mehanizam oslobađanja lijeka što predstavlja polazište za daljnja istraživanja. Rezultati Trenutno važeća europska i američka farmakopeja ne sadrže standardne in vitro metode za oslobađanje iz parenteralnih pripravaka s modificiranim oslobađanjem. In vitro metode oslobađanja za takve ljekovite pripravke općenito se mogu podijeliti na metode uzorkovanja i odjeljivanja, metode kontinuiranog protoka i metode dijalize. Razvoj in vitro metoda oslobađanja uključuje odabir aparature, sastava medija, protoka, temperature, vremena uzorkovanja i trajanja testa, količine oslobođene supstancije… Stručna i znanstvena literatura ukazuje na potrebu razvoja odgovarajućeg modela kojim će se korelirati in vitro oslobađanje lijeka s in vivo oslobađanjem i apsorpcijom. Sa stajališta formulacijskog razvoja i kontrole kvalitete, uspješan in vitro model praćenja oslobađanja ljekovite supstancije treba razlikovati formulacije koje pokazuju sličan mehanizam oslobađanja lijeka, kao i razlike u procesu i/ili mjestu proizvodnje. Razvoj modela in vitro in vivo korelacije (IVIVC) je složen, ne samo zbog kompleksnosti parenteralnih sustava za dostavu lijeka (primjerice oslobađanja lijeka u više faza), već i zbog nedostatka odgovarajućih in vitro metoda. U proteklih dvadesetak godina najviše su se razvijali korelacijski modeli za polimerne mikrosferne/implantne sustave, dok se većina dostupne literature svodi na razvojne tzv. proof of concept studije koje samo nagovještaju mogućnost korelacije. Zaključak Razvoj parenteralnih terapijskih sustava za produljeno/kontrolirano oslobađanje ljekovitih supstancija treba predstavljati međusobnu ovisnost in vivo i in vitro karakteristika gotovog proizvoda. Paralelno s razvojem novih i složenijih sustava za dostavu lijeka, treba razmišljati o važnosti pouzdane in vitro metode koja pomaže u ostvarenju krajnjeg cilja, a to je osiguravanje kliničkog djelovanja, sigurnost i učinkovitost parenteralnog pripravka.Objectives The objective of this research is to provide a systematic overview of literature concerning the development of in vitro in vivo correlations for long-acting parenteral drug delivery systems. Different types of long-acting parenteral formulations, in vitro release testing methods, and parameters of a successful in vitro in vivo correlation development process, used as a substitute for bioequivalence studies, are briefly described. Materials and methods Recent scientific literature was examined, with an emphasis on available data regarding various in vitro release testing methods as well as successfully developed IVIVC models that show an understanding of the release characteristics of long-acting parenteral drug delivery systems over time. Results Currently, no standard in vitro release methods for long-acting parenteral drug delivery systems are described in European or U.S. Pharmacopoeia. In vitro release methods can be categorized into three groups: sample and separate, flow-through and dialysis methods. As these drug delivery systems have different characteristics, along with varying sites and modes of administration, it is essential that apparatus selection, composition of the release medium, agitation (flow rate), temperature, sampling time and test duration, and the amount of drug released are appropriately considered during in vitro release method development. In the published literature authors agree that robust models to correlate in vitro and in vivo drug performance need to be developed. A successful in vitro release model can be used as a quality control and formulation development tool to support changes in formulation, process, and manufacturing site. However, the development of in vitro release methods that reliably predict in vivo performance is challenging, not only because of the complexity of the products (e.g. the drug is released in multiple phases), but also due to a lack of appropriate in vitro methods. During the last twenty years IVIVC correlation models have mostly been developed for polymeric microsphere/implant systems, and most of the literature available relates to proof of concept studies. Conclusion The development of long-acting parenteral drug delivery systems should be based on the relationship between in vivo and in vitro characteristics of the drug delivery system. The development of new and more complex drug delivery systems requires reliable in vitro methods, which are an important factor in achieving the ultimate goal: excellent clinical activity, safety, and efficacy of the parenteral drug delivery system

Nitrates and phosphates in leaf litter during decomposition on tufa barriers

Razgradnja listinca bukve (Fagus sp.) i lopuha (Petasites spp.) praćena je 2007. godine u akvatoriju NP Plitvička jezera. Metodom “paketića listinca” dobiveni su podaci o brzini raspadanja listinca tijekom jednogodišnjeg razdoblja te za dvije kraće eksperimentalne serije. Listinac lopuha, kao zeljaste biljke, se razgrađivao znatno brže od listinca bukve, koja kao drvenasta biljka ima veći udio lignina te je zbog toga process razgradnje sporiji. Na listincu lopuha i bukve se nitrati apsorbiraju tokom hladnijih mjeseci, a ispiru tijekom toplijih mjeseci. Generalno listinac bukve ima manji sadržaj nitrata. Koncentracija fosfata raste na listincu lopuha s vremenom ekspozicije, dok se s listinca bukve fosfati uglavnom ispiru. Razlog za takve trendove apsorpcije nitrata i fosfata je razlika u mikrobnoj aktivnosti na listincu tijekom godine, pri čemu temperatura vode ima ključan utjecaj.Leaf litter decomposition of two species; common beech (Fagus sp.) and butterbur (Petasites spp.) was investigated during 2007 in lakes of Plitvička jezera national park. Data on decomposition rate were gathered for the whole year exposition as well as for two short experimental series using the methods of “leaf packs”. Leaf litter of butterbur, as herbaceous plant, showed faster decomposition compared to leaf litter of common beech, which, as woody species, have higher proportion of lignin making the process of decomposition slower. On both species nitrates were absorbed during cold seasons, while process of leaching dominated during warm seasons. Generally, the beech leaf litter had lower content of nitrates. Concentration of phosphates mainly increases with exposition time on butterbur leaf litter, while they were mainly leached from beech leaf litter. Difference in the activity of microorganisms during the year, mainly influenced by water temperature is a possible reason for observed trends

A young researcher’s guide to NME/Nm23/NDP Kinase

Nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPKs) catalyze the exchange of the terminal phosphate from trinucleotides to dinucleotides through a high-energy phosphohistidine intermedier. They are encoded by NME genes and have been found, with a few exceptions, in all living beings. Besides their well-known function as key regulators of the cellular nucleotide homeostasis, they have been appointed numerous additional biochemical and biological functions. The discovery of NME1/NDPK A as the first metastasis suppressor opened new avenues in cancer research. Although the precise role of NME genes/proteins in cancer dissemination is not yet revealed, it seems that further intensive research in this field may lead to new advances in cancer diagnosis and prognosis, as well as encourage new therapeutic strategies.</p

Determination of penicillamine, tiopronin and glutathione in pharmaceutical formulations by kinetic spectrophotometry

A novel and simple method for the determination of penicillamine (PEN), tiopronin (mercaptopropionyl glycine, MPG) and glutathione (GSH) in pharmaceutical formulations by kinetic spectrophotometry has been developed and validated. It is based on the redox reaction where the thiol compound (RSH) reduces CuII-neocuproine complex to CuI-neocuproine complex. The non-steady state signal of the formed CuI- neocuproine complex is measured at 458 nm. The initial rate and fixed time (at 1 min) methods were validated. The calibration graph was linear in the concentration range from 8.0 × 10‒7 to 8.0 × 10‒5 mol L–1 for the initial rate method and from 6.0 × 10‒7 to 6.0 × 10‒5 mol L–1 for the fixed time method, with the detection limits of 2.4 × 10‒7 and 1.4 × 10‒7 mol L–1, resp. Levels of PEN, MPG and GSH in pharmaceutical formulations were successfully assayed by both methods. The advantages of the presented methods include sensitivity, short analysis time, ease of application and low cost