Differences in Satisfaction with School and the Involvement of Parents of Students with Typical Development and with Developmental Difficulties in Activities at Home and at School

Cilj rada bio je utvrditi razlike u zadovoljstvu i uključenosti u školske aktivnosti roditelja učenika osnovne škole tipičnog razvoja i s teškoćama u razvoju. Uzorak u radu čine 896 roditelja učenika drugih i šestih razreda trinaest osnovnih škola sjeverozapadne Hrvatske, od kojih je 57 roditelja učenika s teškoćama u razvoju koji se školuju u redovitome razrednom odjelu u skladu s primjerenim programima odgoja i obrazovanja ovisno o vrsti i stupnju teškoće. Usporedbom ekvivalentnih parova roditelja iz obje skupine utvrđeno je da ne postoji statistička razlika u procjeni zadovoljstva te da je ono za obje skupine iznadprosječno, a za roditelje učenika s teškoćama u razvoju čak i više. Opća uključenost roditelja u školi je gotovo ista za promatrane skupine roditelja, dok roditelji učenika s teškoćama statistički značajno više pomažu svojoj djeci kod kuće, češće potiču čitanje, učenje matematike i prirodoslovnih predmeta te su općenito više uključeni u učenju kod kuće. Rezultati analize pokazuju da zadovoljstvo školom roditelja učenika s teškoćama u razvoju pridonosi općoj roditeljskoj uključenosti kod kuće i učenju matematike sa svojom djecom. Provedeno istraživanje ukazuje na potrebu daljnje analize zadovoljstva roditelja i utjecaja na njihovu uključenost u aktivnosti u domu i školi.The goal was to determine differences in satisfaction and inclusion of parents of elementary school students with typical development and difficulties in development in school activities. It was sampled by including 896 parents of students attending the second and the sixth grade in different elementary schools all across northwest Croatia. Out of those, 57 parents are parents of students with difficulties in development who are educated in accordance with the appropriate educational programs depending on the type and degree of difficulty in the regular class department. With the comparison of the equivalent pairs of parents from both groups, it is determined that there is no statistical difference in the assessment of satisfaction and that it is above average for both groups and for parents of students with difficulties even higher. In the ratio of investment and involvement of parents in school, it is also pretty much the same for the observed groups of parents. Nevertheless, the parents of students with difficulties statistically are significantly more involved and are helping their children when working at home; they encourage reading and learning math and science subjects. The results from the analysis show the satisfaction of parents of students with developmental difficulties adds to the general parental involvement at home and studying mathematics with their children. The research is showing the need for further analysis of parental satisfaction and the impact on their involvement with activities at home and at school

Demokratska školska kultura i demokratsko školsko vođenje

The paper presents the results of research exploring the relationship between democratic school leadership and democratic school culture in primary schools. The research is based on the present knowledge that points to the significant role of principals in the process of developing and changing school culture (Fullan, 2005). The aim of the research was to determine the extent of primary teachers’ perception regarding the level of development of selected characteristics of democratic school leadership and its connection to their estimate of the level of development of selected characteristics of democratic school culture. The research comprised 651 teachers from the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County. The research was conducted by means of a survey using a questionnaire containing two instruments: the Instrument for the measurement of characteristics of democratic school leadership (designed for the research) and the Instrument for the measurement of characteristics of democratic school culture (adopted from Spajić-Vrkaš, 2016). According to the teachers’ perception, principals in the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County implement characteristics of democratic school leadership to a significant degree. They perceive the level of characteristics of democratic school culture as moderate. In addition, the research has determined a statistically significant high positive correlation between characteristics of democratic school leadership and democratic school culture.U radu je prikazano istraživanje u kojem je provjeren odnos između demokratskoga školskog vođenja i demokratske školske kulture u osnovnim školama. Istraživanje se temelji na dosadašnjim spoznajama koje upućuju na značajnu ulogu ravnatelja u razvoju i mijenjanju školske kulture (Fullan, 2005). Svrha je istraživanja utvrditi je li i u kojoj mjeri procjena učitelja osnovnih škola o stupnju razvij enosti odabranih obilježja demokratskoga školskog vođenja povezana s njihovom procjenom stupnja razvijenosti odabranih obilježja demokratske školske kulture. U istraživanju je sudjelovao 651 učitelj iz grada Zagreba i Zagrebačke županije. Istraživanje je provedeno anketnim ispitivanjem u kojem je korišten upitnik koji je sadržavao Instrument za mjerenje obilježja demokratskoga školskog vođenja (izrađen za potrebe istraživanja) i Instrument za mjerenje obilježja demokratske školske kulture (preuzet od Spajić-Vrkaš, 2016.). Prema percepciji učitelja ravnatelji u Gradu Zagrebu i Zagrebačkoj županiji u značajnoj mjeri implementiraju obilježja demokratskoga školskog vođenja te percipiraju da u školama postoji osrednja razina prisutnosti obilježja demokratske školske kulture. Nadalje, istraživanjem je utvrđena statistički značajna visoka pozitivna povezanost između obilježja demokratskoga školskog vođenja i demokratske školske kulture

Depression, Anxiety and Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus – A Study of Adult Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Osijek, Croatia

im of the study was to determine the rate of depression and anxiety in the patients with diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM), and also to determine the state of the congnitive functions in patients with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus compared with the control group. Study was designed as a epidemiological cross sectional study, sample consisted of 108 patients, 66 of the patients were diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus, and 42 were control group. All of them were interviwed by psychiatrist and tested through clinical interview with Hamilton depression rating scale, Hamilton Anxiety rating scale, Mini mental state examination and questionnaire about sociodemografic data. Results show that group of patients with DM were statistically significat more depressed than the control group of the patients (p=0.035). Pathological anxiety measured by Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) appeared in 34 DM patients and 7 of the patients in control group, which is also statistically significant difference (p=0.002). Evaluation of the congnitive status done with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE showed us tha patients with DM presented more cognitive dysfunctions compared with the control group. We can conclude that the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in diabetic patients points to the need for greater investment in appropriate diagnostic evaluation of patients that consider mental issues

Assessment of Variations of O3 Concentrations in Kopački Rit Nature Park, Eastern Croatia

Result of the first ozone monitoring in ambient air Nature Park of Kopački Rit (Eastern Croatia) are reported for the growth season in 2008. The measured hourly concentrations of ozone in the air do not exceed the limit value of 110 μg m–3 statutory regulation by Croatian legalization for the protection of human health. There were only 13 days exceeding of the target value of 120 μg m–3 (8-h averages) as established in the European Union guidelines on ozone pollution in ambient air. In contrast to the measured AOT40 whose value does not exceed the critical level of 18 000 (μg m–3) ·h for vegetation injury, an estimated AOT40 value was somewhat higher. The relationships between O3 and meteorological variables were investigated by a principal component analysis (PCA). Fourier analysis methods applied to ozone concentrations data showed that the most important variations in the O3 data are represented by usual daily cycles. (doi: 10.5562/cca2147

THE ROLE OF COGNITIVE CONTROL AND RUMINATION IN PREDICTING DEPRESSION AMONG ADOLESCENTS WITH INTERNALIZING DISORDERS

Background: Given the high prevalence of internalizing disorders among adolescents, it is necessary to define the factors affecting the development and course of psychopathology. Nolen Hoeksema demonstrated the effect of rumination on the development of various forms of psychopathology in adults, while recent data suggest that cognitive control may be a factor underlying this relationship. The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between cognitive control impairments and symptoms of depression through rumination in adolescents suffering from internalizing psychiatric disorders. Subjects and methods: The study included 100 adolescents of both genders diagnosed with internalizing psychiatric disorders at the Unit for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at University Hospital Center Osijek. During psychodiagnostic assessment, subjects completed Youth self report, CANTAB Intra-dimensional/extra-dimensional (IED) task, The Ruminative Response Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory-II. Results: The results indicate a clinically significant level of internalizing symptoms and a clinically and subclinically high level of depressive symptoms. The results also show a high positive correlation between internalizing symptoms, rumination, and depressive symptoms, as well as a positive correlation between female gender and internalizing symptoms, rumination, and depressive symptoms. Significant predictors of depression are female gender and rumination while cognitive control has not been detected as a significant predictor. Conclusion: The results of the study emphasize the importance of rumination in the prediction of depressive symptoms in internalizing psychiatric disorders among adolescents and, accordingly, the importance of rumination as a clinical variable in terms of implications in the prevention and treatment of internalizing psychopathology

Health Condition of First Permanent Molars in Year 1977 and 2007 in Children in Istria (Croatia)

The aim of this study was to examine differences between health condition of the first permanent molar (M1) in children in 1977 and 2007. The materials for the study consisted of data on the health condition of M1 determined in a study in 1977 (Group I) for children from the district of Buje in Istria. The health condition of M1 was examined again in the same area in 2007 (Group II). The first permanent molar is most frequently affected by caries and represent a good indicator for general caries incidence of children. Study included 709 subjects in Group I (363 boys, 346 girls) and 460 subjects in Group II (242 boys, 218 girls), aged from 6 years and 0 months to 12 years and 5 months. The difference in the frequency of intact, decayed, filled and missingd M1 was examined in both groups. X2 test was used to determine the differences between the number of I (intact), D (decayed), F (filled) and M (missing) teeth for each age group in Group I and Group II. In Group I there were 29.3% intact, 48.9% decayed, 17.4% filled and 4.3% missing M1, and in Group II there were 53.0% intact, 22.6% decayed, 22.1% filled and 2.1% missing M1. During the period of 30 years, a significant increase of number of dental surgeries, and thus better preventive and health education, resulted in the significant increase in the number of intact (24.0%) and filled (4.7%) M1, and decrease in the number of decayed (26.3%) and missing (2.2%) M1. From 1977 to 2007, the number of intact M1 in group II increased considerably according to group I, while the number of decayed M1 in group II significant decreased according to group I. These changes were the result of a considerably increased number of dental surgeries

Masticatory Muscle and Temporomandibular Joint Pain in Croatian War Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and intensity of masticatory muscle and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain in Croatian war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The examined group consisted of 100 Croatian war veterans, in whom PTSD had previously been diagnosed. Patients were compared with 92 subjects who had not taken part in the war and in whom PTSD was excluded by psychiatric examination. The clinical examination consisted of palpation of the masticatory muscles, the prominent neck musculature, and TMJ. The examination technique used and the definition of items were previously tested for reliability and validity. 93% of the subjects with PTSD had masticatory muscle tenderness compared to 45.65% of the subjects in the control group (c 2=51.46, p<0.0001). The most frequent painful location in the subjects with PTSD was the left lateral pterygoid site in 88%, and in subjects of the control group the right lateral pterygoid site in 28.26% of cases. The most painful location in the PTSD group was the left lateral pterygoid site in 72%, and in the control group the left posterior digastric in 4.35% of cases. 58% of the subjects with PTSD had TMJ tenderness compared to 3.26% of subjects in the control group (c 2=66.23, p<0.0001). The most frequent painful location of TMJ in both groups was the left posterior capsule; in the PTSD group 38% and in subjects in the control group 2.17% of cases. The most painful location was the left posterior capsule in 28% of subjects with PTSD, while not one subject in the control group reported severe painful sensitivity. The very high frequency and intensity of pain in subjects with PTSD confirms the effect of stress on muscle and joint sensitivity, i.e. perception of pain

Application of Spectrophotometric Fingerprint in Cluster Analysis for Starch Origin Determination

Botaničko podrijetlo škroba je od velike važnosti za primjenu u industriji i proizvodnji hrane jer može bitno utjecati na svojstva krajnjeg proizvoda. Trenutno dostupne mikroskopske metode za određivanje podrijetla škroba su dugotrajne. Škrob se sastoji od amiloze i amilopektina, čiji omjer ovisi o njegovom botaničkom podrijetlu. Trijodidni ioni se obično vežu za amilozu i amilopektin, a njihovo vezivanje ovisi o podrijetlu škroba. U ovom je istraživanju mjeren apsorpcijski spektar kompleksa škrob-trijodid različitih vrsta, kao što su pšenica, krumpir, kukuruz, raž, ječam, riža, tapioka i škrob nepoznatog podrijetla, te različitih sorata iste vrste. Svaki je uzorak škroba imao specifične parametre: maksimalnu valnu duljinu pika za kompleks škrob-trijodid (λmax/nm), maksimalnu promjenu apsorbancije pri λmax (ΔA) i pomak λmax prema uzorku škroba nepoznatog botaničkog podrijetla. Vidljivi je dio apsorpcijskog spektra (500-800 nm) za svaki uzorak škroba dao jedinstveni otisak, koji je zatim obrađen klaster analizom. Tom su analizom podaci razdvojeni u dva klastera, jedan klaster žitarica i drugi klaster krumpira, tapioke i riže. Unutar klastera škrobova žitarica u podklastere su se izrazito razdvojili škrobovi pšenice, ječma i raži od kukuruznih škrobova. Podaci o sortama dobro su se grupirali unutar istog podklastera. Predložena metoda, koja kombinira klaster analizu i podatke dobivene mjerenjem apsorbancije vidljivog dijela spektra kompleksa škrob-trijodid, uspješno je razvrstala škrobove na osnovi njihove pripadnosti vrstama te sortama unutar iste vrste. Metoda je jednostavnija i praktičnija za uporabu od standardnih dugotrajnih metoda.The botanical origin of starch is of importance in industrial applications and food processing because it may influence the properties of the final product. Current microscopic methods are time-consuming. Starch consists of an origin-dependent amylose/amylopectin ratio. Triiodide ions bind characteristically to the amylose and amylopectin depending on the botanical origin of the starch. The absorbance of the starch-triiodide complex was measured for wheat, potato, corn, rye, barley, rice, tapioca and unknown origin starch, and within the different cultivars. Each starch sample had specific parameters: starch-triiodide complex peak wavelength maximum (λmax/nm), maximum absorbance change at λmax (ΔA) and λmax shift towards the unknown origin starch sample values. The visible absorption spectra (500-800 nm) for each starch sample were used as a unique fingerprint, and then elaborated by cluster analysis. The cluster analysis managed to distinguish data of two clusters, a cereal type cluster and a potato/tapioca/rice starch cluster. The cereal subclusters extensively distinguished wheat/barley/rye starches from corn starches. Data for cultivars were mostly in good agreement within the same subclaster. The proposed method that combines cluster analysis and visible absorbance data for starch-triiodide complex was able to distinguish starch of different botanical origins and cultivars within the same species. This method is simpler and more convenient than standard time-consuming methods