A mobile application for navigation for the blind and visually impaired

Every day blind and visually impaired people face difficulties when walking outdoors and therefore use a variety of tools for assistance. Smartphones with appropriate applications represent such a tool and can make walking outdoors a lot easier. For this purpose, we collaborated with the Institute for Blind and Partially Sighted Children of Ljubljana and we created a mobile application for navigation for the blind and visually impaired. The application is similar to the already existing applications made in foreign languages, it follows accessibility guidelines and contains additional custom-designed functionalities. It uses Slovenian language and it is made for devices running Android. Its main features include storage of the users favourite routes, route guidance, free walking mode and searching for nearby points of interest

Destigmatisation of epilepsy in children through education-rehabilitation camps

Edukacijsko – rehabilitacijski kampovi za djecu i adolescente oboljele od epilepsije organiziraju se širom svijeta i pokazali su se izuzetno korisnima kako za djecu samu, tako i za obitelj, kao i za njihovo školovanje i osamostaljenje (Cvitanović Šojat 2010). U Hrvatskoj je epilepsija kao kronična bolest velika nepoznanica za djecu koja boluju od te bolesti i njihove roditelje. Isto tako izražena je nedovoljna informiranost o postojanju edukacijsko rehabilitacijskih kampova za djecu s epilepsijom. Cilj ovog istraživanja je ispitati razlike u znanju o epilepsiji djece polaznika edukacijsko rehabilitacijskih kampova i kako boravak u kampu doprinosi samostalnosti polaznika u daljnjem svakodnevnom životu s epilepsijom. U istraživanju su sudjelovala djeca i adolescenti s epilepsijom, polaznici Kampa 2011 i djeca i adolescenti s epilepsijom polaznici Kampa 2013. Sva navedena djeca kontroliraju svoju bolest u Klinikama za pedijatriju KBC Zagreb, KBC Sestre milosrdnice, Klinika za dječje bolesti Zagreb i u Poliklinici Sabol, a svi su članovi Hrvatske udruge za epilepsiju (HUE). U istraživanju je sudjelovalo ukupno 33 djece, 2011. godine njih 20-tero, a 2013. godine njih 18-tero, međutim je 5-tero djece sudjelovalo u oba kampa. Obradom podataka utvrđeno je da je došlo do povećanja znanja o epilepsiji nakon kampa u skupini 2011.g. (t= -3,835; p<0,01), skupini 2013.g. (t= -7,721; p<0,01) te u obje skupine zajedno (t= - 6,981; p<0,01). Za nas je bilo osobito važno saznati da postoji stigma kod oboljelih od epilepsije s obzirom na tajenje podataka o dijagnozi od nastavnika (42% razrednik nije upoznat sa dijagnozom), od ostalih učenika (45% ne zna da im školski kolega ima epilepsiju), a neki nisu obavijestili o svojoj bolesti bilo koga u školi. Prema odgovorima u upitnku o prilagodbi na život s epilepsijom također se vidi da je jako izražena stigma u oboljele djece s epilepsijom. Ovim radom prvi put je opširno prikazano postojanje edukacijsko rehabilitacijskih kampova za djecu s epilepsijom u Hrvatskoj, a dobivenim rezultatima u istraživanju prikazana je neophodna potreba za organizacijom istih u svrhu destigmatizacije što se potvrđuje i podacima iz svjetske literature.Educational-rehabilitation camps for children and adolescents with epilepsy are organized throughout the world and have been shown very helpful for children and their families as well as for their education and independence (Cvitanović-Šojat 2010). In Croatia epilepsy as chronic disease is a big unknown for children with the disease and their parents. Insufficient information is available on existence of educational-rehabilitation camps for children with epilepsy. Aim of this study is to evaluate differences in knowledge on epilepsy among children attending the camp and to evaluate how attending the camp enhances independence of children with epilepsy in their everyday life. The study included children and adolescents with epilepsy who attended the Camp 2011 and Camp 2013. All the children were patients in Pediatric clinic KBC Zagreb, KBC Sestre milosrdnice, Clinic for children’s diseases Zagreb and in Sabol Polyclinic, and they were all members of Croatian epilepsy association. There were total of 33 children included in the study. 2011 there were 20 children and 2013 there were 18 children, among which five attended both camps. Statistical analysis showed there was increased knowledge on epilepsy after the camp in group from year 2011. (t= -3,835; p<0,01), in group from year 2013. (t= -7,721; p<0,01) and in both groups together (t= - 6,981; p<0,01). For us it was very important to find out there is still stigma with epilepsy as they were hiding the disease from the teachers (in 42% main teacher didn’t know the diagnosis), hiding from other students (45% didn’t know their peer had epilepsy), and some didn’t let anyone in school know about their disease. According to answers in the questionnaire on living with epilepsy there is very high stigma in children with epilepsy. This study is the first one to extensively show existence of educational-rehabilitation camps for children with epilepsy in Croatia, and the results obtained show the need for continuation of the camps in order to destigmatize epilepsy, and this is shown in world literature as well

A mobile application for navigation for the blind and visually impaired

Every day blind and visually impaired people face difficulties when walking outdoors and therefore use a variety of tools for assistance. Smartphones with appropriate applications represent such a tool and can make walking outdoors a lot easier. For this purpose, we collaborated with the Institute for Blind and Partially Sighted Children of Ljubljana and we created a mobile application for navigation for the blind and visually impaired. The application is similar to the already existing applications made in foreign languages, it follows accessibility guidelines and contains additional custom-designed functionalities. It uses Slovenian language and it is made for devices running Android. Its main features include storage of the users favourite routes, route guidance, free walking mode and searching for nearby points of interest

Contrastive analysis of adverbs in contemporary Slovenе and Serbian language Контрастивный анализ наречий в современном словенском и сербском языке

Предмет истраживања јесте контрастивна анализа прилога као врсте речи у савременом словеначком и српском језику. У раду се примењује систематско и синхроно поређење описа категорије прилошких речи са становишта дескриптивне, контрастивне и корпусне лингвистике, и изучава се проблематика њихове класификације по постанку, пореклу, значењу и структури на основу релевантне грађе у референтним граматикама, речницима и корпусима савременог словеначког и српског језика. Прилози су посматрани и кроз свој специфичан феномен двојаке природе и хетерогености у односу на друге врсте речи, односно способности компарације као особине променљивих речи, уз посебну анализу издвојених особености које су међу суштинским контрастима и разликама двају језика истог лингвистичког порекла, припадности групи јужнословенских језика и просторне блискости. Решавању питања компарабилности као суштинском теоријском проблему контрастивне анализе приступљено је на основу искључиво семантичких критеријума – утврђивањем еквивалентности, на основу семантичких и граматичких критеријума – утврђивањем кореспондентности, и проналажењем идентичности, контраста, сличности и разлика. Поред наведених, коришћен је и критеријум припадности специфичном семантичком пољу и критеријум фреквентности у смислу учесталости у релевантним корпусима. Налази су показали висок ниво идентичности, сличности, контраста и разлика кроз вишечлану, сегменталну, парцијалну и текстуалну еквиваленцију, потпуну и парцијалну конгруенцију и неконгруенцију, као и потпуну и парцијалну кореспонденцију, уз откривене посебне карактеристике на семантичком, граматичком, морфолошком, лексичком и дистрибутивном плану које управо и доприносе издвајању прилога као врсте речи у савременом словеначком језику.The subject of this research is the contrastive analysis of adverbs as a part of speech in the contemporary Slovene and Serbian language. The paper applies a systematic and synchronous comparison of descriptions of the adverb category from the perspective of descriptive, contrastive and corpus linguistics, and studies the problems of their classification according to genesis, origin, meaning and structure based on relevant material in reference grammars, dictionaries and corpora of the contemporary Slovenе and Serbian language. Adverbs are also examined through the specific phenomenon of their dual nature and heterogeneity in contrast to other word classes, i.e. their ability to form degrees of comparison as a feature of lexical words, with a special analysis of isolated particularities that are among the essential contrasts and differences between the two languages that share the same linguistic origin, South Slavic language branch and geographical proximity. The approach to resolving the comparability issue as the central theoretical problem of contrastive analysis was based on exclusively semantic criteria – by determining equivalence, on both semantic and grammatical criteria – by determining correspondence, and by determining identities, contrasts, similarities and differences. Also, additional criteria applied were the criterion of belonging to a specific semantic field and the frequency criterion in terms of recurrence in relevant corpora. The findings indicated a high level of identities, similarities, contrasts and differences through multiple, segmental, partial and textual translation equivalence, full and partial congruence and non-congruence, as well as full and partial formal correspondence, along with special features revealed on semantic, grammatical, morphological, lexical and distributional level, which contribute to denoting adverbs as a distinct part of speech in the contemporary Slovene language

Destigmatisation of epilepsy in children through education-rehabilitation camps

Edukacijsko – rehabilitacijski kampovi za djecu i adolescente oboljele od epilepsije organiziraju se širom svijeta i pokazali su se izuzetno korisnima kako za djecu samu, tako i za obitelj, kao i za njihovo školovanje i osamostaljenje (Cvitanović Šojat 2010). U Hrvatskoj je epilepsija kao kronična bolest velika nepoznanica za djecu koja boluju od te bolesti i njihove roditelje. Isto tako izražena je nedovoljna informiranost o postojanju edukacijsko rehabilitacijskih kampova za djecu s epilepsijom. Cilj ovog istraživanja je ispitati razlike u znanju o epilepsiji djece polaznika edukacijsko rehabilitacijskih kampova i kako boravak u kampu doprinosi samostalnosti polaznika u daljnjem svakodnevnom životu s epilepsijom. U istraživanju su sudjelovala djeca i adolescenti s epilepsijom, polaznici Kampa 2011 i djeca i adolescenti s epilepsijom polaznici Kampa 2013. Sva navedena djeca kontroliraju svoju bolest u Klinikama za pedijatriju KBC Zagreb, KBC Sestre milosrdnice, Klinika za dječje bolesti Zagreb i u Poliklinici Sabol, a svi su članovi Hrvatske udruge za epilepsiju (HUE). U istraživanju je sudjelovalo ukupno 33 djece, 2011. godine njih 20-tero, a 2013. godine njih 18-tero, međutim je 5-tero djece sudjelovalo u oba kampa. Obradom podataka utvrđeno je da je došlo do povećanja znanja o epilepsiji nakon kampa u skupini 2011.g. (t= -3,835; p<0,01), skupini 2013.g. (t= -7,721; p<0,01) te u obje skupine zajedno (t= - 6,981; p<0,01). Za nas je bilo osobito važno saznati da postoji stigma kod oboljelih od epilepsije s obzirom na tajenje podataka o dijagnozi od nastavnika (42% razrednik nije upoznat sa dijagnozom), od ostalih učenika (45% ne zna da im školski kolega ima epilepsiju), a neki nisu obavijestili o svojoj bolesti bilo koga u školi. Prema odgovorima u upitnku o prilagodbi na život s epilepsijom također se vidi da je jako izražena stigma u oboljele djece s epilepsijom. Ovim radom prvi put je opširno prikazano postojanje edukacijsko rehabilitacijskih kampova za djecu s epilepsijom u Hrvatskoj, a dobivenim rezultatima u istraživanju prikazana je neophodna potreba za organizacijom istih u svrhu destigmatizacije što se potvrđuje i podacima iz svjetske literature.Educational-rehabilitation camps for children and adolescents with epilepsy are organized throughout the world and have been shown very helpful for children and their families as well as for their education and independence (Cvitanović-Šojat 2010). In Croatia epilepsy as chronic disease is a big unknown for children with the disease and their parents. Insufficient information is available on existence of educational-rehabilitation camps for children with epilepsy. Aim of this study is to evaluate differences in knowledge on epilepsy among children attending the camp and to evaluate how attending the camp enhances independence of children with epilepsy in their everyday life. The study included children and adolescents with epilepsy who attended the Camp 2011 and Camp 2013. All the children were patients in Pediatric clinic KBC Zagreb, KBC Sestre milosrdnice, Clinic for children’s diseases Zagreb and in Sabol Polyclinic, and they were all members of Croatian epilepsy association. There were total of 33 children included in the study. 2011 there were 20 children and 2013 there were 18 children, among which five attended both camps. Statistical analysis showed there was increased knowledge on epilepsy after the camp in group from year 2011. (t= -3,835; p<0,01), in group from year 2013. (t= -7,721; p<0,01) and in both groups together (t= - 6,981; p<0,01). For us it was very important to find out there is still stigma with epilepsy as they were hiding the disease from the teachers (in 42% main teacher didn’t know the diagnosis), hiding from other students (45% didn’t know their peer had epilepsy), and some didn’t let anyone in school know about their disease. According to answers in the questionnaire on living with epilepsy there is very high stigma in children with epilepsy. This study is the first one to extensively show existence of educational-rehabilitation camps for children with epilepsy in Croatia, and the results obtained show the need for continuation of the camps in order to destigmatize epilepsy, and this is shown in world literature as well

Niemann-Pickova bolest tip C: mutacije gena NPC1 i tijek bolesti

Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the NPC1 gene in 95% of cases. Consequently, unesterifi ed cholesterol accumulates in late endosomes/lysosomes causing extremely varied neurovisceral symptoms. For many countries including Croatia, there are no reported NP-C cases to date, mainly because the accurate diagnosis of NP-C requires not easily accessible biochemical and molecular-genetic laboratory tests. Therefore, with the aim to improve clinical practice and understanding of NP-C in the region, we present the fi rst siblings with NP-C recorded in Croatia. The diagnosis was based on histologic, biochemical and genetic tests. Namely, fi lipin staining showed accumulation of unesterifi ed cholesterol and cultured skin fi broblasts were defi cient in esterifi cation of exogenously administered cholesterol. Electron microscopy of skin biopsy revealed the presence of sequestrated lipids in lysosomes. Molecular analyses showed both siblings to be compound heterozygotes for two disease-causing mutations of NPC1 protein, N1156S and Q922X. Based on comparison with previously reported N1156S homozygotes, we propose that Q922X mutation, causing the formation of a truncated NPC1, has a more severe impact on clinical outcome. Further, we observed pronounced diff erences in the disease course in the siblings; i.e. in the boy we observed an earlier onset and a much faster neurologic deterioration (late infantile onset), suggesting other genetic and/or environmental factors infl uencing the course of the disease. In contrast, the girl exhibited juvenile type of NP-C. In conclusion, when progressive neurologic symptoms develop in late childhood and with a previous history of neonatal cholestasis, the classic late infantile or juvenile type of NP-C must be suspected.Niemann-Pickova bolest tip C rijedak je autosomni recesivni poremećaj, u 95% slučajeva uzrokovan mutacijama gena NPC1. Kao posljedica mutacija dolazi do nakupljanja neesterifi ciranog kolesterola u kasnim endosomima/lizosomima, što uzrokuje vrlo raznolike neurovisceralne simptome. U mnogim zemljama, uključujući Hrvatsku, do danas nema opisanih slučajeva ove bolesti, uglavnom zbog toga što su za postavljanje točne dijagnoze potrebne teško dostupne biokemijske i molekularno-biološke laboratorijske pretrage. Stoga radi poboljšanja kliničke prakse i razumijevanja ove bolesti u regiji, opisujemo prvi slučaj brata i sestre oboljelih od NP-C-a za Hrvatsku. Dijagnoza se temeljila na histološkim, biokemijskim i genetičkim pretragama. Nakupljanje neesterifi ciranog kolesterola dokazano je „Filipin” bojenjem, a nedostatna esterifi kacija izvana unijetog kolesterola dokazana je u kulturi fi broblasta. Elektronskom mikroskopijom biopsije kože dokazane su nakupine lipida u lizosomima. Molekularna analiza je pokazala da su brat i sestra heterozigoti, nositelji dviju mutacija gena NPC1, te je predviđeno da proteini NPC1 nose mutacije N1156S i Q922X. Temeljem usporedbe s podatcima iz literature o N1156S homozigotima, pretpostavljeno je da je mutacija Q922X, koja uzrokuje preuranjeni završetak translacije proteina NPC1, značajnije utječu na kliničku sliku. Uz to su razlike u tijeku bolesti kod dječaka i djevojčice bile vrlo izražene. Kod dječaka su se prvi simptomi pojavili mnogo ranije i došlo je do bržeg neurološkog propadanja (kasni infantilni tip bolesti), vjerojatno zbog utjecaja drugih genetskih i/ili okolišnih čimbenika na tijek bolesti. Nasuprot tome, djevojčica je imala juvenilni tip bolesti. Zaključno, ako se nakon zabilježene neonatalne kolestaze u kasnom djetinjstvu pojave progresivni neurološki simptomi, treba posumnjati na klasični kasni infantilni ili juvenilni tip NP-C-a

Impact of adhesive type on density profile at particle board making

Raziskali smo vpliv vrste ter deleža lepila na nastanek gostotnega profila pri izdelavi ivernih plošč. Za izdelavo smo uporabili industrijsko iverje ter UF- oziroma MF-lepilo. Plošče smo izdelali pri laboratorijskih pogojih s 6,00-9,00 % deleža lepila v srednjem in z 10,00-13,00 % v zunanjem sloju. Med stiskanjem smo merili spremembo temperature v sredini plošče, med zunanjim in srednjim slojem plošče ter med iverno in grelno ploščo stiskalnice. Gostotni profil smo določevali z metodo merjenja porazdelitve gostote, za kar smo uporabili merilnik gostotnih profilov MGP-201. Ugotovili smo, da vrsta lepila ne vpliva na prehod toplote med posameznimi ploščami in da z lepilom ne vplivamo na spremembo gostotnega profila. S povečanjem faktorja oblepljanja vplivamo na hitrost segrevanja in s tem posledično na spremembo gostotnega profila.The impact of adhesive type and its share in forming density profile at making of particle boards was researched. Industrial particles were blended with urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formaldehyde resin. Particleboards were made in laboratory conditions with 6.00 - 9.00 % share of glue in the core layer, and 10.00 - 13.00 % in the surface layer. During pressing the temperature change was measured in the middle of the particleboard, between intersection core and surface layer, and between surface layer and heating plate. Density profile was appointed by a measuring procedure of density distribution, using instrument MGP-201 for measuring of density profiles. It was found out that the type of adhesive does not influence temperature increase in CL, so as that the glue alone does not influence the change of density profile. Enlarging the gluing factor influences the speed of warming, and therefore, as a consequence, the change of density profile

CRYSTAL STRUCTURES OF PHENANTHROLINIUM HEXAFLUORIDOMETALLATES

V diplomskem delu sem predstavila dve koordinacijski spojini. To sta spojini [Hphen]2[TiF6] in [Hphen]2[SnF6]. Obema spojinama je skupno, da sta zgrajeni iz ionov: fenantrolinijevega kationa in heksafluoridometalatnega aniona. V anionu je kot centralni kovinski ion titana (1) ali kositra (2) koordiniran s šestimi fluoridnimi ioni kot ligandi. Kation je fenantrolin protoniran na enem od dušikovih atomov. V delu sem se osredotočila na rentgensko strukturno analizo monokristalov in sintezno pot teh dveh spojin.In my study I presented two compounds. These are compounds [Hphen]2[TiF6] and [Hphen]2[SnF6]. Both compounds have in common that they consist of ions: phenanthrolinium cation and hexafluoridometallate anion. In the anion is the central metal ion of titanium (1) or tin (2) coordinated with six fluoride ions as ligands. The cation is phenanthroline protonated at one of the nitrogen atoms. In my work I focused on X-ray structure analysis on singlecrystal and on synthesis of these two compounds

Synthesis of new triazolidines and their zinc(II) coordination compounds

Namen diplomske naloge je bil preučiti znane sintezne postopke srebrovih enojedrnih koordinacijskih spojin z imidazolidin-2-tioni v razmerju 1:2 ter preučiti ternarne komplekse z imidazolidin-2-tioni. V okviru diplomske naloge sem analizirala tudi kristalne strukture nekaterih kompleksov in nato predlagala sintezne postopke za pripravo analognih spojin z 2-metil-1,2,4-triazolidin-3-tioni.The purpose of my thesis was to study the known synthetic protocols of zinc mononuclear coordination compounds with imidazolidine-2-thions in the ratio 1:2 and to study ternary complexes with imidazolidine-2-thions. Also, crystal structures of some complexes were analysed and synthesis procedures of preparing analog compounds with 2-methyl-1,2,4-triazolidine-3-thiones were suggested