The genus Campanula L. (Campanulaceae) in Croatia, circum-Adriatic and west Balkan region

The status of the genus Campanula L. (Campanulaceae) in southeast-European, circum-Adriatic and west Balkan countries (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, FYR Macedonia, and Albania) is discussed, according to the local checklists, recent nomenclature and research. The flora of the region comprises at least 84 Campanula species and subspecies, out of which 75% are endemic, with a considerable number of incipient taxa. Accent is placed on the Croatian flora, which contains 30 species and 5 subspecies (42% of the regional taxa), while some older references are found to be inaccurate or recently unconfirmed. The predominant chromosome number is diploid, 2n = 34, while the most prevailing life form is hemichryptophytic (97% of the taxa). More than 30% of the Croatian campanulas are endemic, particularly of the Isophylla, Heterophylla (Rotundifolia), Pyramidalis and Waldsteiniana lineages, the unsolved relations among which are considered to be the most interesting in the region. The genus Campanula, in its current circumscription, needs fundamental revision

Flora i vegetacija otoka Sveti Andrija, južna Hrvatska

The first record of as many as 160 vascular plant taxa, 134 genera and 61 families on Sveti Andrija Island (5.38 hectares), southern Adriatic, was established on the basis of floristic research in 2005. An analysis of the life-forms and floral elements was also carried out and comparisons were made with other Dubrovnik islands. Altogether, four associations were determined: Querco ilicis-Pinetum halepensis, Posidonietum oceanicae, Limonietum anfracti and Lavateretum arboreae.Na temelju istraživanja u 2005. godini, na otoku Sveti Andrija (5,38 ha) u južnom Jadranu zabilježeno je 160 svojti vaskularnih biljaka, svrstanih u 134 roda i 61 porodicu. Analizirani su životni oblici i florni elementi, te uspoređeni s ostalim dubrovačkim otocima. Na otoku su utvrđene četiri biljne zajednice: Querco ilicis-Pinetum halepensis, Posidonietum oceanicae, Limonietum anfracti i Lavateretum arboreae

The drawing as the means of visual exploration in Western European art from 1871 to 1900

Središnja tema rada je crtež kao sredstvo vizuelnog istraživanja u umetnosti Zapadne Evrope u poslednje tri decenije devetnaestog veka. Rad je podeljen na sedam nezavisnih ogleda kojima se nastoji da dokaže polazna pretpostavka da je crtež postao referentna tačka moderne umetnosti i vizuelne kulture u datom periodu i da je tu poziciju zadržao do danas. Preduslov za promenu značenja bila je nezavisna pozicija crteža u odnosu na impresionizam kao središnji umetnički pravac vremena. Više nego slikarstvo ili skulptura, crtež je bio uslovljen zahtevima, pa i duhom vremena, zbog čega je postao osnov vizuelne matrice modernog doba. Crtež se posmatra intradisciplinarno, odnosno kao unutrašnje polje rada u kome je intenziviran problemski pristup formativnim elementima medija, liniji i tački koji je rezultovao nastankom novih struktura i značenja. Na osnovu toga, dolazi do redefinisanja njegove interdisciplinarne pozicije, kako prema slikarstvu i skulpturi, tako i u odnosu na nove vizuelne umetnosti, pre svega film, o čemu govori ogled o Degaovim crtežima i u kome je naglašen kauzalitet između likovnog prizora koji je generički povezan sa fragmentarnim doživljajem modernog grada – metropole i kadra koji će postati jedan od obrazaca u vizuelnoj komunikaciji dvadesetog veka. Interdisciplinarnost podrazumeva i relaciju prema novim naučnim disciplinama, pre svega antropologiji. Sa ovog stanovišta se pristupa Gogenovim linearnim strukturama koje pokazuju kako je shvatanje ljudskog bića određeno linearizmom kao znakovnim sistemom. Crtež je bio multifunkcionalan u društvu koje je postajalo moderno. Upravo, društveni fenomeni modernog doba, potrošnja i novi oblici masovne komunikacije i popularne kulture koristili su činjenicu da se linearni iskaz brzo i jednostavno uočava i pamti. Plakatom smeštenim u javni prostor, crtež je od ličnog zapisa, ili muzejskogalerijskog primerka, postao dostupan svima. Na taj način je potisnut polaritet između visoke i masovne kulture, što se očituje u radovima Tuluz-Lotreka. Istovremeno, crtež je postao reprezent tamnijih strana moderniteta, sredstvo kojim se artikulišu reakcije iz unutrašnjih džepova društva, alternativnih grupa, kroz čije delovanje se aktivira potencijal crteža kao neposrednog i slobodnog iskaza koji preuzima ulogu u posredovanju i širenju ideja. To je moćno sredstvo kritike društva, bilo da se ispoljava kao Van Gogovo pojedinačno delovanje ili kao organizovana, grupna politička akcija Pisaroa i anarhista sa Monmartra. Poliperspektivan pristup temi uslovljen je potrebom da se ona sveobuhvatno sagleda, te da se objasne modaliteti funkcionisanja crteža kao predmeta istraživanja i izvrši rekonstrukcija njegovog značenja. Zbog toga je u radu najviše korišćen strukturalistički metod. Pored toga, određene teme su zahtevale i uključivanje socioloških teorija. Oba ova pristupa ili metoda saobražavaju se prema komunikativnom potencijalu crteža, odnosno njegovoj sposobnosti da prenese misao ili poruku i tako uspostavi kontakt među ljudima. Crtež ima značenje, intonaciju i sugestivnost ličnog i neposrednog obraćanja u čemu leži njegov stalni potencijal.The central topic of the paper is the drawing as the means of visual exploration in Western European art in the last three decades of the 19th century. The paper is divided into seven independent essays, the purpose of which is to prove the starting assumption that the drawing became the point of reference of modern art and visual culture in the mentioned period, and that it has kept that position to this day. The precondition for the change in meaning was the independent position of the drawing in relation to impressionism as the central art movement of that period. More than painting or sculpture, the drawing was conditioned by the demands, and even by the spirit of the period, because of which it became the basis of the visual matrix of the modern age. The drawing is observed in the intra-disciplinary context, i.e. as an internal field of work in which the problem approach to the formative elements of the mediums, lines and points, was intensified and which resulted in the creation of new structures and meanings. On this basis, its inter-disciplinary position, both towards painting and sculpture and towards new visual arts, primarily film, was redefined, which is proven by the experiment on Degas' drawings, which emphasised the causality between the visual image which is generically connected with the fragmentary experience of a modern city - metropolis, and the film frame, which would become one of the forms of visual communication of the 20th century. Interdisciplinary also means the relation towards new scholarly disciplines, primarily anthropology. Gauguin's linear structures, which show how the comprehension of human beings is determined by linearism as the sign system, are approached from this standpoint. The drawing was multi-functional in the society that was becoming modern. Actually - the social phenomena of the modern age, consumption and new forms of mass communication and popular culture utilised the fact that a lineal expression is memorised quickly and simply. A poster displayed in a public space transformed the drawing from a personal recording, or a museum or gallery specimen, into something that was accessible to everyone. This suppressed the polarity between high culture and mass culture, which is reflected in the works by Toulouse-Lautrec. At the same time, the drawing became representative of the darker sides of modernity, the means for articulating reactions from inside pockets of society, alternative groups, whose actions awakened the potential of the drawing as a direct and free expression which assumed a role in mediating and disseminating ideas. It is a powerful means of the critique of society, whether it emerges from Van Gogh's individual action or from the organised, group political action of Pissarro and the anarchists from Montmartre. The polyperspective approach to the subject relies upon the need for it to be observed comprehensively, and to explain the modalities of the function of the drawing as the object of exploration and perform the reconstruction of its meaning. For this reason, the structuralist method was used in most cases in this paper. Besides, certain topics called for the inclusion of sociological theories. Both these methods conform with the communicative potential of the drawing, i.e. its ability to communicate a thought or a message and thereby establish contact among people. The drawing has a meaning, a toneand suggests a personal and direct message, and this is where its perpetual potential lies

Amoxicillin Biodegradation with Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Characterization of Relevant Degradation Products

The widespread use of antibiotics can result in the release of a large number of residues into the environment. In order to reduce the exposure risk, considerable research has been carried out in the field of antibiotic residues. We aim to explore the possibilities of antibiotic amoxicillin biodegradation in laboratory scale by adding microbiological cultures, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative) and Bacillus subtilis (Gram-positive), which are a type of bacteria that are commonly found in the environment, such as in soil and water. Apart from the degradation itself, special attention was paid to the identification of antibiotic residues. The biodegradation process was investigated, revealing a 99.2 % degradation efficiency at amoxicillin concentration of 0.2 mg mL–1, and four degradation products were identified. For reaction monitoring and identification of degradation products, UHPLC and LC-MS analyses were performed. Furthermore, to provide additional evidence, the products were independently synthesized and then compared spectrometrically with the obtained biodegradation products. These results could provide new aspects to the behavior of amoxicillin, and pave the way for further monitoring and studies of its residues in the environment. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Observational detection of meteor-produced VLF electromagnetic radiation

In November 1998, Croatian Physical Society's expedition to Mongolia was undertaken. The goal was to make measurements of the puzzling electrophonic sounds and very low frequency (VLF) radio emission from meteors during the anticipated Leonid meteor storm. During the night of 16/17 November 1998, an extremely high fireball activity of the Leonid meteors occured. During this period, we performed measurements of the VLF radiation from meteors. Here we present a positive signal which consists of a sequence of sharp, short VLF bursts, coincident with the appearance of meteor that was recorded by the video camera. This is the first completely controlled instrumental recording of such an event

The Croatian Health Survey – Patient\u27s Satisfaction with Medical Service in Primary Health Care in Croatia

The aim of the study was to investigate patient satisfaction with nurses and general practice organization in Croatia. A total of 2,252 patients 18 years of age and over from 47 randomly selected general practices were included in the study. 72.1% of patients were satisfied with nurses and general practice organization. Older and less educated patients were generally more satisfied. Patients were more pleased with nurses’ behavior (81.9%) than with practice organization (62.3%). Factor analysis revealed two underlying discriminates of patient satisfaction – »positive attitude towards the nurse« and »inaccessibility of practice«. The former discriminate emphasized a great potential of nursing, which should be taken into consideration in the transformation of health care system in Croatia

Opažanje niskofrekventnog elektromagnetskog zračenja proizvedenog meteorom

In November 1998, Croatian Physical Society\u27s expedition to Mongolia was undertaken. The goal was to make measurements of the puzzling electrophonic sounds and very low frequency (VLF) radio emission from meteors during the anticipated Leonid meteor storm. During the night of 16/17 November 1998, an extremely high fireball activity of the Leonid meteors occured. During this period, we performed measurements of the VLF radiation from meteors. Here we present a positive signal which consists of a sequence of sharp, short VLF bursts, coincident with the appearance of meteor that was recorded by the video camera. This is the first completely controlled instrumental recording of such an event.Ekspedicija Hrvatskog fizikalnog društvo uputila se u Mongoliju u studenom 1998 radi promatranja očekivane kiše meteora i mjerenja neobičnih elektrofonskih šumova i niskofrekventnog elektromagnetskog zračenja proizvedenog meteorima. U noći 16/17 studenog 1998. došlo je do izrazito pojačane aktivnosti sjajnih meteora Leonida. U tom smo periodu mjerili elektromagnetske valove VLF i istovremeno snimali meteore. Ovdje izvješćujemo o zabilježenom signalu elektromagnetskih valova koji se sastojao od niza kratkotrajnih niskofrekventnih impulsa, koji se pojavio istovremeno s meteorom. Ovo je prvo instrumentalno bilježenje te pojave načinjeno u potpuno kontroliranim uvjetima

Soybean Straw, Corn Stover and Sunflower Stalk as Possible Substrates for Biogas Production in Croatia: A Review

Biomass availability is one of the key factors for biogas production in the future. The current status and possibilities for utilizing harvest residues (soybean straw, corn stover and sunflower stalk) in Croatia for biogas production is given. In the last few decades, different pretreatment methods have been developed for the degradation of different lignocellulosic biomass, but many of them are environmentally unfriendly and sometimes very expensive. More research and development is necessary in order to find both economically and environmentally friendly pretreatment methods. This paper provides a review on the mechanical, physical, and biological methods used for different lignocellulose material pretreatment. Harvest residues are usually left in the field, but with the improvement of the pretreatment process along with soil protection, they could be used for the production of huge amounts of energy in the future. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License