This paper analyses the relationship between real GDP and CO₂ emissions for 17 transitional economies based on a series of annual data from 1997 to 2014. The analysis was conducted using Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) (DOLS) and Fully Modified OLS (FMOLS) approaches. The results clearly suggest the existence of a statistically significant long-run cointegrating relationship between CO₂ emissions and real GDP. A 1% change in GDP leads to around a 0.35% change of CO₂ emission on average for the considered group of countries. Close values of long-run coefficients for all estimations confirm the robustness of the estimated results. The authors state that transitional economies need to follow global policy incentives, and try to implement new mechanisms and instruments for the purpose of reducing CO₂ emissions, such as environmental taxes, emissions-trading schemes, and carbon capture and storage, if they want to achieve future CO₂ emission reductions, while attaining economic growth.

Hydrogels are synthesized by the method of radical polymerization of monomers: N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and acrylic acid (AA). Characterization of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide- co-acrylic acid) hydrogels, p(NIPAM/AA), has been performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by determination of the swelling behaviour in aqueous solutions at different temperatures (25, 31 and 37?C) and pH values (2.2, 4.5, 6 and 6.8). After lyophilisation in the solution at pH 6 and temperature of 25?C, p(NIPAM/AA) hydrogels have rapidly reached equilibrium degree of swelling, ?e, in comparison to non-lyophilized samples. The mechanism of solvent transport within matrix in lyophilized samples corresponds to less Fickian diffusion, whereas Super case II diffusion is characteristic for non-lyophilized samples. p(NIPAM/AA) hydrogel with 1.5 mol% of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM) at the temperature of 25?C and pH 6.8, has reached the highest swelling equilibrium degree, ?e = 259.8. The results of swelling studies have shown that p(NIPAM/AA) hydrogels can be classified as superabsorbent polymers (SAPs). For the evaluation of pH and temperature influences on synthesized hydrogels swelling, a full three-level experimental design has been used. Two-factor interaction model (2FI) is the most optimal model of a full three-level experimental design for representing the swelling equilibrium degree of p(NIPAM/AA) hydrogels as a function of investigated parameters, i.e., temperature and pH.

In this study, two series of hydrogels were synthesised with different molar ratio of glucose units of starch and citric acid. The advantage of using natural raw materials (starch and citric acid) for the synthesis of hydrogels lies in the fact that these raw materials are synthesised in nature, beneficial to human beings, easily degradable after use and harmless. The generated hydrogels and starting reactants were structurally characterised by applying the method of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). FTIR analysis shows that the synthesis reaction of hydrogels based on starch and citric acid rests upon the esterification reaction of carboxyl groups in citric acid with hydroxyl groups in starch. The residual amount of citric acid in synthesised hydrogels was determined under high pressure with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The values of unreacted citric acid range between 9.85 and 16.08%.The scanning electron microscopy was applied in the analysis of hydrogel morphology. The swelling of hydrogel was monitored at 25 °C in the solutions of pH values of 5, 7 and 9. The highest swelling degree (a=8.55) was achieved in water at pH 7 for the hydrogel synthesised with the smallest amount of citric acid as the cross-linker at the ratio of glucose units of starch and citric acid being 72. Hydrogels synthesised from such monomers are environmentally friendly and fully biodegradable.

This paper examines the relationship between FDI inflow per capita and unemployment rates in 17 transition countries over the period 2000-2014. It aims at testing the premise, usually suggested by policy makers, that higher attraction of FDI in transition countries results in inevitable unemployment reduction. The empirical analysis contributes to the existing literature applying panel cointegration approach in testing and assessing long-run impact of FDI on unemployment, as an alternative to typical panel analysis that examine contemporaneous relations. The evidence from seven performed panel cointegration tests provide the mixed results, while the Fully Modified and Dynamic OLS panel estimations indicate that FDI and unemployment are most likely not cointegrated. The inconclusiveness of the empirical evidences gives the argument in support of the general conclusion that long-run impact of FDI on unemployment in transition countries is either very loose or does not exist.

The temperature- and pH-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid), p(NIPAM-co-AA), copolymer was synthesized by free radical polymerization and examined as a carrier for modified release of biochanin A. Biochanin A is a biologically active methoxylated isoflavone which exhibits estrogenic and other pharmacological activities. Due to its poor aqueous solubility and extensive first-pass metabolism, biochanin A has low bioavailability. The aim of this work was to incorporate biochanin A into the synthesized p(NIPAM-co-AA) copolymer and to examine its release at the body temperature and pH values that correspond to pH values of vaginal and rectal cavities. The amount of released biochanin A was monitored by the ultra-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) method. The structure of synthesized p(NIPAM-co-AA) copolymer and copolymer with incorporated biochanin A were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods. The content of residual monomers in the synthesized copolymer was analyzed by using the high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The swelling behavior of p(NIPAM-co-AA) copolymer was monitored in relation to the temperature and pH values of the surrounding medium. For modelling the process of p(NIPAM-co-AA) copolymer swelling, the full three-level factorial design was applied.