The present position and future prospects of the German language in Croatian tourism

The global competition on the tourist market and the internationalization of the tourist industry intensify the need for language learning. Knowledge of foreign languages is the most important prerequisite of the quality service in the tourist industry. The structure of foreign guests in Croatia classified by emitting countries proves that the part of the German speaking guests in comparison with other language communities is the most prominent one, so that German is the most important foreign language for the communication in Croatian tourism. Although its learning in Croatian educational institutions compared to English has been neglected, it has been learnt by all pupils in vocational schools for hotel and tourism industry. In Croatian tourism English as the language of the global communication can not satisfy all communication needs in tourism

Learning during the New Financial Service Innovation Process: Antecedents and Performance Effects

This article theoretically and empirically examines the antecedents and consequences of project learning during the new financial service innovation process. We analyze the impact of project learning on project performance and performance of the financial institution. Next we investigate the antecedent role of the nature of communication and organizational design on project learning. Following the development of a propositional framework, a survey research has been developed within the Belgian banking industry. Our research findings indicate that the level of project learning contributes to the corporate reputation of the financial institution. Moreover, learning during project innovation enhances the cost and the competitive position of the innovating bank. Our study empirically supports the crucial influence of management support, harmonious cross-functional interfaces, organizational diversity and participative decision-making on the level of project learning. Both innovative and coordinative communication are needed to balance the information needs throughout the innovation process. However, our findings underline the fact that the impact of innovative communication on the level of project learning is contingent upon the quality of the planning stage. The up-front activities of the innovation process seem to have an important leveraging effect on learning, and hence on project and bank performance.Economics ;

THE ROLE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN REGIONAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

In this paper, the author focuses on the fundamental hypothesis that the adoption of a concept of regional sustainable development and the use of renewable energy sources are preconditions to organising an acceptable regional tourism offering based on an eco-philosophy The renewable development of tourism regions is the basic framework for research regarding opportunities for introducing renewable energy sources such as hydro energy, wind power, solar energy, geothermal energy, and biomass energy. The purpose of this paper is to indicate the real opportunities that exist for substituting conventional energy sources with renewable ones and the role of renewables in regional development from economic, environmental and sociological viewpoints. It should also be noted that renewable energy sources have a strong regional importance and can contribute significantly to local employment

The effect of a homoeopathic complex, Hamamelis virginica 30cH, Apis mellifica 6cH, Apocynum cannabinum 6cH, Natrum muriaticum 6cH and Natrum sulphuricum 6cH on oedema of the lower extremities in women during long air flights

Oedema is the presence of excess fluid in the body tissues (Guyton & Hall, 1997). During long air flights, blood pools in the body tissues due to decreased muscle movement. This causes bilateral ankle oedema and results in an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis as well as discomfort to the passengers after their flight (Hope et al., 2001). Hamamelis virginica is clinically indicated as a homoeopathic remedy which acts upon the venous system (Nash, 2002). Apis mellifica, Apocynum cannabinum, Natrum muriaticum and Natrum sulphuricum are all homoeopathic remedies used in the treatment of oedema. The aim of this study is to ascertain the efficiency of the Homoeopathic complex formula, Hamamelis virginica 30cH, Apis mellifica 6cH, Apocynum cannabinum 6cH, Natrum muriaticum 6cH and Natrum sulphuricum 6cH in the treatment of swelling (bilateral oedema) in the lower extremities in women during and after long air flights. This study is a double blind, placebo controlled trial. Forty female participants, between the ages of eighteen to thirty-nine, with a previous history of ankle swelling after long air flights and who were planning long air flights of eight hours or more, were recruited by means of advertisement for this study. Participants meeting the inclusion criteria underwent an examination and were matched in terms of age and risk factors; weight, cigarette smoking, oral contraception, alcohol and coffee consumption. The participants within the matched pairs were then assigned to one of two groups. One group was randomly assigned the experimental group and the other the control. Participants were required to take six powders sublingually without water. The first powder was taken two hours before the actual flight. The second, third and fourth powders were taken every two and a half hours during the course of the fight and the fifth powder was taken after the flight landed. The sixth powder was taken the day after the flight. The participants were measured by the researcher (Appendix D), measuring the circumference of their calf, ankle and foot. The participants were instructed to do three measurements, the first on the day of their flight, the second on the day they arrive at their destination and the third, on the day after their last dose of medication. The measurements were recorded and a questionnaire completed (Appendix E). The data obtained from the participants measurement and questionnaire form was statistically analysed using the repeated measures test, paired t-test, descriptive statistics the crosstab, and the Huynh-Feldt test. Statistical analysis showed significant differences, P<0.05, between the control and medicated groups for the measurements in centimetres of the left ankle and right ankle. The results obtained from the research show that the homoeopathic complex medication in this study significantly reduces lower extremities oedema during long air flights, as compared to the control group. The control group, on the other hand, did show an increase in measurements of the lower extremities during the air flight. This implies that the placebo did not provide any benefit towards reducing the oedema of lower extremities in women during long air flights. Therefore the null hypothesis was rejected Preliminary findings suggest that the homoeopathic complex preparation of Hamamelis virginica 30cH, Apis mellifica 6cH, Apocynum cannabinum 6cH, Natrum muriaticum 6cH and Natrum sulphuricum 6cH, is effective in reducing the oedema of ankles during long air flights but more research is needed to confirm these findings.Dr. E.M. Solomon Dr. J.L. Schult

Photoacoustic Detection of Terahertz Radiation for Chemical Sensing and Imaging Applications

The main research objective is the development of photoacoustic sensor capable of detecting weak terahertz (THz) electromagnetic radiation. The feasibility of THz remote sensing is seen in the utilization of Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) cantilever-based sensor. The overall sensing functionality of the detector in development is based on the photoacoustic spectroscopy and direct piezoelectric effect phenomena, as a result of which significant part of investigation has been conducted in the areas of terahertz electromagnetic radiation and its detection. The main focus of this research work was the detector analytical and Finite Element Method (FEM) simulation modeling, involving necessary material properties investigations and adequate selections which were, beside the sensors\u27 geometry considerations, heavily engaged in the device modeling. Five different MEMS detector configurations have been analyzed and modeled as potential THz photoacoustic sensing options: Three configurations of rectangular shape, single piezoelectric layer cantilever-based sensors, Circular membrane sensing configuration and Square membrane sensing configuration. Some level of disagreement was discovered between the analytical and FEM simulated results, which has been analyzed and possible reasons were established. The obtained results indicated that the Square membrane has demonstrated the ability to respond effectively to any radiation level from the entire THz photoacoustic range exhibiting high sensitivity and thus was selected as the best terahertz photoacoustic sensing solution

Lipid Binding Studies of Blood Coagulation Factor VIII C1 and C2 Domains

Blood coagulation factor VIII is an essential cofactor in the mammalian blood-clotting cascade. FVIII must bind the phospholipid membrane of activated platelets to function as a cofactor for FIXa. The blood coagulation cascade culminates in the formation of a stable blood clot. In humans, the C1 and C2 domains are implicated in binding phospholipid membranes, however the relative contribution of different residues in the lipid-binding mechanism is unclear. Using site-directed mutagenesis, expression of the isolated C1 and C2 domains in Escherichia coli cells, protein purification with metal affinity chromatography, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, liposome sedimentation assays, pull down assays, circular dichroism and intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence, we compare relative binding affinities and stability of five mutations on the C1 and C2 domains. Three of the mutations are on the C2 domain: R2320S, R2320T, and R2215A. The other two mutations are on the C1 domain: R2163H and R2159H. Our results combined with the crystal structure of C1 and C2 soaked with O-phosphatidylserine moieties will help elucidate the roles of these residues in the function and stability of FVIII with regards to Hemophilia A