Investing in CHP plants: Estimating external costs and benefits

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify and evaluate the environmental impacts and estimate the external costs and benefits of building and operating a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. This research will contribute to the scientific literature in the field of public capital investments in CHP plants and facilitate the evaluation of similar assessments and studies by identifying relevant factors that affect society and the environment. Methodology: The ExternE methodology and Impact Pathway Approach (IPA) were used to estimate the externalities of building and operating the plant. The ExternE methodology considers environmental impacts, global warming impacts and accidents, and it is widely accepted in the estimation of externalities of CHP plants. Results: The main external benefits refer to the savings from the reduction of CO2 emissions per unit of energy produced, savings from the reduction of energy losses in the transmission of electricity, reduction of Croatia’s dependence on electricity imports, improvement of the balance of payments, and fiscal benefits. The main external costs arise from Croatia’s increasing import dependence on natural gas and changes in the use of agricultural land. Conclusion: It is estimated that the external benefits are higher than the external costs. In addition to the estimation of external costs, their internalization is done through various taxes and fees, thus affecting the unit cost of electricity. Further research should extend the estimation of external benefits and costs to consider broader social impacts and conduct a full cost-benefit analysis

Recent trends in sustainability reporting: Literature review and implications for future research

Sustainability reporting has become a topical issue in recent years as it is no longer enough to make claims about the sustainability level of companies, but it is also necessary to demonstrate their sustainability efforts. For this purpose, sustainability reporting has grown from a voluntary basis into a legal obligation for some organizations, which speaks in favor of the importance of sustainable business globally. This paper aims to provide a wider perspective and theoretical support for research on sustainability reporting. A literature review of 52 papers from the Web of Science database indicates the following eight aspects as a trend in the literature reviews of sustainability reporting: Assurance, Boards, Communication, Framework, Impact, Indicators, Materiality and Practices. The paper highlights problems and provides challenges related to sustainability reporting and research opportunities for exploring sustainability reporting in future studies

Recent trends in sustainability reporting: Literature review and implications for future research

Sustainability reporting has become a topical issue in recent years as it is no longer enough to make claims about the sustainability level of companies, but it is also necessary to demonstrate their sustainability efforts. For this purpose, sustainability reporting has grown from a voluntary basis into a legal obligation for some organizations, which speaks in favor of the importance of sustainable business globally. This paper aims to provide a wider perspective and theoretical support for research on sustainability reporting. A literature review of 52 papers from the Web of Science database indicates the following eight aspects as a trend in the literature reviews of sustainability reporting: Assurance, Boards, Communication, Framework, Impact, Indicators, Materiality and Practices. The paper highlights problems and provides challenges related to sustainability reporting and research opportunities for exploring sustainability reporting in future studies

Diagnostic Value of MPO in Patients Admitted for Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome- A Study of Adult in Mostar, Bosnia AND Herzegovina

We assessed the diagnostic efficacy of plasma Myeloperoxidasis (MPO) alone or in combination with cardiac troponin I (cTnI) for detecting ACS in patients presenting with chest pain initiating within 24 h before the hospital admission. In this prospective cohort study were included all respondents who have visited outpatient clinic of internal diseases, University Hospital Mostar because of chest pain and suspected acute coronary syndrome within 24 h of the onset of the period of 6 months and the total sample consisted of 114 patients. Troponin and myeloperoxidase were significantly positively correlated at the beginning of treatment, myeloperoxidase was significantly positively associated with adverse cardiovascular events during hospitalization and myocardial infarction (P0.05). Sensitivity of myeloperoxidase as a valid test detection of myocardial infarction at baseline was 0.15 and specificity was 0.85, suggesting good diagnostic value usable in the clinical practice

Učinak amiodarona na rožnicu

The most common side-effect of the anti-arrhythmic amiodarone is keratopathy. The goal of this study was to assess the frequency of this side-effect in our population of cardiology patients treated with amiodarone. We also wanted to assess the consequences on eye sight. The study was conducted as collaboration between the divisions of ophthalmology and cardiology of Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital, Zagreb and it included patients receiving amiodarone for longer than 6 months (100-800 mg/ day). Changes on the cornea were objectively evaluated using a biomicroscope and have been classified into three stages. Clinical changes on the cornea have been observed in 92% of the patients. Changes in eye sight were not observed. Amiodarone keratopathy is related to dosage and duration of treatment. This keratopathy progresses even with reduced dosage; however, complete regression occurs once administration of medication is discontinued. Taking this study into account, as well as the available published data, we are of the opinion that amiodarone therapy should not be discontinued due to changes in the eye-sight and if the amiodarone therapy is of critical importance to the welfare of the patient.Kod primjene antiaritmika amiodarona najčešće registrirana nuspojava je keratopatija. Cilj ovog rada je ispitati koliko je ova nuspojava frekventna u populaciji naših kardioloških pacijenata na terapiji amiodaronom i od kakvog je značaja za kvalitetu vida. Ispitivanje je provedeno u suradnji klinike za oftalmologiju i kardiologiju KB "Sestre milosrdnice", Zagreb. Uključeni su pacijenti na terapiji amiodaronom duže od 6 mjeseci (100-800 mg/dan). Promjene na rožnici objektivno su registrirane biomikroskopom i svrstane u tri stupnja. One su registrirane kod 92% pacijenata. Promjene kvalitete vida nisu registrirane. Amiodaronska keratopatija u korelaciji je s dnevnom dozom i duljinom trajanja terapije. Smanjenje dnevne doze ne dovodi do regresije keratopatije, dok je kompletna regresija zabilježena nakon prestanka primjene lijeka. S obzirom na ovo istraživanje i podatke iz literature, mišljenja smo, da nije potrebno prekidati terapiju amiodaronom zbog promjena na rožnici ukoliko nema poremećaja vida i ako je terapija amiodaronom od vitalnog značenja za pacijenta

A case of right heart failure in a 48-year-old patient with constrictive pericarditis treated by pericardiectomy

Background: Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is uncommon cause of predominantly right heart failure1. In CP pericardium creates a stiff ventricular-pericardial unit which leads to increased diastolic pressures, limitation of ventricular relaxation and equalization of intracardiac diastolic pressures producing „single diastolic chamber”2. Case report: 48-years-old male was admitted to Department of Gastroenterology for the investigation of upper abdominal pain. Investigations showed deranged liver biochemistry tests and computed tomography showed widespread ascites and small pleural effusion. Abdominal ultrasonography showed increased size of liver with dilated hepatic veins. The patient was referred to a cardiologist. A transthoracic echocardiogram (TEE) showed normal both ventricular dimensions, dyskinetic motion of intraventricular septum, small pericardial effusion without thickened pericardium. Inferior vena cava (IVC) was dilated with minimal respiratory variation. Because of nonconclusive TTE further diagnostic test including cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was recommended. The patient was treated with diuretics and was discharged from hospital after clinical improvement. After three months he was admitted to Department of cardiology with signs and symptoms of right heart failure. On this admission, TTE showed paradoxical cardiac septal motion (“septal bounce”). Doppler inflow study showed respiratory variations of E-wave in mitral inflow (decreased >25% during inspiration) and increased E-wave during inspiration in tricuspid inflow. Pericardium was thickened (7mm) now without pericardial effusion. Estimated pulmonary artery pressure was around 40mmHg. The IVC was dilated without respiratory variation. MRI showed intensive T2 signal on pericardium, late gadolinium enhancement: pathologic imbibition in thickened pericardium. Right heart catheterization showed prominent x-descent and y descent, “square root“ sign, drop of left ventricular pressure and increased right ventricular pressure during inspiration, equalization of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and end-diastolic right ventricular pressure (16mmHg). This finding was consistent with constrictive pericarditis. The patient was referred to a cardiothoracic surgeon and underwent a successful pericardiectomy. Conclusion: CP should be considered in all patients with unexplained right heart failure. Because diagnosis is sometimes difficult to establish it may be necessary to use multiple diagnostic tools

Implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation in companies in the Republic of Croatia

This paper deals with the current issue of protecting individuals regarding the processing of their personal data and the free movement of such data. As this matter is also regulated by the European Union legislation, the paper describes and analyzes the scope, implications, methods and tools for applying the new EU regulation adopted on 27 April 2016 by the Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The subject matter is the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data. The short title of this Regulation is General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The term GDPR is thus in common everyday use in companies and among business people, and will also be used in this paper. In addition, the paper analyzes the research conducted on the existing state of affairs and the way in which all collected personal data are processed and used by all stakeholders in the company Atlantic Grupa d.d., Zagreb. In addition, a harmonized project of a structured and methodologically correct procedure for implementation of the provisions of the new Regulation is described for the purpose of achieving the highest degree of compliance of all members of Atlantic Grupa d.d. with the provisions of the GDPR. Finally, the basic objective of the described project is explained, which is to avoid situations that would lead to the extremely high fines for non-compliance with the Regulation

Prognostic value of lactates in relation to gas analysis and acid-base status in patients with pulmonary embolism

Aim To assess the prognostic value of lactate level for mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) and Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) I-III and its independence of gas-analysis parameters and acid-base status. Methods This prospective observational study was conducted at the University Clinical Hospital Mostar from 2013 to 2017. On the first day after PE diagnosis, 1.5 mL of arterial blood was collected from 103 patients with PE. Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood, partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood, blood pH value, concentration of bicarbonates in arterial blood (HCO3-), base deficit, and oxygen saturation were analyzed. Lactate levels were assessed using blood samples taken from the cubital vein. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the predictive value of gas-analysis variables, lactate level, PESI score, age, and sex for in-hospital death due to PE. Results The mortality in the group of PE patients was 19.1% (18 of 103 patients). Lactate level was an independent predictor of mortality (P = 0.002, odds ratio 0.06). HCO3- was also found to be a significant predictor (P = 0.022, odds ratio 2.4). Lactates were independent of other variables. Other gas-analysis parameters were not significant predictors of mortality. Conclusion In PE patients at low-intermediate risk of mortality (PESI I-III), lactate level was associated with a shortterm mortality, independently of other gas-analytic parameters