Functional Changes of P300 Values among Young Football Players as a Measure of a Cognitive Function

Numerous studies have shown that evaluation of evoked potentials (EP) is an excellent estimation tool for a cognitive function. During daily practices footballers are exposed to headers that can leave mild head traumas. In this study, young footballers were examined, while the control group included their coevals who don’t practice contact sports. Results of the study have shown that footballers have longer latency value of the P300 wave when target stimulus is presented on N1, N2 and P3, but not on P2. Also, they have longer latency values when non-target stimulus is presented. Amplitude values of target stimulus are not different, but footballers have lower amplitudes of non-target stimulus. This study suggests that EP evaluation method can be used to detect first and mild changes of the brain function

RAZVOJ ODRŽIVIH ULAGANJA U AZIJSKIM ZEMLJAMA

The aim of this paper is to investigate the development of sustainable investments in the Asian region and identify the role of individual Asian countries in promoting the development of sustainable investments. Secondary data from relevant domestic and foreign literature sources, including scientific articles, expert reports, and relevant websites, are used in this study. The analysis confirms that Asian investors are increasingly interested in integrating ESG factors into investment decisions and recognize the positive impact of sustainable investments on environmental protection, societal advancement, and the overall financial sector. Contribution of this study lies in its comprehensive analysis of sustainable investment trends in the Asian region, shedding light on the evolving landscape of responsible investment practices. However, it is important to note that this study has certain limitations, such as the reliance on secondary data and the scope of available literature. Additionally, while there is a growing body of research on sustainable investments, there is still room for further exploration and empirical studies, particularly in the context of Asian countries. The study emphasizes the potential of sustainable investments to promote financial sustainability and economic stability, while also supporting positive global changes.Cilj ovog rada je istražiti razvoj održivih ulaganja u Aziji te identificirati ulogu pojedinih azijskih zemalja u promicanju razvoja održivih ulaganja. U ovom radu korišteni su sekundarni podaci iz relevantnih domaćih i stranih izvora literature, uključujući znanstvene radove, stručna izvješća i relevantne web izvore. Analiza potvrđuje da su azijski investitori sve više zainteresirani za integraciju ESG čimbenika u investicijske odluke i prepoznaju pozitivan utjecaj održivih ulaganja na zaštitu okoliša, društveni napredak i cjelokupni financijski sektor. Doprinos ovog rada je sveobuhvatna analiza trendova održivog ulaganja u azijskim zemljama, stavljajući naglasak na brzorastuće područje odgovornih ulagačkih praksi. Međutim, važno je napomenuti da ovaj rad ima određena ograničenja, kao što je oslanjanje na sekundarne podatke i opseg dostupne literature. Osim toga, iako postoji sve veći broj istraživanja o održivim ulaganjima, još uvijek postoji velik prostor za daljnja istraživanja i empirijske studije, osobito u kontekstu azijskih zemalja. Rad naglašava potencijal održivih ulaganja za promicanje financijske održivosti i ekonomske stabilnosti te podupire pozitivne promjene na svjetskoj razini

The role of posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms in mother-infant bonding

Background: There is some evidence posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth may impact on the mother-infant bond. However, the evidence is inconsistent over whether PTSD or co-morbid depressive symptoms are primarily related to impaired bonding. This study therefore aimed to examine the relationship between PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms and mother-infant bonding. Methods: A cross-sectional online study included 603 mothers of infants aged 1–12 months. Measures were taken of PTSD (City Birth Trauma Scale, Ayers et al., 2018) which has two subscales of birth-related PTSD symptoms and general PTSD symptoms; depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Cox et al., 1987) and mother-infant bonding (Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire, Brockington et al., 2001). Results: Impaired bonding was related to both dimensions of PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms in bivariate analysis. Path analysis testing the model of whether depressive symptoms mediated the effect of PTSD symptoms on mother-infant bonding found a differential role of birth-related and general PTSD symptoms. Birth-related PTSD symptoms did not have any effect on bonding or depressive symptoms. In contrast, general PTSD symptoms had a direct effect on bonding and an indirect effect on bonding via depressive symptoms. Limitations: Self-report measures of PTSD and depression symptoms were used. Conclusions: Further research regarding different aspects of postpartum PTSD, depression and other disorders in the context of mother-infant bonding are needed. Future preventive programs should focus on diminishing symptoms of postpartum PTSD and depression so that the mother-infant bonding remains optimal

Achieving Portfolio Diversification through Cryptocurrencies in European Markets

Background: Cryptocurrencies represent a specific technological innovation in financial markets that keeps getting more and more popular among investors around the world. Given the specific characteristics of the cryptocurrencies, this paper examines the possibility of their use as a diversification instrument. Objectives: This paper examines the direction and strength of the relationship between the selected cryptocurrencies and important financial indicators on the European Union market. Since cryptocurrencies are a novelty in the financial system, the empirical literature in this area is rather scarce. Methods/Approach: In order to assess diversification properties of cryptocurrencies for European traders, a comprehensive econometric analysis was carried out. The first part of the analysis refers to the estimation of the multivariate Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model, whereas the second part focuses on wavelet transforms. Results: Bitcoin and Ripple proved as a possible diversification instrument on most of the observed European markets since corresponding coefficients of unconditional correlation are negative. Conclusions: The relationship between the value of the cryptocurrencies and selected indices is generally very weak and slightly negative, indicating that some cryptocurrencies can serve as a means of diversification. However, investors need to take into account the extreme volatility, exhibited in all existing cryptocurrencies

Measuring financial literacy of university students

Defining and properly measuring financial literacy of students is a prerequisite for proposing education policy solutions. The main objective of this paper is to present a procedure of financial literacy assessment. The measure is based on the results of the survey conducted on a suitable sample of students at the University of Zagreb. It is developed using confirmatory factor analysis, which involves testing the validity of a measurement model. This model consists of four manifest variables: Knowledge, Attitudes, Behavior and Practical Knowledge, which are used to estimate a composite measure of financial literacy. The results of factor analysis were later used for obtaining the corresponding weights of indicators of financial literacy. The estimated measure indicates great heterogeneity in the level of financial literacy among students from different constituent units of the University of Zagreb

Measuring recent changes of insurance gross premiums distribution using ten inequality measures: case study of Croatia

This paper investigates the extent of gross premium distributions inequality for life and non-life insurance in Croatia in the period 2000–2012. The number of companies for life insurance was the same in 2000 and 2012, at 17. The number of non-life insurance companies varied between 16 and 24, and was 20 at the end of 2012. The Lorenz curve and nine numerical concentration measures applied mostly show a slight decrease of a moderate concentration for both types of insurance over time, with only the Rosenbluth index being an exception, showing a mild increase of concentration. The concentration of gross premium is slightly stronger for non-life then for life insurance. The standard errors of the trend models for the entropy indexes are smaller, and coefficients of determination are higher for the quadratic compared to the linear trend models for both types of insurances, life and non-life. Since the forecasts’ quality measures for both types of insurance show that the quadratic trend is superior compared to the simple linear trend model, it was used for short-term forecasting of the entropy indexes. The quadratic trend model gave forecasts showing digressive-progressive dynamics for non-life, and progressive-digressive for life insurance entropy indexes

Sex estimation from handprints in a Croatian population sample: developing a tool for sex identification in criminal investigations

Aim: To test if handprint measurements show sexual dimorphism in the Croatian population, and to develop population-specific sex estimation standards. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 adult volunteers from a Croatian population (50 males and 50 females) aged between 20 and 45 years. Using a fingerprint ink, we collected handprints of both hands on a paper sheet. We scanned handprints and took 13 measurements. Bilateral asymmetry and sexual dimorphism of the measurements was analyzed and sex estimation models were developed using linear discriminant analysis. Results: All measurements exhibited statistically significant sexual dimorphism (P<0.001). Univariate discriminant functions provided sexing accuracy from 75% to 92%. The highest accuracy rate (92%) and the lowest sexing bias (0%) was obtained using the handprint breadth. A multivariate discriminant function could estimate sex with 93% accuracy, but with more pronounced sexing bias (10%). Conclusion: We showed that handprint measurements could be used for sex estimation in the Croatian population with a high accuracy level. Therefore, they could serve as a valuable tool for biological profiling of perpetrators in criminal investigations when other evidence is not conclusive