Challenges for health care development in Croatia [Izazovi razvoja zdravstvenog sustava Republike Hrvatske]

The main aim of the research done in this paper was to establish key challenges and perspectives for health care development in the Republic of Croatia in the next two decades. Empirical research was conducted in the form of semi-structured interviews involving 49 subjects, representatives of health care professionals from both, public and private sectors, health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, drug wholesalers, and non-governmental organisations (patient associations). The results have shown that key challenges and problems of Croatian health care can be divided into three groups: functioning of health care systems, health care personnel, and external factors. Research has shown that key challenges related to the functioning of health care are inefficiency, financial unviability, inadequate infrastructure, and the lack of system transparency. Poor governance is another limiting factor. With regard to health care personnel, they face the problems of low salaries, which then lead to migration challenges and a potential shortage of health care personnel. The following external factors are deemed to be among the most significant challenges: ageing population, bad living habits, and an increase in the number of chronic diseases. However, problems caused by the global financial crisis and consequential macroeconomic situation must not be neglected. Guidelines for responding to challenges identified in this research are the backbone for developing a strategy for health care development in the Republic of Croatia. Long-term vision, strategy, policies, and a regulatory framework are all necessary preconditions for an efficient health care system and more quality health services

Nernstova jednadžba

Walther Hermann Nernst, iako najpoznatiji po svojoj jednadžbi i trećem zakonu termodinamike, bavio se različitim granama kemije i u svakoj ostavio značajan trag. Njaveći je trag ostavio u elektrokemiji i termodinamici. Nernstova jednadžba, temeljna jednadžba elektrokemije, je jednadžba koja opisuje ovisnost elektrodnog potencijala članka o koncentraciji iona elektrolita. Njome je omogućen daljnji razvoj elektrokemijskih članaka i njihova šira primjena. Danas Nernstova jednadžba pronalazi primjenu u različitim granama znanosti, posebice u fizikalnoj i analitičkoj kemiji, biokemiji te medicini, a u industriji je primjena šira nego što se to čini na prvi pogled, npr. u razvoju baterija, tehnologije, akumulatora i medicinskih pomagala. Ovaj rad daje povijesni pregled, razvoj i izvod same Nernstove jednadžbe te navodi neke njezine primjene

Qualitative and quantitative assesment of biological traces in forensic DNA analysis

Ćelije kože ostavljene na površini bilo kog predmeta nakon kontakta sa njim mogu biti izvor DNK materijala. Ova vrsta biološkog materijala, u odnosu na količinu DNK koju je moguće izolovati iz nje, obično je mnogo manje izdašna u odnosu na tragove koji se rutinski analiziraju (krv, semena tečnost, pljuvačka). Iako visoko osetljive tehnike analize omogućavaju dobijanje rezultata iz minimalnih količina DNK, još uvek postoje znatne poteškoće u radu sa ovakvim uzorcima, i to iz više razloga. Različit kvalitet i kvantitet izolovane DNK, te posebno izraženi stohastički efekti samo su neki od njih. Zbog toga je proces analize DNK materijala izolovan iz ovakvih uzoraka posebno kompleksan. Biološki uzorci ove vrste se vrlo često nalaze u izuzetno malim količinama (doslovno tragovima), što se postojećim rutinskim metodama analize DNK ne mogu pouzdano interpretirati. U cilju poboljšavanja rezultata analize DNK materijala dobijenog izolovanjem biološkog materijala zaostalog na površini dodirnutih predmeta, analizirano je više od 700 otisaka prstiju. Svaki korak procesa je testiran posebno u cilju dobijanja STR profila koji su bar 70% kompletni, te stoga mogu biti uneti u baze podataka. Kompletnost profila je određivana na osnovu broja dobijenih alela iz 15 testiranih lokusa (najviše moguće 30 alela). Testirani su sledeći koraci u proceduri dobijanja DNK profila: prikupljanje uzoraka, izolovanje DNK, umnožavanje STR lokusa kao i detekcija proizvoda umnožavanja kapilarnom elektroforezom. Ćelije su prikupljene korišćenjem mikrosfera, lepljivih traka, lepila ili pamučnih briseva natopljenih različitim rastvorima. DNK materijal je izolovan korišćenjem interno razvijenih metoda i/ili komercijalno dostupnih kompleta hemikalija za njenu izolaciju. Izolovana DNK je umnožavana Identifiler® kompletom, korišćenjem različitog broja PCR ciklusa...Skin flakes left on an object after it has been touched or handled could be a source of DNA. These skin flakes tend to be deposited in considerably smaller amounts than from routinely tested cells of blood, semen or saliva. Although, highly sensitive DNA analysis procedures are able to provide results from trace amounts of DNA there are still some fundamental difficulties inherent to these samples, including variability in quality and quantity of extracted DNA and exaggerated stochastic effects, making it hard to reliably interpret DNA profiles of these samples. These types of samples could also carry skin flakes in trace, which currently applied methodology of testing frequently cannot interpret. In order to improve the results from touched DNA samples, over 700 fingerprints were tested. Each step of the workflow for genotyping was assessed with the goal to generate STR profiles that were at least 70% complete and therefore database eligible. The profiles were calculated from the number of obtained alleles with a maximum of 30 for the 15 amplified STR loci. The steps evaluated in the workflow included sample collection, DNA extraction, STR amplification and detection utilizing capillary electrophoresis. Cells were collected using microglobes, tapes, glues, or cotton swabs moistened with different solutions. DNA extraction was assessed with methods designed in the laboratory and commercially available extraction kits. Extracted DNA was amplified with Identifiler® kits using various number of PCR cycles. These comparisons led to the best method that generated a database eligible STR profiles from almost 70% of tested fingerprints. This method suggested collection of fingerprints by swabbing with cotton swab moistened in detergent solution, then extracting DNA using a commercially available extraction kit that uses enzyme activated at a high temperature, followed by amplification at higher PCR cycle number and analysis at longer injection time and higher voltage during capillary electrophoresis..

Differential Taxation: The Case of American Banking

banking crisis differential profit tax United StatesThis paper maps an empirical history of corporate profit and taxation in the United States, with a special focus on the differential profit and taxation of banks relative to other corporations. An examination of these trends reveals a striking anomaly within the American banking sector: from the early 1980s until the financial crisis of 2007-2008, its after-tax profits sharply outpaced those of the corporate average despite its effective tax rates having simultaneously increased relative to those of the corporate average. This curious combination of improved differential performance and an increased differential tax burden may have been due to banking deregulation – strong enough to boost pre-tax profits so much that they more than offset the effects of increased taxation and also raised after-tax profits along the way. In addition, these trends reveal a convergence of interests between American banking and government, with the former earning higher profits and the latter earning higher tax revenues. Whether implicitly or explicitly created, this tax arrangement relied on unsustainably deregulated banking profits and ultimately collapsed during the financial crisis of 2007-2008

Light Nature Architecture - A Guide to Holistic Lighting Design

The phenomenon of light is deeply integrated into quotidian reality, but often not consciously perceived. In her book ‘Light Nature Architecture - A Guide to Holistic Lighting Design’, Ulrike Brandi presents authoritative discourse on the integration of natural light within architectural landscapes. By aligning theoretical insights with practical applications, her book emerges as a guide for architects, designers, and enthusiasts seeking an enlightened approach to lighting design