A Computational Approach Using Cellular Potts Model for Simulation of Neural Stem Cells Grown in PCL-Graphene Scaffolds

In the last decade, new computational model environment that includes both discrete and continuous models is getting more attention. One of the most well-known hybrid approaches is Cellular Potts Model also known as the Glazier-Graner-Hogeweg model, a lattice-based, cellular level computational framework that accurately describes biological phenomena including stem cell differentiation, tumor growth, cell migration, angiogenesis, cell rearrangement and adhesion. In this study we use the Cellular Potts Model (CPM) to design a dynamic microenvironment for cellular organization and its functioning at a Nano-scale level. Particularly we focus on cellular level interactions of neural stem cells grown on a Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-graphene scaffolds which are proven to provide better protein and cell adhesion and eventually increase the biological responses of the cells. The interactions such as cell-cell, cell-extracellular matrix adhesion and cellular motility contribute to the system’s energy given by a function known as Hamiltonian which manages the lattice rearrangement using the stochastic Monte Carlo’s model by minimizing the energy

Factors contributing to the effectiveness of internal audit : case study of internal audit in the public sector in Kosovo

Since audit has a great importance in preventing, consulting and finding cases of funds misuse, it was thought of analyzing the factors that contribute to increasing the efficiency of internal audit in the public sector which would help to set proper and more transparent governance of public financial resources. This study investigated the relationship between effectiveness and contributing factors. The data for the study were collected through an online questionnaire and direct hand-outs of such. The results of the empirical analysis proved that effectiveness has a positive relationship with internal audit quality, the competence of the internal audit team, the independence of internal audit, as well as with the support of internal audit from the management. Moreover, it was confirmed that audit quality is the fundamental element of the effectiveness of internal audit since it was among the most influential factors in the sample.peer-reviewe

Modelling the impact of sky-bridges on total evacuation for high-rise buildings

This study examines the impact of sky-bridges, as an egress component, on total evacuation of a high-rise building by using an evacuation model named Pathfinder. Five scenarios, with different combination of aspects such as height of the building, number of sky-bridges (and the subsequent inter-distance between them), and people allocation have been simulated. The comparison between the results from the simulations indicates that sky-bridges significantly shorten the total evacuation time if used by all occupants above or at each refuge floor. Furthermore the comparison between the scenarios with different heights and the same inter-distance between the sky-bridges shows that the total evacuation time is approximately the same, as the buildings are divided in zones containing equal number of floors. However the comparison between two buildings with the same height but different inter-distance between the sky-bridges point out that the total evacuation time increases with increased inter-distance between the sky-bridges and vice versa

A Business Perspective on Internet of Things

Sensors are rapidly being integrated everywhere, in every aspect of our lives, ranging from home automation to wearable sensors for pervasive healthcare management. We hear ubiquitously for ubiquitous devices. In recent years, increasingly we are listening and talking about phrases like “Internet of Things”, “M2M”, “Context awareness”, “Web of Things”, which announce the new era to come, where we will be surrounded with smart devices, which communicate with each other to easer and beautify our lives. This article reports on our findings about the business perspective on internet of things. It involves literature review on the internet of things world and its impact in the business domain. This work is licensed under a&nbsp;Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.</p

TAX DECENTRALIZATION: GRAQANICE AND JUNIK

Mentor: Dr. Sc. Tefik Halil

Djela hrvatskih skladatelja u repertoaru ljetnih festivala u Splitu (1954.-1979.)

The fact that Split Summer Events were opened by a musical-stage performance composed by a domestic (from Split - for that matter) composer shows the organizer\u27s taking interest in promoting and establishing domestic musical creativity. The selection of Croatian authors represented on summer festivals - according to the era and style they belong to - covers a wide timerange, from the Middle Ages to modem times - from Anonimus, F. Bosanac, I. Šibenčanin, V. Jelić, I. Lukačić, T. Resti, L. Ebner, V. Lisinski, F. Livadić, F. Pintarić, and I. Zajc, to the 20th_century composers (the most represented ones) - from B. Bersa to the youngest of them, M. Ruždjak. When it comes to the festival\u27s attitude toward the domestic creative capacity, it is important to point out the reanimation of the local musical heritage (for example - J. Bajamonti\u27s works). The emphasis on the presentation of composers born in Split was also materialized through concerts dedicated to the vocal lyric poetry of J. Hatze and J. Gotovac. An all-evening concert dedicated to S. Bombardelli \u27s chamber music is organized as well. One of many significant events is also the composer\u27s evening with R. Radica

Impact of Investment Environment on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Case of the Republic of Kosovo

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of the investment environment on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Republic of Kosovo, by employing IV-GMM times series estimator, where Control of Corruption and Political Stability, Absence of Violence/Terrorism and Distance to frontier score (Doing Business) are used as main variables, while as pull factors are used GDP per capita, unemployment rate and profit tax rate.Further, The empirical findings reveal that Control of Corruption and Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism have positive and significant effect on attracting FDI flows, while Distance to frontier score (Doing Business) has shown negative effect on FDI flows in the case of Republic of Kosovo for the time period 2009q1 -2016q4.Furthermore, This paper for the first time tries to address the Kosovo case, using the IV-GMM estimator method and handling the above mentioned variables over this time period, presenting a unique case with regard to the Republic of Kosovo because, from our best knowledge, has not been addressed before such nexus for the case of Kosovo.In addition, This paper will also contribute to the existing literature rather than solving the existing debate among scholars, by using these measures to investigate their impact on attracting FDI in a transition country such as the Republic of Kosovo. Keywords: FDI, investment environment, IV-GMM, time series, transition. DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/10-10-07 Publication date:May 31st 201

“Teacher Talking Time VS Student Talking Time: Encouraging Speaking in EFL Classroom- A Case Study at the “Sami Frasheri” Gymnasium in Prishtina”

The main goal of most language learners is how to achieve fluent speaking in the target language. But, at the same time it is a challenge for teachers to develop it in and to try to make communication in this target language part of everyday situations and contexts, because of the fact that English is not the native language. This challenge is enhanced even more when it comes to classes consisting of a large number of students with about 40 minutes to finish the class. Thus, this paper aims to present a research in the role of teacher talking time (TTT) and student talking time (STT) in promoting a communicational and collaborating environment for non-native speakers of English, in an English as-a-foreign language class (EFL). In my paper, I provided definitions and theories of TTT and STT. I showed the difference between these two favoring a higher amount of STT over TTT and the positive uses of it. Furthermore, I conducted a study in one of the high schools of Prishtina regarding STT and TTT. I analyzed the data collected at “Sami Frasheri” gymnasium in Prishtina, where I examined two groups of 11th graders and exposed them to the same lesson plan. In one class most of the talk was done by the teacher, a role that I took, whereas the other class was student-centered. For this research, I used exploratory research methodology. Through classroom observation, post-test, delayed test and a survey, I gathered data that clearly indicated the ways STT and TTT affect communication and collaboration in class