Quality Management in Education

Having considered the current situation of the Croatian educational system and the quality of all its individual components, we can’t help but notice that the awareness of the importance of education as a foundation for the growth and development of each country isn’t strong enough. Education quality is becoming increasingly important for those who are involved in it either directly or indirectly, and for those who use its services. Access to education and quality education are to be regarded as mutually dependent and indivisible needs and rights. This is primarily achieved by developing creativity, civic and democratic values, as well as by knowledge, abilities and skills needed for everyday and professional life. Basic education is not sufficient or complete, and therefore should be considered only as a basis for learning that needs to be used all life long. Lifelong learning for all has become one of the pillars of development. Quality management is a part of management aimed at achieving quality goals through planning, monitoring, assuring and improving quality. Involving all members of the organization brings us closer to total quality control (Total Quality Management, TQM). Efficient Total quality management system in organization can facilitate quickly challenge in word market. Total quality management realize target and mission in education of young generation. TQM upgrade management quality and quality of work in education institute in general. The key points for the improvement of education are scientific and technological development, social changes and organizational changes. Education efficiency and success don’t depend just on quantity but as well on quality. The quality indicator system of education, as well as the criteria related to the quality indicators help schools to identify the crucial areas of their activities - their own advantages, disadvantages and development opportunities.quality, quality management, total quality management, educational system, quality indicators

C – reactive protein in saliva of non-smoking patients with periodontitis (a pilot study)

Introduction: C-reactive Protein (CRP) as an inflammatory biomarker can be easily determined in saliva, but the values of salivary CRP in periodontitis are not well-studied. The aim of this study was to analyze and determine the values of salivary CRP in non-smokers with periodontitis stage 3 or 4 before and after supragingival and subgingival full-mouth periodontal therapy.Methods: Standard periodontal parameters and saliva samples were collected in 12 non-smoking patients. Patients in the test group (n = 6) underwent supragingival and subgingival full-mouth periodontal therapy, and the control group (n = 6) received only supragingival full-mouth therapy. Both groups received the same oral hygiene instructions in addition to therapy. After 3 months, re-registration of periodontal parameters and re-sampling of saliva for analysis of salivary CRP were done for both groups.Results: Statistical analysis revealed large differences in the values of clinical periodontal parameters and CRP levels in the test group after therapy. Values of salivary CRP in the test and control groups were lower 3 months the therapy; however, the results were not statistically significant. The correlation of clinical periodontal parameters and salivary CRP varied in both groups.Conclusion: Our pilot study reveals decreased concentrations of salivary C-reactive protein in non-smoking patients following non-surgical periodontal therapy. Further studies are needed to prove the reliability of salivary CRP as a biomarker for periodontitis

NADH oxidation drives respiratory Na+ transport in mitochondria from Yarrowia lipolytica

It is generally assumed that respiratory complexes exclusively use protons to energize the inner mitochondrial membrane. Here we show that oxidation of NADH by submitochondrial particles (SMPs) from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica is coupled to protonophore-resistant Na+ uptake, indicating that a redox-driven, primary Na+ pump is operative in the inner mitochondrial membrane. By purification and reconstitution into proteoliposomes, a respiratory NADH dehydrogenase was identified which coupled NADH-dependent reduction of ubiquinone (1.4μmolmin−1mg−1) to Na+ translocation (2.0μmolmin−1mg−1). NADH-driven Na+ transport was sensitive towards rotenone, a specific inhibitor of complex I. We conclude that mitochondria from Y. lipolytica contain a NADH-driven Na+ pump and propose that it represents the complex I of the respiratory chain. Our study indicates that energy conversion by mitochondria does not exclusively rely on the proton motive force but may benefit from the electrochemical Na+ gradient established by complex

The severity of carotid artery lesions associated with aggressive and chronic periodntitis

Upalna parodontna bolest potvrđena je kao čimbenik rizika za razvoj ateroskleroze. Svrha ovog istraživanja bila je dokazati povezanost parodontnog statusa i elastičnih svojstava arterija kod pacijenata s parodontitisom. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 128 ispitanika podijeljenih u četiri skupine. Prva pokusna skupina je uključivala 37 pacijenata s kroničnim parodontitisom, a druga pokusna skupina 30 pacijenata s agresivnim parodontitisom. U kontrolnoj skupini za kronični parodontitis bilo je 27 ispitanika, dok je u kontrolnoj skupini za agresivni parodontitis bilo 34 ispitanika. Kontrolne skupine su sačinjavale osobe bez znakova parodontne bolesti. Parodontni status je određen pomoću parodontnih indeksa. U serumu su određeni trigliceridi, HDL kolesterol, LDL kolesterol, ukupni serumski serum kolesterol, visoko osjetljivi C-reaktivni protein (hsCRP) i glukoza. Debljina intime-medije (IMT) i elastična svojstva zajedničke karotidne arterije bilateralno su mjerena pomoću ultrazvuka Aloka ProSound ALPHA 10 s linearnom sondom od 13 MHz. Istraživanjem su dobivene signifikantno veće vrijednosti karotidnih IMT vrijednosti (0,8 mm) kod pacijenata s kroničnim parodontitisom. Nakon uključivanja potencijalnih doprinosnih čimbenika, pokazalo se da je kronični parodontitis statistički značajan prediktor (p=0,004) za karotidne IMT vrijednosti u multivarijantnom modelu. Kod pacijenata s agresivnim parodontitisom uočene su statistički značajne razlike u elastičnim svojstvima arterija (p<0,05), ali bez razlika u IMT vrijednostima. Agresivni parodontitis je bio statistički značajan prediktor za krutost karotidnih arterija u multivarijantnom modelu. Obje skupine s parodontitisom su imale statistički veće hsCRP vrijednosti (2,2 i 1,4 mg/L). Rezultati našeg istraživanja su pokazali da upalna parodontna bolest može utjecati na hemodinamiku karotidnih arterija neovisno o promjenama IMT vrijednosti. Potrebna su daljnja istraživanja elastičnih svojstava arterija kod pacijenata s parodontitisom.Inflammatory periodontal disease is recognized as a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between periodontal condition and arterial elastic properties in periodontitis patients. The study was conducted on 128 subjects divided into four groups. The test groups consisted of 37 patients with chronic periodontitis and 30 patients with aggressive periodontitis. There were 27 subjects in the control group for chronic periodontitis, and 34 subjects in the control group for aggressive periodontitis. Both control groups consisted of periodontally healthy volunteers. Periodontal condition was assessed using periodontal indices. Triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, total serum cholesterol, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and glucose levels were quantified in serum. Intima-media thickness (IMT) and arterial elasticity measurements on common carotid artery were performed using Aloka ProSound ALPHA 10 with 13 MHz linear probe. This research revealed significantly higher values of carotid IMT (0,8 mm) in chronic periodontitis patients. Chronic periodontitis was statistically significant predictor (p=0,004) for the carotid IMT in the multivariate model, when potential confounding factors were included. Aggressive periodontitis patients showed statistically significant difference in arterial elasticity indices (p<0,05), but no difference regarding IMT values. Aggressive periodontitis was statistically significant predictor for the carotid stiffness in the multivariate model. Both periodontitis groups had statistically higher levels of hsCRP (2,2 and 1,4 mg/L). Our results demonstrate that inflammatory periodontal disease may affect carotid arterial haemodynamics, regardless alterations of IMT. Future research of arterial elasticity in periodontitis patients is required

Еxpressing finality by means of infinitive constructions in the contemporary Italian language Выражение целенаправленности инфинитивными конструкциями в современном итальянском языке

Ова докторска дисертација бави се инфинитивним конструкцијама којима се изражава финалност у савременом италијанском језику. Основни циљ овог истраживања био је да се утврде и анализирају на семантичко-синтаксичком плану инфинитивне финалне конструкције у савременом италијанском језику. Будући да се синтаксичкој анализи приступило из теоријског оквира генеративне граматике, овај рад је имао следеће секундарне циљеве: а) да се утврде врсте и подврсте контроле које се јављају у инфинитивним финалним конструкцијама; б) да се размотре услови у којима се успостављају различите врсте и подврсте контроле у зависним конструкцијама; в) да се установи који аргументи управних реченица могу контролисати фонетски нереализовани субјекат инфинитивних финалних конструкција; г) да се анализирају морфолошке и семантичке вредности имплицитних субјеката. У истраживању, које је спроведено из синхронијске перспективе, коришћен је метод анализе садржаја. Грађу за ово истраживање чинили су примери преузети из Кориса, корпуса писаног италијанског језика, примери ексцерпирани из италијанских штампаних и електронских медија и примери које су проверили италијански матерњи говорници. Наша анализа је показала да се у инфинитивним финалним конструкцијама у италијанском језику могу јавити све подврсте обавезне контроле (потпуна, делимична и подељена) и да је њихово успостављање условљено: а) семантиком глагола управне реченице; б) семантиком глагола инфинитивне конструкције или в) семантиком глагола управне реченице и инфинитивне конструкције. Резултати овог истраживања су указали да се у инфинитивним финалним конструкцијама у италијанском језику могу остварити и све подврсте необавезне контроле (контрола језичког чина, имплицитна, арбитрарна и удаљена). У раду је утврђено да контролори имплицитног субјекта инфинитивних финалних конструкција могу бити субјекат, прави објекат, неправи објекат, допуна за место и социјативна допуна управног глагола, као и да су у конструкцијама потпуне и подељене контроле морфолошка и семантичка вредност имплицитног субјекта подударне.This doctoral dissertation deals with infinitive constructions expressing finality in the contemporary Italian language. The main goal of this research is to determine and analyze infinitive final constructions at the semantic-syntactic level in the contemporary Italian language. Since the syntactic analysis was carried out within the theoretical framework of generative grammar, the secondary goals of this dissertation are as follows: а) to determine the types and subtypes of control that occur in infinitive final constructions; b) to examine the conditions for different types and subtypes of control in subordinate constructions; c) to determine which arguments of control constructions can control the phonetically unrealized null subject of infinitive final constructions; d) to analyze the morphological and semantic values of implicit subjects. The method of content analysis was used in the research which was conducted from a synchronic perspective. This research is based on the examples taken from CORIS, a corpus of written Italian, the examples excerpted from Italian print and electronic media and the examples reviewed by Italian native speakers. The analysis has shown that all subtypes of obligatory control (exhaustive, partial and split) can occur in infinitive final constructions in the Italian language and that their occurrence is conditioned by: a) the verb semantics of the control construction; b) the verb semantics of the infinitive construction or c) the verb semantics of the control and infinitive construction. The research findings indicate that all subtypes of non-obligatory control (implicit, arbitrary, long-distance and speech act control) can also occur in infinitive final constructions in the Italian language. The dissertation reveals that the controllers of the implicit subject of infinitive final constructions can be subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, adverbial complements of place and sociative complements of the control verb, as well as that the morphological and semantic value of the implicit subject are equivalent in the constructions of exhaustive and split control

The severity of carotid artery lesions associated with aggressive and chronic periodntitis

Upalna parodontna bolest potvrđena je kao čimbenik rizika za razvoj ateroskleroze. Svrha ovog istraživanja bila je dokazati povezanost parodontnog statusa i elastičnih svojstava arterija kod pacijenata s parodontitisom. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 128 ispitanika podijeljenih u četiri skupine. Prva pokusna skupina je uključivala 37 pacijenata s kroničnim parodontitisom, a druga pokusna skupina 30 pacijenata s agresivnim parodontitisom. U kontrolnoj skupini za kronični parodontitis bilo je 27 ispitanika, dok je u kontrolnoj skupini za agresivni parodontitis bilo 34 ispitanika. Kontrolne skupine su sačinjavale osobe bez znakova parodontne bolesti. Parodontni status je određen pomoću parodontnih indeksa. U serumu su određeni trigliceridi, HDL kolesterol, LDL kolesterol, ukupni serumski serum kolesterol, visoko osjetljivi C-reaktivni protein (hsCRP) i glukoza. Debljina intime-medije (IMT) i elastična svojstva zajedničke karotidne arterije bilateralno su mjerena pomoću ultrazvuka Aloka ProSound ALPHA 10 s linearnom sondom od 13 MHz. Istraživanjem su dobivene signifikantno veće vrijednosti karotidnih IMT vrijednosti (0,8 mm) kod pacijenata s kroničnim parodontitisom. Nakon uključivanja potencijalnih doprinosnih čimbenika, pokazalo se da je kronični parodontitis statistički značajan prediktor (p=0,004) za karotidne IMT vrijednosti u multivarijantnom modelu. Kod pacijenata s agresivnim parodontitisom uočene su statistički značajne razlike u elastičnim svojstvima arterija (p<0,05), ali bez razlika u IMT vrijednostima. Agresivni parodontitis je bio statistički značajan prediktor za krutost karotidnih arterija u multivarijantnom modelu. Obje skupine s parodontitisom su imale statistički veće hsCRP vrijednosti (2,2 i 1,4 mg/L). Rezultati našeg istraživanja su pokazali da upalna parodontna bolest može utjecati na hemodinamiku karotidnih arterija neovisno o promjenama IMT vrijednosti. Potrebna su daljnja istraživanja elastičnih svojstava arterija kod pacijenata s parodontitisom.Inflammatory periodontal disease is recognized as a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between periodontal condition and arterial elastic properties in periodontitis patients. The study was conducted on 128 subjects divided into four groups. The test groups consisted of 37 patients with chronic periodontitis and 30 patients with aggressive periodontitis. There were 27 subjects in the control group for chronic periodontitis, and 34 subjects in the control group for aggressive periodontitis. Both control groups consisted of periodontally healthy volunteers. Periodontal condition was assessed using periodontal indices. Triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, total serum cholesterol, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and glucose levels were quantified in serum. Intima-media thickness (IMT) and arterial elasticity measurements on common carotid artery were performed using Aloka ProSound ALPHA 10 with 13 MHz linear probe. This research revealed significantly higher values of carotid IMT (0,8 mm) in chronic periodontitis patients. Chronic periodontitis was statistically significant predictor (p=0,004) for the carotid IMT in the multivariate model, when potential confounding factors were included. Aggressive periodontitis patients showed statistically significant difference in arterial elasticity indices (p<0,05), but no difference regarding IMT values. Aggressive periodontitis was statistically significant predictor for the carotid stiffness in the multivariate model. Both periodontitis groups had statistically higher levels of hsCRP (2,2 and 1,4 mg/L). Our results demonstrate that inflammatory periodontal disease may affect carotid arterial haemodynamics, regardless alterations of IMT. Future research of arterial elasticity in periodontitis patients is required

Comparison of 3D models of a paleolithic wooden point

The subject of this dissertation was to investigate the importance of informatics, computer technologies, computing methods, computer programming, 3D models and 3D graphical software tools in archaeology and in interdisciplinary archaeological treatises, analyzes and evaluations of the artefacts and the past cultural heritage using case study. The task is focused primarily on the comparison and analysis of the parameters five 3D models of the paleolithic wooden artefact in the given formats (PLY and STL), which were made in the time interval 2009{2018. A comparative analysis of the data and parameters of all 3D models was carried out with open source software CloudCompare. The obtained results and the comparisons made confirmed the initial hypothesis of changes that occurred on the artefact after the discovery and exclusion from its natural environment. The differences and changes found (for example: bending and deformation, changes in texture and cross-section, color, etc.) highlighted the danger of unwanted changes and degradation of archaeological remains of land and underwater cultural heritage after their removal from the natural conditions of the site. However, the selected software fulfilled the expectations of its suitability and usefulness for archaeological analysis and for evaluation of the cultural heritage in general

Periodontal status in nursing home residents in Split-Dalmatia County

Background and Purpose: Poor oral health in elderly people is accompanied by a high proportion of missing teeth, dental cavities, periodontal disease, xerostomia, and the occurrence of oral pre-malignant lesions and cancers. Available evidence suggests that the prevalence of periodontal diseases increases proportionally with age. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of periodontal diseases among nursing home residents in Split-Dalmatia County and to propose a program of public health measures. Materials and Methods: Oral health status was assessed for 114 individuals aged 54–96 years. Prior to the examination, the participants filled out the questionnaire regarding age, gender, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, habits and oral hygiene maintenance. Periodontal condition was assessed using the Community Periodontal Index and clinical attachment level. Results: Statistical analysis of the CPI showed that, for all the sextants, the most numerous group of subjects was the one with excluded sextants. Following those, the most numerous were the sextants with visible deposits of dental calculus. Statistical analysis of the CAL through the sextants showed that the excluded group was the most frequent finding, followed by the group with CAL of 4–5 mm. Conclusions: Older persons often have poor oral health and frequently suffer from periodontal disease. We should encourage preventive examinations performed while the dentists need to put an effort to prevent the progression of periodontal disease and sustain the older people’s quality of life, especially in nursing home residents

Comparison of 3D models of a paleolithic wooden point

The subject of this dissertation was to investigate the importance of informatics, computer technologies, computing methods, computer programming, 3D models and 3D graphical software tools in archaeology and in interdisciplinary archaeological treatises, analyzes and evaluations of the artefacts and the past cultural heritage using case study. The task is focused primarily on the comparison and analysis of the parameters five 3D models of the paleolithic wooden artefact in the given formats (PLY and STL), which were made in the time interval 2009--2018. A comparative analysis of the data and parameters of all 3D models was carried out with open source software CloudCompare. The obtained results and the comparisons made confirmed the initial hypothesis of changes that occurred on the artefact after the discovery and exclusion from its natural environment. The differences and changes found (for example: bending and deformation, changes in texture and cross-section, color, etc.) highlighted the danger of unwanted changes and degradation of archaeological remains of land and underwater cultural heritage after their removal from the natural conditions of the site. However, the selected software fulfilled the expectations of its suitability and usefulness for archaeological analysis and for evaluation of the cultural heritage in general