Ambrosia artemisifolia (ragweed) is an invasive plant species with severe allergenic effects which quickly detects favorable growth conditions and represents a threat to the quality of plant communities. There are still unanswered questions to the allelopathic effects of ragweed on other species, which further complicates the understanding of its compatibility with other plants in both natural and agricultural environment. The paper monitors the allelopathic effects of the aqueous extract isolated from dry ragweed leaves (10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25%) on the germination and growth of corn and wheat. The aquaeous ragweed extracts reduced the germination of corn and wheat down to 70%. The seedling length was inhibited, especially in high concentrations. Wheat appeared to be more tolerant to the extract effect. Corn suffered a larger inhibition effect in terms of root length and seedlings, which suggested that this species was more sensitive. The obtained results imply that the ragweed should be combated in a timely manner in order to avoid its inhibitory effects on the indicator crops.

ABSTRACT As a main input for economic growth and competitiveness, foreign direct investments (FDI) remain one of the most important sources in both emerging and developing countries. This study emphasizes the importance of FDI into Serbia’s economy by analysing the forecasts between FDI, GDP, the unemployment rate and global competitive index (GCI). In this paper, authors focussed on a comparison of FDI inflows from China, Russia and the EU countries. According to the multiplicative and seasonal aspects of trend analysis considered, projections show a gradual increase in GDP, FDI, competitive ranks and a decrease in the unemployment rate for the following 5 years. These results shed light on the future potential directions under which investment and other public policies should be created. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.

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Water is an important component in every plant’s life helping them to perform basic metabolic processes. The biggest challenge of today’s agriculture is how to ensure sufficient water needs at the key phase of plant development and how they can use the available moisture in the soil through the rhizosphere system.

Autoritet je ključno profesionalno i osobno obilježje nastavnika. Nastavnik treba znati upravljati i voditi razredne i školske aktivnosti, biti stručnjak iz nastavnoga predmeta koji poučava, koristiti primjerene metode poučavanja, iskazivati razumijevanje prema svakom učeniku, a pritom imati i pozitivan utjecaj na učenike. U suvremenoj se pedagoškoj literaturi taj pojam sve rjeđe koristi. Promjene u odgoju i obrazovanju koje naglašavaju autonomiju učenika i stvaranje pogodnoga ozračja za učenje dovele su do narušavanja autoriteta nastavnika u razredu.Cilj je rada razmotriti stavove studenata pedagogije o autoritetu nastavnika u suvremenom pristupu odgoju i obrazovanju, otkriti njegove karakteristike i eventualne promjene tradicionalnoga shvaćanja autoriteta. U istraživanju su sudjelovali studenti pedagogije, a provedeno je  upitnikom otvorenoga tipa u kojemu su studenti iskazivali mišljenje o autoritetu nastavnika u učionici, obilježjima i značenju autoriteta. Rezultati su pokazali da studenti pedagogije autoritet nastavnika povezuju s tradicionalnim oblikom autoriteta, dajući mu  obilježja relacijskoga autoriteta, tj. u velikoj ga mjeri povezuju s odnosom nastavnika i učenika.

Checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) augment adaptive immunity. Systematic pan-tumor analyses may reveal the relative importance of tumour cell intrinsic and microenvironmental features underpinning CPI sensitization. Here we collated whole-exome and transcriptomic data for >1000 CPI-treated patients across eight tumor-types, utilizing standardized bioinformatics-workflows and clinical outcome-criteria to validate multivariate predictors of CPI-sensitization. Clonal-TMB was the strongest predictor of CPI response, followed by TMB and CXCL9 expression. Subclonal-TMB, somatic copy alteration burden and HLA-evolutionary divergence failed to attain significance. Discovery analysis identified two additional determinants of CPI-response supported by prior functional evidence: 9q34.3 (TRAF2) loss and CCND1 amplification, both independently validated in >1600 CPI-treated patients. We find evidence for collateral sensitivity, likely mediated through selection for CDKN2A-loss, with 9q34.3 loss as a passenger event leading to CPI-sensitization. Finally, scRNA sequencing of clonal neoantigen-reactive CD8-TILs, combined with bulk RNAseq analysis of CPI responding tumors, identified CCR5 and CXCL13 as T cell-intrinsic mediators of CPI-sensitisation.

We introduce a two-dimensional network model that realizes a higher-order topological insulator (HOTI) phase. We find that in the HOTI phase a total of 16 corner states are protected by the combination of a four-fold rotation, a phase-rotation, and a particle-hole symmetry. In addition, the model exhibits a strong topological phase at a point of maximal coupling. This behavior is in opposition to conventional network models, which are gapless at this point. By introducing the appropriate topological invariants, we show how a point group symmetry can protect a topological phase in a network. Our work provides the basis for the realization of HOTI systems in alternative experimental platforms implementing the network model.

BACKGROUND: Psychological support for patients and their families is of great importance at times when they go through shock, stress, and fear at moments when confronted with diagnosis and treatment. AIM: Aim to this study was to examine the influence of family attitudes on psychosocial adaptation and the effect of treatment of patients with malignancies to preserve the integrity of the diseased person in Bosnia and Herzegovina. METHODS: The cross-sectional study included 100 patients who were hospitalized at Foca University Hospital, Department of Oncology between September 2019 and December 2019. The survey used a sociodemographic questionnaire as well as a standardized questionnaire to evaluate communication with patients with malignant diseases for the patient and family (CCAT-PF). RESULTS: More than half of the respondents (69%) accepted the malignancy. When it comes to communication between health-care professionals and patients, 51% are satisfied with the communication and 49% are not satisfied. Most respondents (62%) hesitate to talk about side effects during treatment with health-care professionals, with a statistically significant difference observed between male and female respondents (χ2 = 6,014; p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: The time devoted to the subjects by the physicians as well as the willingness to listen to the patient is important aspects that influence the adaptation of the disease as well as the treatment.

ABSTRACT This paper outlines the roles of gross domestic spending on research and development (R&D) and gross capital formation in the innovation process and detects their contribution to this improvement. The analysis is conducted for Turkey for the period 1990-2017 using annual time-series data. Our findings suggest a bidirectional causal link between all variables of interest and prove that R&D can be a significant driving force for the Turkish innovation process. Most of the research and development activities in Turkey have been performed by universities. Herein, it is of key importance for the Turkish government to increase public expenditure, especially on education, since human capital plays an important role in building innovation capacity.

Milk of Kupres, Privor and Stolac dairy ewe breeds is used for the production of the fine cheese varieties. To the best of our knowledge there are no information about milk production and milk composition of these pasture-based dairy ewes. The aim was to determine the best lactation curve model in autochthonous pasture-based dairy ewes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Milk production was recorded and milk composition sampled (milk fat and protein) during early, mid and late lactation in 129 Kupres, 141 Privor and 129 Stolac pramenka ewes. Four lactation models (Wilmink, Cubic, Ali-Shaeffer and Guo-Swalve) were compared and selected based on the lowest coefficient of determination and root mean square error. The Guo-Swalve model described all of the measured variables most successfully. Kupres pramenka dairy ewe was the highest producing breed with 139 kg of milk during 175 days of lactation (0.79 kg/d; between lactation day 50 to 225) and showed the standard lactation curve. Privor pramenka produced 118 kg of milk during 175 days of lactation (0.67 kg/d) and Stolac pramenka 101 kg of milk during 175 days of lactation (0.58 kg/d). Both showed atypical constantly decreasing shape of the lactation curve common in low producing dairy ewes. The prediction of milk yield and milk composition from the Guo-Swalve model could be used by the national breeding program for the Kupres, Privor and Stolac pramenka sheep breeds. Additional research during a more stable management conditions is recommended for Privor and Stolac pramenka.