Ladarice – From Love to a Cultural Brand

Ladarice are a female vocal nonet founded with the aim of nurturing Croatian musical heritage. Thanks to their extensive activities on the Croatian music scene, a series of performances at traditional folk music and popular music festivals, frequent appearances on radio and television, participation in theatre plays, performances featured in popular Croatian films (for example, the performance of the song Podravina ravna in the TV series Gruntovčani, created by Dubravko Ivančan and Živan Cvitković), Ladarice have evolved into a cultural brand. However, the general public is mostly unaware that the group Ladarice was founded independently of the Lado Ensemble, and that it operated as such until 2008. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the activities of Ladarice from their forming in 1966 to the present day. From the analysed material, it is possible to deduce that, thanks to their of music, they managed to remain active for many years and evolve into a cultural brand. Today, the singers of Ladarice operate within the framework of the Lado Ensemble, while their work differs significantly in terms of primary motivation, the number of singers, the mode of work, and artistic programme

Ladarice – od ljubavi do kulturnog brenda

Ladarice su ženski vokalni nonet osnovan s ciljem njegovanja hrvatske glazbene baštine. Svojim bogatim djelovanjem na hrvatskoj glazbenoj sceni, nizom nastupa na festivalima folklorne i zabavne glazbe, čestim nastupima na radiju i televiziji, sudjelovanjem u kazališnim predstavama, izvedbama u popularnim hrvatskim filmovima Ladarice su postale kulturni brend. Cilj rada je prikazati djelovanje Ladarica od početaka (1966.) do današnjih dana. Iz analizirane građe vidi se da su se zahvaljujući ljubavi prema glazbi uspjele održati dugi niz godina i izgraditi u kulturni brend. Ladarice danas djeluju pod okriljem Ansambla Lado te se njihovo djelovanje bitno razlikuje u elementarnoj motivaciji, broju pjevačica, načinu rada i umjetničkom programu

Antibacterial properties of honey

Globalni problem bakterijske rezistencije na antibiotike uzrok je potrage za novim antimikrobnim lijekovima. Zbog toga se mnogo očekuje od meda koji ima antimikrobno djelovanje na bakterije otporne na djelovanje antibiotika. Za antibakterijsku aktivnost meda odgovorno je više komponenti prisutnih u medu, u koncentracijama koje se razlikuju kod raznih vrsti meda. Nepredvidiva antibakterijska aktivnost meda, koja nije standardizirana, može otežati njegovu primjenu kao antimikrobnog agensa radi uočenih varijacija u in vitro antibakterijskoj aktivnosti različitih vrsta meda. Trenutačno se na tržištu može naći nekoliko vrsti meda sa standardiziranim razinama antibakterijskog djelovanja, od kojih je najpoznatiji med manuke (lat. Leptospermum scoparium).The global problem of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens increases the need for new antimicrobial agents. Therefore, honey with effective antimicrobial properties against antibiotic-resistant bacteria is much anticipated. Antibacterial activity of honey is very complex due to the involvement of multiple compounds and variations in their concentrations among different honeys. The unpredictable antibacterial activity of non-standardized honey may hamper its introduction as an antimicrobial agent due to variations in the in vitro antibacterial activity of various honeys. At present, a number of honeys are put to the market with standardized levels of antibacterial activity, of which the best known is manuka (lat. Leptospermum scoparium) honey

The effect of age and gender on cognitive and psychomotor abilities measured by computerized series tests: a cross-sectional study

Aim To assess age- and gender-associated differences in cognitive and psychomotor abilities measured by the Complex Reactionmeter Drenovac (CRD-series) tests. Methods This cross-sectional study, conducted between 2009 and 2019, enrolled 3420 participants (2012 women) in the age ranging from 18 to 88 years. The participants solved three CRD-series chronometric tests: discrimination of the light signal position (CRD311), complex psychomotor coordination (CRD411), and simple arithmetic operations (CRD11). We analyzed total test solving time (TTST), minimum single task solving time (MinT), number of errors, initial dissociation, and start, end, and total ballasts as measures of wasted time in the first half of the test, second half of the test, and total test time, respectively. Results Age was positively associated with MinT and TTST in all used tests (P < 0.001), while initial dissociation, start ballast, and end ballast significantly increased with age (P < 0.001). On the CRD11 test, men had shorter TTST than women (P = 0.012), shorter start, end, and total ballasts (P < 0.001), and made fewer errors than women (P < 0.001). On the CRD311 test, women had shorter start (P = 0.002), end, and total ballast (P < 0.001) than men. On the CRD411 test, men performed better than women on all variables (P < 0.001). Conclusion Decreased cognitive and psychomotor abilities measured by the CRD-series tests were associated with advanced age. Men performed better than women on simple arithmetic and complex psychomotor coordination tests, whereas women lost less time on the test of light signal position discrimination

The COVID-19 lockdown promotes changes in sleep habits in the Croatian general population

Aim To investigate the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown on sleep habits in the Croatian general population. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 1173 respondents from the general population (809 women) completed a self-report online questionnaire that gathered demographic data and data on sleep habits and mood changes before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Results During the lockdown, bedtime (from 23:11±1:07 to 23:49±1:32 h, P<0.001) and waketime were delayed (from 6:51±1:09 to 7:49±1:40 h, P<0.001). Sleep latency increased from 10 (5-20) to 15 (10-30) minutes (P<0.001). Bedtime and waketime delays were more pronounced in women and respondents younger than 30. Compared with other age groups, respondents younger than 30 more frequently reported insomnia for the first time during the lockdown and had less frequent night-time awakenings (P<0.001), less common problems falling asleep (P<0.001), less frequently felt calm (P<0.001) and rested (P<0.001), but more frequently felt sadness (P<0.001) and fear (P=0.028). Conclusion The effect of the lockdown on sleep needs to be better understood. Sleep hygiene education could serve a first-line lifestyle intervention for people in lockdown experiencing sleep disruptio

The effect of COVID-19 lockdown on lifestyle and mood in Croatian general population: a cross-sectional study

Aim To investigate the effect of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown on lifestyle behaviors and mood changes in the Croatian general population. Methods During ten days of the COVID-19 lockdown in Croatia, 3027 respondents (70.3% female) from the general population completed an online, self-report questionnaire. Demographic data and data on lifestyle habits and mood changes before and during the COVID-19 lockdown were collected. Results A total of 95.64% of respondents reported to follow most or all restrictions, with female sex (P < 0.001) and higher education level (P < 0.001) being associated with higher restriction compliance. Women smoked an increased number of cigarettes (P < 0.001). The proportion of respondents of both sexes who did not drink or drank 7 drinks per week or more increased (P < 0.001). Women also reported lower frequency (P = 0.001) and duration of physical exercise (P < 0.001). In total, 30.7% of respondents gained weight, with female sex (OR, 2.726) and higher BMI (OR, 1.116; both P < 0.001) being associated with an increased likelihood of gaining weight. Both men and women felt more frequently afraid (P < 0.001), discouraged (P < 0.001), and sad (P < 0.001). Conclusion Public health authorities should promote the adoption of healthy lifestyles in order to reduce long-term negative effects of the lockdown

Antibacterial potential of Croatian honey against antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacteria

Aim To determine antimicrobial activity of honey against clinical bacterial strains and their respective reference strains. Methods Twelve samples of Croatian honey from various botanical origin were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against four clinical antibiotic resistant pathogens and their respective reference strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Antibacterial susceptibility was checked out by using broth microdilution method and interpreted according to the European Committee for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) recommendations. Results Significant differences in the antibacterial activity of tested honey samples were noticed. Fir honeydew honey and Mint honey showed the best antibacterial potential, while the Locust tree honey, Rapeseed honey and Spring pasture honey expressed the weakest antimicrobial activity. Conclusion Croatian honey, prominently honeydew honey, has the potential to become an important additive to therapeutic techniques available to a medical practitioner against resistant pathogens, but the exact mechanisms of its activity should be investigated furthe

THROMBOPROPHYLAXIS IN PATIENTS WITH NONVALVULAR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION ADMITTED IN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SPLIT, CROATIA, DUE TO THE ISCHAEMIC STROKE IN RELATION TO THROMBOEMBOLIC AND BLEEDING RISK

Cilj rada bio je procijeniti usklađenost propisivanja tromboproilakse u bolesnika s nevalvularnom atrijskom ibrilacijom (nAF) prigodom prijma na liječenje zbog ishemijskog moždanog infarkta sa smjernicama Europskog kardiološkog društva za tromboproilaksu u bolesnika s nAF. U presječno retrospektivno istraživanje je uključeno 327 bolesnika [143 (44 %) muškaraca] s nAF, liječenih zbog ishemijskog moždanog infarkta. Tromboembolijski (TE) rizik procijenjen je sustavom CHA2DS2-VASc, a rizik krvarenja sustavom HAS-BLED. Prije doživljenog ishemijskog moždanog infarkta 98,2 % bolesnika pripadalo je skupini velikog tromboembolijskog rizika. Od tog broja tromboproilaksu je primjenjivalo samo 179 (55 %) bolesnika: 65,5 % bolesnika primjenjivalo je acetilsalicilnu kiselinu, 30,5 % varfarin, a 4 % klopidogrel. Raniji tromboembolijski incident nezavisno je korelirao s primjenom (OR 2,5; 95% CI 1,4-4,5; p=0,003), a neregulirana arterijska hipertenzija s neprimjenjivanjem (OR 0,47; 95% CI 0,25-0,88; p=0,019) varfarina. Od 55 bolesnika koji su ishemijski moždani infarkt doživjeli unatoč primjeni varfarina, u 83,7 % bolesnika vrijednosti protrombinskog indeksa prilikom prijama su bile niže od terapijskih.Autori zaključuju da tromboproilaksa u bolesnika s nAF hospitaliziranih zbog ishemijskog moždanog infarkta nije bila sukladna njihovom tromboembolijskom riziku i trenutnim smjernicama Europskog kardiološkog društva.Aim of the study was to assess the concordance of the thromboprophylactic treatment in patients with nonvalvular atrial ibrillation (nAF) at the time of admission due to ischemic stroke with clinical guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology. Methods: In the cross-sectional study were included 327 patients [143 (44%) males] treated because of ischemic stroke associated with nAF. The index of the thromboembolic risk (TE) has been established by the CHA2DS2-VASc score, whereas the bleeding risk has been assessed by the HAS-BLED score. Results: Before the ischemic stroke, 98.2% of patients belonged to the group of high TE risk. Among these patients only 179 (55%) were received thromboprophylaxis: 67.5% patients acetylsalicylic acid, 30.5% warfarin, and 4% clopidogrel. Previous ischemic stroke was independently correlated with warfarin administration (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.4-4.5; p=0.003), while poorly controlled arterial hypertension was independently correlated with warfarin non-administration (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.25-0.88; p=0.019). The 83.7% of 55 patients, who experienced ischemic stroke during anticoagulant treatment, had an INR values lower than therapeutic. Conclusion: Thromboprophylaxis among the patients with nAF admitted because of ischemic stroke did not correlate with their TE risk and contemporary guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology

Water for all : Proceedings of the 7th international scientific and professional conference Water for all

The 7th International Scientific and Professional Conference Water for all is organized to honour the World Water Day by the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group (EHEDG), Danube Parks, Croatian Food Agency, Croatian Water, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek, Faculty of Civil Engineering Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Department of Chemistry, Nature Park “Kopački rit”, Osijek- Baranja County, Public Health Institute of the Osijek- Baranja County and „Vodovod-Osijek“ -water supply company in Osijek. The topic of World Water Day 2017 was "Wastewater" emphasizing the importance and influence of wastewater treatments on global environment. The international scientific and professional conference Water for all is a gathering of scientists and experts in the field of water management, including chemists, biologists, civil and agriculture engineers, with a goal to remind people about the significance of fresh water and to promote an interdisciplinary approach and sustainability for fresh water resource management. The Conference has been held since 2011. About 300 scientists and engineers submitted 95 abstracts to the 7th International Scientific and Professional Conference Water for all, out of which 33 was presented orally and 62 as posters. 47 full papers were accepted by the Scientific Committee. 38 full papers became the part of the this Proceedings while 9 papers were accepted for publication in Croatian Journal of Food Science and Technology and Electronic Journal of the Faculty of Civil Engineering Osijek - e-GFOS