The effect of decreasing the grain size on the biocompatibility, cell-material interface, and mechanical properties of microwave-sintered monophase hydroxyapatite bioceramics was investigated in this study. A nanosized stoichiometric hydroxyapatite powder was isostatically pressed at high pressure and sintered in a microwave furnace in order to obtain fine grained dense bioceramics. The samples sintered at 1200°C, with a density near the theoretical one, were composed of micron-sized grains, while the grain size decreased to 130 nm on decreasing the sintering temperature to 900°C. This decrease in the grain size certainly led to increases in the fracture toughness by much as 54%. An in vitro investigation of biocompatibility with L929 and human MRC-5 fibroblast cells showed noncytotoxic effects for both types of bioceramics, while the relative cell proliferation rate, cell attachment and metabolic activity of the fibroblasts were improved with decreasing of grain size. An initial in vivo investigation of biocompatibility by the primary cutaneous irritation test showed that both materials exhibited no irritation properties.

Statistical modelling of quantitative evaluation of the influence of certain basketball elements onto the final result by means of regressive analysis has enabled us to come to an answer regarding the quantitative parameters and their influence on the final result. The evaluation of regressive models is extracted on the basis of differentation in the final result and differentation of certain quantitative parameters as insubordinate variables. Depending on the choice of quantitative parameters, their scope and the nature itself (absolute or relative), several different regressive models may be formed. The evaluation of influence of certain parameters on the final result has been extracted on the basis of the obtained regressive models and the correlation link between the observed variables which have been established on the basis of simple linear and partial correlation quotients. Based on the obtained results the following can be concluded: (1) the obtained regressive models are in general statistically very significant ; and (2) the obtained regressive models are statistically significant in relation to the included variables, i.e. the observed parameters. In other words, it means that in both cases there is a significant correlation between subordinate variables (difference in the total number of points) and the sets of insubordinate variables. Presented by the quotient of multiple determination, it means that: (1) for the first regressive model on the basis of apsolute elemenents of basketball, R2 = .905, and for the second model on the basis of relative elements of basketball, R2 =.736.

In international large-scale assessments of educational outcomes, student achievement is often represented by unidimensional constructs. This approach allows for drawing general conclusions about country rankings with respect to the given achievement measure, but it typically does not provide specific diagnostic information which is necessary for systematic comparisons and improvements of educational systems. Useful information could be obtained by exploring the differences in national profiles of student achievement between low-achieving and high-achieving countries. In this study, we aimed to identify the relative weaknesses and strengths of eighth graders’ physics achievement in Bosnia and Herzegovina in comparison to the achievement of their peers from Slovenia. For this purpose, we ran a secondary analysis of Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2007 data. The student sample consisted of 4,220 students from Bosnia and Herzegovina and 4,043 students from Slovenia. After analysing the cognitive demands of TIMSS 2007 physics items, the correspondent differential item functioning (DIF)/differential group functioning contrasts were estimated. Approximately 40% of items exhibited large DIF contrasts, indicating significant differences between cultures of physics education in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia. The relative strength of students from Bosnia and Herzegovina showed to be mainly associated with the topic area ‘Electricity and magnetism’. Classes of items which required the knowledge of experimental method, counterintuitive thinking, proportional reasoning and/or the use of complex knowledge structures proved to be differentially easier for students from Slovenia. In the light of the presented results, the common practice of ranking countries with respect to universally established cognitive categories seems to be potentially misleading.

BACKGROUND/AIM The most sensitive indicators for detecting recurrence of well-differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) are 131I whole body scintigraphy (WBS) and measurement of serum thyroglobulin (Tg). In order to perform it, it is necessary to raise the level of endogenous tiroid-stimulating hormon (TSH), which can be achieved by L-thyroxine withdrawal for 3-5 weeks or administration of recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) without requiring the discontinuation of thyroid hormone therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of rhTSH using in comparison to the traditional thyroid hormone withdrawal in the follow-up of patients with DTC. METHODS This retrospective study included 44 patients, mean age 48.8 years, with DTC divided into 2 groups. The group I consisted of patients (n = 31) in which the analysis in the follow-up (WBS with 131I, TSH, Tg and antiTgAt) made in the hypothyroid state, and group II patients (n = 13) in which they made after the administration of rhTSH. The presence of 13 symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism was investigated on the day of giving 131I. Quality of life was evaluated using a modified form: the quality of life scale (SF-36) completed on the day of giving 131I. RESULTS In both groups, serum TSH reached a very good stimulation level, but significantly higher in the group II (group I 30.3-101.5 microlU/mL, group II 68.6-192.0 microlU/mL, p < 0.05). In both groups, TSH-stimulated Tg was higher (group I 0.1-546.0 ng/mL, group II 0.1-7517 ng/mL) comapred to value during the L-thyroxine therapy (group I 0.1-495.0 ng/mL, group II 0.1-2785 ng/mL). There was no difference in technical quality of WBS obtained from both groups. The patients in the group I had attended 8-13 symptoms of hypothyroidism, while patients in group II did not have symptoms of hypothyroidism. The patients after application of rhTSH, showed statistically significantly better quality of life as compared with those who showed to have L-thyroxine withdrawal, (74-91 points vs 43-62 points; p < 0.05). The rhTSH was well tolerated, with nausea occurring in only one patient. CONCLUSION Administration of rhTSH in the follow-up of patients with DTC prevents the debilitating effects of hypothyroidism contributing to the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis of the organism and preserves the quality of life. RhTSH is safe, effective and easy to use, but is still an expensive product in our country.

Abstract In many countries, tax incentives are a popular means to achieve political, economic and social objectives. Their aim is to reach and accelerate certain activities of public interest. Furthermore, one of the objectives is to accelerate the development of a certain industry and influence the growth of research and investment in foreign capital. Innovation is the key element that helps a company achieve competitive advantage. Global competition is forced to offer unique products with added values on the market. Tax incentives for research and development are an important factor of innovation. This paper aims to present the importance of research and development, as well as the role of tax incentives. States should use their fiscal policy to stimulate investment in research and development through various forms of tax relief. The Republic of Croatia applies tax incentives for research and development, but to a significantly less extent than other European Union countries.

Plums represented a very significant economic factor in Bosnia in the twentieth century. Dominant in plum assortment is 'Pozegaca', but the appearance of the Plum pox caused a stagnation of plum production. The aim of this paper is to describe the basic pomological characteristics of fruit at six autochthonous plum genotypes: two types of 'Pozegaca' from locality Glavaticevo-Konjic, one type of 'Pozegaca' from locality Sovici-Jablanica, two types of 'Havaca' (from localities Doboj Istok and Gradacac) and one type of 'Sisaca' from locality Doboj Istok. Fruit weight of the genotypes ranged from 15.8 g in genotype 'Sisaca', up to 19.3 g in genotype 'Havaca'. Among the types of 'Pozegaca' there were no differences in terms of fruit weight. The biggest stone weight had 'Havaca' (1.21 g), and the lowest one had genotype 'Sisaca' (0.84 g). Due to this characteristic, there were differences among the types of 'Pozegaca'. Genotype ‘Pozegaca’, from locality Glavaticevo had the highest yield of fruit (95.3%), whereas the biggest genotype ‘Havaca’ had the lowest yield (93.67%). Among the types of ‘Pozegaca’, there were differences between localities in terms of the fruit yield.