The aim of this study is to investigate the determinants of Germany's OFDI in the last 21 years on the set of top ten Germany’s OFDI destination (United States of America, United Kingdom, China, France, Poland, Mexico, India, Turkey, Spain and Russia (Russian Federation)) by using panel data analysis. The research revealed that Germany’s OFDI are driven by market seeking motives (FDI vertical), and also highlighting the importance of the stable political environment, attractive tax environment, more trade openness, and stable macroeconomic environment of the top ten Germany’s partners for attractiveness of the Germany’s OFDI. It indicates that openness of an economy is statistically significant in attracting FDI.

Rare b hadron decays are considered excellent probes of new semileptonic four-fermion interactions of microscopic origin. However, the same interactions also correct the high-mass Drell-Yan tails. In this work, we revisit the first statement in the context of this complementarity and chart the space of short-distance new physics that could show up in rare b decays. We analyze the latest b → qℓ ^+ ℓ ^ − measurements, where q = d or s and ℓ = e or μ , including the most recent LHCb R K ∗ $$ {R}_{K^{\left(\ast \right)}} $$ update, together with the latest charged and neutral current high-mass Drell-Yan data, pp → ℓν and pp → ℓ ^+ ℓ ^ − . We implement a sophisticated interpretation pipeline within the flavio framework, allowing us to investigate the multidimensional SMEFT parameter space thoroughly and efficiently. To showcase the new functionalities of flavio, we construct several explicit models featuring either a Z ′ or a leptoquark, which can explain the tension in b → sμ ^+ μ ^ − angular distributions and branching fractions while predicting lepton flavor universality (LFU) ratios to be SM-like, R K ∗ ≈ R K ∗ SM $$ {R}_{K^{\left(\ast \right)}}\approx {R}_{K^{\left(\ast \right)}}^{\textrm{SM}} $$ , as indicated by the recent data. Those models are then confronted against the global likelihood, including the high-mass Drell-Yan, either finding tensions or compatibility.

One of the goals of research in the field of psychotherapy is to improve knowledge about processes and outcomes of psychotherapeutic treatments. Researchers and professionals have been discussing the best methods for evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of psychotherapeutic treatments for many years. This paper aims to give an overview of the specifics of quantitative and qualitative research methods, by noting the advantages and disadvantages of these methods in the evaluation of psychotherapeutic treatments. Within the quantitative scientific research, three approaches are described: randomized controlled research, mood enhancement by psychoanalytic and cognitive therapies, and meta-analysis. The most common collection methods (observation, interview, other verbal techniques and visual approaches to data collection) and data analysis (comprehensive process analysis, consensual qualitative research and grounded theory) are described within a qualitative scientific methodology. Finally, an approach related to integration of qualitative and quantitative methodology, as well as this related with application of case studies in the evaluation of psychotherapeutic treatments are described. Scientists and professionals in the field of social sciences should use both quantitative and qualitative research methods, separately or in combination, depending on the goal and problems of the research.

When migrating to Industry 4.0, organizations face the need to adapt to a new context characterized by high levels of uncertainty and complexity. The main driving force in this process are the meta-competencies that ensure high competitiveness and innovativeness. However, their content, classification levels, intersections, and development potential under the influence of digitalization are insufficiently covered by the literature. This article attempts to fill this gap by analyzing the impact of new technologies on meta-competences. It presents a conceptual model based on the assumption that the degree of digitalization enhances the effects of the interaction between the top-level meta-competencies - Foresight, strategic flexibility, and ambidextrousness. Additional factors, the inclusion of which in the model will allow for a better study of the nature of the relationship under consideration, are proposed.

This paper analyzes the most important trends in the manifestation of terrorism inspired by radical Islamic discourse since its appearance in the Middle East and North Africa in the 1980s until the present day. Considering the very specific historical context of this region, an insight into it was unavoidable, in an attempt to identify the key factors that favored the emergence of this type of terrorism, as well as its gradual affirmation in regional and international frameworks. The trends in the manifestation of terrorism inspired by radical Islamic discourse are viewed in this paper through two main time periods. The first covers the period from 1980. to 2000, when this type of terrorism began to appear in the countries of the MENA region, with gradual regional affirmation and expressed ambitions to extend the radius of activity of the newly formed radical Islamist organization to the international level. The second period commenced after the brutal terrorist attacks on American targets on September 11, 2001 and the declaration of war on terrorism, which, based on the indicators presented in this paper, inaugurated the era of progressive and extremely worrying rise of terrorism inspired by radical Islamic discourse, especially from the moment the entry of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) onto the international stage in mid-June 2014.

To improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlaying seed priming, RNA transcriptome analysis was performed using primed and non-primed seeds of Silene sendtneri. Seed priming was performed by submergence in 1% silicic acid for 24h at 4°C, followed by rinsing with sterilised water and desiccation to original moisture content. Silene sendtneri is a species with no sequenced genome and annotation of de novo assembly of transcriptome was done against several species. Gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated that genes related to heavy metal transporters and heat shock proteins are differentially expressed after priming with silicic acid. Within these gene categories, genes such as heavy metal-associated isoprenylated plant protein 26-like (log2fold -8.79) were downregulated, while others such as heavy metal ATPase 5 (log2fold 6.46), heat shock factor protein HSF30-like isoform X1 (log2fold 5.98) were upregulated.

The development of a bimetallic catalyst for a given reaction requires not only the selection of the appropriate metals M1 and M2 but also the control as far as possible of the distribution of the two metals together and at the support surface in the case of supported catalysts. Preparation methods using redox reactions specifically enable the deposition of a second metal M2 at the surface of monometallic M1 nanoparticles, leading in most cases to core‐shell nanoparticles with strong metal‐metal interactions. Various methods are possible depending on the electrochemical potentials of the species involved: either a direct redox reaction, also named galvanic replacement, or the reduction of an intermediate reducing agent activated at the surface of M1. In this minireview, the fundamental bases of the preparation of bimetallic catalysts by both types of redox reactions and the recent advances in that domain are described.

In Serbia, primary education is compulsory, and it lasts eight years with two educational cycles, while in the Czech Republic, primary education lasts nine years with three cycles. Analysis of the teachers` attitudes toward primary education in Serbia and the Czech Republic has a goal to determine the current educational state in the two countries. Also, in this research it has been shown if there are similarities, as well as differences between the two educational systems. Views of the teachers on this topic are significant for this paper, so the survey was used as an instrument. The survey should have revealed whether the primary education was in line with the need of modernization and enhancement of young peple’s intellectual potential. It was necessary to reveal if the education in the two countries is in accordance with the modern world and whether the teachers agree with this. One of the aims of the research was to determine whether there are statistically significant differences in the teachers’ answers and to relate those differences to the general educational situation in Serbia and Czechia.

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, fear, anxiety, and depression have become global concerns among the wider public. This study aimed to examine the occurrence of fear, anxiety and depressive symptoms associated with COVID-19, to assess influencing factors that lead to the development of these mental health conditions and to examine any changes in the mental health patterns of the society since the initial study a year ago in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Method : An anonymous online survey based on Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patients Health Questionnaires (PHQs) was conducted in the general population of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Results: From 1096 subjects, 81.3% were females, 33.8% had a high school degree, 56.4% were married, 53.4% were engaged in intellectual labor, 42.3% experienced fear, 72.9% had anxiety symptoms and 70.3% had depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic and their mean age was 35.84 ± 10.86. Half (50.1%) of the subjects were COVID-19 positive and 63.8% had COVID-19 symptoms when responding to the questionnaire. Experiencing COVID-19 related fear (OR = 1.972) and having moderate to severe depressive symptoms (OR = 9.514) were associated with the development of mild to severe anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, which were in turn associated with the development of moderate to severe depressive symptoms (OR = 10.203) and COVID-19 related fear (OR = 2.140), respectively, thus creating a potential circulus vicious. COVID-19 positive subjects (OR = 1.454) were also more likely to develop mild to severe anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: In conclusion, the prevalence of fear, anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms rose dramatically since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They were interconnected and were significantly associated with age, gender, marital status and COVID-19 status. Therefore, an urgent mental health intervention is needed for the prevention of mental health problems.

Objective: To compare organ involvement and disease severity between male and female patients with juvenile onset systemic sclerosis. Methods: Demographics, organ involvement, laboratory evaluation, patient-reported outcomes and physician assessment variables were compared between male and female juvenile onset systemic sclerosis patients enrolled in the prospective international juvenile systemic sclerosis cohort at their baseline visit and after 12 months. Results: One hundred and seventy-five juvenile onset systemic sclerosis patients were evaluated, 142 females and 33 males. Race, age of onset, disease duration, and disease subtypes (70% diffuse cutaneous) were similar between males and females. Active digital ulceration, very low body mass index, and tendon friction rubs were significantly more frequent in males. Physician global assessment of disease severity and digital ulcer activity was significantly higher in males. Composite pulmonary involvement was also more frequent in males, though not statistically significantly. After 12 months, they are the pattern of differences changed female patients had significantly more frequent pulmonary involvement. Conclusion: In this cohort, juvenile onset systemic sclerosis had a more severe course in males at baseline and but the pattern changed after 12 months. Some differences from adult findings persisted, there is no increased signal of pulmonary arterial hypertension or heart failure in male pediatric patients. While monitoring protocols of organ involvement in juvenile onset systemic sclerosis need to be identical for males and females.

For a manifold $M$ and an integer $r>1$, the space of $r$-immersions of $M$ in $\mathbb {R}^n$ is defined to be the space of immersions of $M$ in $\mathbb {R}^n$ such that the preimage of every point in $\mathbb {R}^n$ contains fewer than $r$ points. We consider the space of $r$-immersions when $M$ is a disjoint union of $k$ $m$-dimensional discs, and prove that it is equivalent to the product of the $r$-configuration space of $k$ points in $\mathbb {R}^n$ and the $k^{\text {th}}$ power of the space of injective linear maps from $\mathbb {R}^m$ to $\mathbb {R}^n$. This result is needed in order to apply Michael Weiss's manifold calculus to the study of $r$-immersions. The analogous statement for spaces of embeddings is “well-known”, but a detailed proof is hard to find in the literature, and the existing proofs seem to use the isotopy extension theorem, if only as a matter of convenience. Isotopy extension does not hold for $r$-immersions, so we spell out the details of a proof that avoids using it, and applies to spaces of $r$-immersions.

For a manifold $M$ and an integer $r>1$, the space of $r$-immersions of $M$ in $\mathbb {R}^n$ is defined to be the space of immersions of $M$ in $\mathbb {R}^n$ such that the preimage of every point in $\mathbb {R}^n$ contains fewer than $r$ points. We consider the space of $r$-immersions when $M$ is a disjoint union of $k$ $m$-dimensional discs, and prove that it is equivalent to the product of the $r$-configuration space of $k$ points in $\mathbb {R}^n$ and the $k^{\text {th}}$ power of the space of injective linear maps from $\mathbb {R}^m$ to $\mathbb {R}^n$. This result is needed in order to apply Michael Weiss's manifold calculus to the study of $r$-immersions. The analogous statement for spaces of embeddings is “well-known”, but a detailed proof is hard to find in the literature, and the existing proofs seem to use the isotopy extension theorem, if only as a matter of convenience. Isotopy extension does not hold for $r$-immersions, so we spell out the details of a proof that avoids using it, and applies to spaces of $r$-immersions.

Abstract Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the acute effect of ultrafiltration on the mechanical properties of the aorta using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) before and after hemodialysis (HD). Patients and Methods: This study included 80 patients who were on a long-term HD program. The input variables were anamnestic data, body composition monitor (BCM) parameters, and echocardiography findings. The assessment of hydration status was determined by BCM, whose work is based on the principle of multifrequency bioimpedance spectroscopy. Another diagnostic procedure was the use of an arteriograph apparatus to assess PWV and Augmentation Index (AIx). All measurements were performed before and after dialysis on the middle dialysis day of the week. Results: The participants were divided into two groups based on hydration status: the experimental group consisted of 40 overhydrated participants and the control group consisted of 40 normovolemic participants. Statistically, the following BCM parameters correlated significantly positively with PWV: total body fat (r = 0.222; P < 0.05), overhydration (r = 0.290; P < 0.001), and relative overhydration (r = 0.290; P < 0.001). From echocardiography findings, only left atrial diameter correlated statistically significantly positively with PWV (r = 0.359; P < 0.001). Comparison of the mean PWV values within the experimental group before and after HD showed a statistically significant decrease from 14.32 ± 2.34 m/s to 8.72 ± 1.52 m/s (Z = 3.254; P = 0.0001). Mean PWV values within the control group did not decrease significantly from 13.39 ± 1.32 m/s to 10.39 ± 1.18 m/s (Z = 0.524; P = 0.742). If we compare the mean values of PWV between groups, then before HD treatment, there was no statistically significant difference between groups with PWV values in the experimental group of 14.32 ± 2.34 m/s and the control group of 13.39 ± 1.32 m/s (Z = 0.762; P = 0.852). According to the results of univariate regression analysis before and after HD treatment, only overhydration showed an absolute effect on PWV before and after HD. Conclusion: Overhydration showed an effect on brachial-ankle PWV before and after HD, and brachial-ankle PWV should be followed in HD patients.

Introduction: Composite materials may be exposed to chemicals in food and beverages in the oral cavity, which can lead to changes in surface roughness. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the surface roughness of two restorative materials after exposure to coffee and green tea followed by a dental bleaching procedure. Methods: For nanofilled composite and microhybrid composite, 15 samples each were fabricated. Five specimens from each composite were stored in instant coffee and green tea for 4 h a day. After 30 days of immersion, specimens received dental at-home bleaching, using 16% carbamide peroxide (CP), for 7 h a day. The control group was stored in deionized water for 30 days. Surface roughness was determined by profilometry 24 h after polymerization, after 30 days of immersion, and after bleaching. The data were analyzed using a t-test for paired samples and mixed analysis of variance, at a 0.05 significance level. Results: Neither beverages nor CP treatment significantly altered the surface roughness of the composites. There was no difference between the tested composite materials regarding roughness. Conclusion: Surface roughness of the microhybrid and nanohybrid composites was not modified by coffee, green tea, and subsequent whitening treatment.

Invasive plant species are foreign species that usually have a negative impact to the native flora and vegetation, human health, or that cause damage to agriculture and the economy. Therefore, the spread of invasive species is one of the biggest problems in nature protection. The aim of the work is to determine the invasive plant species in the wider area of the city of Lukavac, to analyze the life forms and the geographical origin. The research was done during the summer months of 2021. This paper presents the results of research on invasive plant species in the wider area of the town of Lukavac, which is located in the northeastern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina and administratively belongs to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Tuzla Canton. Total 12 invasive species from 8 families and 12 genera were recorded. The largest number of species belongs to the Asteraceae family, while the other families are represented by one species. Among life forms, therophytes (58, 33%) and phanerophytes (25%) dominate. Geophytes and hemicryptophytes are represented by only one plant species. Recorded invasive plant species come from North America (75%) and Asia (25%).