Profiling bicycle tourists: a case of Croatia

Purpose – The purpose of the primary research is to gather information about the behaviour of bicycle tourism demand. Primarily by studying domestic bicycle tourists, the research results were expected to provide valuable market parameters, comparable with the determinants of previous relevant studies. Design and Methodology – Research was carried out by surveying different segments of bicyclists, recognized in earlier conceptual contributions. Electronic data collection techniques were applied. The online questionnaire was distributed to chosen respondents in the form of the link included in a personal message on a certain social network. A personal approach ensured a high response rate. The nature of research design resulted in a descriptive research, although some of its characteristics could be considered as exploratory. Findings – This paper is the first attempt to study the Croatian segment of the bicycle tourism demand. As far as the attributes common to both national and international research are concerned, it is possible to argue the similarities and differences of demand profiles. Value – Until there is a uniform approach to monitoring the phenomenon at the European level, the profiling of demand in bicycle tourism makes it possible to compare the specific findings with current trends. This research applies a somewhat different perspective than the existing ones – enabling more insight into the cycling-related behaviour in the home area and on vacation. As part of the international demand for bicycle tourism, knowledge about the behaviour of one particular national market contributes to the general state of the research

RAZVOJ DESTINACIJE CIKLOTURIZMA IZ PERSPEKTIVE LOKALNIH DIONIKA

To determine the stakeholder perspective on different circumstances of cycling tourism destination development in the post- COVID-19 period, the survey method and a case study approach were implemented in obtaining stakeholder expert judgement. This paper acknowledges the recent academic and industry publications, and the current momentum in the EU (where post-COVID-19 recovery plans include raising the share of cycling), and discusses the primary research findings on cycling tourism development in this context. Primarily contributing to the body of knowledge on regional cycling tourism development in general the findings of this paper acknowledge the often-neglected local stakeholder perspective and indicate that stakeholders tend to focus more on internal (local) destination issues and relationships.S ciljem poimanja perspektive dionika o različitim aspektima razvoja destinacije cikloturizma u razdoblju nakon pandemije COVID-a-19, u prikupljanju stavova i mišljenja dionika primijenjene su metoda ispitivanja i studija slučaja. U radu su uvaženi relevantni znanstveni i stručni izvori te trenutno stanje u EU (gdje se u planovima oporavka nakon pandemije COVID-a-19 puno raspravlja o rastućem udjelu biciklizma). U kontekstu sagledavanja rezultata primarnog istraživanja, osim doprinosa novim spoznajama o razvoju regionalnog cikloturizma uopće, rezultati istraživanja identificiraju često zanemarene stavove lokalnih dionika koji su primarno fokusirani na interna (lokalna) destinacijska pitanja i odnose

Citation Analysis of the Croatian Medical Journal: the First 15 Years

Croatian Medical Journal (CMJ) je dvomjesčni znanstveni časopis, koji uglavnom objavljuje izvorne znanstvene članke. Časopis ee refereira u bazama podataka Index Medicus/MEDLINE, Current Contents/Clinical Medicine, i Science Citation Index–Expanded. Petnaesta obljetnica rada časopisa koju smo obilježili 2007. godine bila je dobar povod da ponovno procijenimo kvalitetu časopisa izračunvanjem čimbenika odjeka i istogodišnjeg čimbenika odjeka (immediacy index), a posebnu pozornost posvetili smo izračunavanju udjela autocitata u tim pokatateljima. Prema podatcima iz baze podataka Web of Knowledge, trenutni službeni čimbenik odjeka CMJ-a je 0.825, što smješta CMJ na 62. mjesto od 103 časopisa u kategoriji “Medicina – opća i interna” baze podataka Thomson Scientific. Kada smo izuzeli auto-citate, CMJ je pao na 66. poziciju. Prema podatcima iz baze podataka Web of Science, predviđa se da će čimbenik odjeka CMJ-a za 2007. biti između 1.024 i 1.125, što je zavidno povišenje u odnosu na godinu 2006. Istogodišnji čimbenik odjeka CMJ-a je i dalje nizak, s visokim udjelom autocitata. To upućuje da člancima objavljenim u CMJ-u treba više vremena da budu citirani te da predstavljaju teme koje su posebno zanimljivije čitateljima i suradnicima časopisa. Autocitati su znatno doprinosili čimbeniku odjeka prvih nekoliko godina postojanja časopisa. Međutim, udio nezavisnih citata stalno se povećavao i 2007., od svih citata koji su ulazili u čimbenik odjeka, bilo je 70% nezavisnih citata. Neki od tih nezavisnih citata bili su u člancima objavljenim u časopisima s čimbenikom odjeka većim od 5. Naša analiza pokazuje da je CMJ značajno popravio svoje podatke o citiranosti u zadnjih 15 godina, što potvrđuje da urednička usmjerenost na kakvoću doista može povećati međunarodnu vidljivost malog časopisa sa znanstvene periferije.The Croatian Medical Journal (CMJ) is a bimonthly scientific journal, that publishes mostly original articles. It is indexed in the Index Medicus/ MEDLINE, Current Contents/Clinical Medicine, and the Science Citation Index Expanded. Since the CMJ’s 15th anniversary in 2007, our aim has been to assess the importance of the Journal through its impact factor (IF) and immediacy index, with a particular focus placed on the proportion of self-citations. According the Web of Knowledge database, the current official IF for the CMJ is 0.825, ranking it 62nd out of 103 journals within the Thomson Scientific category “Medicine – General and Internal.” The exclusion of self-citations resulted in a small decrease in the journal’s rank – to 66th place. According to the Web of Science database, the predicted CMJ IF in 2007 is between 1.024 and 1.125, showing a clear increase. The immediacy index of the CMJ is continuously low, with a high contribution of self-citations, implying that articles published in the CMJ require more time to be cited, and that their topics are of particular interest to the journal’s readers and contributors. Self-citations contributed significantly to the IF in the first few years after the journal was established. The proportion of independent citations progressively increased, and of all the citations included in the IF in 2007, almost 70% were fully independent. Some of these citations were from articles published in journals with IF higher than 5. Taken together, our data suggest that the CMJ has significantly improved its citation ratings during the last 15 years, confirming that a quality-oriented editorial policy in a small peripheral journal may result in a truly increased international visibility

Hotel Logistic Product in Sport Tourism Supply

Primarno usmjereno na analizu mogućnosti biciklizma u turizmu, percipiranog u formi sporta i provođenja slobodnoga vremena, putem jedinstvenog povezivanja sporta i sportskoga turizma, organizacije hotela i procesne orijentacije, logistike i upravljanja opskrbnim lancima, prometa i upravljanja prometom k alternativama, proaktivnoga razmišljanja i upravljanje destinacijama u europskom kontekstu, globalno nametnutim trendovima i u skladu s determinantama potražnje, ovo znanstveno istraživanje odražava stajalište da je razvoj proizvoda biciklističkoga turizma realna i održiva mogućnost hrvatskoga turizma u trenutnom razvojnom razdoblju. Trendovi rasta vrijednosti i veličine biciklističkoga turizma te segmentacije turističkoga tržišta općenito, formiraju moment u kojem je biciklistički turistički proizvod u fokusu postojećih i novonastajućih destinacija, s obzirom da ostvaruje koristi za ekonomiju, ekologiju i društvo destinacije, čime je dugoročno održiv. Radi se o razvojnom kretanju, koje prvenstveno uključuje kvalitativne promjene težeći optimizaciji procesa, iziskuje predanost svih dionika i koncepciju razvoja usklađenu s konkurentskim mogućnostima. Heterogenost tržišta potražnje omogućava varijetet pojavnih oblika, kojima ponuda komunicira s ciljnim tržištem. Generirani rezultati potvrđuju kako je biciklistički cestovni promet sposoban nadići okvire prometno-turističkoga sustava i uz adekvatni destinacijski menadžment postati turistički proizvod destinacije u ponudi za biciklističke turiste. Osim prometnoga aspekta destinacijskoga logističkog sustava, ponudu biciklističkoga turizma obilježava ugostiteljski podsustav, primarno podsustav hotelske ponude. Kompleksnost hotelskoga proizvoda čini ga gotovo samodostatnim no optimizacija ponude za bicikliste implicira korelaciju s razinom destinacije, kao okruženjem koje objedinjava osnovu za sve pojavne oblike biciklizma, odnosno potražnje. Istraživanjem je argumentirano da su određene organizacijske strukture, koje relevantni izvori literature povezuju uz koncept upravljanja opskrbnim lancem, primjenjive u biciklističkim hotelima. Potvrđeno, „samo“ (re)organizacija hotelskoga poslovanja prema segmentaciji tržišta i formiranju usluga za „poznate“ goste, preoblikovanje postojećeg razmišljanja i postojećih struktura omogućava stvaranje hotelskoga sustava ponude za biciklističke turiste, čime biciklizam postaje osnovnim proizvodom hotela, za razliku od sporta u formi dopunskih usluga ili aktivnosti. Specijalizacija hrvatskih hotela prema posebnom interesu identificiranoga segmenta smatra se ostvarivom uz postojeću resursnu osnovu, ali modifikacijom strukture, fokusa, funkcija i ponašanja prema predloženim modelima, kojima su objedinjene teorijske i praktične spoznaje ovoga znanstvenog istraživanja. S obzirom na realizirane spoznaje i rezultate poduzetoga istraživanja, doktorski rad unaprjeđuje teorijska dostignuća istraživanja odnosa biciklizma i turizma, ostvaruje utjecaj na percepciju bicikla kao alternative u cestovnom prometu, ukazuje na mogućnosti sinergije učinaka politike biciklističkoga prometa i turizma, demonstrira prednosti integracije biciklističkoga prometnog podsustava u sustav destinacije, istražuje i analizira zahtjeve specijalizacije hotelskoga proizvoda za tržišni segment, analizira primjenu logističkih načela u organizaciji poslovanja, te identificira logističke tokove kojima je potrebno upravljati i elaborira determinante domaćeg i stranih tržišta potražnje biciklističkoga turizma, zbog čega ostvaruje pozitivni utjecaj na ubrzavanje tranzicije hrvatskih hotela s masovnoga pristupa na segmentirani pristup identificiranom ciljnom tržištu, u određenim uvjetima.The scientific research focused on studying the possibilities of cycling, primarily perceived as sport and leisure activity, in tourism. The unique connection of sport and sport tourism, organization and process orientation in hospitality, logistics and supply chain management, traffic and traffic demand management towards alternatives, proactive contemplation and destination management—in European context, facing global trends and demand-specific determinants, this research confirms cycling tourism as a real sustainable option for Croatian tourism development. Trends of growth in value and size of cycling tourism market, ongoing developments and tourism market segmentation are designing a moment in which the cycling tourism product is a focal point for rising and existing destinations due to the long term economic, social and ecologic benefits. The development is generated only by qualitative changes, processes' optimization, stakeholder commitment and strategic approach to competitiveness. Heterogeneity of the demand enables a variety of forms trough which the supply communicates with the targeted market. Research outcomes demonstrate the ability of bicycle traffic to rise above its stereotype role and guided by destination management become a cycling tourism product on its own, at the same time a component of a well thought of dedicated larger supply system. Destination's tourism logistic system also inevitably implies the hotel subsystem. The complexity of hotel product makes the subsystem almost self-sufficient, but the research shows that the cyclist-specific supply optimization relies on the collaboration among different stakeholders and correlates with the destination level. As confirmed, certain specific forms of organizational structure, that relevant literature sources link to the concept of supply chain management, are in fact applicable in „bike” hotels. Only restructuring and reorganization of hotel operations towards the „known“ market segment, accompanied by changing the organizational culture and its value system enables bicycle tourism complete orientation and a product that implies much more than sports as additional services. Croatian hotel industry re-orientation on satisfying the cycling special interest demand is a possible − with the existing resource base but structure, focus, function and process modifications in line with the defined models, that make this thesis’ scientific contribution by forming a bond of theory and practice in bicycle tourism. Research results make it a contribution to existing base of knowledge in the field(s) and an influence in perceiving bicycle transportation as a relevant alternative to cars, accepting potential benefits of bicycle traffic and tourism synergy and effects that derive from integration of bicycle traffic subsystem into destination’s system. When logistically supported, hotel organization is able to make cycling a product for special interest tourist. Croatian tourism should rely on comparative advantages and uptake the suggested transition from mass orientation

The effect of Ca/Zn stabilizers on the thermooxidative degradation poly(vinyl chloride) /chlorinated polyethylene blends

Termooksidacijska razgradnja mješavina poli(vinil-klorida) (PVC) i polimernoga modifikatora kloriranoga polietilena (CPE) istraživana je metodama diferencijalne pretražne kalorimetrije i termogravimetrije u dinamičkim i izotermnim uvjetima. Ustanovljeno je da istraživani sastavi mješavina PVC-a i CPE-a (sadržaja klora 42 %) nisu mješljivi. U temperaturnom području od 50 do 650 ºC termooksidacijska razgradnja mješavina zbiva se kroz dva temeljna razgradna stupnja. U prvome, do 400 ºC, osnovne reakcije su dehidrokloriranje PVC-a i CPE-a, premda se brzine i mehanizam razgradnje polimera znatno razlikuju. Istraživan je utjecaj Ca/Zn karboksilata različitih omjera kalcija i cinka na toplinsku postojanost komponenata mješavine. Ca/Zn karboksilati stabiliziraju PVC mijenjajući mu brzinu i mehanizam razgradnje, ali istodobno utječu i na razgradnju polimernoga modifikatora CPE-a.The thermooxidative degradation of blends of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and polymeric modifier chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) under dynamic and isothermal conditions. The immiscibility of PVC and CPE (chlorine content 42 %) was established for all the investigated compositions of the blends. The thermooxidative degradation of PVC/CPE blends in temperature range of 50 – 650 ºC occurs in two basic degradation steps. In the first, up to 400 ºC, the main degradation reactions are dehydrochlorination of PVC and CPE, but the rates and mechanisms of the polymer degradation are significantly different. The influence of Ca/Zn carboxylates with different Ca/Zn ratios, on thermooxidative stability of the blends components was also investigated. Ca/Zn carboxylates stabilize PVC by changing its degradation rate and mechanism, but, at the same time, these stabilizers influence the degradation of the polymeric modifier CPE

The Role of 5G and IoT in Smart Cities

Smart cities, one of the key application areas of 5G and IoT technologies, have at their core the goal of improving quality of life, creating collaborative solutions, and addressing resource constraints. Examples of some of the many services integrated into the network of a typical smart city are related to smart health, smart transportation, smart buildings, smart hotels, smart industry, smart universities, etc. The new era of wireless mobile telecommunication technology and the IoT ecosystem is driving the opportunities for smart cities to not only solve existing problems but also create new services and functionalities that are out of the box and invisible to the end user. The main objective of this paper is to explore the role of 5G and IoT in smart cities. The market environment, key business developments, and trends related to the key smart cities’ enablers, IoT and 5G, are presented. An in-depth literature review followed by a discussion is substantiated with synthesised research findings on the current development, 5G coverage, use and deployment of IoT in smart cities, and forecasting the evolution of its application in smart cities. &nbs

TRANSPORT BEHAVIOUR, PERCEIVED EXPERIENCE AND SMART TECHNOLOGY USAGE OF TOURIST DESTINATION VISITORS

With the purpose of establishing differences in behaviour of tourist destination visitors this paper aims to identify their habits, attitudes and activities with regard to transport modalities used on a daily basis, during the trip to the destination, and while staying in the destination, highlighting the aspect of smart technology usage. The results of this study are part of a more extensive research on the behaviour of tourist destination visitors, conducted as part of the Project Cekom – Competence Center for Smart Cities, whereby the research tools and methods were built on the ETIS (European Tourism Indicators System) methodology. Approximately seven hundred visitors of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, which was taken as a case study, were included in the research. The study showed that accessibility was one of the key factors in destination choice for the respondents, and that their everyday transport behaviour patterns differ somewhat from their behaviour pattern when travelling and vacationing. Statistically significant differences were determined in the perceived experience of different groups of destination visitors’, as well as in the frequency of use of smart technologies among groups of visitors with different transport behaviour. One of the research limitations with regard to generalization of conclusions is research focus on a specific destination area, as well as the pre-defined structure of the research sample, which is in line with the requirements of the funding EU project. Differences in transportation behaviour among groups of respondents in general, and in relation to the use of smart technologies, should be verified on a larger sample, in other destination areas. Acknowledging the behavioural aspects, i.e. the differences in the transport behaviour and smart technologies usage has social and practical implications for destinations, in the context of the changed dynamics in the relationships and roles of stakeholders on the tourism market

Osteoporosis in the view of osteoimmunology: common feature underlined by different pathogenic mechanisms

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mineral density and microarchitectural changes with increased susceptibility to fractures, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Although it predominantly affects postmenopausal women, it is now well known that systemic bone loss is a common underlying feature of different metabolic, endocrine and inflammatory diseases. Investigations of osteoporosis as a complication of chronic inflammatory conditions revealed immune mechanisms behind the increased osteoclast bone resorption and impaired osteoblast bone formation. This concept was particularly emphasized after the research field of osteoimmunology emerged, focusing on the interaction between the immune system and bone. It is increasingly becoming evident that immune cells and mediators critically regulate osteoclast and osteoblast development, function and coupling activity. Among other mediators, receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL), receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB (RANK) and soluble decoy receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) form a key functional link between the immune system and bone, regulating both osteoclast formation and activity as well as immune cell functions. Excessive production of inflammatory mediators exerts autocrine, paracrine and endocrine signaling effects on bone remodeling with the net increase in bone resorption locally, in diseases primarily affecting joints, bones or surrounding tissues, and systemically, causing osteoporosis in various chronic inflammatory diseases. This brief review particularly focuses on bone pathology in rheumatoid arthritis, as one of the most extensively studied conditions accompanied by local and systemic inflammation-induced bone loss

The presence of high mobility group box-1 and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND: The involvement of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) in various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases has been documented but clinical trials on the contribution of this pro-inflammatory alarmin in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are basically absent. To address the presence of HMGB1 and a soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) in different subtypes of JIA and additionally in children with SLE, we enrolled a consecutive sample of children harvested peripheral blood as well as synovial fluids (SF) at diagnosis and correlated it with ordinary acute-phase reactants and clinical markers. ----- METHODS: Serum and synovial fluids levels of HMGB1 and sRAGE in total of 144 children (97 with JIA, 19 with SLE and 27 healthy controls) were determined by ELISA. ----- RESULTS: The children with JIA and those with SLE were characterised by significantly higher serum levels of HMGB1 and significantly lower sRAGE levels compared to the healthy controls. A positive correlation between serum HMGB1 and ESR, CRP, α2 globulin was found while serum sRAGE levels were inversely correlated with the same inflammatory markers in children with JIA. Additionally, high level of serum HMGB1 was related to hepatosplenomegaly or serositis in systemic onset JIA. ----- CONCLUSION: The inverse relationship of the HMGB1 and its soluble receptor RAGE in the blood and SF indicates that inflammation triggered by alarmins may play a role in pathogenesis of JIA as well as SLE. HMGB1 may serve as an inflammatory marker and a potential target of biological therapy in these patients. Further studies need to show whether the determination of HMGB1 levels in patients with JIA can be a useful guideline for detecting disease activity

The logistic product of bicycle destinations

Purpose – of the study is to indicate the path of much needed segmentation in the Croatian tourist supply. Therefore, it aims to identify the destination-specific elements of bicycle destinations in Europe, within the context of cycle tourism demand. Design – While the quality of the tourist product is proportional to the level of logistics implementation and the rivalry on the tourist market is supply chain-based, the focus is on a crucial element of tourist supply chain management—information. Methodology – The study recognizes both counterparts on the market, although highlighting the tourist supply. The data on supply was collected by researching the internet information sources available to cycle tourists while making travel decisions. Findings on the destinations’ logistic product variables are compared to criteria set by the researched cycle tourism demand. Approach – This small-scale research of bicycle tourism supply aims at testing the selected criteria for the purpose of a sequential wider research oriented towards providing a list of possible upgrades for Croatian destinations. Findings – Among all features attributable to a destination, research demonstrated that the cycle tourists’ primary focus is on information accessibility. The cycling-specific supply recognizes this information dependency and targets the market by a variety of needed information, while general tourist sites often lack complete information. Value – Similar research of bicycle tourism does not exist. The field is mainly contributed to trough conceptual discussions and studies of existing practice. This research establishes to what extent the demand and supply side match by identifying the common attributes of cycle tourism destinations