THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF CULTURAL PARTICIPATION ON THE QUALITY OF HOME CARE AND WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERS

The purpose of this study was to determine the mediating effect of cultural participation on the relationship between the quality of home care and the well-being of the elderly. Utilizing quantitative, non-experimental design via correlational technique and mediation analysis, data were obtained from 300 elderly, in one of the cities in Davao Province. The researcher utilized a stratified sampling technique in selecting study participations and survey mode of data collection through standardized questionnaires. The researcher also utilized the statistical tools mean, Pearson r and Med-graph using Sobel z-test. From the results of the study, it was found out that there is a very high level of mean scores for quality home care, and well-being of the elderly while a high level of cultural participation. Also, results revealed that there are significant relationships between quality home care and cultural participation, between cultural participation and the well-being of the elderly and between quality home care and the well-being of the elderly. Further, it was revealed that cultural participation partially mediates the relationship between quality home care and the well-being of the elderly.  Article visualizations

GENETIC ANALYSIS OF PURE ARABIAN BREEDING IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Pure arab breeding in the Republic of Croatia has very long tradition. Till the 18th century organized breeding was implemented only in bishop Stud Farm Đakovo. Afterwards pure arab breeding was implemented in many private Stud Farms mostly located in Slavonian and Srijem region. Pure arab, traditional arab and araber (arabrasse) population of horses make together arabian breeding in the Republic of Croatia. Numerical strength of these three populations has increasing trend through out the years. First imports which were ground for foundation of pure arab breeding in Croatia realized in year 1991. Today, population of pure arab breeding count 37 head, from which 28 is imported and 9 born in Croatia. Pedigree depth in 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 generation show average coefficient of inbreeding of 1.899%, 3.15%, 4.413%, 5.434%, 6.243%, 6.974% and 7.552%. According to genealogy in all pedigree depths, coefficient of inbreeding was higher (P < 0.01) in imported arab horses than in those born in Croatia

GENETIC ANALYSIS OF PURE ARABIAN BREEDING IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Pure arab breeding in the Republic of Croatia has very long tradition. Till the 18th century organized breeding was implemented only in bishop Stud Farm Đakovo. Afterwards pure arab breeding was implemented in many private Stud Farms mostly located in Slavonian and Srijem region. Pure arab, traditional arab and araber (arabrasse) population of horses make together arabian breeding in the Republic of Croatia. Numerical strength of these three populations has increasing trend through out the years. First imports which were ground for foundation of pure arab breeding in Croatia realized in year 1991. Today, population of pure arab breeding count 37 head, from which 28 is imported and 9 born in Croatia. Pedigree depth in 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 generation show average coefficient of inbreeding of 1.899%, 3.15%, 4.413%, 5.434%, 6.243%, 6.974% and 7.552%. According to genealogy in all pedigree depths, coefficient of inbreeding was higher (P < 0.01) in imported arab horses than in those born in Croatia

Microarray-based ultra-high resolution discovery of genomic deletion mutations

BACKGROUND: Oligonucleotide microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) offers an attractive possible route for the rapid and cost-effective genome-wide discovery of deletion mutations. CGH typically involves comparison of the hybridization intensities of genomic DNA samples with microarray chip representations of entire genomes, and has widespread potential application in experimental research and medical diagnostics. However, the power to detect small deletions is low. RESULTS: Here we use a graduated series of Arabidopsis thaliana genomic deletion mutations (of sizes ranging from 4 bp to ~5 kb) to optimize CGH-based genomic deletion detection. We show that the power to detect smaller deletions (4, 28 and 104 bp) depends upon oligonucleotide density (essentially the number of genome-representative oligonucleotides on the microarray chip), and determine the oligonucleotide spacings necessary to guarantee detection of deletions of specified size. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings will enhance a wide range of research and clinical applications, and in particular will aid in the discovery of genomic deletions in the absence of a priori knowledge of their existence

Milking Characteristics of Istrian and Littoral Dinaric Donkey Breeds

Istrian and Littoral Dinaric donkey are autochthonous breeds which habitat primarily in the Mediterranean part of Croatia. During the second half of the 20th century they have lost primary function as working animals, which led to breeds suppression. Nowadays these two breeds are in the status of endangered ones. One of the possibilities for their economic re-affirmation is launching the program for production and processing donkey’s milk. The aim of the study was to determine the possibility of milk production of Istrian and Littoral Dinaric jennies in terms of quantity and chemical composition. Istrian jennies produce 745.4 mL/milking while Littoral Dinaric produce 317.8 mL/milking. Milk form Littoral Dinaric jennies contained a significantly higher proportion of milk fat and proteins. There were no significant differences in the content of lactose, dry matter, number of somatic cells and microorganisms in milk between these two breeds. Considering the potential for milk production and milk quality, we believe that both breeds are suitable for integration in the programs for milk production, thus enabling for both population to be economically sustainable. It is necessary to develop production technology and markets, with special emphasis considering quality of donkey milk and safety of consumers

Effects of FSH on testicular mRNA transcript levels in the hypogonadal mouse

FSH acts through the Sertoli cell to ensure normal testicular development and function. To identify transcriptional mechanisms through which FSH acts in the testis, we have treated gonadotrophin-deficient hypogonadal (hpg) mice with recombinant FSH and measured changes in testicular transcript levels using microarrays and real-time PCR 12, 24 and 72 h after the start of treatment. Approximately 400 transcripts were significantly altered at each time point by FSH treatment. At 12 h, there was a clear increase in the levels of a number of known Sertoli cell transcripts (e.g. Fabp5, Lgals1, Tesc, Scara5, Aqp5). Additionally, levels of Leydig cell transcripts were also markedly increased (e.g. Ren1, Cyp17a1, Akr1b7, Star, Nr4a1). This was associated with a small but significant rise in testosterone at 24 and 72 h. At 24 h, androgen-dependent Sertoli cell transcripts were up-regulated (e.g. Rhox5, Drd4, Spinlw1, Tubb3 and Tsx) and this trend continued up to 72 h. By contrast with the somatic cells, only five germ cell transcripts (Dkkl1, Hdc, Pou5f1, Zfp541 and 1700021K02Rik) were altered by FSH within the time-course of the experiment. Analysis of canonical pathways showed that FSH induced a general decline in transcripts related to formation and regulation of tight junctions. Results show that FSH acts directly and indirectly to induce rapid changes in Sertoli cell and Leydig cell transcript levels in the hpg mouse but that effects on germ cell development must occur over a longer time-span

REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS OF THOROUGHBRED MARES IN CROATIA

For the purpose of gaining better cognition on Thoroughbred breeding in Croatia, reproductive parameters of 87 Thoroughbred mares were analyzed. An average age of the first covering and foaling were 5.9 and 6.6 years, respectively. The average gestation length was 341.1 days and the most frequent foaling period (20.2% of foalings) was recorded between 336 to 340 days of gestation. Prolonged gestation period (p<0.05) was determined in colts. The gestation length was the longest in January (344.4 days) and the shortest in July (324.0 days). Between the gestation length and the age of the mare no significant correlation was found. There was a trend of foaling rate decreasing in mares older than 11 years. The highest number of successively registered foalings with 10 live born foals was observed on 2 individual samples. The greatest number of foalings occurred in April (30.9%), whilst there was no foaling in October. The genders were 50.6% male and 49.4% female foals. The incidence of abortions was 7.3%. Although indicators point to the breeding strategy heading towards the right direction, by educating the owners and with frequent veterinary supervision, especially for twin reduction, the reproductive performance could be enhanced

A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION TO THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF EL NINO/SOUTHERN OSCILLATION (ENSO) PHENOMENA ON THE CLIMATE OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO USING REMOTELY SENSED DATA

Abstract Trinidad and Tobago like most other small developing island states is quite vulnerable to changes in Climate and Sea Surface Temperature (SST). Climate changes can affect the rainfall regimes, air temperature, soil moisture budgets, water resources and arable land usage. While changes in air and sea surface temperature can adversely affect coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass bed communities and fishery populations that depend on them for habitat and breeding grounds. Analysis of the temporal and spatial changes of SST over the years is an important way of understanding the present variability in the climate. This will then allow for an improved assessment of the susceptibility, vulnerability and risk that both humans and natural ecosystems may face because of the changes in the coupling interaction of the various components of the Earth&apos;s environmental system. However, decision-making, management and developing environmental policies in this regard is seriously compromised due information poverty, i.e. the lack of data of effective and reliable information base. This paper advances a methodology to endure information poverty and to obtain and analyse the SST patterns utilising it as a proxy for determining the climate variability of Trinidad and Tobago. The methodology is based on obtaining, using and analysing available remotely sensed SST from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) via the Internet. As well as using available rainfall data. In the case of Trinidad and Tobago, the SST and rainfall data was obtained for the last 16 years. Mean monthly values of SST and rainfall for the period 1986-1999 were then derived. The results indicate that variability in the climate is occurring. Furthermore, it shows that during the El Niño years 1986-87 and 1997-98, the SST were at a maximum while the rainfall fell to minimum. The preliminary results indicated the possibility of developing statistical associations between SST and land precipitation as well as the association between the SST-land precipitation pattern and external events such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. These ideas in turn can lead to investigating the association between the variability in SST and land precipitation on water resources and land use patterns that might lead to the possible prediction of the land precipitation patterns based on SST analysis