Electoral Rules, Forms of Government, and Political Budget Cycles in Transition Countries

Recent studies have suggested the existence of election-year economics in fiscal policy in transition countries. This study asks whether such electoral cycles in aggregate measures (overall expenditures, revenues and balance) and spending composition (broad vs. targeted outlays) differ among countries with different political systems. This question is motivated by a sharp division between majoritarianpresidential systems in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, and proportional-parliamentary systems in the Baltics, Central and Southeastern Europe. Further, in the absence of context-sensitive theories, the paper asks whether observed outcomes in the transition process conform to the theoretical priors developed for conditions in stable democracies. Finally, the paper attempts to normatively establish whether either of the alternative combinations yields more optimal policy outcomes. The results suggest that the differences indeed exist, primarily on the revenue side and in the composition of expenditures. These results differ markedly from those for stable democracies, especially in the case of composition of spending. Normatively, presidentialism yields suboptimal outcomes in comparison to parliamentarianism, likely due to inefficient system of constitutionally intended checks and balances..Political budget cycles, Transition countries, Electoral rules, Forms of government, Checks and balances

The Influence of Age on the Representation of Subcutaneous Adiposetissue and Muscle Strength of Biceps in Females

DergiPark: 379034tmsjAims: The aim of this study is to determine the age influence on the development of the muscle strength in biceps and on the representation of the subcutaneous adipose tissue.Methods: The study was carried out in Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad between October 2014- January 2015 and included 20 females between the ages of 18 - 25 years and 20 females between the ages of 50 – 60. For each subject, anthropometric parameters were determined, as well as dynamometric parameters of the biceps muscle strength, the ultrasound dimensions of the biceps and the thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Caliper was used to determine the percentage of body fat based on skinfolds around the biceps. The collected data were then statistically analyzed.Results: There was greater representation of body fat mass in older (30%±7.2) compared to younger women (20%±7) and these values were statistically significant. The ultrasound revealed statistically significant age differences; older women have greater values of subcutaneous fat (1.5±0.26mm) and dimensions of biceps (31.03±3.9mm) than younger women with values of subcutaneous fat (1.2±0.1mm) and dimensions of biceps (29.04±4.2mm). There was greater mean value of muscular strength of biceps in younger women (35±6kg) compared to older women (32±8.5kg). It was established that there was a positive statistically significant correlation between body fat percentage and thickness of adipose tissue (r=0.55) (p lt;0.05), as well as between mean muscular strength and ultrasound measurement of biceps (r=0.37) (p lt;0.05).Conclusion: Older women have greater representation of subcutaneous adipose tissue, while younger women have greater muscle strength of bicep

Personalizacijaprocesaelektronskogučenjaprimenomsistemazagenerisanjepreporukazasnovanognatehnikamakolaborativnogtagovanja

The  research  topic  involves  personalization  of  an  e‐learning  system  based  on collaborative  tagging  techniques  integrated  in  a  recommender  system.  Collaborative  tagging systems allow users to upload their resources, and to label them with arbitrary words, so‐called tags.  The  systems  can  be  distinguished  according  to  what  kind  of  resources  are  supported. Besides helping user to organize his or her personal collections, a tag also can be regarded as a user’s personal opinion expression. The increasing number of users providing information about themselves  through  social  tagging  activities  caused  the  emergence  of  tag‐based  profiling approaches, which assume that users expose their preferences for certain contents through tag assignments. Thus, the tagging information can be used to make recommendations. Dissertation  research  aims  to  analyze  and  define  an  enhanced  model  to  select  tags  that  reveal the preferences and characteristics of users required to generate personalized recommendations. Options  on  the  use  of  models  for  personalized  tutoring  system  were  also  considered. Personalized  learning  occurs  when  e‐learning  systems  make  deliberate  efforts  to  design educational  experiences  that  fit  the  needs,  goals,  talents,  learning  styles,  interests  of  their learners  and  learners  with  similar  characteristics.  In  practice,  models  defined  in  the dissertation were evaluated on tutoring system for teaching Java programming language.Predmet istraživanja disertacije obuhvata personalizaciju tutorskih sistema za elektronsko učenje primenom tehnika kolaborativnog tagovanja (collaborative tagging techniques) integrisanih u sisteme za generisanje preporuka (recommender systems). Tagovi, kao oblik meta podataka, predstavljaju proizvoljne ključne reči ili fraze koje korisnik može da upotrebi za označavanje različitih sadržaja. Pored toga što tagovi korisnicima pružaju pomoć u organizaciji sadržaja, oni su korisni i u izražavanju mišljenja korisnika. Veliki broj informacija koje korisnici pružaju o sebi kroz aktivnosti tagovanja otvorio je mogućnost primene tagova u generisanju preporuka. Istraživanje disertacije je usmereno na analizu i definisanje poboljšanih modela za odabir tagova koji otkrivaju sklonosti i osobine korisnika potrebne za generisanje personalizovanih preporuka. Razmatrane su i mogućnosti primene tako dobijenih modela za personalizaciju tutorskih sistema. Personalizovani tutorski sistemi korisniku pružaju optimalne putanje kretanja i adekvatne aktivnosti učenja na osnovu njegovih osobina, njegovog stila učenja, znanja koje on poseduje u toj oblasti, kao i prethodnog iskustva korisnika sistema koji imaju slične karakteristike. Modeli definisani u disertaciji u praksi su evaluirani na tutorskom sistemu za učenje programskog jezika Java

Situational aspect in "Konzum"

Završni rad na temu „situacijski čimbenici u trgovinu Super Konzum“ sastoji se od uvoda, sedam poglavlja i zaključka. U uvodnom djelu se govori o cilju rada, izvorima podataka i znanstvenim metodama koja su primijenjena prilikom izrade završnoga rada. U prva dva poglavlja opisuje se važnost istraživanja ponašanja potrošača i čimbenika koji na njih utječu. Također kroz ta poglavlja navedene su sve metode i instrumenti koji su potrebni da bi se istražilo što kvalitetnije ponašanje potrošača. U trećem poglavlju govori se o Konzumu općenito kao o najvećem trgovačkom lancu u Hrvatskoj te je napravljena SWOT analiza koja je ukazala da Konzum ima više prednosti nego slabosti. Četvrto poglavlje prikazuje provođeno istraživanje situacijskih čimbenika u Super Konzumu koje je prikazano slikama, dok u petom poglavlju detaljnije se objašnjavaju osobni čimbenici. Šesto poglavlje je vrlo važno iz razloga što je u njemu opisano i prikazano kretanje kupaca u trgovini Super Konzum. Također su pojašnjeni načini kako trgovci zadržavaju duže kupca u svojim trgovinama. U sedmom poglavlju dani su prijedlozi za poboljšanje trgovine Super Konzum.The final thesis on „Situational factors in Super Konzum store“ consists of an introduction, seven chapters and a conclusion. The introductory part provides the goal of work, data source and scientific methods applied during the final thesis. The first two chapters present the importance of researching the consumer behaviour and factors influencing it. Methods and instruments needed for the best quality research of consumer behaviour are presented in these two chapters too. The thirds chapter provides general information about Konzum as the biggest retail chain in Croatia and SWOT analysis showed that Konzum has more strengths than weaknesses. The fourth chapter presents the situational factors research in Super Konzum shown on the photos, while the fifth chapter explains in further detail the personal factors. The sixth chapter is very important because it shows the movement of customers in Super Konzum store. It also explains the ways retailers retain customers longer in their stores. The seventh chapter offers various proposals for improvement in Super Konzum store

Personalizacijaprocesaelektronskogučenjaprimenomsistemazagenerisanjepreporukazasnovanognatehnikamakolaborativnogtagovanja

The  research  topic  involves  personalization  of  an  e‐learning  system  based  on collaborative  tagging  techniques  integrated  in  a  recommender  system.  Collaborative  tagging systems allow users to upload their resources, and to label them with arbitrary words, so‐called tags.  The  systems  can  be  distinguished  according  to  what  kind  of  resources  are  supported. Besides helping user to organize his or her personal collections, a tag also can be regarded as a user’s personal opinion expression. The increasing number of users providing information about themselves  through  social  tagging  activities  caused  the  emergence  of  tag‐based  profiling approaches, which assume that users expose their preferences for certain contents through tag assignments. Thus, the tagging information can be used to make recommendations. Dissertation  research  aims  to  analyze  and  define  an  enhanced  model  to  select  tags  that  reveal the preferences and characteristics of users required to generate personalized recommendations. Options  on  the  use  of  models  for  personalized  tutoring  system  were  also  considered. Personalized  learning  occurs  when  e‐learning  systems  make  deliberate  efforts  to  design educational  experiences  that  fit  the  needs,  goals,  talents,  learning  styles,  interests  of  their learners  and  learners  with  similar  characteristics.  In  practice,  models  defined  in  the dissertation were evaluated on tutoring system for teaching Java programming language.Predmet istraživanja disertacije obuhvata personalizaciju tutorskih sistema za elektronsko učenje primenom tehnika kolaborativnog tagovanja (collaborative tagging techniques) integrisanih u sisteme za generisanje preporuka (recommender systems). Tagovi, kao oblik meta podataka, predstavljaju proizvoljne ključne reči ili fraze koje korisnik može da upotrebi za označavanje različitih sadržaja. Pored toga što tagovi korisnicima pružaju pomoć u organizaciji sadržaja, oni su korisni i u izražavanju mišljenja korisnika. Veliki broj informacija koje korisnici pružaju o sebi kroz aktivnosti tagovanja otvorio je mogućnost primene tagova u generisanju preporuka. Istraživanje disertacije je usmereno na analizu i definisanje poboljšanih modela za odabir tagova koji otkrivaju sklonosti i osobine korisnika potrebne za generisanje personalizovanih preporuka. Razmatrane su i mogućnosti primene tako dobijenih modela za personalizaciju tutorskih sistema. Personalizovani tutorski sistemi korisniku pružaju optimalne putanje kretanja i adekvatne aktivnosti učenja na osnovu njegovih osobina, njegovog stila učenja, znanja koje on poseduje u toj oblasti, kao i prethodnog iskustva korisnika sistema koji imaju slične karakteristike. Modeli definisani u disertaciji u praksi su evaluirani na tutorskom sistemu za učenje programskog jezika Java

Situational aspect in "Konzum"

Završni rad na temu „situacijski čimbenici u trgovinu Super Konzum“ sastoji se od uvoda, sedam poglavlja i zaključka. U uvodnom djelu se govori o cilju rada, izvorima podataka i znanstvenim metodama koja su primijenjena prilikom izrade završnoga rada. U prva dva poglavlja opisuje se važnost istraživanja ponašanja potrošača i čimbenika koji na njih utječu. Također kroz ta poglavlja navedene su sve metode i instrumenti koji su potrebni da bi se istražilo što kvalitetnije ponašanje potrošača. U trećem poglavlju govori se o Konzumu općenito kao o najvećem trgovačkom lancu u Hrvatskoj te je napravljena SWOT analiza koja je ukazala da Konzum ima više prednosti nego slabosti. Četvrto poglavlje prikazuje provođeno istraživanje situacijskih čimbenika u Super Konzumu koje je prikazano slikama, dok u petom poglavlju detaljnije se objašnjavaju osobni čimbenici. Šesto poglavlje je vrlo važno iz razloga što je u njemu opisano i prikazano kretanje kupaca u trgovini Super Konzum. Također su pojašnjeni načini kako trgovci zadržavaju duže kupca u svojim trgovinama. U sedmom poglavlju dani su prijedlozi za poboljšanje trgovine Super Konzum.The final thesis on „Situational factors in Super Konzum store“ consists of an introduction, seven chapters and a conclusion. The introductory part provides the goal of work, data source and scientific methods applied during the final thesis. The first two chapters present the importance of researching the consumer behaviour and factors influencing it. Methods and instruments needed for the best quality research of consumer behaviour are presented in these two chapters too. The thirds chapter provides general information about Konzum as the biggest retail chain in Croatia and SWOT analysis showed that Konzum has more strengths than weaknesses. The fourth chapter presents the situational factors research in Super Konzum shown on the photos, while the fifth chapter explains in further detail the personal factors. The sixth chapter is very important because it shows the movement of customers in Super Konzum store. It also explains the ways retailers retain customers longer in their stores. The seventh chapter offers various proposals for improvement in Super Konzum store

Dense poplar plantations as the raw material for the production of energy

The higher heating value of wood and bark was determined for several poplar (Populus spp) clones. The study included the juvenile one year old plants of the following clones: P.×euramericana cl. ostia, P. nigra cl.53/86, P. deltoides cl. PE 19/66, P.×euramericana cl. I-214, P. deltoides cl. S6-7 and P.×euramericana cv. robusta. By using FVI which takes into account ash content, wood bulk density, and moisture content, it was determined that poplar wood can be a significant energy raw material, primarily thanks to its short rotation cycle and a very high wood volume increment. Significant differences were determined in the values of wood basic density which affect the higher heating value of the study poplar clones, and consequently the yield (weight) of biomass produced per unit area of dense plantations. This is reflected also on the estimated amount of energy that can be produced by the combustion of biomass of the whole one year old plants

Applying Recommender Systems and Adaptive Hypermedia for e-Learning Personalizatio

Learners learn differently because they are different -- and they grow more distinctive as they mature. Personalized learning occurs when e-learning systems make deliberate efforts to design educational experiences that fit the needs, goals, talents, and interests of their learners. Researchers had recently begun to investigate various techniques to help teachers improve e-learning systems. In this paper we present our design and implementation of an adaptive and intelligent web-based programming tutoring system -- Protus, which applies recommendation and adaptive hypermedia techniques. This system aims at automatically guiding the learner's activities and recommend relevant links and actions to him/her during the learning process. Experiments on real data sets show the suitability of using both recommendation and hypermedia techniques in order to suggest online learning activities to learners based on their preferences, knowledge and the opinions of the users with similar characteristics

Wealthy Americans and redistribution:The role of fairness preferences

We examine the attitudes of the wealthy towards government redistribution using a large and diverse sample of individuals from the top 5% of the income and wealth distribution in the U.S., as well as the remaining 95%. Three results stand out: (1) wealthy Americans have distinct fairness preferences, with a greater willingness to accept inequalities relative to the general public, (2) individuals who self-report having experienced upward social mobility and became first-generation wealthy are particularly accepting of inequality, while those born into wealth have fairness preferences similar to the general population; (3) the disparity in fairness preferences between the rich and the general public is predictive of greater opposition to redistribution among the wealthy, resulting in more conservative voting behavior. These findings provide new insights into the reasons behind the wealthy's opposition to government redistribution.</p