Ranunculus ophioglossipholius in Croatian-District Hrvatsko Zagorje

The above note under the title »Ranunculus ophioglossifolius Vili. in Croatian district. Hrv. Zagorje« contains an information about a new interesting habitat, where this, otherwise mediterranean plant is found, in the area of North Croatia. The plant in flower was found on a bog in October 1946. By author’s opinion the question if this plants belongs to tertiary relicts can be put, because it is found in the area which is the centre of distribution of the mediterranean plants in North Croati

Note floristique de l\u27herbier de dr. M. Tomičić

Dans cette notice on constate quelques plantes qui sont nouvelles pour la Flore de la Croatie et la montagne de Velebit. Ce sont: 1. Ribes petraeum Wulf., trouvé sur le mont Trošeljevac (cca 1400 m), montagne de Velebit. C’est pour la première fois que cette plante est constatée avec sûreté pour la Flore de la Croatie. 2. Lathyrus alpestris (W. K.) Rchb. /., ramassé sur le mont Copin vrh (cca 1150 m), montagne de Velebit. Cette plante est nouvelle pour la Flore de Velebit. 3. Valeriana dioica L., trouvée près de Gospić (Lika). C’est pour la première fois que cette plante est signalée pour le district de Lika et la montagne de Velebit

Convolvulus cneorum L. in der Flora Jugoslawiens

Von der Art Convolvulus cneorum L., die bisher als eine seltene Pflanze der eumediterranen Zone in FNRJ galt, werden mehrere neue Fundorte angeführt (»Volujac« auf der Insel Dugi, Insel Šolta, Sv. Andrija (bei Vis), Vis, Halbinsel Pelješac und Insel Mrkan (bei Cavtat). Ausserdem wird auch eine Karte des Verbreitungsgebietes dieser Art im Gebiete der Adria angegeben (Abb. 1), aus der ersichtlich ist, dass Convolvulus cneorum besonders auf der Inselgruppe Vis und um Dubrovnik verbreitet ist. Dem Gesamtverbreitungsgebiet dieser Art (Italien, Dalmazien, Albanien und Griechenland) nach wurde festgestellt, dass sie dem nord- mediterranen Florenelement zuzurechnen ist

Monitoraggio in area sismica di beni monumentali: tecniche NDT e procedure di verifica

Negli ultimi anni il concetto di vulnerabilità sismica è tristemente entrato a far parte delle conoscenze anche dei non addetti ai lavori. Infatti, gli eventi sismici che hanno interessato dagli inizi del ‘900 il territorio Italiano, hanno sistematicamente messo in risalto l’elevata vulnerabilità sismica del nostro patrimonio edilizio, ivi compresi i beni monumentali, nonché, l’inesistenza di qualsiasi attività di programmazione della manutenzione periodica ordinaria e straordinaria delle strutture sismo-resistenti, che garantiscono nel tempo la conservazione delle loro capacità di risposta alle perturbazioni esterne.Il progetto PON sul Monitoraggio in Area Sismica di SIstemi MOnumentali nasce con la prerogativa di produrre uno strumento dedicato alla tutela di strutture a valenza storico – artistica, attraverso un percorso di catalogazione, di analisi del bene inteso come elemento costituito da elementi resistenti e da materiali, di studio del sito dove la struttura è ubicata e di attività di monitoraggio

Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. (Apiaceae), a new taxon in Croatian flora

During floristic research into the island of Bra~ (Dalmatia, Croatia) in 2010, Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. (Apiaceae), a new neophyte for Croatia was found in several localities and natural habitats. At the altitude of 380–460 m above sea level, mostly in habitats disturbed by humans, the located populations were composed of numerous and vital specimens in blooms and with fruits. The gradual and successful integration of this species into the natural vegetation was noticed, particularly in grasslands of the association Brachypodio retuso-Trifolietum stellati Horvati} 1958 and macchia of the association Fraxino orno-Quercetum ilicis Horvati} (1956) 1958

Mean platelet volume could be a promising biomarker to monitor dietary compliance in celiac disease

Background. Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disease that develops in patients with a genetic predisposition, incurring a susceptibility to gluten-containing foods such as barley, wheat, and rye. The elimination of gluten from the diet is the main therapeutic approach and usually leads to clinical and laboratory improvement. There are no ideal markers that objectively assess dietary compliance in CD patients. Materials and methods. Sixty newly diagnosed CD patients (male/female: 43/17) and 40 healthy subjects (male/female: 23/17) were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis of CD was established by both histological findings of duodenum biopsy (total villous atrophy and lymphocytic infiltration) and positive antibodies against endomysium or gliadin. Results. A significantly higher mean platelet volume (MPV) was observed in the CD group compared with healthy subjects (8.45 +/- 0.96 fL versus 7.93 +/- 0.63 fL; p = 0.004). After introduction of a gluten-free diet, the MPV of CD patients in the dietary adherent group was significantly lower than that of the non-adherent group (8.09 +/- 0.6 fL versus 8.9 +/- 1.08 fL; p = 0.001). Overall dietary adherence rate was 71.6% (43/60 CD patients). In the dietary compliant group, initiation of gluten-free diet was associated with a significant decrease in MPV from base-line values (8.56 fL versus 8.25 fL; p = 0.008). In the non-adherent group, MPV on 3-month follow-up was higher than at base-line (8.05 fL versus 8.91 fL; p = 0.001). Conclusion. MPV could be a promising and easily available biomarker for monitoring of dietary adherence in CD patients at a low cost in comparison with other modalities.WoSScopu

New localities of the subendemic species Berberis croatica, Teucrium arduini and Micromeria croatica in the Dinaric Alps

New localities of three subendemic species (Berberis croatica, Teucrium arduini and Micromeria croatica) have been found in the Dinaric Alps. Berberis croatica was found at ten new locations, nine of them in Croatia and one in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Teucrium arduini was found on Mt Učka, Mt Velebit, Mt Biokovo and Mt Sniježnica, at nine new locations while Micromeria croatica was found at four new locations, only on Mt Velebit

An Evaluation of the Contractionary Devaluation Hypothesis

Recent empirical and theoretical literature on the impact of real exchange rate devaluations on economic performance questions the traditional expansionary effect generated within standard Mundell-Fleming models. Contractionary devaluations may arise when firms face maturity or currency mismatches that, when faced with real exchange rate depreciations, lead to balance-sheet effects that erode firms' wealth and lead to an output contraction. While some authors show that the standard Mundell-Fleming result may hold even in the presence of currency mismatches, others point out that, if the balance sheet effect is large enough, devaluations can be contractionary. Using a large panel of 57 countries across the world and various newly constructed measures of dollarization, we test whether the balance sheet effect hypothesis has been relevant during the past decades in explaining economic downturns. Additionally, we explore the channels through which devaluations can be contractionary; in particular, we explore whether investment and consumption decisions are negatively affected by exchange rate devaluations under currency mismatches

Exchange-Rate Regime and Economic Growth: A Review of the Theoretical and Empirical Literature

The aim of this paper is to examine the theoretical and empirical arguments for the relationship between the exchange-rate regime and economic growth. As a nominal variable, the exchange rate (regime) might not affect the long-run economic growth. However, there is no unambiguous theoretical evidence what impacts the exchange-rate target exhibits on growth. The channel through which the regime might influence growth is trade, investment and productivity. Theoretical considerations relate the exchange-rate effect on growth to the level of uncertainty imposed by flexible option of the rate. However, while reduced policy uncertainty under a peg promotes an environment which is conductive to production factor growth, trade and hence to output, such targets do not provide an adjustment mechanism in times of shocks, thus stimulating protectionist behaviour, price distortion signals and therefore misallocation of resources in the economy. Consequently, the relationship remains blurred and requires in-depth empirical investigation. The empirical research offers divergent result though. A big part of the studies focuses on the parameter of the exchange-rate dummy, but does not appropriately control for other country-characteristics nor apply appropriate growth framework. Also, the issue of endogeneity is not treated at all or inappropriate instruments are repeatedly used. Very few studies disgracedly pay small attention to the capital controls, an issue closely related to the exchange-rate regime and only one study puts the issue in the context of monetary regimes. Overall, the empirical evidence is condemned because of growth-framework, endogeneity, sample-selection bias and the so-called peso problem. An empirical investigation which will consider all those aspects might reveal clear and robust suggestion of the relationship between exchange-rate regime and growth